V8 Vantage V Porsche 911 (997) - Page 5 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

Hi Guys - I am in teh market for a new car - cannot decide between the V8 Vanatage and the Porsche 911 (997) - Any views or comments? Im looking at a 2007 or 2008 model for either.

One is engineered to keep it away from effecting DB9 sales and the other is the car they engineer the Cayman to stay away from. With respect, if you'd driven a Vantage you'd see what I mean - it is a car crying out for more power and the fit and finish isn't even close to German standards.

Well you're obviously going to get biased views on here, but if you are concerned about reliability, build quality and residuals, then it has to be the Pork.

I loved my Vantage... for 6 weeks before selling it and buying another 911. They look and sound fantastic but they're slow and heavy and feel like driving a bus compared to a 997. I'd never have another Aston, but I will have another 997.

If you like power - then you need the 4.7. Problem is, for 4.7 money - you can get a gen2 997 PDK C2S, or a gen1 Turbo, or...

Looked at both, went for the Porsche. It's a better car. The V8V would be a nice toy, but the 997 is a better everday proposition, it's faster, uses less fuel, easier to look after and faster. The V8V would see you get more attention however.

that V8 sounds a lot better though :-) thing to me is a 997C is the bottom of the 911 range, I would always want a Turbo,GT3,GT2,RS etc and would rather a Cayman S over a standard 911. infact the Cayman is the better car imho. a V8 vantage is what it is. totally personal choice. Also nothing like saying to someone "I own an Aston" "fancy going out in the Aston today" lol just has a nice ring to it, When people ask you and you have to say "I own a Porsche" a lot of people just think you are a cock. sad but true and can be bad for business, it's a shame the 911 mark does that to some people. I have had many clients who have had to sell their 911's to keep face with their clients. (not my views btw, I am looking into buying a GT3 myself and will have to put up with the label which goes with them) I bet if your stuck in a side road your more likly to be let out in the Aston. You could always look at an Aston N400 a much more focused ride over standard. In the end only you know what you want.

Yeah but the Vantage is a bit like "he couldn't afford a proper Aston" whereas the 911 - "He's got a proper Porsche" Do i need my coat

Guys - Thanks for the comments so far - most interesting to see the different views. Im not a expert when it comes to cars, hence my original question. Just looking at the two cars, the V8 looks more compact and like Mr Demon said, I think it has that certain something about it, even though not as powerful as the 911. Price wise, seems like teh cheaper option too...views?

We had an 2009 4.7 Vantage here earlier in the year. It was a glorious thing, real sense of occasion, epic soundtrack, half decent steering, very quick, lots of equipment. Felt far more special than a 997 Carrera. The owner bought it in March 2009. By June 2009 Aston had given up trying to repair the numerous faults with that particular car and gave him a new one. When the second car came here in March 2010 with 5k miles the tyre pressure monitors weren't working, the sat nav was playing silly devils and the parking sensors had a mind of their own. All fixed under warranty, but by that time the chap had fallen deeply out of love with it and went back to German motoring.

I think the Aston looks fantastic inside and out and sounds wonderful. I havent driven one but from all that ive read they really arent close to the 997 from the drivers seat. My financial advisor has one and everytime I see him he tells me another tail of woe about something going wrong and how he wished he had bought a 997 like mine. If I had the room in the garage I would probably get a convertable vantage to go with the 997, then the compromises wouldnt be a probelm for me. Last months Evo just completed a long term test and the guy loved the Vantage, nothing went wrong in the time he had it so maybe they are improving. Price wise they do some reasonable value but so is a 4 year old 997 these days...

a friends Aston at vmax the other week you can just hear it all the way up the runway inside it's silent ish :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJhwyG-RVA I do fancy the N420 when they are a bit cheaper. But as I say take a look at the N400

mrdemon said: that V8 sounds a lot better though :-) thing to me is a 997C is the bottom of the 911 range, I would always want a Turbo,GT3,GT2,RS etc and would rather a Cayman S over a standard 911. infact the Cayman is the better car imho. I don't agree. I had a Cayman S (Gen 1) prior to the 997C2 PDK. The 997 is obviously more powerful and faster, but it's also a more relaxing ride when you're not really going for it and a better day to day car. The Cayman is awesome, and it sounded better (gen 1 engine), but the 997 is a better everyday car and ideal for someone who wants an "entry level supercar" to use everyday (even now with the snow!). In terms of base 997.....I think you need to read up on the Gen 2's. The Gen 2 997 C2 has 351hp, in PDK form is faster than the Gen 1 997C2S, and has brakes that are the same size as the "S" too. In other words, it's faster than a Gen 1 C2S, does better milage and isn't in the top tax band. I opted for a nicely specced Gen 2 997 C2 with the PDK box because tbh, it felt like the ideal car to me outside of the Turbo. Now of course.....I wish I'd had gone for a C4S or C4 lol!.....snow is thick on our industrial estate!

