Well, as much as I love this car, I gotta admit that I'm starting to get that "itch". And, it's not even a daily driver!

I went to my local Aston Martin dealer to see the new Vantage 8 and brought home a brochure (told my wife it came in the mail-wasn't sure of the reaction LOL). So, while the wife and kids are eating breakfast yesterday I go get it and start thumbing through it. Wife says to my 9 yr old son: "look James, Daddy's going thru his mid-life crisis". So, I just laugh and tell him i've always been into cars. My wife says: "Are you going to buy it?" I'm trying to stay cool and not show too much excitement so I just say, Nah, just looking at the pics and besides I heard that there's a 2 year wait. She says, "if you want it put your name on the list" Holy Crap did she just say what I think she said! I looked at her and she just said "I've given up trying to figure out why you do the things you do. I'm just happy that we're in a position that you can"

Those that know me here know that is the WRONG thing to say to me! So, now the wheels are spinning. I have been thinking that it would be nice to have a more sporty / involving drive, especially since I don't drive it every day. And when I do take it out, it's usually just to take the car out and have fun with it.

I went to my Porsche dealer yesterday and will be test driving a 997S this week. The Aston is not even out so I can't drive that. Besides, as beautiful as it is, it is really slow. 5.5 0-60? What were they thinking? But, reports on it have been very positive with respect to h andling. It is also expensive - probably leave the showroom at around 120-125K. I may as well cough up a few more $ and get the new 997TT. The alternative is of course (gulp) an M5. Just saw some pics of a white/red and it looked great.

It seems that MB has decided that the CLS will be the performance car moving forward. I hate the CLS. I also have zero confidence that MB will radically change the way their cars handle/feel, hence why im thinking. And as I've said, I don't really need it to be practical.

I would hate to give up the torque and neck snapping acceleration and be able to take the family on any long trips in it. Ideally, I would love to keep it and get the sports car. Maybe a lightly optioned or pre-owned 997S?

My other concern is of course with the pending 63 and the CLS becoming the "favored" model is the tanking in resale my car will take.

Realistically I don't see myself doing anything until this time next year (but you never know ). Plus, that gives me more time to try to sell my wife on an "addition" and not a swap!

So, what do you guys think: Get on the Vantage list, go for a 997S, or just go totally nuts and get on the list for a 997TT!! I think that's the only one that I would not give any thought to "missing" any of the E's attributes. But who knows, having never driven a 997S, maybe I'll just fall in love with that.

Alex, if you're reading this, it's all your fault!! Driving your M5 and feeling how that thing handled got me to thinking about this!

 

I fall in and out of love with cars so often it's not even funny, and have owned several different ones within the last 5-6 years on my quest for the ultimate "all in one" machine -- I've only got room for one car in my condo complex (wife's wheels are in the other space). So I finally settled on the e55 wagon, since it's pretty much the ultimate be-all, end-all marriage of power and utility and style. But I definitely feel your pain on the "restlessness" itch you've got now.

I used to take the "long way" to dealers to test drive whatever I had a woody for that day/week/month, drive the crap out of the tester and then take a long drive home in my then-current car, using the experience and fresh comparison to reconnect with what i fell in love with in the current car, and asking myself, "hmmm... do you really want to take a bath on the sale/trade and then spend a chunk of dough on this other ride for the marginal improvement in ______?" At the e55 level of car, there's going to be really slight differences in competing cars -- we're not comparing it with a Ford Tempo, after all -- so you're going to have to ask yourself the tough questions about whether it's worth it to you.

At the end of it, though, once you're able to rationalize the decision to switch cars, there's no reason to hesitate -- why deny yourself that which you want and are able to have? I've never regretted any of the car buying decisions I've made, using the foregoing "process" (complemented by a healthy dose of the emotional satisfaction that whatever car A v. car B would give factored in for good measure).

Happy motoring!

v

p.s. my wife is the same way. still, even though it's affordable, my upbringing is a check on my impulses and my natural guilt feelings require that I can rationalize the decision!

 

You raise good points about test driving. And believe me, I do smile every time I get in my car and hit the gas! I know there is no ultimate or perfect car, but I do think I would like to get a more hard edged car and see what it's like.

 

i used to have an slk 320 a few years back, with the really nifty red and black interior. that's one i wish i could've kept, but it was just too small. lately i've been thinking that if i can find a ~30k miles clean slk 230 for around $20k, i'll park it out on the street and use it as a commuter/toss-around car for kicks -- something i wouldn't have to worry too much about getting dinged in a parking lot, etc., and that gets more than 11 mpg like the '55

either that or a similarly low-miles slk 32 in the mid $20k's... once bitten by the supercharger bug, it's really tough to think about natural aspiration (unless it's a 426 Hemi...)!

probably in 2-3 years i'll pick something like that up. it's totally impractical, but it's more of a primal need... and cheap enough so that none of the voices in my head will raise an eyebrow (forgive the mixed metaphor!)...

v

 

I drove 997s and it is one of the best cars i ever driven!!!! Its damn fast too, and handling is out of this world!

