I'm considering trading my Porsche for a Vantage and have a few questions. I've read up quite a bit on this forum so thanks for all that info. I understand that the Vantage will be slightly slower, steering not quite as good, fuel mileage poorer and maintenance costs higher than the Porsche. None of that particulrly bothers me. The cars that I'm looking at have gone less than 3000km per year! I use my Porsche as a daily driver for 8 months of the year. Is that really feasible with a Vantage? From what I've been able to tell reliability with the Vantage is good. Can I expect to take off on a 3000km road trip to the Rockies without concerns? Unlike alot on the forum I want my car to sound good without duelling with the kid down the lane with the '89 Mustang with pipes for loudest on the block. (Having said that, the 997.2 exhaust is just too quiet) I've read alot about removing the fuse to make it louder but don't exactly know how the stock system works. With the fuse in, does a flap open depending on RPM or throttle position? I do a few track days each year and our local track has a 95 db level. At Lagina Seca for most "track days" it's 90 db. Is that attainable with the stock system? I think that's about it. Thanks for any info.

 

I used to have an '09 6sp. V8V and a colleague of mine has a 997 C4S PDK, so hopefully my observations are relevant!

As you point out the Vantage will be slower. Personally, I preferred the Vantage's steering feel to that of the 911. Re: fuel - yes, it likes a drink! Maintenance costs were quite reasonable IMO for an 'exotic' but I don't have the knowledge to compare to a 911.

I had no serious reliability issues that would have prevented me from taking a long road trip.

The 4.7 L V8 is definitely quieter than the 4.3, even with the fuse removed (the fuse controls a flap that is dependent on RPM, so pulling it just keeps the flap open). If I had kept the car I might have gone with a different exhaust (AM exhaust from the N420 V8V perhaps). No such concerns with the V12V LOL...

Re: track days - I don't think you should have noise concerns with the OEM exhaust, although I don't recall what noise meter readings mine gave when I had it sound tested. If you have a lot of track day experience I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how well the V8V handles - it is very neutral. However, if you like to push hard on track, you will likely find as I did that the OEM brakes and tires need attention! Search under my user name for threads that discuss this.

Best of luck!

 

My comments won't be quite as relevant since I don't have a Vantage, but "home town" posters are rare so I'll chime in

I use my DB9 as a daily driver all year round here (about 12K kilometres a year), except for the rare snow day. Reliability has been excellent on my '06, and by all accounts build quality just kept getting better -- an '09 should be rock solid.

This past September I drove 2,000+ kilometres (5 days) down the Oregon Coast & back and the car performed spectacularly, needing nothing more than a boatload of fuel. It was a blast.

Local AM service is actually quite good, though parts from the dealer are very expensive. The local inventory of '09 Vantages is just about at an all time high -- looks like there are some nice choices available to you.

Enjoy the hunt.

 

i test drove a C2S (manual transmission) before buying my AM V8V. honestly, i was very underwhelmed by the Porsche. i'm sure it'd be lots of fun and plenty capable when pushed on a track, and it was fantastic in normal driving, but it just didn't have that fun factor i wanted.

i've tracked my V8V, and it was extremely capable without any issues whatsoever. i drive it daily (10k miles in my first year of ownership), and it's generally problem-free. the only big issue is a fueling issue that stalls the engine out, there are a few threads about it on this forum. even with any issues it has had, nothing has concerned me enough to keep it off the road.

even driving it every day, it still makes me giggle when i push it even a little bit. and having owned it for over a year, i still stare at it like it's brand new.

 

I've had (3) 911's and (1) Boxster, so I'm pretty loyal to the brand. I even chose a used 07 Vantage over buying a new 991. Just wanted something different..and I love the way the Aston is built. When you start looking at them closely, they have much finer fitments and materials in the car than a Porsche (world's most profitable car company). Porsches are built like a production car - with lots of plastic snaps and inexpensive components. The Aston is built more like a race car - with fewer off-the-shelf parts and that's part of the appeal.