911C is NOT a super car lol, not even entry level with 351BHp. the Cayman S shares all the same parts numbers as the 911 and has twice the load space, I would say the Cayman S is the better day to day car every time, I ran one for 2 years, I could not have ran a 911, not enough room for my business needs.

If you're not worried about the badge try an R8. I've got one at the moment and it's better than both the standard 997s and V8 Vantage IMO

996GT2 said: If you're not worried about the badge try an R8. I've got one at the moment and it's better than both the standard 997s and V8 Vantage IMO Good call. Also try a C63 and GTR - awesome cars.

I had a test drive in a 4.3 V8 Vantage before going for a 997 C2S. Million miles apart in terms of performance, steering feel, comfort, and (somewhat surprisingly) amazingly throttle response. It was so lardy in the V8V - like there was treacle in the throttle cable. In contrast, the C2S felt alive even in normal mode, sport sharpening things up significantly. I just wish I hadn't test driven a GT3 at the same time... It's looking that way in a few months, that is to say, unless the euro takes a nose dive and we're plunged back in to the 1930s.

Hi OP, I was having the same thoughts two months ago. Headed to Stratstones and drove a couple of V8V's - terrific noise, lovely cabin amd pant wettingly pretty to look at. But, climbing back into the Porsche just reminded me of why I have one. It is so much more athletic, responsive and agile. Pretty much killed my interest stone dead. it will be a 997 next........

I was pondering this same question early this year. Got the chance to drive all the Astons on a day out at Millbrook. The Vantage was ok DBS awesome but out of my price range! Went for 997C4s with PDK in the end as car has to be used every day. Lacks a bit of charm of the Aston but is a brilliant piece of engineering and not missed a beat even throughout this crap weather. I think you buy an Aston with your heart and may regret it (high running cost, reliability and residuals ) but you buy a Porsche with your head but still will lust after the Aston. Edited by sbirty on Friday 3rd December 18:19

Never driven the Aston, but love the looks, noise, and the fact it's an Aston Martin. As someone said above, Porsche doesn't have quite the same ring to it.. I'd probably pick the R8

996GT2 said: If you're not worried about the badge try an R8. I've got one at the moment and it's better than both the standard 997s and V8 Vantage IMO +1 But I would say that . Awsome car, just wish Id waited and got the v10. Maybe next year

justin220 said: Never driven the Aston, but love the looks, noise, and the fact it's an Aston Martin. As someone said above, Porsche doesn't have quite the same ring to it.. I'd probably pick the R8 Aston for me too- but I also want to do the 911 thing at some point. These choices don't have to be binary do they. I think the 911 is probably the better sportscar but there is something about Aston - even the baby one that tugs at the wallet of many petrol heads.

Having had both would say thus: The 997 is light and agile with good handling and performance. To get the standard 4.3 without sportspack or engine upgrade- it will be a poor second in terms of driver experience. However, a sportpack car, raises the bar and the engine upgrade gives it more sparkle without having to spend lots more on a 4.7 car. regarding depreciation, i lost a lot more on 997 than the V8 will lose. Inside the vantage wins handsdown, compared the the P which is , well not special at all, and when we come to the looks, well its subjective but the V8 is a pure joy and gets admiration from most- the P neevr gets looked at.

VonSenger said: 996GT2 said: If you're not worried about the badge try an R8. I've got one at the moment and it's better than both the standard 997s and V8 Vantage IMO +1 But I would say that . Awsome car, just wish Id waited and got the v10. Maybe next year Good aren't they Not sure the V10 would be worth the premium from my point of view, nice to have some extra power but it doesn't feel like it needs it. My Vantage felt very slow and unresponsive in comparison, almost felt like a turbo engine with loads of lag, although unlike a turbo engine the power never actually arrives from the Aston 4.3 V8

mrdemon said: 911C is NOT a super car lol, not even entry level with 351BHp. the Cayman S shares all the same parts numbers as the 911 and has twice the load space, I would say the Cayman S is the better day to day car every time, I ran one for 2 years, I could not have ran a 911, not enough room for my business needs. We'll have to agree to disagree - it's a 180mph car. If that's not "entry level supercar" I have no idea what is. In terms of your business needs....on what planet is the front boot not enough for a suitcase / rucksack / weekend kit? The Cayman S is an awesome car but the lack of rear seats hurt it. I went from Cayman S to 997 and the 997 is far more practical for me because I can fit people in the back from time to time.