 

The vantage slips in between the sl500 and sl55 in price and performance with a sub 5 seconds to 60. For maximum performance, I would go for a 997TT...but the aston is a beautiful ride and will be a rarer sight.

The wait list in South Florida is 50 each at the two aston dealers...about 10 months if no one drops off.

 

Hello guys.
i think 997TT is way to go. resale value, handling, power, sportiness, modding, looks and the quality of Porsche. you cant beat that.

 

the new Aston is one awesome ride. There were five of them at a local car event that the Aston Martin dealer threw over in a nearby neighborhood, it was the debut for it with the North America AM President and all..
Well, the V8 Vantage is an awesome looker. It has the lines of an Aston Martin and the size of a Porsche 911. Not only is the gearbox pretty nice and the interior amazing, it is one of the loudest cars available on the market (stock exhaust system). The thing screams when its reved up.

From what I have heard, the handling of it is out of this world. I don't think anyone put it above the Porsche just because well, its a P car and a P car is just that. I think AM has done a great job and come right where they wanted to be with that car, and I think it would be well worth the wait... since I am guessing you would spec it out to exactly what you wanted if you are going to wait.

The 997S. Wow, talk about amazing. Having driven one around for about 4 months periodically, I got about 50+ hours behind the wheel of one, and there is nothing like it. It pulls surprisingly well and the sound and steering feel and the brakes! (PCCB)! The handling characteristics are better than anything on the road, besides the obvious ones, and just the absolutely driving feel of the car is like nothing else. I think it would without a doubt be a solid choice with solid resale and lots of driver enjoyment.

From what I have heard about the 997 Turbo, 473 hp and 457 Lbft of torque from a lowly 2000 rpm or so... talk about a sweet car. That will be a beast and it will keep its value for a while, as will the Carrera S but to the obvious lesser extent. I am not sure about how the AM will hold its value since this is a new model with new management and everything... but the last AM we had prior to the DB9 now was a DB7 Vantage, and wow. talk about depreciation, the minute we drove it off the lot it lost something like 40k and I am not even joking you.

Well either way, sorry for the long write up, I think since you are able to comfortably sit back and choose which car you want as your weekender, you will choose the right one. Test drive, Test drive, Test drive and if not then just go with your gut instinct, but either way, you have some sweet options to look at with the 997S, 997 Turbo and V8 Vantage.

Happy hunting!

 

Well, if it isn't your DD, then get the 997TT. No doubt. The M5? Not that different. Why buy a "practical" sedan, if you aren't going to need it? The M5 gets left from light to light by your current E, and at the track by the 997 / Vette. Get something that will DOMINATE somewhere.

 

I went 997S route after E55K and S600TT,best sports car out there,fun to drive incomparable to MBs.
Got rid off that car after just 5 months because could not stand the lack of acceleration I was used to.
Got M5 now ,best of both Worlds......

 

I keep going around and around on these issues. The Aston is spectacular, no doubt about it. The design, fit, and finish are more like jewelry than anything else out there. You should definitely get on the list; you can always back out if you change your mind.

Here's what happened to me. I could justify anything below the $120K price point. I had a Porsche 997S on order, but a couple of points made me hesitate. First, the there are fewer and fewer places where you can actually test the limits of a car like that. Second, I take immaculate care of my cars; in Northern California this seems to make your car a huge target. If you park a perfectly detailed, high-end car almost anywhere around here, there is a HIGH probability you will return to find your car keyed or with fresh door dings. This makes me furious -- I'd love to catch one of these morons in the act -- but it seems to be a reality in a culture where the morons increasingly seem to dominate. Not enough Darwinian selection, if you ask me...

So, in my case I made the mistake of test-driving an E55 wagon; I loved it and ended up taking it home. No, it is not a true "sports car" in the sense of the 997S, but I surprise the hell out of quite a few Porsche drivers on a regular basis. My car is also totally debadged, and seems to be low-key enough that it's not a magnet for cops or the "screw the guy with nice car" (scrraaaatttttchhhh!) idiots. It's a blast to drive, plus I can drive it somewhere like Costco, park carefully, and not worry too much about my ride.

If I had the Aston or Porsche I would drive them a LOT less, and they would become more of a "Sunday Drive" car that would, invariably, be driven only about 10% of the time.

I may have figured out a way to satisfy my performance-car fetish. Goes something like this:

Daily Driver: has to accomodate my 130-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback. Currently a Toyota Sienna; may upgrade to a Mercedes R-Class. Has to be parked outdoors...

Frequent Driver: this would be the E55 wagon, which is garaged and pampered...

*****-to-the-Wall Sports Car: I'm thinking of ordering a Caterham CSR. 260 horsepower in an 1100-pound car makes almost ANY other car you can name look like a beater on Highway One. In the case of the 997, every time you accelerate, brake, or go around a corner, you've got an extra ton of inertial weight to deal with. The Caterham is essentially a superbike on four wheels, and you can really enjoy it's performance in that 20-80 mph range, instead of feeling like you're loafing if you're under 100 mph -- which seems to be the case with most of the high-end sports & GT cars out there...

