XKR vs DB7 i6
Author
Discussion

Stick Legs

Original Poster:

8,637 posts

191 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
quotequote all
Hi,

this has probably been asked before in one way or another but...

I have £18ish K to spend and will be buying a 2dr big coupe with the money.

My preference after having 2 XJ-S' (3.6 and a V12) in the past is for a brit coupe in the classic mould.

The ones that have caught my eye at my budget are the early DB7 and late (mk1) Jaguar XKR.

I have great access to a Jag specialist, and a relly good ability to look after cars myself. I am in the Merchant navy so the car will be my 'daily' (my wife runs an '08 Volvo S40) but will not be doing the commute, just fun and the occasional food shop!

My big fear is Depreciation, I feel that the DB7 will never be any lower than around £12k and the XKR will do the traditional Jag swan dive into oblivion.

So, anyone who has owned either or both what do you suggest?

Cheers.


anonymous-user

80 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
quotequote all
Aside from the badge on the nose and (subjectively) the looks the i6 DB7 is vastly inferior to a late XKR in every single way. It's based on an ancient platform and it shows in the way it drives, the way it's built and the interior. The engine is also not really very special, being slow to build and loose revs and not really very sporting at all - the 4.2 supercharged V8 is in another league.

The i6 DB7 rates as the biggest disappointment I have ever driven.

Dave

CraigVmax

12,248 posts

308 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
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my friend had a db7 vantage, he subsequently bought my 1999 XKR off me and said it was superior in every way. qed.

williamp

20,204 posts

299 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
quotequote all
As a committed Aston fan, I'd have to agree with these. For that price, you can get the very best XKR, or the oldest DB7. The latter could be more trouble then its worth. The early DB7's had alot of teething problems, but their rarity and badge means they probably wont depreciate much lower.

As people are now adertising older XKR at £6k plus, its likely a newer XKR will folow the same pattern.

But hey, in a few years we wont be allowed to drive cars like these, so why worry about depreciation?? Why not enjoy the life you have?

Oh, and a new shape XK is almost within budget, It's not an XKR, but they are even better still.

XKRacer

496 posts

233 months

Tuesday 11th January 2011
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^^^ Ditto ^^^^


XKR is way and far beyond a 6 pot DB7


OR



Get a DB7 and put an XKR engine in it, now that would be curious wink

Edited by XKRacer on Tuesday 11th January 20:29

Simpo Two

92,002 posts

291 months

Wednesday 12th January 2011
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The DB7 is older tech, but it looks gorgeous. Whilst 'I'll get the Jag out' sounds pretty good, saying 'I'll get the Aston' is pretty much four aces IMHO (even if it is a bit older and only a 'cheap' Aston) smile

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 12th January 10:24

OzzyUk

45 posts

186 months

Monday 17th January 2011
quotequote all
if you can strech another 1-2k then the V12 is on the cards, i have seen them sub 20k with 35-50k miles on...

Obviously running costs of the Aston are higher, but it will only Appreciate if looked after well.
The Jag will only depreciate.

If it was my money it would be the DB7, but thats because Mrs Oz has been begging me to get her a DB7 for a few years now...
Will probably have one (as long as they done appreciate too much too soon!!!) It will be the V12 and we will keep it for a while.

my 2p's worth...

OzzyUk

45 posts

186 months

Monday 17th January 2011
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this V12 vantage with 97k miles on it went at 19k...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2066150.htm

depends how much earnest you put on the milage. the V12 will go on, and on, and on...

as long as they have had a suspension refresh shouldnt really be any more expensive to own than a low milage one... I believe the V12s have been known to make more power at higher milage as they have bedded in nicely!

Cooky

4,955 posts

263 months

Monday 17th January 2011
quotequote all
As someone who is a self confessed 'Jag addict', I/we were in a similar position.
Already in possesion of an XJS v12 convertible and a XJR6 (stolen by wifebeast) we were condidering an xk8/R but opted for the DB7.

If you are able to turn a deaf ear to those who profess the 7 isn't a real Aston..blah feckin blah you end up with arguably one of the most beautiful chic coupes ever built. Ours is 98 series 2 and was purchased for <£13k, with 68k miles FSH mostly Aston and indies and other than replacing a thermstat and two tyres it has been amazing to own and drive around North Devon's scenic countryside...I've even almost 'neglected' the Cerbera by opting to hoon to town in the 7 and generaly taking the long way there and back.