997 and AMV8 not direct comparators, latter being a 2 seater. If I was looking for a 2 seater I'd certainly be looking elsewhere. If it's an AM you want stretch to a DB9 - better engine, better looks, better interior. All IMO of course. Cheers

I drove a v8v 4.7 cab manual and must admit it was *very* good. Really loved it. Problem it I driver a 996tt manual with a fearnsport map on it... I would have to spend twice as much as the value of my current car to get into the aston. It is a little tough to swollow. At 40-50k (for the model I drove today), I would have one in a heartbeat. At £70k? Nope, not now.

anonymous said: [redacted] Main issue comparing rear load space between Cayman and 911, having been fortunate enough to own both, is the ease in which the bags can be loaded into a Cayman through the tailgate.. As for capacity, I can get the same 2 bags into the back of the 911 as I could into the back of the Cayman.. The front boot is larger in the Cayman than my 911, though, which does mean I am having to go down a size in the case I used to get in the front of the Cayman.. As for Vantage or 911.. Try them both and go for whichever floats your boat and makes you happy.. ... and as for what others think of that.. well.. all the cool people that I know really don't give any thought to what others think of them or the cars that they drive Edited by DavidAL on Monday 6th December 17:45

I went from a 996 C2 Cab to a V8V (4.3) and it was not a good move......I managed 5 months before I'd simply had enough and went back to a 997TT Cab, and have not regretted it for a minute. The Aston looks great and sounds amazing but was built by Ford (and it shows), had some awful driving traits, was unreliable and handled a bit like a boat.......a truly disappointing experience and I'd never buy an Aston again!

Ford Ka key - not what I expected on a car like that - several Volvo bits too - the car seemed built to a budget and not a good one unfortunately. I expected it to be a premium product completely but it wasn't and that was a shame a sit could have been a good car. The build quality let the car down imo (mine was in the garage twice a month every month for the 5 months I owned it). The awful and woeful throttle lag finally did it for me.... Edited by uuf361 on Monday 6th December 21:37

anonymous said: [redacted] back seats are not load space, i need to move computers about, 1 in the front of a Cayman one in the rear no issues. I don't want a 20 kg computer in the back seat under braking or in a crash, it would prob kill you. Cayman is a much more usable car over a 911, even more so over a 911c4 who needs rear seats ? rather have an enigne in the RIGHT place than rear seats :-)

uuf361 said: Ford Ka key - not what I expected on a car like that - several Volvo bits too - the car seemed built to a budget and not a good one unfortunately. I expected it to be a premium product completely but it wasn't and that was a shame a sit could have been a good car. The build quality let the car down imo (mine was in the garage twice a month every month for the 5 months I owned it). The awful and woeful throttle lag finally did it for me.... Edited by uuf361 on Monday 6th December 21:37 The ford key and cheap looking separate key remote were pretty shoddy on a car in this price bracket IMO. The Volvo sat nav was also next to useless, once you get bored of the way it pops out of the dash in a Bond style you quickly realise how poor the system is, it's also not easy to navigate using the flimsy buttons. Mine had panels that weren't quite properly aligned and also had seemed to have a thirst that would rival a Veyron. I could have forgiven all of those things if the car was lively to drive but it was just a dull lump of a car. The 997 I had after was like a go-kart in comparison.

In past 4 years I've owned a 997 C2S, 3 x V8s, a DBS and V12V - all as daily drives. I currently drive a 997TT. Only the DBS and V12V offer a quality of drive that comes close to the Porsche (V12 vantage particularly so). Otherwise you are trading a poorer drive, occasional build niggles, poor fuel economy, higher servicing and a car that's harder to live with all for better looks, better sound, nicer cabin and more road attention. There's no right answer here - just depends where you want the trade off. Edited by polar8 on Tuesday 7th December 11:03

What makes me reluctant to buy a Porsche is their warranty scheme, plain and simple. What is Aston's warranty like?

anonymous said: [redacted] You're really scratching now.............. What you seem to need is a Mondeo Estate, or a white van perhaps?

uuf361 said: Ford Ka key - not what I expected on a car like that - several Volvo bits too - the car seemed built to a budget and not a good one unfortunately. I expected it to be a premium product completely but it wasn't and that was a shame a sit could have been a good car. The build quality let the car down imo (mine was in the garage twice a month every month for the 5 months I owned it). The awful and woeful throttle lag finally did it for me.... Edited by uuf361 on Monday 6th December 21:37 the throttle lag was completely rectified with the sports pack upgrade

355f said: uuf361 said: Ford Ka key - not what I expected on a car like that - several Volvo bits too - the car seemed built to a budget and not a good one unfortunately. I expected it to be a premium product completely but it wasn't and that was a shame a sit could have been a good car. The build quality let the car down imo (mine was in the garage twice a month every month for the 5 months I owned it). The awful and woeful throttle lag finally did it for me.... Edited by uuf361 on Monday 6th December 21:37 the throttle lag was completely rectified with the sports pack upgrade Was that free ? Mine had all the free factory upgrades/fixes and it made next to no difference...... And was a terrible 'feature' of the car.

uuf361 said: 355f said: uuf361 said: Ford Ka key - not what I expected on a car like that - several Volvo bits too - the car seemed built to a budget and not a good one unfortunately. I expected it to be a premium product completely but it wasn't and that was a shame a sit could have been a good car. The build quality let the car down imo (mine was in the garage twice a month every month for the 5 months I owned it). The awful and woeful throttle lag finally did it for me.... Edited by uuf361 on Monday 6th December 21:37 the throttle lag was completely rectified with the sports pack upgrade Was that free ? Mine had all the free factory upgrades/fixes and it made next to no difference...... And was a terrible 'feature' of the car. Having purchased a standard car, I to held the veiws that firstly the throttle delay ( or damping) as Aston call it was a demerit and secondly, it was not as 'go kart' as I would have liked and most of the critisism comes from owners of this car. I had the Aston sportpack fitted, which transforms the handling and the engine pack, which does away with the damping and goves it more poke. This is effectively the N400 spec( with a few bits missing) I would doubt that any of the comments we have seen would apply to this set up. No its not free!

justin220 said: Never driven the Aston, but love the looks, noise, and the fact it's an Aston Martin. As someone said above, Porsche doesn't have quite the same ring to it.. I'd probably pick the R8 +2 As a road car, the R8 is better than the Aston and the 997.