 

I would go for something more unique... the Vantage... there are P cars on every corner.....

 

You have no choice, she has called your bluff, you must buy the Vantage. :v

 

Maybe you should milk this for all it's worth. If your wife has any James Bond fantasies, I suggest that now is the time to strike...

 

cte430, it would help if you mentioned your other car. If you have something else that hauls @ss, then I'd say go for something with better handling. If your current car already handles damn well, then get the K2 mod on the E55

Btw, why do you guys ask your wives for permission/forgiveness? I'm not married (no rush at 24), but just recently my dad added 2 more classic cars to his collection. My mom didn't even know about them until they were sitting on the driveway.

 

One word: ALIMONY...

 

I drove this car with my dad here in Sydney a week ago...

If there's a 2 year wait in USA you'll be sorely disappointed with the result, especially if you're looking for a sporty involving drive. Go drive the AM V8, and then drive the 997S and see which one is more you.

The V8 vantage is a boulevard cruiser in a tight fitting lycra body suit IMO - looks the goods but thats about it. Uncomparable to a porsche experience. First of all it does not feel like a 5.5 second car - and if it is a 5.5s 0-60 my STi is a 4.0s car (and it's not). With the sound of this engine above 4000rpm WOT, its bark is much bigger than it's bite. And despite being manual, the car felt like it was driving itself. The illusionary heavy clutch didn't require any finese to control. The steering felt good, however we didn't get a chance to test it through the twisties, however the consensus after some low speed hairpins was that it handled well, but would fall far short of a 911.

Long story short the car just wasn't fun. And that was very disappointing because being the car crazy 18yr old I am, I was drooling over the AM before I drove it.

 

Porsche has always been a dream car of mine - in particular the 911 Turbo - of any incarnation.

The current 996TT is awesome car - especially in 'S' form - but forget packing space - its even less than a Ferrari 360. Dunno how they will sort the 997TT given a continuation of the 4wd system - massive intrusion into the front loading bay. PDD clutch will also help a plenty - but we heading into scary territory with this car. New 997TT should be good for sub 4 sec 0-60 ....

So from a practicality point of view 997S is a magical balance between true performance - in every aspect - and versatility - decent packing space (for the car) and can take 2 adults and 2 kids. Nice. Also - unlike Ferrari (et al) - this can be a true daily driver too.

AM V8 is beautifull - the interior awesome ... but as has been said its bark is bigger than its bite. So for me - a no brainer ... even though Porsches are almost dime a dozen - its like that for a reason - its just the best sports car around - taking all aspects into account.

Track car ? Get a Radical and be done with it.

Performance saloon ? E55 or M5 - which ever tickles your fancy. Think we all been down the road of which is better. I think they are opposite sides of same coin ... and mbe always will be.

Rgds Steve.

 

I wouldn't call it permission, but I do think my wife deserves the courtesy of knowing I'm going to go out and drop 40k on another car before I pull up to the house in it.

 

I already have K2 on the E55. My daily driver is a company car, Volvo S60.

As far as discussing this with my wife. I think she's entitled to know what I do with our money, don't you? I usually end up doing what I want anyway, but it makes things a lot more pleasant to discuss it with them first.

 

That's kind of what I'm thinking. I'll drive the 997S this week and see how I like it. Knowing me I'm afraid I'll end up putting my name on the 997tt list!

 

Get on the list for the TT, or you will be sorry in a few months. The only advantage of 997s is that you can get them now. As for the wife part, I guess you gotta be married to get it. I end up doing whatever i want in the end also, but it is always easier in the long run if you grease the wife along the way. As much as we spend on cars and mods, it can seem pretty crazy to a wife. They love us for the passion we have (among other things), and they generally support us in the end. Last thing you need is to have your wife being "jealous" or spiteful about a car that you LOVE. Takes all the fun out of owning it.

Please o please don't get the M5 as you aren't just looking for a little better handling. Do it right and get a real "toy". Damn, now I gotta set myself up for the TT. I love the front end on the 997 with the aero package. The basic look is soo cheasy to me. I also like the solid fin with it and I assume the TT will be even more aggressive. Anyone know what the release dates are for the TT and TTs?

 

Have no fear - the force of your wife's consent is with you!

 

I'm glad I can be such good influence on you Chris!

I was up in Brooklyn last week, man I should have looked you up...I had the M5 up there. Man your streets in NYC are BRUTAL!!!

I'd get the 997TT, if you want a FUN 4DR, well you sat behind the M

 

Hey Alex wish you would have told me you were coming! Yeah, tell me about the streets

I'm really thinking of the TT. Here's what I may do. First try to sell my car privately (it's in the classified here) and see if anyone wants the car with those mods. If I can't move it I may trade it in for a 997S and put my name on the list for the TT. Keep the 997S for a year or until my name gets called and then trade that for the TT. I gotta figure a 1 yr. old 997S will be worth more in a trade for the TT than my (then) 3 yr. old E55. What do you think? I checked some used 997s and there's not a hell of huge difference between them and new. Besides, i'm hoping that my plan may get the porsche salesman's attention.