911 vs Maser GT vs AMv8V vs AM DB9
Discussion
Evening all,
Please help. I can’t decide between the above;
Options I’ve narrowed my very modest £30k budget to are;
Porcshe 911 C2S Gen1/2
Maserati Gran Turismo 4.7 but unsure on MC or Auto.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Aston Martin DB9.
Any options I’ve missed?
Please give me any advice or opinions on all of these - good and bad welcome.
Please help. I can’t decide between the above;
Options I’ve narrowed my very modest £30k budget to are;
Porcshe 911 C2S Gen1/2
Maserati Gran Turismo 4.7 but unsure on MC or Auto.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Aston Martin DB9.
Any options I’ve missed?
Please give me any advice or opinions on all of these - good and bad welcome.
Edited by Joe5y on Thursday 30th January 19:11
I think the DB9 is "a bit old man" and most are autos. I like the 911 (997), but started looking at one as a daily runaround and every specialist I spoke to said to avoid a Gen1 - including a couple of garages I spoke to that were doing engine rebuilds; I a don't think a good Gen2 is in your budget.
That leaves the Maserati and the V8V. I think the Maser has aged well - they're a bit bulky, but sound great and are excellent value. The Vantage V8 is a lovely car and nice ownership experience (I've had 3!) - prices dropped a bit last year, as they did generally across the sports/prestige market - but have levelled off again now and £30k will get you a nice 4.3. It's unlikely to get you the better 4.7, unless you're prepared to go for something with more miles, but they're pretty robust.
That leaves the Maserati and the V8V. I think the Maser has aged well - they're a bit bulky, but sound great and are excellent value. The Vantage V8 is a lovely car and nice ownership experience (I've had 3!) - prices dropped a bit last year, as they did generally across the sports/prestige market - but have levelled off again now and £30k will get you a nice 4.3. It's unlikely to get you the better 4.7, unless you're prepared to go for something with more miles, but they're pretty robust.
The fact that the first few replies all recommend different cars is an indication that it's a difficult choice!
I had a similar choice and went for a DB9 for the following reasons:
I had come from a Porsche (Boxster S) and been very underwhelmed by the quality, interior and reliability and driving experience. I understand that 997s and later will be better on the quality front, however.
Old Maseratis tend to drop below £10k and I assume there is a reason for that. Italian electrics still aren't up to snuff.
The Aston Martin Vantage could not be had with a torque converter auto, and manuals are just annoying in London traffic. My budget wouldn't stretch to a V12 Vantage at the time so I would have been limited to the V8. However the small size and bigger boot would have come in handy.
The DB9 was easily the prettiest to my eyes, and I'd wanted one since they came out. It came in a proper auto version with that glorious V12! It has a smaller boot, surprisingly, than the Vantage, despite being a bigger car, but I can put stuff on the back seats. Which is all they are really good for. Also, really good cars were in my budget. I got a one owner low mileage 2009 facelift car in mint condition.
I've owned the DB9 for 3 years now and it hasn't cost me a bean outside of annual servicing and consumables. It's been reliable, wonderful to drive, and really special to be in.
I had a similar choice and went for a DB9 for the following reasons:
I had come from a Porsche (Boxster S) and been very underwhelmed by the quality, interior and reliability and driving experience. I understand that 997s and later will be better on the quality front, however.
Old Maseratis tend to drop below £10k and I assume there is a reason for that. Italian electrics still aren't up to snuff.
The Aston Martin Vantage could not be had with a torque converter auto, and manuals are just annoying in London traffic. My budget wouldn't stretch to a V12 Vantage at the time so I would have been limited to the V8. However the small size and bigger boot would have come in handy.
The DB9 was easily the prettiest to my eyes, and I'd wanted one since they came out. It came in a proper auto version with that glorious V12! It has a smaller boot, surprisingly, than the Vantage, despite being a bigger car, but I can put stuff on the back seats. Which is all they are really good for. Also, really good cars were in my budget. I got a one owner low mileage 2009 facelift car in mint condition.
I've owned the DB9 for 3 years now and it hasn't cost me a bean outside of annual servicing and consumables. It's been reliable, wonderful to drive, and really special to be in.
Joe5y said:
Evening all,
Please help. I can’t decide between the above;
Options I’ve narrowed my very modest £30k budget to are;
Porcshe 911 C2S Gen1/2
Maserati Gran Turismo 4.7 but unsure on MC or Auto.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Aston Martin DB9.
Any options I’ve missed?
Please give me any advice or opinions on all of these - good and bad welcome.
Being in a similar position to you in terms of spec and budget I have the following points.Please help. I can’t decide between the above;
Options I’ve narrowed my very modest £30k budget to are;
Porcshe 911 C2S Gen1/2
Maserati Gran Turismo 4.7 but unsure on MC or Auto.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Aston Martin DB9.
Any options I’ve missed?
Please give me any advice or opinions on all of these - good and bad welcome.
Edited by Joe5y on Thursday 30th January 19:11
Porsche ..... would be the lower end of the price range and presented too many dogs and engine issues
Maserati..... beautiful cars with amazing bork factor.
Both AM .....beautiful cars again but with again very high running costs, plus the lower end of the price bracket.
Left me looking at XKR's 30k buys a 20112/13 car newer than the others. acceptable running costs and equally as nice and fast as the others.
Obviously just my view.
I replaced a 996 turbo (owned ~5.5 years) with a V8 Vantage (owned 4 years).