355f said: uuf361 said: 355f said: uuf361 said: Ford Ka key - not what I expected on a car like that - several Volvo bits too - the car seemed built to a budget and not a good one unfortunately. I expected it to be a premium product completely but it wasn't and that was a shame a sit could have been a good car. The build quality let the car down imo (mine was in the garage twice a month every month for the 5 months I owned it). The awful and woeful throttle lag finally did it for me.... Edited by uuf361 on Monday 6th December 21:37 the throttle lag was completely rectified with the sports pack upgrade Was that free ? Mine had all the free factory upgrades/fixes and it made next to no difference...... And was a terrible 'feature' of the car. Having purchased a standard car, I to held the veiws that firstly the throttle delay ( or damping) as Aston call it was a demerit and secondly, it was not as 'go kart' as I would have liked and most of the critisism comes from owners of this car. I had the Aston sportpack fitted, which transforms the handling and the engine pack, which does away with the damping and goves it more poke. This is effectively the N400 spec( with a few bits missing) I would doubt that any of the comments we have seen would apply to this set up. No its not free! Ah, not free which is why my car did not have it then - I don't see why I should pay that much for a car to then have to spend more to make it work like a normal car. Shame on Aston for not fixing the problem imo, as it was very well known.

So based on this thread, a 997 turbo Gen 1 Tip compared with a V8V Sportshift is a daft question....?

Rags said: So based on this thread, a 997 turbo Gen 1 Tip compared with a V8V Sportshift is a daft question....? Yes - imo But, does depend on what you want it for and what you want out of it.

anonymous said: [redacted] Beleive me, I can get a lot more into my 911 (and being 4wd it has less front storage) than you could in a cayman. It is perfectly safe to either put something on the seats or floor behind the driver, or fold the seats down for a surprisingly big space. If you're worried about projectile computers, secure them!

OK - that's enough! You will be comparing the merits of an Astra Van vs Fiesta next ?

On topic, the AMV8 looks and sounds amazing, never owned or driven one, and by all accounts I'm not sure I want to... BUT I still lust after each one I see/ hear, does that make sense???

s_mcneil said: mrdemon said: anonymous said: [redacted] Beleive me, I can get a lot more into my 911 (and being 4wd it has less front storage) than you could in a cayman. It is perfectly safe to either put something on the seats or floor behind the driver, or fold the seats down for a surprisingly big space. If you're worried about projectile computers, secure them! Ditto, I've (securely) transported way more stuff than you could ever fit in a Cayman. I think this is a non arguement, the cayman may have more boot space but you can fit ALOT more stuff in a 911, fact. This is way off topic, but I think the point is not how much each car will physically carry, but the fact that in a Cayman or Boxster luggage will be tucked away out of sight, whereas in a 911 luggage behind the seats will be 'on view' so to speak. Personaly, if using our Boxster for a trip away, I like having the luggage, coats, brolly etc out of sight in either of the boot spaces. However, I'm sure that I'll cope when the time is right to purchase a 911...

vinnie83 said: mrdemon said: back seats are not load space, i need to move computers about, 1 in the front of a Cayman one in the rear no issues. I don't want a 20 kg computer in the back seat under braking or in a crash, it would prob kill you. Cayman is a much more usable car over a 911, even more so over a 911c4 who needs rear seats ? rather have an enigne in the RIGHT place than rear seats :-) Beleive me, I can get a lot more into my 911 (and being 4wd it has less front storage) than you could in a cayman. It is perfectly safe to either put something on the seats or floor behind the driver, or fold the seats down for a surprisingly big space. If you're worried about projectile computers, secure them! Ditto, I've (securely) transported way more stuff than you could ever fit in a Cayman. I think this is a non arguement, the cayman may have more boot space but you can fit ALOT more stuff in a 911, fact. edited for quotes, sorry 'caboosemoose'... Edited by s_mcneil on Thursday 9th December 15:00

anonymous said: [redacted] Oops, sorry, fixed...

anonymous said: [redacted] Au contraire Sir I have a Cayman and some folk think I have spent upwards of 100 large ones because I have a Porsche. Non petrol head Joe Public has no idea what a GT2 , GT3 , 997 , 987, 996 , 964 , 993 etc etc etc is , if it has a P badge then they are impressed.. in my experience anyway ... and I must add , not the reason I bought one. Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 10th December 12:12