These cars are most unlikely to depreciate below £12k, something which the Jaguars will almost certainly do.

Now in no way do I suggest one is better than the other, however just driving the Aston gives you a great buzz.




OzzyUk

45 posts

186 months

Monday 17th January 2011
quotequote all
Cooky said:
As someone who is a self confessed 'Jag addict', I/we were in a similar position.
Already in possesion of an XJS v12 convertible and a XJR6 (stolen by wifebeast) we were condidering an xk8/R but opted for the DB7.

If you are able to turn a deaf ear to those who profess the 7 isn't a real Aston..blah feckin blah you end up with arguably one of the most beautiful chic coupes ever built. Ours is 98 series 2 and was purchased for <£13k, with 68k miles FSH mostly Aston and indies and other than replacing a thermstat and two tyres it has been amazing to own and drive around North Devon's scenic countryside...I've even almost 'neglected' the Cerbera by opting to hoon to town in the 7 and generaly taking the long way there and back.

These cars are most unlikely to depreciate below £12k, something which the Jaguars will almost certainly do.

Now in no way do I suggest one is better than the other, however just driving the Aston gives you a great buzz.
what he said... I cant wait until i can have that Aston Buzz too smile

Steven Quas

108 posts

185 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
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If you enjoy driving, it has to be the XKR. The DB7 is nice to look at, but not to drive.

Steven Quas , Hamburg

w824gb3

261 posts

248 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
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My friend has a late model low milage DB7 V12 Vantage manual. Its the most beautiful car ever. But when he let me drive it was the biggest dissapointment of all time. The ride & handling are from the dim and distant past, the packaging is awfully cramped & the gearbox felt like it came off a tractor (auto might be better) and as for the fiesta switches across the dash.............

Simpo Two

92,002 posts

291 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
w824gb3 said:
My friend has a late model low milage DB7 V12 Vantage manual. Its the most beautiful car ever. But when he let me drive it was the biggest dissapointment of all time. The ride & handling are from the dim and distant past, the packaging is awfully cramped & the gearbox felt like it came off a tractor (auto might be better) and as for the fiesta switches across the dash.............
Yes. But it looks drop-dead gorgeous from the outside and has 'Aston Martin' written on it.

That's the dilemma!




I suppose if we all put pure driving ability above looks we'd all have Imprezas/Evos etc?

OzzyUk

45 posts

186 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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Simpo Two said:
I suppose if we all put pure driving ability above looks we'd all have Imprezas/Evos etc?
i think you mean Lotus' not Imprezas/Evos smile Pure drivers cars.

Simpo Two

92,002 posts

291 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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I needed something fast but ugly wink

XKRacer

496 posts

233 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Yes. But it looks drop-dead gorgeous from the outside and has 'Aston Martin' written on it.

That's the dilemma!
The perfect idea for a retro........ Take a one DB7, take one XKR.....one twin screw supercharger,a few extra goodies.... Pop into a blender.... Voila, the perfect car, Imagine it....drop dead looks of a DB7 with all the driving finese of a XKR..... Now someone give me...eeerrrr.. £50K and I will make it happen smile

Simpo Two

92,002 posts

291 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
What makes the 'driving difference' between the two? Could you not start with a DB7 and tart up the suspension, brakes etc?

I test-drove a DB7 i6 Volante last year and it was not unlike my old XJ40 with the roof removed. Quiet, soft, slow unless you boot it. But you do feel King of the Road, and when you outrank everything else on the road you don't have to keep proving it by overtaking things biggrin

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 21st January 20:34

a8hex

5,832 posts

249 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
XKRacer said:
Simpo Two said:
Yes. But it looks drop-dead gorgeous from the outside and has 'Aston Martin' written on it.

That's the dilemma!
The perfect idea for a retro........ Take a one DB7, take one XKR.....one twin screw supercharger,a few extra goodies.... Pop into a blender.... Voila, the perfect car, Imagine it....drop dead looks of a DB7 with all the driving finese of a XKR..... Now someone give me...eeerrrr.. £50K and I will make it happen smile
Someone shoehorned the Aston V8 (not the new one, the real one) into a DB7, I wonder whether the Eatons from the Vantage would fit too?