New car purchase advice

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Some of you may already know I have been dicking around on my new car purchase for a couple of months now.

I am going to be keeping my Z4 as a daily runaround, and have now pretty much decided on a White Aston Martin V8 Vantage. I have not decided on whether to go nearly new, which would be the 4.7 or a 2 year old model which would be the 4.3. About 20k separates the 2 in price....

Just want some thoughts from some of you who may know of others who have had them, re reliability, issues etc.

I know a few others have said to go for the Maserati instead, but I just prefer the look of the Aston.
 
Nice. I would go for the 4.7. Now before anyone starts, I don't doubt that the 4.3 is a great car, but I remember at the time it was billed as being nice looking and sounding, but a bit of an also ran in terms of drive and performance... both of which were sorted with the 4.7. Again, that is for the money and comparative to the competition.

The model change occurred 2 years ago, so if you were going to buy that late a model 4.3, surely buy a car a few months newer and get an early 4.7? The price difference would be a lot less and you'd still have 12 month's worth of warranty.

Only know of one person that had one, early 4.3 from new, and didn't hear of any problems.

Personally I don't think it is a good car for white, but you know what you like. So the only observation ref colour is that white was the colour to have a few years ago and it seems to be on the way out... if it does go out of fashion again (as white has in the past) the car itself doesn't carry it well enough (unlike say a 911) to avoid a big hit come sale time.

All that aside, will be a lovely purchase and look forward to seeing the pics!

:thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the advice.

Just a couple of more Q's if I may....

I'm going for the sportshift...and if I don't got for the White, perhaps the black. Any thoughts on the shape...better as a coupe or a roadster?

Heading towards the coupe, as I will have the Z. But any other cars I should be thinking of? Not thinking of an R8 though.....
 
I'd be like you... I'd look at the coupe if I had a roadster already. Both are great looking cars.

IIRC you're not a big 911 fan? In the market you're looking at it would be a strong contender, although the Carreras are a little common around here at the moment. The GT3 is a monster, but possibly a little raw for what you want. Not sure if the pricing fits, but I'd be all over the new GTS...
Autocar Porsche 911 Carrera GTS review
Evo Porsche 911 Carrera GTS review

I know there is a new model around the corner, but given the reviews I suspect the GTS will follow the cult following the 996 C4S recieved - prices there overlapped with the 997 at one stage.

Again, this is something I'd be looking at, these things are a work of art, and so far residuals are looking good:
www.psautoart.com

As for any other options, the GranTurismo is stunning, but you ruled that out.
Ferrari, great cars, but not for me. Not sure why.
Mercedes, meh. Although a CLK Black would be high on my wish list!
Lamborghini, friend has a Gallardo which seems to be easy to live with - although they try and take the pi$$ with the servicing. He took it in once and they gave him the work schedule - included putting it on a jig to straighten the chassis > "is that really necessary?" "No. But..." "Well, how much does it cost?" "£1,500?"
Jaguar, the XKR is a fantastic car and proper fast, but you'd always be thinking about the Aston.
Nissan GT-R, great piece of engineering, but too big and too clinical for me.

Sure there are others on here with a better real world idea of these cars. But like any other car, get out and drive them! One thing... make sure you lock it at night :poke:
 
Ha ha...although client of mine has two AMGs and he swears he locked his cars, and that some gadgetry my have one the work when they were broken into.....

Maser still an outside possibility...and 911, GTR and Gallardo all no nos....

Maybe a Bentley again....but V12 isn't good news these days......
 
Kryton said:
Nickm said:
Ha ha...although client of mine

Maybe a Bentley again
Click to expand...


Possibly try opening the door next time to take an internal shot (and not a photo taken through the car window) then I/we might believe you own the car.
Click to expand...

With a Birds Custard inside?

This is how Jason Plato proved his identity to people on Pistonheadplatowins.jpg
XSpi4MIH.jpg
 
Custard smeared all over my naked body in the seat coming up when it comes and dont blame me if you go blind.....

Back to cars Pawn...

Went to Stratstones on Western Avenue this morning and they had a 10 V8...but no 400 kit on it so perhaps not the best of cars.

Otherwise no pre owned stock in either 4.3 or 4.7..but still two months away from buying so will see what comes up
 
I don't agree with Clarksons moaning on the 4.3. I've driven one and it felt / was plenty quick enough. It's a better long distance car than a Z but keeps the pace and handling, adds a more compliant ride and that phenomenal noise. The 4.7 is probably better of course, but £20k difference is a serious gap.

The 997 (S) on paper is a better drivers car; it certainly feels more precise, it's instantly comfortable and familiar, a blast to drive. It's much cheaper to service (20k intervals and half the price of the Aston), better on fuel, etc etc. But its not quite as magical as the Aston, which is the only car I've ever driven where people let you out on roundabouts and stare even when it's their right of way.....

Cant go wrong with either
 
Thanks Mike. Dealer was saying very few 07 Sportshift Roadsters around as they were all launch cars....if i go for an 07 at about 55, will spend 5k on the clear rear lenses and new shadow line wheels, which is money well spent to make an older car look a little different in my eyes...
 
Nickm said:
Back to cars Pawn...

Went to Stratstones on Western Avenue this morning and they had a 10 V8...but no 400 kit on it so perhaps not the best of cars.

Otherwise no pre owned stock in either 4.3 or 4.7..but still two months away from buying so will see what comes up
Click to expand...

Agree with mikedav, either will be great. Although if I was going for the 4.3 I'd go with a slightly older one, surely the difference between a 2 year old 4.3 and an early 4.7 isn't going to be £20k? If you're happy with a two year old 4.3 I'm not sure you'd need a nearly new 4.7.

mikedav, it wasn't just Clarkson (take what he says with a bucket of salt). I think the main issue was the then new XKR, which is a barnstormer.

The Astons certainly do have a certain something special about them. Quite simply put, if you can, you should :driving:
 
If you go with the Aston Martin it would have to be a 4.7 roadster. That engine is far too sweet to deprive yourself of hearing it properly! So what if you already have a drop top? It's not like the coupe Vantage has any more seats or considerably more boot space than the roadster.

Also keep in mind that the sportshift is an automated manual transmission like BMW's SMG was, compared to the Zeds DCT it's prehistoric....
 
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