Malibu310

FYI... Just got this E-Mail a few minutes ago:

Richard,
Good afternoon. It has been a while since we last spoke, but I have good news. We have finally received the V8 Vantage here at our dealership, and it is available to see and test drive.
I know you have been working on setting up your 928, but you may want another car someday, and also may have acquaintances who would be interested in seeing the Vantage. Let me know if I can help in any way.
David Pigg
Lake Forest Sportscars
847.295.6560 Ext. 213

Tom. M

For me...the Aston Martin DB-9.....It's all in the styling....I like the way they designed it..from front to back.....just smooth and cohesive.....Not like many cars these days where it seems two separate teams designed the front and back of the car...and didn't talk to each other.

Top Gear had an episode where they compare the Vantage to a Ferrari F4something...and it was close...very similar styling..with the Ferrari having more of a sporting edge..and the Aston more of a styling edge.. great episode..

later,
Tom
89GT

Kevin in Atlanta

If I was not driving a GTS, I would be driving 1993 or 94(?) 500E with the AMG package. Affordable to me.

tv

Not Good, unfortunately, at least on the vanquish. Too early to know for the V8. Go to pistonheads if you want to learn about astons or astonmartins.com for looks. Those that have driven the V8 don't think AM met the target they were aiming for. All in all the AM line-up is the best looking and sounding now, but they don't have the reliability and build quality of say .......... a hand built 8 cylinder porsche!!

For a new version of a 928 AM is it, but the 928 lines and interior layout are still superior. Other than newness and price tag (and maybe badge for some), I do not see the draw over a top line 928, if it is an either or.

For your reading pleasure;

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93362

neilh

Reliability?
Aston Martin is owned by Ford..

Nicole

Part of why I love the new Astons is that their styling is so simple and more based on shape, rather than on lots of lines.

If you put the Aston next to the Ferrari pictured above, the Ferrari is much busier - and looking at our 928s we know that simple shapes stay fresh longer...

Remember that the only things that changed on the 928 in 17 years of production were details. The shape was so simple and ingenious, with few lines only there to highlight the shape, that almost 30 years later it is still considered up to date.

Did you ever notice that most modern designer items have very simple shapes? That's because simple shapes never get outdated. Think about an egg: Nobody has ever claimed an egg looks outdated...

In other words, I believe that in 10 years the Ferrari will look more dated than the Aston. For a long term investment like this, that would be a major criteria for me.

sweanders

Regarding Ferraris busy look I think it would be fair to compare the AM's to the 599 and 612 from Ferrari.

The first time I saw the new Astons I fell in love with the look but it faded, the 928 looked a bit odd the first time I saw it but keeps growing on me.

I saw all these cars live at the Stockholm car show a few weeks ago and te 599 is stunning, it also has a transaxle solution with a slightly detuned Enzo V12 engine.

mpesik

A new toyota corolla.

epbrown01

Well, I already sold my 928, but if I were in the market for a hardtop sports car again, there's nothing else I'd get. It's a shame, but since it's time nothing has the same combination of performance, reliability, looks and exclusivity. I'd got with a 5-speed next time, maybe a GTS if I could swing it, but that's all I'd do differently.

Nasty 928

Right here.

derekescott

well, if $ was not an object the Bugatti is a no-brainer....considering trade/sell values, I'd keep the 928s and pickup a new Z06...drove one the other day....AWESOME!!! Save @$935,000!!!!

worf928

The AM V8 is stunning. But, the thing I like most about my 928s is that I can work on them. I don't have to trust their maintenance and my wallet to Guido's Speedshop. Perhaps if another zero were added to the end of my annual income I could toss $10k here or $20k there for crappy maintenance on my exotic car.

Now, if reality were to be completely suspended this is my fantasy car of the moment - the new 599 GTB:

85fortheDrive

I'm with Brian.

The XKE has truly great, yet old-school looks. I like the hardtop, myself.

I also agree with Anders - the looks of the 928 can grow on you.

Timi

dr bob

I particularly enjoy the way the bonnet on the XKE moves almost completely out of the way. It makes servicing the engine so easy all the time.

I like the looks and the lines of the Jag. The haphazard build quality is a scourge shared with the 928, although to a much greater extent. I owned a '67 roadster, loved it after a year-long frame-up resto, and sold it well after almost ten years of stewardship. It was a good driver, great car to arrive in, but it was no 928.

A F430 would do nicely in one of the garage bays. Next to the 928, of course. I drove the 928 this morning to do a little shopping. Picked up a software box at Fry's, then grabbed four sacks of kitty litter on the way home. Anybody dare do that in their A-M, Merc-McClaren, or F-car? I use the car. I'me real carefull where I park it, but at least I can park it without having fingerprints on the glass and spit/drool on the window seals. BTDT, and it gets old real quick. So a 430 for the Sunday parking-lot shows at the Village Roaster, a 928 for a get-around, and a small SUV or truck for the nastier duties like hauling the trash.

I'm 2/3 of the way there...

John Krawczyk

In a realistic world the only thing that would cause me to part with the Blueshark is an offer I cant refuse on a new Ducati 999. And i would still be coming up short. But it'll never happen anyway. Last i checked there werent exactly any firesales on 999's.