manunitedfc

Aston Martin Vantage, what do you reckon?

DynamicMotoring

Aston. Come on, youre from the UK, you shouldnt need to ask!

manunitedfc

have never driven the Vantage, but don't think the interior will be as good as the SL?

jmf003

The Vantage is a nice car but the retractable hardtop on the SL63 makes it an easy choice.

WSH

May want to test-drive a new AM....

Test-drove a DB9 for 50mis or so back in ?'05.....IMO, one of least impressive $100K+ cars on planet in terms of perf/dynamics/ergonomics/quality of materials/safety/daily-useability.....perhaps a car to buy some engineering-clueless, aspirational brand-oriented wife/nanny, etc who views cars as part of her tacky costume jewelry....

Have always been mystified why cos. like AM/B/L/Audi/BMW, etc get so much positive press, yet, when test-driven by even a mediocre but jaded driver, so obviously struggle w/basics like tq/smoothness/advcd gearboxes/steering/brakes/safety/ergonomics/high-quality interior materials, etc etc.....awful engineering wrapped in an aspirational brand....but would guess smartest engineers have chosen to work for (or start) SiliconValley tech cos. for past 10-20yrs, so ranks of talented engineers at auto cos. are prob fairly sparse at this stage....and oligopolized by AMG, Ferrari and Porsche.....

transferred

Your posts get more outrageous by the day. Agree that the Aston's are not up to snuff as driving machines but saying Audi and BMW are behind Merc technologically is madness. Audi came out with DSG years ago while BMW brought SMG to the table, which Merc is now going with in the form of the single wet clutch MCT. Cars like the R8 and M5 are benchmark cars for a reason. Also, try driving a W12A8 and tell me it's not luxury. True, the S-Class is for me the best luxo car out there but the others bring their own attributes/attitude to the table.

I'm certainly not saying Merc are inferior, but I do feel that saying that BMW and Audi are is way off beat.

As for Lexus well their reliability/safety is top of the range from some experience driving an LS

Sunny55

I would take a SL63 over a Vantage anyday. But, I woudl take a DB9 over a SL63 anyday

BrabusTrojanSL

The Vantage feels so cheap, even though it doesn't look it. When I close the door to drive it, it feels like I am closing the door on a Toyota. So flimsy. SL door is powerful, and secure IMO

mjr24

Most be a Silicon valley/engineer/type thing.....or maybe the way he speaks/types/writes, etc. Stopped reading his posts a month ago. Very stereotypical person....not exactly the way to be considering he lives in San Fran. Enough said.

SL2003driver

You seem to be in the position to drive a lot of great cars. From reading some of your other posts you can even trade high $$$ cars within 1 year and buy another high $$$ car. That has to cost a ton in depreciation. Your living the dream.

Goyard

The Aston Martin Vantage is/feels so cheap, I can't stand it.

But the DBS (or the ordinary DB9) is a different story. I love my SL but next time around, I would honestly rather buy an DBS/DB9 than another pedestrian and mass-produced AMG SL.

RezF

Perhaps, my chiming in is a bit more relative than others' since I have had an SL 55 (2004) and currently own an Aston Martin Vantage (2008).
The fit and finish of the Aston are SUPERB, second to none. Yeah, there are some Volvo and Ford elements in it, i.e. the NAV screen and the Key Fob, but that is about it. The immense amounts of leather and alcantara used all around the interior as well as the custom hand stitching easily make the
Aston far more luxurious and exclusive than the SL, IMO. The engineering on the car is excellent, with handling and braking that will run circles around the heavier SL. Sure, the SL has an out of your seat feel when launched in a straight line, but the Vantage is quite a capable car too. Just check out some of the lap times around world tracks on www.fastestlaps.com You can see that it fairs better or comparable to the SL. The universal appeal of its gorgeous lines still leave me breathless. The rarity of the car is a big plus. Also, the car has not had any of the major issues one traditionally associated with British engineering. they have really done a great job

I have no idea what you are talking about. All I can say is have a look at this video I posted on youtube about starting up the Aston. You can see/hear that as I close the door, the solidness of the door shows. it doesn't sound flimsy at all, and makes the outside noise vanish with its insulation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZK5O...eature=related

jmf003

Thanks for the fastest laps link. Hadn't previously run across that site.

SL2003driver

The Aston is a beautiful car. Who wouldn't want one

manunitedfc

Thanks for that RezF, interesting. Certainly a different view to BrabusTrojan

SLK55R

aren't they supposed to be coming out with a fast vantage? Get that one. Current one is just too slow.

manunitedfc

I think so. Sounds good unless its the 'no carpets & no radio' variety. As much as I like the new SL I think the vantage is a much more 'appealing' shape.

IngenereAMG

I have a Vantage, along w/my SL55, and I really like it. The quality of the Aston is brilliant. It really makes the SL look like a mass produced car (which it is). Dynamically, the 55's engine is really tough to beat. At the track I am quicker on a road course in the SL55, but the AM 'feels' better, and that is down to the AMG's electronics numbing things a bit. The Aston is far more tactile.

I enjoy both cars and I would not want to choose between the two.

manunitedfc

Thanks for that. Would you say that the Vantage would be okay for day to day use?

X5_E320

My dad is in the market for a Roadstar. Our local jaguar dealer has one, but the wrong color. And our village is not big, and yesterday I was runing and there is one guy who owned a Maserati 4200 and now got his Aston V8 coupe and I spotted it yesterday. It is brand new and yet my dad need a roadstar after he also saw this car today. The SL63 is the "better" car but if you love a car you must take it.

jmf003

Exactly!

manunitedfc

test drove the vantage, not impressed, at all.
have now test driven the F430 and the new SL 63. F430 is better, until I decided to test one more car, the new Porsche 997 Turbo.

Verdict, the Porsche has been ordered, no contest imo.

Schiznick

How did you pick a 997 Turbo over a 430?

What were you looking for?

manunitedfc

I think the porsche is better for day to day use &, is faster. (& the 2 seats in the back are useful).

SLK55R

Should take a look at the revised gallardo as well. They changed a ton of things on that car. Engine, chassis, suspension ... etc.