Vanquish S vs V12VS
Discussion
It’s been a couple of months since the Vantage departed. Predictably, for my better half, I’m starting to look to get back into the fold again.
Had two V8V’s (the first a manual, the second a SS ‘S’). Loved ‘em both but preferred the SS ‘box and comfort suspension for the roads around here.
Prices are becoming very alluring for V12VS and Vanquish S. I realise the mechanical differences, but the relative minimal price difference to the Vanquish is very tempting. After all, it’s a CF body, higher spec interior, (minimal) back seats and most have the B&O. Perhaps the standard Vanquish seats are also more comfortable than the non-carbon Vantage ones too?
The only V12 Vantages with that much bodywork in CF and 600bhp were the GT12 and V600 models. Ie., around 2.5 to 8x more expensive than the Vanquish S!
So, what’s the catch? Does it simply not drive as well? I can’t believe that with so much shared platform. Different, but surely not a bad drive?
The full auto is a little less appealing than the SS to me, but I understand the 8 speed is sharp.
Enough people have said the V12VS can be a bit of a handful in the wet. Same for the Vanquish? Slightly more power, but heavier.
Bit of a ramble, but I need to make sense of this before I start annoying MD’s for earnest in a few months
Had two V8V’s (the first a manual, the second a SS ‘S’). Loved ‘em both but preferred the SS ‘box and comfort suspension for the roads around here.
Prices are becoming very alluring for V12VS and Vanquish S. I realise the mechanical differences, but the relative minimal price difference to the Vanquish is very tempting. After all, it’s a CF body, higher spec interior, (minimal) back seats and most have the B&O. Perhaps the standard Vanquish seats are also more comfortable than the non-carbon Vantage ones too?
The only V12 Vantages with that much bodywork in CF and 600bhp were the GT12 and V600 models. Ie., around 2.5 to 8x more expensive than the Vanquish S!
So, what’s the catch? Does it simply not drive as well? I can’t believe that with so much shared platform. Different, but surely not a bad drive?
The full auto is a little less appealing than the SS to me, but I understand the 8 speed is sharp.
Enough people have said the V12VS can be a bit of a handful in the wet. Same for the Vanquish? Slightly more power, but heavier.
Bit of a ramble, but I need to make sense of this before I start annoying MD’s for earnest in a few months
I do love the Vanquish S but i,m not sure that it is a better drive than the V12V.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J356ZG71ExI&t=...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J356ZG71ExI&t=...
Lets be honest, you're not going to be disappointed with either are you
The V12S is an awesome bit of kit, but I wouldn't be upset to open the garage and see a Vanquish S instead, they're both fantastic. Based on the original starting prices though, the Vanquish really does seem to be good value (if any of this stuff can be called that).
Surely a back to back test drive is the way to go. If that doesn't help then you need to remortgage and buy both.....simple
The V12S is an awesome bit of kit, but I wouldn't be upset to open the garage and see a Vanquish S instead, they're both fantastic. Based on the original starting prices though, the Vanquish really does seem to be good value (if any of this stuff can be called that).
Surely a back to back test drive is the way to go. If that doesn't help then you need to remortgage and buy both.....simple
I’m in the fortunate of having one of each, the Vanquish S being in Volante form and the V12VS being a manual.
They’re quite different to drive, the vanquish being what I choose for longer runs away with the wife, the vantage for runs up into the hills by myself (in fact, thinking about it, my wife hasn’t ever been out in it). Seat wise they’re both just fine. Vanquish sounds better and the auto box/paddles suit the car (mostly drive on the paddles).
Haven’t found either a handful in the wet, but then again I do have other cars that are much less forgiving so used to not treating pedals as on/off switches.
If I could only keep one it’d be the Vanquish...
They’re quite different to drive, the vanquish being what I choose for longer runs away with the wife, the vantage for runs up into the hills by myself (in fact, thinking about it, my wife hasn’t ever been out in it). Seat wise they’re both just fine. Vanquish sounds better and the auto box/paddles suit the car (mostly drive on the paddles).
Haven’t found either a handful in the wet, but then again I do have other cars that are much less forgiving so used to not treating pedals as on/off switches.
If I could only keep one it’d be the Vanquish...
I am agonising over this exact same question.
I have a V12VS and my local dealer has offered me a lovely Vanquish S Volante.......
Purely on looks I prefer the Vantage, and the performance is not so different. But, the Vanquish is likely to be the better long term investment.