The steering is just as good on a Vantage as it is on the Porsche. Likewise the balance and brakes. I just had my on the track two weeks ago for the first time and also did instruction in (2) DB9's and another Vantage. VERY capable, I don't think they give up anything to a Porsche on the track that you can find on street tires. Put race rubber on the cars and the Porsche is going to win on braking and with a C4S powering out of corners, but that's about it.

Look at the orange peel in the paint of any Porsche, or the cheap leather they use in the seats. That wet-sanded paint on an Aston and real aniline hides really do set the car apart.

Get whatever puts the big grin on your face. That's all that really matters.

 

Hey guys; Thanks for the quick responses. Nice to hear from people who "drive" their cars. All that feedback is very valuable to me. There are a couple of good ones available here so we'll see if we can make the trade in numbers work. Thanks again

 

I had an 09 V8V 6Sp. Loved the car!!!
I would recommend it to anyone wanting a street car. It was a real pleasure to drive, as others have said the steering and the brakes were fantastic, as good as the 997 cars (better than 991).

The exhaust note is intoxicating. The transmission was great too, no issues at all.

Site lines in the Aston are not as good as Porsche. You sit very low and the windows are long and low. Rear visibility is fine though.

You cannot compare the bespoke quality of the Aston to Porsche. Others have already covered that, but it is a big part of the experience. The cars are also not very common. The production numbers are so low compared to something like a 997.

I did take my car to the track and it was a lot of fun and way more compeitent than most thought it would be. They wrote me off as a GT until I was in their mirror. It is a very fun car on track, i found it to be not too heavy on brakes or tires. The rear end is a pleasure to toss around and the car is very predictable. It will snap at you though if you are ham fisted. This car is more analogue than many modern cars. Great for experience, less so for ultimate track times.

Truthfully it is not on par with Porsche at the track. It's possible to improve it, but you do not have the choice, the community or the knowledge base of Porsche. Plus, it's so costly if you break something.

It's still the better car for me. I have since sold the V8 for a V12. Now that is an experience, get one if you can.

For track days I bought an R8 V10. I very much considered a 997 GTS, but as awesome as they are, in my hood they are just too common. The R8 is everything the 997 is, except its a little more exotic.

Great decision to have to make. Really, you can't go wrong.

 

Many good comments here. I firmly believe that an Aston is about much more than the numbers, but that said... A 4.7L V8V should run right with a 997S (around a track the 997 will be a little quicker IF the driver really knows how to get the most out of a 911). The 997S with PDK will turn in quicker acceleration figures because the PDK shifts so fast (and the rear-engined traction provides very quick launches). However, comparing manual to manual, there is nothing in it between the Aston and the Porsche. The 997 may feel a little quicker because it has more of a cammy "kick" at high revs, whereas the V8V's acceleration feels more linear.

I looked at the 997 and bought the Aston ('09 coupe, manual 'box, Sports Pack). I've had it 3 years now, and it still feels like I just got it yesterday.

Edited to add: BTW, the Aston's steering feel is superb, a true match for the 997's and vastly superior to the new 991's.

 

I had my Vantage at the track about 10 days ago, and I was playing with a Ferrari F430 Challenge Car on Slicks. I find the Aston more toss-able than a 911, with none of the bad habits that the Porsche has. Its more BMW-like than Porsche. Very neutral, very easy to drive fast. Having owned (3) 911's they are always a lot of work to hustle around a track at 10/10's.

Ultimately I found I was out of tire way before I was out of car. The Street Bridgestones S-03's only have so much grip in them and I couldn't stay with the Ferrari once he had heat in his tires.

I will not buy a set of sticky tires for the Aston.....
I will not buy a set of sticky tires for the Aston.....
I will not buy a set of sticky tires for the Aston.....
I will not buy a set of sticky tires for the Aston.....

 

Thanks again for the helpful info. One other detail I haven`t been able to find out. What does the Sport Pack include besides the 5 spoke wheels?

 

AFAIK it was: the forged wheels, different shocks, different springs (slightly shorter ride height), and on the coupe a different rear antiroll bar.

 

That`s kind of what I thought would be in there. Thanks for the info