I'd love to hear your thoughts on the 599. I have a 6 speed DB9 currently and am considering a 599. Haven't been fortunate enough to drive one yet though..

 

Well, I for one am sad to hear that you are not only choosing the F but also leaving the A-M fold alltogether.

Seems strange where you've ended up (pot stirring begins): You wanted a big(ish) GT with a v12. You love the sound and feel of the V12. You like the idea of a HT convertable but it's not a must have. You like A-M as a brand and style.

Yet now you are planning to get rid of your A-M coupe and replace it with a much tighter, track oriented sports car. I don't get it. How did you get here? It's like you've gone through the autosports maturity cycle in reverse.

In my brief experience touching the upper reaches of cars, I found that once I tried the 430, Gallardo, etc. I realized that they were of little value on real roads. I came to A-M because they provided the right combination of exclusivity, luxury and sporting.

If you are going F, I'm surprised it's not to that erotic looking 599.

my .02

 

Great question IbisRider. If you look at my ownership history you'll see that I've had arguably the most raw cars that are legal on the street. I personally enjoy a more visceral car but my wife enjoys the GTs. Our compromise (hardly a compromise) was the first Aston. I loved the car for the daily driving and cruising around. It just lacked the power and firm ride that I like. I then switched to the Vantage S and it has everything. It's plenty quick, fun to drive, and is by far the best looking car I've ever owned. I can't say enough about Tungsten Silver paint and the quality that is Aston Martin. When you drive it, you are driving art and you are in total control. The sound is amazing, the ride is firm yet tolerable, and it's almost perfect. The only Aston I have driven that is better is the V12V. I would consider buying one but that will be my 3rd of the Vantage line and I think it's time to vary it up.

I'm like a kid when it comes to cars and I always want something else. I've never owned a Ferrari and it's one of those cars that is on my bucket list. Cars are a large investment and I want my family to enjoy the cars we have so I compromise what I really want so she can enjoy it as well. For example, I would have bought the V12V 2 years ago but my wife really wanted a roadster. This time my wife said, "You have always wanted a Ferrari and for your first one you need to get the raw car out of your system before going luxury.". She knows me well and she's the best . I drove the Scuderia today and it just might be a Scud. My face is sore from grinning so much. So we'll see. I'm negotiating now with the dealer and will know in a few days most likely if it's a go or not.

 

I didn't drive the 599 as it got dark and we drove the Scud for much longer than planned. I've started it and played with the controls and everything else and it's an amazing machine. The detail in the bodywork is something you have to see in person to appreciate. The comment I made in the past regarding the California to the 599 was completely wrong. I was just looking at a color that didn't flaunt it's shape at all. It's definitely worth checking out.

On a side note, my wife's favorite car in the showroom was the 599 GTO that is a little more than I want to spend

 

Since you drove a Scud, there is no way you can get a regular 430.
Pre congrats on the Scud! A phenomenal car

 

Yes the Scud is.....amazing! I'm not 100% sold yet as it's a lot more than a 430 but the 2 cars are definitely different. Part of me thinks, get the 430, enjoy it a year, and then get the Scud. However, after driving the Scud....ugh is all I can say. Needless to say it's a tough decision

 

^^^ ugh! First world dilemmas lol j/k .... Any F car is a win buddy, I want a ride ... And Chris will shoot it for ya, he loves the lines of the 430 and scud!

 

Definitely Sunir. We need to meet up sometime since you are only about 20 minutes from me and we haven't met in person yet! I'm always looking to do events, fun drives, and meet like minded people.

 

What crazy journey. Originally:

You needed a car your wife liked and now you bought her a car and you are selling the Vantage.

You wanted a car with better fit and finish and good for Date Nights!!

All along I got the sense you were a GT kind of guy, but now I see you are a harder core guy, who was trying to serve too many masters.

*** I wholeheartedly say get the Scud if you can because you know you will eventually. ***

I was very similar to you. I had an S4 as my daily car and a V8 Vantage as my fun car. My wife drives a Range Rover Sport SC. I was about to switch the Aston out for a harder edged and mid engined Ford GT, but the Ford disappointed me when I drove it. The car was too quiet. I ended up in the V12Vantage (to me it was strangely more involving and raw)

My DD S4 was boring so it was replaced with an Audi TTRS. A perfect car to drive in winter and cheap and fast enough to track. Except it did not scratch the Ford GT itch (V12 more than took care of the Aston itch). The car was a compromise and I fell out of love.

So the TTRS was sold for an R8 V10. A mid-engined car that can be driven all year and a more appropriate track choice than the v12 Aston (too nice, too few etc). It was a workable version of the Ford GT.

Now I'm contemplating build a 63-67 vette built up as an old 60's road racer with a thoroughly modern chassis and drive train. More raw, and you get to build a project. http://desert-motors.com/cpg/display...slideshow=5000

Or http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2012/...team-corvette/

 

Then you should step on over to the C1/C2 side of the corvette forum. We have a several resto-mod builds going there, as well as people who race their cars (including an original 63 Z06).

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-and-c2-corvettes-4/

I'm 62Jeff over there as well.

 

@62jeff.

I will take a look. I'm not really into the whole "pro-touring" scene. I'm more interested in doing something like Singer does with old Porches, but for a Vette. Or like what Magnus Walker does

Performance cars that are old, not Hot Rods in the classic sense.