Waitforme said: anonymous said: [redacted] Au contraire Sir I have a Cayman and some folk think I have spent upwards of 100 large ones because I have a Porsche. Non petrol head Joe Public has no idea what a GT2 , GT3 , 997 , 987, 996 , 964 , 993 etc etc etc is , if it has a P badge then they are impressed.. in my experience anyway ... and I must add , not the reason I bought one. Edited by Waitforme on Friday 10th December 12:12 I agree with the original point. Some people might be impressed with the Porsche, but far less than would be impressed with the Aston. Porsche's are simply too common (and not nearly as pretty as the Aston either).

anonymous said: [redacted] I can agree, most of the time I can go for a drive in my turbo without anyone taking a 2nd glance. The only people who really notice are guys obviously into their cars. Whereas when I see an Aston drive by, lots of people (including myself) tend to notice it.

vinnie83 said: anonymous said: [redacted] I can agree, most of the time I can go for a drive in my turbo without anyone taking a 2nd glance. The only people who really notice are guys obviously into their cars. Whereas when I see an Aston drive by, lots of people (including myself) tend to notice it. Thats the appearl of them for some people. They don't want to be noticed and be a bit more discreet. If you want loud, go with a loud colour. Koing

s_mcneil said: On topic, the AMV8 looks and sounds amazing, never owned or driven one, and by all accounts I'm not sure I want to... BUT I still lust after each one I see/ hear, does that make sense??? Depends really, the Aston is quite an event. I enjoyed the cruising bit of my test drive but then we got to a straight, I floored it the car made a tremendous noise and then nothing happen, no mad lunge towards the horizon, we just sped up slightly. When the v12 comes within my budget I'll definitely be taking another look at them.

Rags said: So based on this thread, a 997 turbo Gen 1 Tip compared with a V8V Sportshift is a daft question....? Aston - cooler Porsche - faster & better

s_mcneil said: On topic, the AMV8 looks and sounds amazing, never owned or driven one, and by all accounts I'm not sure I want to... BUT I still lust after each one I see/ hear, does that make sense??? It is a gorgeous car and I'd like to have one for a while - I couldn't see myself keeping it for more than 6 months due, but it'd be very nice. A DBS is on my future wish list

anonymous said: [redacted] If you wanted attention, you'd get a Focus RS for much less, or an R8 in Red for the same money. I think area's are important - in the North West, people gawk at Porsches, in London I expect they wouldn't as much. We've got to remember many areas posters will be speaking from in the UK, have an average income of £10k. Where I come from, average incomes are £10k and an A4 TDi is very flash.

I just ordered a new Cayman S, with some options (don't they add up quickly). My buddy that has a 4.7 V8V thinks I'm crazy to spend so much on "only a Porsche". I live in central London so it has to be parked on the street. I think a Cayman is far more discreet and less showy than an Aston while still being a brilliant drivers car.

paralla said: I just ordered a new Cayman S, with some options (don't they add up quickly). My buddy that has a 4.7 V8V thinks I'm crazy to spend so much on "only a Porsche". I live in central London so it has to be parked on the street. I think a Cayman is far more discreet and less showy than an Aston while still being a brilliant drivers car. Having derided the previous gen Cayman for a considerable time as a poor mans 911 (largely down to their pig ugly looks I admit), recently spent a week in a new Cayman S PDK and was very surprised at its capabilities.... Excellent balance, neutrality, involvement, engine and perfect gearbox made for a great drive on typical faster UK A and B roads. Still not up there with 'better' 911s and the 458, of course, largely down to slight lack of feel of the electric steering, but not far behind and if you can live with its slightly awkward looks, an excellent package at c £60k with goodies....

I was faced with this dilemma a couple of months ago and i am overjoyed that my decision was Generation 1 997 Turbo. However,if i had of gone the Aston route i would have bought this car which redresses the power/weight ratio and handling issues significantly- http://www.nicholasmee.co.uk/used-cars/32/aston-ma...

The convertible v8v is a gorgeous car, probably one of the nicest looking convertibles ever made. A mate of mine owned both of these cars as coupes, I know he couldn't wait to get shot of the Aston. Paint bubbling problems and failed wiper mechanism on a fairly new low miles car is not really acceptable in this day and age. Strangely everything I have read says the engine and box are bullet proof so maybe the opposite to modern era Porsche.

I've been fortunate to have owned six Porsches inc 911SC, 968CS, 993S, 996 x2 and I owned a manual 2010 Vantage V8 coupe with the sports pack. She was a showcase model with every option and just oozed style, character and personality with a tingling sound track. Twelve months later, I've sold her. Poor paint work, sub standard dealer service, failing rear and front headlight, trim issues; apparently when they go wrong it's called character. I still find myself gazing at Nick Mee's Astons and 911 Virgins Porsches and based on previous experience, I know that I can take the Porsche on a 120mile round trip to Bedford Autodrome, ring it's neck around the track and then not start it for three weeks with zero issues. The head says buy a Porsche. But I feel I need to be doing 110mph to be getting the best from it. My heart says buy another Aston.

