XKR better than V8 Vantage?
Discussion
According to TG mag it is and this was the Prodrive Aston.
Some quotes.
Handling
"The car that really showed up the Aston was the XKR. Where the Vantage bucked and shimmied, the Jag flowed and shone. Far from being the grandpa's choice in this group, it had little trouble keeping up with, and occasionally came close to tail-gating, cars that had twice the horsepower - and twice the ego. All while listening to Radio 4 in complete comfort."
"The XKR is a properly well-sorted car, and fundamentally better than the Aston."
Some quotes.
Handling
"The car that really showed up the Aston was the XKR. Where the Vantage bucked and shimmied, the Jag flowed and shone. Far from being the grandpa's choice in this group, it had little trouble keeping up with, and occasionally came close to tail-gating, cars that had twice the horsepower - and twice the ego. All while listening to Radio 4 in complete comfort."
"The XKR is a properly well-sorted car, and fundamentally better than the Aston."
Edited by Cerbman on Wednesday 5th September 15:58
I haven't driven either yet (booked in to test the XKR next time I'm at my dealer though).
However, my dealer has an AMV8 in as a part-ex amongst their stock of XK/R's and I had a sit in both whilst my old shape XK8 was in for a service and I must say the XKR was much better after playing with the seating position in both. I felt much more enclosed and part of the XKR than I did the AMV8 as much as I tried to get a setup for my frame (i'm not a large chap by any stretch of the imagination - think Richard Hammond's twin with off-white teeth
). There were also some interior trim items on the AMV8, which given the price tag, I would expect more from.
Don't get wrong, I love Astons and would buy a DB9 in an instant if it was within my budget but comparing the XKR with the AMV8 I have to go for the XKR every time. Maybe if the AMV8 part-ex is still there when I go for my XKR test drive I'll give both a go to see what the drive is like.
However, my dealer has an AMV8 in as a part-ex amongst their stock of XK/R's and I had a sit in both whilst my old shape XK8 was in for a service and I must say the XKR was much better after playing with the seating position in both. I felt much more enclosed and part of the XKR than I did the AMV8 as much as I tried to get a setup for my frame (i'm not a large chap by any stretch of the imagination - think Richard Hammond's twin with off-white teeth
). There were also some interior trim items on the AMV8, which given the price tag, I would expect more from.Don't get wrong, I love Astons and would buy a DB9 in an instant if it was within my budget but comparing the XKR with the AMV8 I have to go for the XKR every time. Maybe if the AMV8 part-ex is still there when I go for my XKR test drive I'll give both a go to see what the drive is like.
ALEXDB9 said:
Coming from an XK owner who choose the XK over the R and has driven a V8 Vantage and owned a DB9, there is NOTHING like the V8 Vantage. I liked the V8 so much that I put down an order for one.
http://www.topgear.com/ they don't agree nor do any British magazine I've seen.
Edited by Cerbman on Wednesday 5th September 21:12
Edited by Cerbman on Wednesday 5th September 21:15
I have a passion for British cars i.e. Jaguar, Aston Martin....I like them both. To me an Aston just in name cannot be compared to a Jag, now what hooked me was the feel, sound, and not to mention the HUGE smile I get while in it. People are entitled to their opinion, but to me there is no comparison.
ALEXDB9 said:
I have a passion for British cars i.e. Jaguar, Aston Martin....I like them both. To me an Aston just in name cannot be compared to a Jag, now what hooked me was the feel, sound, and not to mention the HUGE smile I get while in it. People are entitled to their opinion, but to me there is no comparison.
Dear AlexDB9,I am a Jaguar fan but I agree only partially with you.
For me the DB9 is the best in the world. If I would have unlimited financial resources to buy any car I would still buy a DB9.
To me even the DBS now is not as clean and elegant as the DB9.
Also I have seen the Rapide Concept and that is also a fantastic car and nobody would be able to compete with it.
Regarding the V8 I see it differently. The car was created to compete with the 911 which was the reference also in the test done at the Nurburbring during th development of the car.
It was decided upfront.
