I agree, the ladies do prefer the AMV over the R8. Much more guys prefer the R8. I found a very nice 09 at Cole European in Walnut Creek, CA with less than 100 miles, Tungsten silver, Obsidian black, SS, Sports Packs, the works. The sales manager was pretty firm to sell it at or around $100-$104k though. But it's in mint condition.

 

Damn Allen just called about that one, it sold 3 days ago. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Bummer! Here are a couple more.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...494&tracktype=
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...482&tracktype=

The second one, you can ask to have them put the Sport Pack wheels on them since it includes that feature anyway. I'm not sure why they removed them and put the standard 20 spoke wheels on them. Good luck!

 

Oh man, I got rid of my Roadster at lower prices than these...lol. Less than 900 miles with 31 months left on the warranty!

 

Allen yeah I've been working on that car in West Palm negotiating back and forth for a month now. In fact, I just put a deposit on it! I got them to change the wheels, add 1 year warranty, and add the n400 sills for $100k.

 

Not sure what happened, but the Vantage in Walnut Creek is back on sale.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

 

Both cars are great as a DD(not comparing to sedan, SUV etc). R8 is much easier car to live and do well in stop and go traffic. The V8V feels like it is going to stall at stop and go traffic, coming to a stop sign or light. It is a very unsettling feeling.

For me, break squeal on the R8 went away after the first 500 miles(very common). The V8V break squeal start after the first 500 miles, it is now hit or miss. Exhaust note of the R8 sounds great at any speed. The vantage is fairly quiet at low speed. You can check R8 talk and amoc.org for reliabilities and other issues/concern.

The R8 is very distinctive and striking even from a distance. V8V blends in a little more till you go up close and realize that is an Aston Martin. But nothing evoke that special feeling like an Aston Martin brand. AM’s interior is simply stunning.

 

I used my AMV as a daily driver for nearly three years and use the Ferrari now (except on snow or really bad weather days). I figure if you have a car, drive it -- why leave it at home and drive, say, a Lincoln or a Mercedes or even a Porsche? Both do very well, but you have to select a daily driver on that basis. A lot of great cars don't make a good daily driver although they are greate xotics. The R8 and Gallardo are two in my opinion.
The AMV got enough attention, but much less than the Ferrari does now (the attention it gets is actually annoying). Women clearly like it, although the impact a Ferrari has on women has to be seen to be believed - just incredible. My friends R8 gets a lot of attention but a lot of people seem visibly disappointed when they are told it is an Audi, even an expensive one.
A final point, 0-60 and 1/4 mile times really aren't that important. Its the driving experience that is important and here the AMV outperforms many cars that are much faster. I miss my Vantage alot, even though it is a full two seconds slower in the 1/4 than my Ferrari, to the extent I am going to get another soon (maybe a DB9 this time if I find a good bargain -- it's basically the same interior, it would be nice to have a V12, but the 4.7 drives about like the basic DB9, and I like the Vantage's lines a bit more. Not sure now.)

 

I have a 2007 Vantage and my daily driver is a 2005 S4 (MT, AWD). A friend let me drive his V10 powered R8 (MT). The R8 is amazing and its capabilities far eclipse my Aston, sorry to say. I really loved the car.

However, I really can't see driving either one every day. I drive the Aston to work a couple of times a month, so its not a garage queen. But the thought of parking it at a movie, store, etc., on the way home just is too much. I think you will not be too happy in the long run with either as a daily driver.

 

I too have contemplated the R8 vs the Vantage for some time now. Problem for me is the psychological barrier of the 100K mark for the R8. For some reason I feel safe in the 75K arena which leaves me to 06-07 vantages with no warranty remaining. I did personally speak with someone who owned 2 vantages and the R8. He told me flat out that there is absolutely NO COMPARISON between the attention grabbing effect on both cars. The R8 wins this category ten fold. He said "Driving the Aston is like driving an exotic muscle car while driving the R8 is like driving a space ship" and I believe him. If money were no object I would definitely get the R8. 4 years of warranty and Audi dealerships on every corner makes for some serious peace of mind! That and a clutch pedal that's as easy as a Lexus.

 

Just watched my V8vantage drive away today. Owned it since new. Ordered it in 2004, picked it up in april of 2006 as the first delivered customer car in the East coast. Put 10K miles on it without really any issues at all.

Holds 2 sets of golf clubs, a couple overnight bags behind the front seats, sounds like nothing on earth, incredibly agile and neutral, the most gorgeous lines on the plant. Appeals to both sexes equally if you get my drift.. my lovely wife thinks the R8 looks like a spaceship.

Another intersting point, it takes more man hours to paint a vantage than it takes to make an R8.....

I love the R8. It is faster in every respect. I have driven both the V8 and the V10. Was on the list for a V10 until Aston announced they would be bringing the V12 vantage to the US.

As far as the service element, Audi service SUCKS. I also own an RS6 that is my daily driver. Audi has not yet figured out how to apease a customer that buys a 180K sportscar...let alone a 90K sedan.

At Aston, you will be treated like you bought a monument. At audi, you may get a kia as your rental, and be told that the next appointment is 6 weeks away.

This is based upon personal experience.....I say go with the Aston as your next daily driver.

Stephen

 

m8bmw, I'm not slamming the vantage. Heck, I'm probably going to be buying one myself in the next month or so. I'm just re-iterating what I was told by someone who's owned both. Moreover, even if Audi service is not great at least you have other dealers within a reasonable distance. Here in MA, there is only one AM dealer. If you don't like their service for some reason, too bad I guess. Either that or spend hundreds of dollars shipping the car to get serviced.

 

R8...

 

vantage for sure

 

The service you get at Aston varies depending upon the dealer. I wasn't impressed by my last service appointment and was given an old, smelly Galant as a loaner.