I have never driven a V8V nor a 997. I have a 996t, but a buddy of mine has a V8V last spring. By the time the summer was gone, so was the V8V....too many technical faults to enjoy driving it when the mood took him. I've had my 996t for a year now, and it will be 10y old jn May...and it always starts immediately, everything works, and still turns heads. Really can't beat Porsche engineering....even against brands like Aston that really pull at ones British, James Bond, Best of British heart strings.

whilst i agree that the 997 is faster and more economical than an Aston V8V you will always be considered a knob driving a 911 which is not the case with an Aston……..also the engines don't tend to blow up because of poor engine design which compensates for the crappy MPG you will get out of the V8V

Biggest difference between driving an Aston and a Porsche? People will actually let me out at junctions now that I drive an Aston

I owned a 964 Targa Tiptronic at the same time as a DB7 Vantage Volante Touchtronic - sold the Porsche. I then owned a 996 C4 Cabrio manual at the same time as a DB9 Volante manual - sold the Porsche. Whilst I absolutely loved both the 911s and found them stunning to drive, there was never a time I would select the 911 over the Aston so I parted with them. No regrets.

Interesting debate. FWIW, I've only ever driven a Porsche on a track, at Bedford Autodrome and it was a race prepared monster so no real comparison to be had here. I own an early V8V 4.3 and would wholeheartedly agree that in it's factory form, the engine has to be worked hard to produce the results you'd expect from a sportscar. The lack of low down torque is frustrating if you're in the wrong gear at the wrong time, but as with any car you adapt to the characterisics. There are some horror stories about build quality and servicing costs, but I'm pleased to say that I've not encountered any of these. Servicing will cost no more than a Porsche, I suspect, but the dreaded clutch will cost you between 1.5k and 3k depending on what you replace the OE one with. Styling is a different proposition. It will be clearly down to the individual, but they look stunning to my eyes, which was one of the reasons I bought it over anything else. That and it's, well, an Aston Martin. For those that look at the Vantage as a poor man's Aston, I'd question that from the off. Had I wanted a DB9 I'd have bought one, but for me the Vantage is a much more sports focussed option. Had I the cash, then a V12V would at the very top of my list. Finally, there is a way around the 4.3's lack of grunt. Either the Sport Pack or, as I did, new exhaust manifolds and 200 cell cats, which have brought mine from 380 BHP to 420BHP, with the associated increase in Tq. This has totally transformed the car and brought it up to N420/4.7 performance. I'd budgeted for that when I purchased mine as I simply couldn't afford a 4.7. To the OP, drive both and make a decision based upon that, but if your budget is limited, it's worth buying an early well looked after variant and considering upgrades to take the car to where it should have been in the first place.

996GT2 said: I loved my Vantage... for 6 weeks before selling it and buying another 911. They look and sound fantastic but they're slow and heavy and feel like driving a bus compared to a 997. I'd never have another Aston, but I will have another 997. This happened to me to, had a 997 Carrera S, then fell in love with the look and sound of the V8 Vantage 6 weeks later I sold it, it feels like a cheap kit car if you are used a 997, the Vantage is slow, heavy and nowhere near the quality. I sold the Vantage and into a GTR because I wanted power again, then I moved to an R8 V8 because the GTR wasn't loud enough. Then, as the R8 didn't feel fast I went and bought a Ferrari Challenge Stradale and my search for the perfect sports car finally ended!

I had this 997 C2S: Video Now have this V8 Roadster: Video looks Without doubt, the Aston looks better. And the quality inside is a different league. I known I'm comparing a Roadster to a Coupe, but that actually helps the Porsche as a 997 Cabriolet is one ugly thing with serious booty issues. handling In terms of balls-out driving, the 997 wins hands down. On the Evo Triangle I could push and push and push the 997. The Vantage (non-Sport Pack suspension) on the Triangle feels unsettled. When the road dips, it takes the car a moment to catch up, and everything gets worryingly light. If you push too hard on the brakes you can trigger limp-mode. Also, whereas the 997 begged to be spanked on every journey, the Vantage is much more relaxed. You do really have to rev the Vantage to get the most from it - I'm constantly amazed as how low a gear I find myself in when going for a spirited drive. fuel I don't have a clue. All I ever do is fill a car up when it's getting low, and pay no attention to how frequently. I'm a petrol head, not an accountant. maintenance My Porsche had a coolant leak that cost me the best part of £2K to fix - it was only a split hose but Porsche's use of stainless steel fixings to connect to alloy parts meant a domino-effect of parts replacement. Servicing wise, there's not a lot in it. These cars were 60-120k new, so are going to cost a lot at some point. So far I've had to replace a temp sensor for the climate control on the Aston for a few ££. My other general observations are that I get more thumbs-up, smiles off kiddies, respect at junctions, etc in the Aston than the Porsche. But that's probably because they're less common and have yet to drop to that level of idiot-driver-ownership. In an ideal world, I would happily own both cars. I actually had bought a white Audi R8 (must have dreamt I was a footballer...) but decided to change to a 997 Turbo. The dealership with the Turbo then fired the Aston up and I was sold... Video Edited by Windymiller on Monday 3rd March 15:00 Edited by Windymiller on Monday 3rd March 15:01

