That would be rscultho. See: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...my-xkr-126757/ I sent him a PM to see if he wanted to comment on this thread.

 

From my 2011 thread: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...xkr-db9-60537/

I'm not a fan of he DB9's aftermarket front bumper by Mansory or the black rims. I also prefer the shape of the XKR's rear side window/soft top to the DB9's, but that's a very subtle difference. Their bodies are very similar; note how the rear fender line starts at the rear edge of the door on both cars.






Stuart

 

Off-topic, I know, but here's what a properly sorted Jaguar V12 sounds like. I had the pleasure of seeing these cars in their last-ever races, and the scream of that V12 in real life was just spine-tingling. Here's Tom Walkinshaw taking the XJ-S on a pole lap of Bathurst (watch him get it on 2 wheels at 1:12):

 

WOW! That's some insane driving. If I were in that car I would have sh...t my pants. Car sounded awesome in the video...I sure it sounded many times better being there. I'm missing my XKR...

 

may I provide some visual aid to go with that soundtrack.

 

I thought Aston tech training was done in the US? The sales person said they never went to UK for their training as he'd never been to Gayden. I too think they should charge the same rate, but I understand why they have it this way. Lotus and every other marque is the lower rate. They do a lot of Ferrari, Maserati, and old exotic car service (at cheaper rate). Probably like 30% of service bays are non Lotus-Aston cars. There's an Alfa & old Maserati repair specialist next door.

 

Talk about driving on the edge.

 

A V12 XJS manual conversion has been a consideration for a long time. Under 20k and be amazing. Not the same kind of v12 sound as Aston though.

 

Not sure, I saw on the bottom of AM New Port Beach that their AM Certified tech's were trained in UK. Whether there are other US sites available I am not sure.

Aston Martin Service, Repair + Maintenance - Los Angeles, Southern California

To go back to your original post, I have a beautiful '12 XK. When an Aston Martin is in sight my eyes are drawn. I would have it over my Jag in a heartbeat if the value proposition was as strong. But alas, I am too conservative and the Jag looks great, has a lower depreciated price point against an AM of the same year, and is known to be more reliable (hence less maintenance cost).

 

I would be looking to spend 50-60K for said car. I feel at that price, I could feel comfortable spending 3-4K a year maintenance and not have the car a burden. I don't think the DB9 would depreciate much from that point, but is certainly costing me to hold.

The list of cars I want that interest me (considering my budget):

DB9 - only car on list we would sacrifce utility for
Bentley Arnage or Flying Spur - 1st choice. She does not like the back of Arnage, but I think that is the cooler of two.
Jaguar XJ or XE - 2nd choice. XE we could lease a new car if wanted.
Maserati Ghibli - 3rd choice. Pretty cool, but iffy quality. Would be near new or still in warranty. Plenty of Ghibli's should be coming off lease by then. Need to read up on the Ghibli's long term quality.

 

I would pick a Porsche Panamera over the Ghibli. The Maser is a car designed to sell to people to own for two years. Everyone I know with one has the car spending what seems to be one week out of two months at the shop.

Depending on your Porsche dealer experience, I'd swap the Panamera onto that list, and Ghibli off of it. I'm not particularly happy with my local Porsche dealer, they've had changed corporate side(Hendricks) that are impacting the location. You may have it differently.

The Bently is in a class of its own for interior design.

The Jaguar's will probably be the most practical on the list.

 

My missus has had an XE since November, coming out of a V40T5 CC. She is just in love with the car, it is so good to drive. The volvos are nice enough to drive and the interiors are always brilliant (save the fussy centre console), but the XE is on a completely different level. It is much better to drive than my (previous gen) XFs, and they were very good.

The 177KW 4 is plenty quick but for "fun" driving using the paddles I dont think that the 8 speed suits it, it would have been better with 6 gears because you have to change too often. The 6 cyl in the f type however is fine with the 8 speed. Given that you only have a $5K or so price difference there (ours is about $40K to get the 6 cyl over the 4), I wouldnt even think about it, though the 4 is pretty economical if that is a driver.

 

FWIW - everyone I know absolutely HATED the Panamera's ungodly ugly looks until they drove it. I had serious issues with my new Porsche culminating with my subsequently beating them in a lemon law suit but that didn't stop me from getting another one 10 years later. Even Jeremy Clarkson despised the looks but couldn't help but love driving it. Never been a Bentley fan of any sorts, my client/buddy just got the supercharged new XJL and that car is magnificent! Masi's do suffer from horrific issues but the grand Tourismo sure looks lovely the others not so much in my worthless book... I'd much rather have a Tesla model S than any Masi 4 door. Hope Porsche will to release that supposed new gorgeous electric that thing looks AMAZING!

Back to DB9 vs XKR - there is the "law of diminishing return", you'll wind up paying a LOT for only very marginal returns (not in the performance category as they're almost dead even) so the question would then be one of exclusivity, subjective sound, very slight differences in looks (again subjective). With that you get likely less reliability, higher maintenance costs, less ability to resell due to smaller pool of people with that bankroll, less people able to work on it at fewer locations, etc. It comes down to "what's it all worth to you"...

 

Firstly, I have not read all the posts. Secondly, I have always wanted an Aston Martin since my youth. However, If I was an anaesthesiologist or in Hollywood as an actor, I might go for the AM just because I wanted it and could buy it rather than what made sense.... Yes?

 

I'm not a DR and and will never be one and own a very nice 2010 XK Coupe. In my life this is as good as it gets! I'm realistic.

 

As for 4-door sedans, you couldn't pay me enough to drive a butt-ugly Panamera or an unreliable Ghibli. My 2013 XJ 5.0L SC is drop-dead gorgeous inside and out, fast, quiet, comfortable, and reliable. A great CPO value.

 

I don't buy German cars hence none on my list. I use to be into German cars. We had a Mercedes 500 SEC for twenty years. I have a different sentiment towards German cars now (than when I was younger) and decided about 10 years ago I don't want to own one if at all possible. British cars are heavy favorite. Never been into American cars and Japanese cars are lukewarm at best.

The only German car that would make my list would be a G wagon Mercedes.

 

Its really unfortunate that the Panamera even got brought up in this thread. I'm sure it is one of the better 4 door trackable cars out there, but outside an X6, its about the ugliest thing on the road. I guess beauty...beholder...and all.

When I shopped for my XK, I didn't consider the 6 series (also too ugly for me) but did test drive an e550 vert. Ultimately the 550 was too 'blah' and surprisingly lacking in terms of interior finish. It was faster and had more 'gizmos' but just couldn't sell itself.

The DB9 is nicer, in every aspect than the XK, for what I wanted, EXCEPT cost of ownership. Just too much. We all draw our own lines.

 

We all have our tastes and many opinions on design and technology. Porsche has evolved from it's VW days to super sports cars. For me I have never had that taste and consider the design to be not of my liking. I never could get into that rear engine air cooled thing so I had no interest in buying in. Same with the sedan style as it somehow didn't look right to me. The only one that I had considered was the 928 and even at that had a iffy opinion of the rear. So to those who have or like them , good for them and I'll just stick with the styles I like.

 

For what it's worth, a friend has a Maserati Ghibli with every option available on the car (over $90K). It's been in the shop 29 days, thus far in its first six months and is a day away from eligibility to the California Lemon Law club. Several years ago while at Spring Mountain Raceway, I also saw a new Quattroporte blow its engine on its first lap. Lovely cars to look at and listen to, but iffy on problems. Having said that, I can't wait to see the production version of the Alfieri coupe!