Audi R8 v F Cali T v Aston DBS Volante v Porsche 991 turbo s

[Chris355]

I’m looking at:
2016 Audi R8 v10 Spyder
2016 Ferrari Cali T
2012 Aston DBS Volante
2015 Porsche 991 Turbo S Cab
All are very similar money.

I have other cars for day to day driving.

So it’s a weekend/evening car that won’t do a few thousand miles a year.

Which would you buy and why?

[davek_964]

I guess it's a different era, so maybe it's not true of newer stuff - but I found my 996 turbo very dull. Fast, competent - but dull and definitely not suited to an occasional car.

I had an Aston Vantage - dog slow (I had the 4.3 - which isn't really slow, but feels it) - but it felt special to drive and I'd definitely consider another Aston as an occasional car - if I wanted GT.

On your list, I think I'd choose the Aston or the R8 depending on what type of car I wanted.

[ex-devonpaul]

Nice selection. Fancy adding a McLaren 12C into the list

It really depends what you want from the car. 2 or 4(ish) seats, decent boot, cheaper servicing.

R8 is more of a sports car, and 911 more of a Sports car but can also can tour.

Cali is a GT car, as is the Aston.

If you go shopping in the R8 don't stock up on toilet rolls.

[DeejRC]

The 991 Turbo S is … blimey it’s dull. I test drove one last yr and I nearly fell asleep.
The R8 is the opposite, the engine is never dull, always fun. Unfortunately the Spyder just doesn’t have the same presence or purpose as the coupe. I’m a spider guy, I will always tend to back a ragtop over a roof, but the R8 only really works as a coupe. Bit like an SLS.
The DBS Volante. Just no. Never buy a 4 seat ragtop. You look like those blokes who drive around in 3 series and Audi A4 cabs with sunglasses on and automatically identifies you as a complete tosser. The only person who looks good driving a Volante is Eva Longoria in Desperate Housewives. And you don’t look like her.
Leaves you with the Cali T. Quick, comfy, civilised cabin, the rear seats are just a handy parcel shelf so it never looks half a foot too long and therefore suffers the 4 seat cab tosser look. Get the contrast colour roof and yer all sorted. Oh and the anchors in them really really really work!! Like…your wife is in the car and a situation just turned really dicey with some nasty consequences unless you really nail these anchors now and keep control, kind of work.

[F355GTS]

Cali T all day long, drive them back to back if you can, you'll see why it's the right choice

[ANOpax]

@DeejRC and @F355GTS have said all that needs saying and I'll simply third their verdict and leave it there.

[MDL111]

DeejRC said:

The 991 Turbo S is blimey it s dull. I test drove one last yr and I nearly fell asleep.
The R8 is the opposite, the engine is never dull, always fun. Unfortunately the Spyder just doesn t have the same presence or purpose as the coupe. I m a spider guy, I will always tend to back a ragtop over a roof, but the R8 only really works as a coupe. Bit like an SLS.
The DBS Volante. Just no. Never buy a 4 seat ragtop. You look like those blokes who drive around in 3 series and Audi A4 cabs with sunglasses on and automatically identifies you as a complete tosser. The only person who looks good driving a Volante is Eva Longoria in Desperate Housewives. And you don t look like her.
Leaves you with the Cali T. Quick, comfy, civilised cabin, the rear seats are just a handy parcel shelf so it never looks half a foot too long and therefore suffers the 4 seat cab tosser look. Get the contrast colour roof and yer all sorted. Oh and the anchors in them really really really work!! Like your wife is in the car and a situation just turned really dicey with some nasty consequences unless you really nail these anchors now and keep control, kind of work.

thank you - made me laugh
Just to add to your points - I think convertible 911s somehow look wrong, like a bathtub on wheels and the big rear end just gets overaccentuated without the sloping roof line.
Pretty much every time I see a convertible R8 in Munich it is some guy who tries to make as much noise as possible while driving through the city. Regularly while wearing a T-shirt/sweater/jacket that has some brand name (Gucci or whatever) in big effin letters somewhere on it.
I would go for the Ferrari all day long.

[MDL111]

and I would not get a Turbo as a weekend car, they are ultimate daily drivers, not really occasional cars. If getting an open-air 911, I would go for a 991 Targa with the n/a engine - at least that is pretty, sounds nice and still fast enough.

[AB]

I had a Turbo S at the same time my business partner had a Cali T. Cali seemed like an event to drive compared to the 911 and got more attention but the 911 was quicker, more refined, seemed more modern, binged and bonged at you less and was much more reliable and seemed much less fragile. I preferred the 911 which is why I bought it.

Do like the R8, but never driven any of the others on the list. I'm not sure any of them would hit the spot for a weekend car tbh. I think the 12c as mentioned above could be a good shout if you get a good one.

[Chris355]

Ive had a 997 turbo coupe and found it really dull, by the sounds of things the 991 is no better.

I loved the vantage v8 s roadster. I was looking at the DBS volante as it s a bit different to the vantage, but maybe I should consider a vantage v12 instead?

I have had lots of mid engine v8 Ferraris and thought the R8 might be a bit more useable and draw less attention?

I m very tempted by the Cali T; I like the shape, it is plenty fast enough for me and hopefully a bit more useable and draw less attention than my 488 did?!

I wouldn t consider a Mc 12c as the shape just isn t for me.

Edited by Chris355 on Wednesday 8th October 09:20

[DeejRC]

The R8 draws attention because of its engine. It’s never less than always on. It’s its party piece and self indulgently so. I don’t see that as a bad thing at all btw!