Also I have seen in reality and even if I think it has a nice front and back it is not at the level of a DB9. It does not have that balance and those perfect proportions and it is really more like a Toy. The cabin is really small in my view.
I reallythink the V8 can be compared with the others and to be honest I thinkl it can even be defeated
)Being fortunate enough to have both cars in the garage I get to do a direct comparison on a day to day basis. Admittedly the XKR is the past model rather than the current and one of the reasons I plumped for the Vantage this time round was for a little variety. I find the AM far more of a driving experience, the manual box keeps you more involved and when cornering there is far less roll. The Jag has adaptive suspension and I recently fitted 20" rims which give better traction and more road feel, but in handling I still rate the AM ahead. In a straight line they are both quick but the AM makes a great noise. Have toyed with fitting a sports exhaust to the XKR but then think to myself they are just different cars. Don't get me wrong, on a cruise they are both lovely and smooth and quiet in top gear, but the XK is a real pussycat with the S button off and the auto-gearbox in Drive. You can just relax in it, and there are times when that's just what you want.
GR1FF1F said:
Being fortunate enough to have both cars in the garage I get to do a direct comparison on a day to day basis. Admittedly the XKR is the past model rather than the current and one of the reasons I plumped for the Vantage this time round was for a little variety. I find the AM far more of a driving experience, the manual box keeps you more involved and when cornering there is far less roll. The Jag has adaptive suspension and I recently fitted 20" rims which give better traction and more road feel, but in handling I still rate the AM ahead. In a straight line they are both quick but the AM makes a great noise. Have toyed with fitting a sports exhaust to the XKR but then think to myself they are just different cars. Don't get me wrong, on a cruise they are both lovely and smooth and quiet in top gear, but the XK is a real pussycat with the S button off and the auto-gearbox in Drive. You can just relax in it, and there are times when that's just what you want.
Lucky guy )However in term of driving experience the new XK is very different from the previous one.
I had the opportunity to test the previous XKR and the new XK (I will have the XKR for a week-end but not yet tested).
The new XK is a much better driving experience (but note I still consider great the XKR which is probably more fashinating).
As I said I tested the XK cabrio so I assume the XKR will be even better.
Handling is definitively better, better braking capabilities and the sound is completely different and really gorgeous.
The gearbox is definitively better and quicker than the previous (and the XKR is even quicker) even if it is still not manual âs for the V8 and it does change gear itself when you reach the limit.
Of course the V8 is definitively shorter (but I never test it) but the weight is similar and the XKR has more power and torque.
I stil believe the new XKR can really fight also in terms of pure performance with the V8 but it can also offer much more flexibility as a real GT
I did test drive the new XK but the R was not available at the time. Found the experience slightly underwhelming from a driving perspective although was pretty happy with the build and comfort. I know the R was very well received in the press and on TV so am willing to believe that it is a step up on both the existing R and the standard XK. Tough choice for anyone who has to make it - enjoy the test weekend.
GR1FF1F said:
I did test drive the new XK but the R was not available at the time. Found the experience slightly underwhelming from a driving perspective although was pretty happy with the build and comfort. I know the R was very well received in the press and on TV so am willing to believe that it is a step up on both the existing R and the standard XK. Tough choice for anyone who has to make it - enjoy the test weekend.
New R is really quite different to the new non-R. That is, unless you're just driving normally, when its identical.steelej said:
Hey Alex, when did you own a DB9?
I should also add that I didn't rate the V8 much either, all it had going for it over the XKR was the Aston name.
John.
Do you remember back when I was on the Aston forum discussing what you guys thought of young owners? I had the car already and I decided to downgrade and wait 3-4 more years like the gentlemen over there suggested, I think I made the right choice with the XK, I love it. I really want to go on one of those cross-country races and for that me and my dad will be driving a V8 Vantage. It is a great car, no doubt, but to me it is on a different level than the R.I should also add that I didn't rate the V8 much either, all it had going for it over the XKR was the Aston name.
John.
Edited by steelej on Thursday 6th September 10:46
P.S What is going on? have you pushed the R over 100 yet
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