I didn't miss the Porsche at all. Very fast, but - even though I kept it a long time - pretty dull. The Vantage feels sluggish to me (at least the 4.3) although the speedo suggests it's not that bad - it's more about the way the power is delivered. Always felt special to drive though.
I doubt I'll ever buy a Porsche (sports car) again. I would happily buy another Vantage.
And running costs were not much different between the two I owned. The Aston does have some ridiculously priced parts though.
I didn't miss the Porsche at all. Very fast, but - even though I kept it a long time - pretty dull. The Vantage feels sluggish to me (at least the 4.3) although the speedo suggests it's not that bad - it's more about the way the power is delivered. Always felt special to drive though.
I doubt I'll ever buy a Porsche (sports car) again. I would happily buy another Vantage.
And running costs were not much different between the two I owned. The Aston does have some ridiculously priced parts though.
Thank you all for you replies.
It is indeed a frustrating budget / options list so are there any alternatives I should consider?
I have considered a XKR; the Jag name isn't a big turn on for me but will certainly look into them.
I have no real criteria other than I want it to feel special - looked at M3/M4's etc but feel they're a bit ASBO.
A 911 C2/4S is the one I think I really want but it's a Gen1 that I'm really looking at owing to budget - that said a well looked after one with good history could be an option. There is a local C4S...
A Maserati GT has a lot of want but my friend has one. He describes it as "a heavy crusier that cost Ferrari money to service and maintain. Uninvolving drive with old technology". He does however only have the 4.2 MY08 auto.
I've also got to consider how one of these cars will be received at work.
It is indeed a frustrating budget / options list so are there any alternatives I should consider?
I have considered a XKR; the Jag name isn't a big turn on for me but will certainly look into them.
I have no real criteria other than I want it to feel special - looked at M3/M4's etc but feel they're a bit ASBO.
A 911 C2/4S is the one I think I really want but it's a Gen1 that I'm really looking at owing to budget - that said a well looked after one with good history could be an option. There is a local C4S...
A Maserati GT has a lot of want but my friend has one. He describes it as "a heavy crusier that cost Ferrari money to service and maintain. Uninvolving drive with old technology". He does however only have the 4.2 MY08 auto.
I've also got to consider how one of these cars will be received at work.
If you want a 911, then that may well be the best choice. But - I would say that I'm definitely not the only person who's had a 911 who doesn't think they feel "special". They're good at plenty of things, but mine never felt special to drive. The Aston did, and other cars I've owned did.
LeoSayer said:
Joe5y said:
I have considered a XKR; the Jag name isn't a big turn on for me but will certainly look into them.
F-Type R (550bnp) are getting close to £30k.
I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...
Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.c...
Phil Dicky said:
LeoSayer said:
Joe5y said:
I have considered a XKR; the Jag name isn't a big turn on for me but will certainly look into them.
F-Type R (550bnp) are getting close to £30k.I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...
Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.c...
V8R convertibles are another £10k plus
Aston V8 Vantage for me all day long.
My nephew bought one last summer and it is so beautiful, the interior is a nice place to be and it drives really well. Plus being rarer than a 911 it turns heads more (if that's your thing). Also it sounded lovely, a proper V8 burble to it.
As for worrying about how the car will go down at work, well, they're all £30k cars and will therefore get the same response from the more envious people. I wouldn't worry about it to be fair, there's a reason why you're looking at cars of this budget (probably because you own the company or something?).
My nephew bought one last summer and it is so beautiful, the interior is a nice place to be and it drives really well. Plus being rarer than a 911 it turns heads more (if that's your thing). Also it sounded lovely, a proper V8 burble to it.
As for worrying about how the car will go down at work, well, they're all £30k cars and will therefore get the same response from the more envious people. I wouldn't worry about it to be fair, there's a reason why you're looking at cars of this budget (probably because you own the company or something?).
Had a 996 Turbo, and now have a Vantage V8S - and I honestly cant find anything else I would swap it for at that price point.
Just starting the engine makes you grin, and cruising around town it gets so many looks, and sounds so incredible. Lost count of the amount of people who have come up to me to speak about the car - didn't happen once with the 911.
The AM isn't as quick as the 911 by a long way, but as a place to be, its pretty damn special and really well put together.
Also, I seem to be getting better MPG out of the Aston than I did from my 911.
Just starting the engine makes you grin, and cruising around town it gets so many looks, and sounds so incredible. Lost count of the amount of people who have come up to me to speak about the car - didn't happen once with the 911.
The AM isn't as quick as the 911 by a long way, but as a place to be, its pretty damn special and really well put together.
Also, I seem to be getting better MPG out of the Aston than I did from my 911.
Marco-58 said:
Ursicles said:
Also, I seem to be getting better MPG out of the Aston than I did from my 911.
That's interesting, I've had a few 911s which have all been early 20s overall, but a guy I work with has the V8S and says it's mid to late teens ?? What's your AM returning overall?? Not really bothered with cars like these, am just curious. The mpg vs performance of the 996 turbo was astounding really.
My 996 had the x50 pack on it - in the time I had it was overall 17.4mpg.
Only had the Aston since sept, and done 2.5k in it - 19.6mpg.
Aston also included a trip to France where I couldn't read the speed limit signs as I don't read French so assumed 100mph+ was a fair speed to travel at for around 400 miles
Much prefer the noise of my aston to my 911 - which was far too quiet.
Only had the Aston since sept, and done 2.5k in it - 19.6mpg.
Aston also included a trip to France where I couldn't read the speed limit signs as I don't read French so assumed 100mph+ was a fair speed to travel at for around 400 miles
Much prefer the noise of my aston to my 911 - which was far too quiet.
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