Aston Vanquish - Help me Decide?

[ajriches01]

I am considering ending my love of PCP and buying into something more special which is used. Needs to be a 2+2 for occasional trips with the kids.

Vanquish looks and sounds amazing but am torn between a black Carbon Edition with 11,000 miles at circa £87k:



or a grey at circa £78k:



Is the Carbon Edition seen as anything special? It's a limited run but just seems to have a lot of carbon and the black in my view is not showing off the lines so well. 11,000 miles for a 8 year old car is crazy low though.

What says the internet?

[JeremyH5]

First off I recommend you find out if your children will fit in the rear seats without removing their legs below the knee!

Does it have isofix points?

[BlackTails]

I would go for the grey one of those two mainly because I think they look a lot better with a light interior.

I don’t really get the carbon edition, but I was once told by one of the sales guys at HWM that they can resell those all day long.

Besides being things of unrivalled beauty, the gen II Vanquishes are remarkable at holding their value; more so that the Vantage V12s and V12Ss which appear to be softening.

Check the front end, A pillars, roof leading edge and rear wings forward of the wheels for stone chips. AM paint is apparently soft below average, and all of those areas pick up nicks.

When I was window shopping for these (never did buy) I concluded 8s for the coupe but 6s for the Volante. Though there is a fairly chunky premium to get the 8s, and I’m sceptical that in real world non-spirited driving the difference would be that noticeable. But 8s v 6s has been done to death a few times over.

Although a 6s, my head would be turned by the blue one at McGurks, esp as it is a two owner car. The 8s Galena silver one at AM Bristol looks good too.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Vanquish really isn't a 2+2.

[bentley01]

Are they both similar mileages and spec? Are they both 8 speed autos? Nothing wrong with the 6 speed but the 8 is slightly better.

[Frankychops]

Black and white vanquish are the hardest to sell. I’d say those are very over priced.

[Frankychops]

Also, they’re all carbon, so I even as an ex owner, I never got the carbon editions.

The 8 speed is quite a better option than the 6, if you enjoy driving, it’s a good way of being able to make that engine work for its lunch a bit more also. Bosch ecu, knock sensors etc are all other parts of the 8 speed.

Mine would do 28mog on a long motorway run.

Have a look on auto trader for how long some cars have hung around.

[255SNK]

I'd not personally consider either of the cars linked.

Not a fan of the light interiors where every piece of leather is light, just wait 'til you experience the dash reflections in the windscreen when driving in to sun!

The car is such a great design that Black does the shape no favours at all to my eyes.

I'd definitely be looking for an 8spd in one of the many fantastic not black/grey colours.

Cheers,

Chris

[SFTWend]

I'd be reading the car dealer reviews in respect of the grey one.

I had a DB9 briefly and the rear seats are only good for small children and short trips. Mind they don't scuff the leather getting in and out.

[ajriches01]

Thank you all for your helpful input.

I have tried the kids in the back and believe really it will only be useful for 2-3 years in the sweet spot between where they don't need a car seat but are too tall to fit. Fine with me as they will then be old enough to sit in the front safely.

I went to have another look at the black yesterday which is local to me and tend to agree that the black doesn't show off the lovely shape. If there's no "limited edition" factor to the Carbon Edition then I think grey it is - I will go see it on Friday.

It's a shame the Maserati GTs are so poor to drive - I had one for three months only as they look amazing, sound amazing, fit 4 people but just feel so cheap in places and drive worse than a decent Fiesta. Looked at a 4 seater Ferrari but they are a little fugly. Any other ideas???

[Pixel Pusher]

ajriches01 said:

Any other ideas???

Bentley?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412036...

Or longer term practicality...Panamera.

https://www.bramley.com/stock/2020-porsche-panamer...

Granted the latter might not be as glamorous as the Vanquish.

[255SNK]

CGT probably the default choice..
FF?...even I can sit in the back comfortably.
S63 coupe?
Panamera GTS or Turbo?
Rapide S?

[NDA]

ajriches01 said:

Needs to be a 2+2 for occasional trips with the kids.

Unless your children were born within the last hour, it's going to be a squeeze. I had a Vanquish and you'd struggle to get Douglas Bader in the back... I then had a Bentley GTC and that was huge in comparison.

The Bentley (old model) was always a bit underrated, I know why - nowhere near as pretty as the Aston. But what a car, unrelenting luxury and a superb cruiser - perfect for kids in the back too.

[Deerfoot]

SFTWend said:

I'd be reading the car dealer reviews in respect of the grey one.

Just spent 10 minutes reading the reviews, eye opening for sure...

I'd not be spending my hard-earned there..

[Frankychops]

theres a nice one at Aston Bristol. I'm not keen on mcburks as a dealer either.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502078...

a Ferrari FF would be a great choice.

[dunc69]

With a growing family, the FF makes a lot of sense.

And you still retain the drama that the Aston has, whereas Bentley and Porsche aren’t quite there IMO.

[ajriches01]

S63 and Panamera get discounted for being Luxobarges as opposed to exotic/"Special", man I lost a lot on our lovely Panamera, but I agree it's a great car. Cannot get my head around Mercedes for some reason, just doesn't resonate.

Bentley Continental is great and they've come materially down in price - a lot of car for £100k. This sounds unbelievably douchy but older members of the family have one and so seen as for the "older" generation with my wife. I think it depends very much on the spec, and definitely more usable than Vanquish. Ferrari FF is manifestly the more useful car but is not a pretty thing and has not received wife approval. It's impressive for sure though, was shocked by the quality of the interior compared to a Roma we looked at which was underwhelming in so many ways.

Will be looking up reviews of the dealer now and taking a pause following this feedback... I'd definitely drive a "bad ass" looking BCT more often and it would be more comfortable. Damn you Internet for adding more variables!

[Frankychops]

I’ve had 2 kids in the back of a vanquish, both 7 year olds, it’s tight but does work.

[Crumpet]

ajriches01 said:

It's a shame the Maserati GTs are so poor to drive - I had one for three months only as they look amazing, sound amazing, fit 4 people but just feel so cheap in places and drive worse than a decent Fiesta. Looked at a 4 seater Ferrari but they are a little fugly. Any other ideas???

DB11 V12 AMR? I run one as a daily; it makes the school run a bit more interesting at least!

Plenty of room for my 8 & 9 year olds and they always enjoy travelling in the back. Much bigger than a Vanquish, but obviously not quite as special.

A properly interesting car that you can get four people in is difficult to find. Lexus LC500 was on my list but the rear seats are terrible. 911s are great but soulless. Maseratis are always disappointing. I guess this is why people end up with RS6s and M3s.

I’ve been enjoying making the most of a V12 while they still let us.

[ajriches01]

Thanks Crumpet, we got a lot of use out of the DB11 and may still have it if we had bought the V12 as tested. Silly mistake!!

Good to hear it's OK in the back.

So I have the Aston tomorrow am then a Bentley Continental Saturday. May be sensible and buy neither but it's good fun looking!