What to get next?

[siw06]

• *After writing a massive post pouring my heart out on the hows and whys I only went and lost the lot by clicking something I shouldn't so this time I'm keeping it short and sweet.***

Calling all past and present Aston Owners, where did you or will you go from here?

Have asked simialr questions on PH and on other forums but I thought I'd ask here to get direct experiences.

I'm selling my V8V after 4 years of ownership, and I've had a DB9. I fancy a change from the Marque so what should I get, the shortlist is as follows and is a bit random:

R8 V8
Nissan GTR
Porsche (Turbo or GT3)

It will be a daily driver

I will expand my reasoning later

[siw06]

Jay_Davis said:

There's no where to go as a daily diver car. You've reach the top. The only better way to get to work is a helicopter.

Hmmm, food for thought

[siw06]

These are the cars i've considered and driven, I've never taken this long to buy a new car before so thats a testament to Aston.

GrandTourismo
Positives
Engine noise (with the windows down)
Looks

Negatives
flappy paddles - can't fully overide even in 'M' mode
I feel a bit young to be driving one (33)
A bit too shielded from the exhaust noise
The 'S' was noisier but £80k...

GTR
+
Planted
Fast
Rare
best flappy paddle i've tried

-
Interior - wish they'd stop trying to make plastic look like metal!
Too fast for the road perhaps?
Too quiet - Y-pipe would fix that though
40 miles to my nearest service centre

R8 V8
+
very capable
easy to drive
comfortable
Manual gearbox
front end, back end

-
zero practicality
bland interior
too quiet again! By the time you hear the sweet engine noise you're (ahem potentially) breaking the speed limit
Audi Dealers
side profile - looks like a TT

V12V
+
Holy st!!!!
Stunning
customer service
interior
prestige
attitude of others
relative practicality

-
worried every time you see water/mud/grease
too much power?
too fast for the road?
it's too similar to what I've got
having to warm the tyres up to stop you falling off the road

DBS
+
as above but less likely to chew your face off

[siw06]

clorenzen said:

To the V12 Vantage.

It is an easy car to drive and very controllable so your concern with it being too fast for the road is unfounded. As you know with the amv8 it is a very usable car with good space and practicality only with a bit more sting that the amv8 and nicely understated. With the tyres you're right, that they need a bit of respect when cold but not really a massive issue either. I opted for a set of Pirelli Sottozeros to take me through the winter months and they were excellent. If you're happy with your amv8 you'll be ecstatic with a V12 Vantage.

My comment about it being too fast is related to the fact that by the time it's singing in 3rd gear you're doing silly speeds, I just tend to think most modern performance cars cannot be exploited on the public road and I don't have time to do track days. They're just to capable. I'm certainly not ruling it out (or the DBS) I just fancied a year away from the brand to see what is was like.
I don't need 4 seat (yet) but a modicum(SP) of practicality is a must and the Astons tick all the right boxes.

[siw06]

RiccardoG said:

Are you not taking Ferraris/Lambos into consideration sa they're supposedly not that practical?

I'm in the middle of buying a 355 Spider to replace my Lotus. So I am well and truly scratching that itch. I'm not to keen on the looks of the newer Ferrari's, 485 Italia excluded.

So my daily driver has a lot of boxes to tick. I know porsche is an option but they don't sound great and the interiors are not really to my taste but I've yet to drive either the Turbo or the GT3. They're on my shortlist.

Edited by siw06 on Wednesday 24th March 22:10

[siw06]

I feel your pain...

I really wanted a convertible, was talked out of it once when I had the DB9, that's why I've gone for the 355 Spider, not the ultimate Ferrari but I don't need it to be.

I fancy a year off or so. My only question is do I really need 2 mid engined V8's....er no. The GTR is an itch I'd like to scratch but it is far from my dream car it's a pretty good daily driver, perhaps a 6 month stint will cure that?

I quite like the SL65AMG but again I feel a bit young yet for a merc.

[siw06]

Murph7355 said:

siw06 said:

...
I really wanted a convertible...that's why I've gone for the 355 Spider, not the ultimate Ferrari but I don't need it to be.

355 in any flavour remains one of the best Ferraris ever made (and one of the best cars ever made full stop) IMNSHO.

I'd personally only ever consider a 355B though. More pure shape, handling etc. Epic cars.

They can also take the miles if serviced properly, and will *always* feel special no matter how much you use it.

Have very fond memories of my old one.

Final negtiations on a one owner car currently under way, hoping it will be the first in my 'collection'