I think the Aston is beautiful to look at, beautiful to sit in, a real occasion to drive (in a slightly raw, slightly under developed way). The Porsche isn't as impressive to look at or sit in but is a much more competent (and to me satisfying) drive. I've a 996 at the moment and am torn between a 997 or V8V. I've decided it comes down to if I want a great, very fast sports car (911) or a car that looks breathtaking and makes you smile just knowing you have it (V8V). So it's a fairly simple choice (but I'm still torn).

I own a 63 981 2.7 and a 57 V8V. Very lucky am l. Both great motors in there own right. Porsche obviously a Roadster and the V8V obviously a Coupe. I get more "nice motor mate" in the Aston than l do in the Boxster. I personally think the Aston is the better looking of the two, and just has a presence about it! That said the Boxster is the better car to drive in many ways. Oh nearly forgot the sound of the V8V is as the wife says "knicker wetting" Edited by deano7 on Monday 3rd March 20:18

Without going into great length (see my post in the Aston forum for that), as a Porsche owner for 20 years and still a 993 owner (for 14 years), as well as the owner of a MY09 V8 Vantage, I find the attacks on Aston reliability from Porsche owners rather amusing. Exploding engines from failed intermediate shafts, broken cylinder blocks, porous cylinder blocks, scored bores, and the all-too-frequent (though non-grenading) RMS issues... My Aston's reliability? Very nearly flawless -- only the radio has required fixing. And it's a superb driver's car -- different from a Porsche, but great to drive.

Hungrymc said: I think the Aston is beautiful to look at, beautiful to sit in, a real occasion to drive (in a slightly raw, slightly under developed way). The Porsche isn't as impressive to look at or sit in but is a much more competent (and to me satisfying) drive. I've a 996 at the moment and am torn between a 997 or V8V. I've decided it comes down to if I want a great, very fast sports car (911) or a car that looks breathtaking and makes you smile just knowing you have it (V8V). So it's a fairly simple choice (but I'm still torn). I agree it depends on whether you want a true sports car with the 911, or GT with the Aston... The recent Harris video on the GT3, V12 Aston and Merc is both amusing and quite telling. Yes, newer cars but you could liken the comparison to the 997 and V8 Aston. Also depends on which model 997 you go for. The 997.2 was a huge improvement over the gen 1 in terms of drivability, power, interior, looks and reliabilty. The GTS is such a complete drivers 911, and the Turbo or Turbo S offers stunning performance but is closer to a sports GT....

Chopped in my 55 plate 997S for a 2007 4.3 AMV8 and haven't looked back. Unfortunately I let Porsche paranoia get to me and it started to affect my ownership (coupla mates 997S's engines scored badly with the large associated costs for a rebuild). Granted the 997 was quicker but it never felt that special. I quite like the gruff unrefined feel in the Aston, along with the noise etc it makes each journey an event. Mine isn't a daily driver so rose tinted glasses a little here maybe. The interior is a far nicer place to be as is being outside looking at it. Fuel consumption - who cares. As for reliability...well vs a new engine the odd clutch or brake refresh pales into insignificance! The 700W stereo is also fantastic. Test driving a V12V soon, lets see how that goes

[quote=deano7] Oh nearly forgot the sound of the V8V is as the wife says "knicker wetting! Buy the Aston do you need another reason?

cayman-black]eano7 said: Oh nearly forgot the sound of the V8V is as the wife says "knicker wetting! Buy the Aston do you need another reason? I can't think of one

When i was faced with the same dilemma age was a factor. I look forward to driving an Aston when i get older but right now its all about the Porsche.

CGJJ said: When i was faced with the same dilemma age was a factor. I look forward to driving an Aston when i get older but right now its all about the Porsche. I thought exactly the same thing. When the dealer I returned the R8 to rand to say they had a lovely Aston Martin in, I told them I wasn't ready to retire just yet... But just look at it! Even with the roof up it looks beautiful!

Not for me. I love Porsches because they look a little bit weird. That AM is just a prettier form of every other expensive front-engined droptop I have seen.

CGJJ said: When i was faced with the same dilemma age was a factor. I look forward to driving an Aston when i get older but right now its all about the Porsche. cheeky get I was 39 when I got mine - granted and unfortunately for me I turned 40 in January, maybe that sits better?

