Natural aspirated engine general rule of thumb:

V12 > v8

Both are desirable but 12 trumps 8 all other things being equal.

 

The V8 has 355mm front & 330 mm rear cast iron discs, and the V8S has 380 mm front & 330 mm rear slotted cast iron discs.
The V12V has massive 398 mm front & 360 mm rear drilled carbon ceramic brakes.
The carbon ceramic brakes on the V12V are the same top of the range brakes as used in the DBS.

 

We weren't talking about your decision or what you'll do with the car. The issue is what the OP would do with the car. Now that you've brought it up though, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a Vantage for the track. This makes no sense. It's clearly not a track car. Some would even consider it a grand tourer.

And your comments about the V12V's chassis dynamics and power band, like so much you post to this forum, are b.s. I know you've test driven a V12V, but that hardly makes you an authority on the car. As in so many occasions before, this doesn't stop you from speaking like an expert on the topic. I've owned the car for two years now and have driven it hard through the twisties in the mountains on many occasions. I can attest that the car handles amazingly well and it can keep up with nearly anything out there. Moreover, the car doesn't run out of steam above 5,000 rpm, as you stated before.

 

V12v > v8vs > v8v ... It's just that simple. In every way.

All are great cars, but the Aston v12 is the gem!

 

Every man should own once in his life:

a 12 cylinder automobile
a 6 cylinder motorcycle
a fine, double barrel shotgun
a luxury mechanical swiss watch

 

Actually, it's not that simple, and certainly not "in every way." The V8 and the V8VS have many advantages over the V12V. Balance and weight distribution are two. You can definitely feel the extra weight over the nose in the V12V, and that much heavier engine is taller, mounted higher and extends forward of the front axle line (the V8 is entirely behind the front axle line). The V8's dry sump is another advantage. I prefer the V8V Sports Pack suspension (for a Coupe, anyway) over the still-stiffer S suspension. Until very recently, the S was not available with a manual 'box, and until MY12.25 the S's paddle 'box was far better than the standard V8V's paddle 'box. I also think the V8V in its original form is the best-looking of all the Vantages.

The V12V, though, is a FANTASTIC thing, and it is a beast of a car (in a good way) in a way that the V8s are not. AM has done a great job hiding the V12 engine's extra weight -- it isn't as well-balanced as the V8V, but it is still beautifully balanced. Certainly, the V12 has many advantages over the V8, torque being the most apparent IMO -- the torque is HUGE, and nothing is as smooth as a V12. The V12V and the V8s have very different characters.

They're all wonderful cars.

 

Thank you all for all of this info.. From what i am hearing the V12 will be a more fun "driver car" for DD then the s, just due to the engine difference and feel. everything else pretty much the same or splitting hairs which i will not notice.
Now i have to decided if i want to spend another 40k

 

I really loved my V8V, though it was a 4.3L and was short on the torque that came with the later 4.7L. I made up for some of that with a complete exhaust system (including cats), sports pak, etc. I never had a stock 4.7L leave me after that, but I did work at it.

It felt more nimble than the V12V. But I knew I'd never use mine as a track day car. I just don't care to do that. There are too many less expensive options to use the Aston for the track.

As much as I enjoyed the V8V and miss it, the V12V is quite different. Like Speedraser says, it has a totally different character than the V8V. If I were driving my car everyday, it would be a V8V. If I wanted an Aston to keep forever, I choose the V12V - which was what I did.

 

Good point-

 

I recently went from a 4.3 V8V to a V12V. I also considered the S. As mentioned above, the following are the reasons why I chose the V12:

-manual transmission (wasn't available on the S until very recently)
-low end torque and engine characteristics
-upgraded brakes (not sure how I will feel about this when it comes to servicing them!)
-lower production numbers and maybe, just maybe a little less hit on depreciation (yeah right!) ... if I ever decide to sell.

The good thing is that these are beautiful cars, so you can't go wrong either way.

 

The V12 motor (duh) and the manual transmission.

 

as far as track performance goes, even if it isn't something you'll do often, you really should do it at least once. you'll gain a lot of appreciation for just how well balanced these cars are. i've had my 4.3L V8V on Road Atlanta and it performed beautifully. it isn't stock (power pack, exhaust and cats, springs, rear sway bar, brake cooling ducts, brake pads, wheel spacers, etc), but based on that experience, it'll be a long time before i can ever use performance as a reason to get a V8VS or V12V. as for brakes, in normal/spirited driving the brakes on any Vantage will be fine. only when you push it on a track would your brakes be a concern. and, quite frankly, if you aren't looking for outright performance, don't let that be a factor in your decision. choose whichever one you enjoy more, even if it's slower. just my 2 cents.

 

I always enjoyed manual and was very disappointed that the S didnt have one

.. But now after driving the SS2 I actually really like it and the way it feels.

so i am not sure I want the manual..

 

no v12v for you then,...they only come in Manual from what I understand....

Are you keeping your v8vs?

 

Will not keep both, no. what i meant was that i am not that sure anymore that the manual is a big + in my eyes so it is even on that department.