Sorry Frog but I have to call'em like I see'em and I also think the X150s look asian. The X150s are great cars but the lack the special something that makes some cars special. A buddy of mine used to say that Jags have a soul; I believe that's true for the X100s but not the X150s. I also believe that AMs have a soul and it will keep it's value longer. Is the car you're considering a 12 cylinder? As much as I love my XKR, that would make it irresistible to me.


Regardless of what you get, I hope you still frequent this forum.

Mark

 

I'll make a prediction.

Whichever car you end up buying, you will always be haunted by whether or not you made the right decision and often wish that you had bought the other one.

Look at it as a temporary state of being, because that is what it will be, as you will certainly be buying another car to replace that one in a few years. Look at it as more of a two car buying (over time) decision rather than only the immediate decision. Do you want to or need to quench the lust for the AM now and then move on in a few years, or do you want to put that off and sustain it and wait for a possibly even better opportunity at a current one in three or four years? Doing that would only mean that you would have to suffer through driving an XKR for a few more years. Decisions, decisions.

 

I had the same
'dream car" issues.. older AM DB9 , AM Vantage or newer XKR
I drove all three and selected the XKR.

 

Well,

You might want to think about how you would feel in your Vantage when that 2009>
Jag with 510hp leaves you eating its smoke at a stoplight or blows your doors off at
60mph+ on the motorways. What will your date think? The truth is, knowing what you're facing, you wouldn't even try.

Here's the way I see it. Not to sound too chauvinistic, but it's likely that 99.99% of women out there could not tell the difference between an xkr and an AM. I'll bet that about 90% of guys couldn't tell the difference, especially when comparing newer models. Of the remaining 10% of men, I'll bet only about 5% could tell the difference between a Vantage and a Vanquish.

Why would you buy a $60K car that can be blown away by a $29K Hyundai Genesis Coupe?

But, then again, I really like speed.

There are several AM forums that will help you understand the headaches of owning
a used AM. Good luck. Nice quandary to have.

 

OK, you can have the best of both, buy the Jag and put the Aston body kit on it. I have seen a couple and if done right, you would have to look twice to know it wasn't real.

I feel like you. I have an XK8 and love it, but if I had the money and opportunity to buy an Aston MArtin, I'd have the Aston in a heart beat. Follow your heart.

 

Wwjbd?

 

Thanks to you all for your input. As you say, it's a nice quandry to have, I guess. Just so you don't think I'm a poor little rich guy, I would actually be funding the purchase with damages I will hopefully be receiving shortly following a medical accident last year (from which I am now recovered 99%). I thought I'd treat myself

I suppose I should go for the Aston, as I have always dreamed of owning one and now would be the 'logical' time to go for it.

I have driven the newer 4.7 litre 420hp model and it felt pretty much the same as my current 2005 XKR, only more nimble and with a much nicer exhaust note.

However, I could not justify spending what I would need to spend to get a decent 2009+ Vantage with this engine and I have read that the earlier 4.3 litre 380hp cars are a bit ordinary to drive.

So basically it is a toss-up between the power and relative practicality and cheapness of a 510hp XKR, or the looks-to-die-for appeal of the Aston...

Whichever I eventually go for, I will keep you all advised. Thanks again

 

For me it's got to be the XKR - In fact hunting for a 2008 4.2 XK-RS would be my mission if I were you then speak to Avos about the TS kit.
You would then have possibly the ultimate incarnation of the X150. Revise the coil overs by chatting to Spires, maybe go up a size on the front rotors (the Alcon kit fitted will adapt easily). A little work, a monster car that would walk away from anything apart from hyper cars.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ja...w=1024&bih=625

 

Lest I be considered a heretic, frankly, I like the 2010 XKR more than the Aston. More power, more room, as nice or nicer interior save for the dash, more usable, and huge amounts of depreciation make for a bargain. I have seen several very low mileage 2010's here in the States for low to mid $40k. In fact, I'm considering adding a coupe to my collection since I can't take my 2002 convertible to the track. I still love the first series body more, but somehow the second series coupe seems more graceful than the vert., and is more appealing to me. Good luck with your decision.

 

While your "romantic" picture of the Aston is beautiful, this ain't too bad either. Either should give you loads of pleasure.

 

BOTH cars will make you SMILE!!
Pull the trigger on the AM Vantage ! Send us some photos!

 

Vantage may be underpowered but it looks better than XKR, imho, especially from the front.

Personally, for about same price as Vantage I would get a 05-06 DB9 as a weekend car.

Cheers,
Wolfy

 

It's a simple decision, do you want to be James Bond or not.
I'd go with the XKR-S, I would love an Aston but whenever I look at them I still compare it to the Jag.

 

XKR hands down