I found the Vanquish slightly more ponderous, and whilst the auto box does a good job, it's no SS3....
If you pushed me for an answer right now, I'd keep the V12S
I have a V12VS and my local dealer has offered me a lovely Vanquish S Volante.......
Purely on looks I prefer the Vantage, and the performance is not so different. But, the Vanquish is likely to be the better long term investment.
I found the Vanquish slightly more ponderous, and whilst the auto box does a good job, it's no SS3....
If you pushed me for an answer right now, I'd keep the V12S
So much depends on the usage. The vanquish is more GT, the vantage more sporting, but in the forms being discussed both have a level of performance and aesthetic brutality.
I love the silliness of the v12vs vents. There’s some in there that really shouldn’t be there, and that people don’t expect to be there. Overhead a couple of guys talking about ti once ina pub beer garden. One of them had had a 3ltr BMW apparently it had been fun but you couldn’t use the power. When I fired it up I think he realised that it wasn’t quite the same league... (decat)
The Vanquish S is more subtle, but to my eye an improvement over the standard model. The front end is VERY low, to the degree that it impacts usability at times (and having got it in/up somewhere I often find myself reversing out along the same path). It could really do with a front end lifter. Much more luggage space in the boot though.
I love the silliness of the v12vs vents. There’s some in there that really shouldn’t be there, and that people don’t expect to be there. Overhead a couple of guys talking about ti once ina pub beer garden. One of them had had a 3ltr BMW apparently it had been fun but you couldn’t use the power. When I fired it up I think he realised that it wasn’t quite the same league... (decat)
The Vanquish S is more subtle, but to my eye an improvement over the standard model. The front end is VERY low, to the degree that it impacts usability at times (and having got it in/up somewhere I often find myself reversing out along the same path). It could really do with a front end lifter. Much more luggage space in the boot though.
andymadmak said:
I am agonising over this exact same question.
But, the Vanquish is likely to be the better long term investment.
Depends I think if you're talking SS3 or Manual V12S. Love it or loath it, long term (10-15+) I think the manual V12S will be a very sought after classic, if only because there are so few of them. I agree that rarity on it's own doesn't make something a sought after classic, but the fact it's a bloody good looking car, a NA V12 and a manual will be enough to secure it's place.But, the Vanquish is likely to be the better long term investment.
Speaking as a V12VS owner, the Vanquish is perhaps the most exquisitely beautiful car Aston has made in the last 30 years. When I bought mine, I restrained myself from going near the Vanquish that was sitting in the showroom until I had signed on the dotted line for the Vantage. Temptation can be a powerful emotion, after all.
That all said, I think I would only see myself swapping now if I saw myself doing a lot of European driving. The Vantage sorts of sits across the sports car/GT car divide, with a foot in each but not wholly in either camp (which suits me). I see the Vanquish as more firmly in the GT camp. I would rather have a parcel shelf than two rear seats I can't actually use, and I like that if I really have to I can get my bike into the back of the Vantage. I also prefer SS3 to a full auto box, and possibly even prefer it to a manual (my other car is a manual, so I have a direct comparison day to day).
As an investment, the V12VS SS3 seems to be a bit of a red headed step child compared to the 6s V12V and the 7s V12VS, as well as compared to every Vanquish variant. I'm not really sure why; and I don't really understand why full auto box Vanquishes stand up so well in value when the common perception is that the manual Vantage has future classic status whereas the SS3 Vantage is much more doubtful. But then the "why" isn't as important as the values, and the values look pretty clear.
It's a nice choice to have though. No doubt about that.
That all said, I think I would only see myself swapping now if I saw myself doing a lot of European driving. The Vantage sorts of sits across the sports car/GT car divide, with a foot in each but not wholly in either camp (which suits me). I see the Vanquish as more firmly in the GT camp. I would rather have a parcel shelf than two rear seats I can't actually use, and I like that if I really have to I can get my bike into the back of the Vantage. I also prefer SS3 to a full auto box, and possibly even prefer it to a manual (my other car is a manual, so I have a direct comparison day to day).
As an investment, the V12VS SS3 seems to be a bit of a red headed step child compared to the 6s V12V and the 7s V12VS, as well as compared to every Vanquish variant. I'm not really sure why; and I don't really understand why full auto box Vanquishes stand up so well in value when the common perception is that the manual Vantage has future classic status whereas the SS3 Vantage is much more doubtful. But then the "why" isn't as important as the values, and the values look pretty clear.
It's a nice choice to have though. No doubt about that.
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