Lucky to have had a range of 911's and a V8V and just recently a V12V. My opinion. 911 The good|: A pure driving tool. Much lighter with superb steering and feel. Tight, compact and a unique experience. The bad: Bland interior. Dated ICE and phone prep. Challenging image. V8V: The Good: Beautiful. An aural sensation and universally adored. The Bad : Heavy. Way too heavy. Blunt steering. Budget interior poorly assembled. The softest paint on any car I have owned. Condensation was a nightmare. Way under powered. Terrible residuals. Stratospheric servicing costs. V12V The Good: See above + more torque and noise. Good brakes. Don't drive one if you have a V8. You will be devastated. The Bad: Even heavier. Condensation, even worse depreciation. Dire paint work. Way, way to expensive at £140+. Horrendous depreciation from new. £50k in less than 12 months. Hugely mileage sensitive. So, if you want a GT, are 50 plus, wear red trousers whenever possible, have penchant for group gatherings at hotels, convoys etc, and enjoy giving your car a pet name, then buy the Aston. If you want a pure driving tool, have access to mountain roads and can stomach the negative image, buy the 911.

Like many others here I went from 911 to V8V. 911 was faster, and better pure driving experience, but the V8V is so much more fun. Never had any expensive faults with the 911, but the Aston gas been fairly expensive to run. Nothing like it for a blast across the continent though

Robbo66 said: have penchant for group gatherings at hotels, convoys etc, and enjoy giving your car a pet name, then buy the Aston. Have to admit, this is the main thing that makes me cringe about the whole 'AM scene'

Windymiller said: Robbo66 said: have penchant for group gatherings at hotels, convoys etc, and enjoy giving your car a pet name, then buy the Aston. Have to admit, this is the main thing that makes me cringe about the whole 'AM scene' It's not forced participation you know

Very Nice Nice Doesn't really do it for me Brutal!

CGJJ said: When i was faced with the same dilemma age was a factor. I look forward to driving an Aston when i get older but right now its all about the Porsche. Because your 7?

Ikebaddog said: Because your 7? you're *

CGJJ said: Ikebaddog said: Because your 7? you're * You attend a good school. Lol

Yes,the old school

Robbo66 said: Lucky to have had a range of 911's and a V8V and just recently a V12V. My opinion. 911 The good|: A pure driving tool. Much lighter with superb steering and feel. Tight, compact and a unique experience. The bad: Bland interior. Dated ICE and phone prep. Challenging image. V8V: The Good: Beautiful. An aural sensation and universally adored. The Bad : Heavy. Way too heavy. Blunt steering. Budget interior poorly assembled. The softest paint on any car I have owned. Condensation was a nightmare. Way under powered. Terrible residuals. Stratospheric servicing costs. V12V The Good: See above + more torque and noise. Good brakes. Don't drive one if you have a V8. You will be devastated. The Bad: Even heavier. Condensation, even worse depreciation. Dire paint work. Way, way to expensive at £140+. Horrendous depreciation from new. £50k in less than 12 months. Hugely mileage sensitive. So, if you want a GT, are 50 plus, wear red trousers whenever possible, have penchant for group gatherings at hotels, convoys etc, and enjoy giving your car a pet name, then buy the Aston. If you want a pure driving tool, have access to mountain roads and can stomach the negative image, buy the 911. Sorry don't agree with you when you say budget interior poorly assembled in the Aston. I have had various Porsches, bought new ranging from Boxster s to a 997s and they are great car's no doubt but in terms of interior fit and craftsmanship there is no contest. Recently I drove the new 991 and it was clearly very well put together but the interior could of been from an Audi or BMW. The feel good factor from the Aston is in another league which I know is hard to quantify but adds to the overall ownership experience. In terms of outright pace as borne out by the official figures a 4.7 V8 is as quick as a 997s but really who cares on a given road a well driven V8/V12 or a 911 will all be in touching distance with the difference being negligible.

Its interesting reading all these comments about the Aston how it would compare to a 928 with a manual gearbox? My gut feeling is that the difference in performance between a 928 s4 gt and v8v would be much less than the age/price and headline figures suggest.

My gran thought the fit and finish of mine was lovely...

haha that's a great pic. Got one of her smoking the rear tyres?

LOL,good post Windy!

I wish my cousin still had the video of when I fired the car up and asked my (non-driving) gran to rev it.. [me] rev it gran! [gran] what? [me] rev it, just push that pedal there... [gran] BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP-BARP [me] take you foot off gran!!!! Ah, good old gran just nailed the pedal to the floor and left it there Luckily I'd just returned from a spirited drive down the motorway, so the engine was nice and warm... still made my little cousins burst into tears though. Lovely.

I agree about the poor quality paint on the V8V with my 2010 displaying the resilience of melted chocolate.

JBE68 said: I agree about the poor quality paint on the V8V with my 2010 displaying the resilience of melted chocolate. I think I agree with you there. My met black V8V has quite a few swirls after a full machine detail just 6 months ago. Soft lacquer?

My last car was a 57 plate AMV8, current is a 997.2. AM sounds amazing, 997 sounds pants in comparison. 997 drives amazingly, AM drives pants in comparison. There are obviously many more comparisons to draw upon, these are the biggies though IMHO!

Been driving a V8V today and in all honesty I think my 987 Cayman S is a better drive.

Any other views? 997 gen 2 C4S PDK or 2015 Aston Martin Vantage?