V12s vs xkrs-gt
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But the comparison isn't about price, it is about like vs like, and that's the Vanquish which is also a ZF auto like the Jag. And the Vanq handles more like the Jag, that is, not excessive power on oversteer like the V12VS. The Vanq would certainly not be left in the dust, considering it has the same power as the Jag and weighs the same, and the same shift quality.
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Them's the hard facts.
It's all well and good to get nostalgic about 'hand crafted' etc. etc. and all the 'good' things that were done before everything was mass produced, but that starts to wear a little thin when you realize Aston is excited that the 'new' V12 has - wait for it - those futuristic inventions called ** knock sensing ** and ** variable camshaft timing **...
It's all well and good to get nostalgic about 'hand crafted' etc. etc. and all the 'good' things that were done before everything was mass produced, but that starts to wear a little thin when you realize Aston is excited that the 'new' V12 has - wait for it - those futuristic inventions called ** knock sensing ** and ** variable camshaft timing **...
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But the comparison isn't about price, it is about like vs like, and that's the Vanquish which is also a ZF auto like the Jag. And the Vanq handles more like the Jag, that is, not excessive power on oversteer like the V12VS. The Vanq would certainly not be left in the dust, considering it has the same power as the Jag and weighs the same, and the same shift quality.
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And they both have the now old tech 6 speed. Would be nice to see the 8 speed in the Vanq, complete with its software.
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And the Jag will be beaten by something else...
I haven't had time to watch the video yet, but... The V12VS is a seriously fast car, and it costs a LOT less than the 458 and Gallardo (soon to be Huracan) while producing similar power. It was good enough to do very well in EVO's Car of the Year testing. The XK-RS GT is an extremely limited production (75 total if memory serves, although I think they may increase that a little) ultimate version not just of the XK, but of the XK-RS, and it's similar in price to the Aston. And all of those things that make an Aston a more expensive and desirable car than a Jaguar still apply. A '62 E-type is faster than a '62 DB4...
The V12VS is marketed as the fastest Aston ever but for the 0ne-77 because that's what it is. I never read that as meaning its numbers had to beat everything else on the road. Don't get me wrong -- it would be great if Aston produced a car that dominated everything else in every way, but (and I've said this many times) the performance of today's fast cars is so extreme that I think the need to try to be the fastest is quite ridiculous.
I haven't had time to watch the video yet, but... The V12VS is a seriously fast car, and it costs a LOT less than the 458 and Gallardo (soon to be Huracan) while producing similar power. It was good enough to do very well in EVO's Car of the Year testing. The XK-RS GT is an extremely limited production (75 total if memory serves, although I think they may increase that a little) ultimate version not just of the XK, but of the XK-RS, and it's similar in price to the Aston. And all of those things that make an Aston a more expensive and desirable car than a Jaguar still apply. A '62 E-type is faster than a '62 DB4...
The V12VS is marketed as the fastest Aston ever but for the 0ne-77 because that's what it is. I never read that as meaning its numbers had to beat everything else on the road. Don't get me wrong -- it would be great if Aston produced a car that dominated everything else in every way, but (and I've said this many times) the performance of today's fast cars is so extreme that I think the need to try to be the fastest is quite ridiculous.
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Ross,
You're right about the Gallardo, of course, but it's hardly cutting edge either now (older than the V8 Vantage). The Huracan is highly likely to be closer to the 458 in price. The 458, at $30-50K more, is IMO "significantly" more money, especially since most seem to be heavily optioned to not far off $300K. Can anyone actually buy a new $240,000 458? And would it actually cost $240,000?
You're right about the Gallardo, of course, but it's hardly cutting edge either now (older than the V8 Vantage). The Huracan is highly likely to be closer to the 458 in price. The 458, at $30-50K more, is IMO "significantly" more money, especially since most seem to be heavily optioned to not far off $300K. Can anyone actually buy a new $240,000 458? And would it actually cost $240,000?
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Ross,
You're right about the Gallardo, of course, but it's hardly cutting edge either now (older than the V8 Vantage). The Huracan is highly likely to be closer to the 458 in price. The 458, at $30-50K more, is IMO "significantly" more money, especially since most seem to be heavily optioned to not far off $300K. Can anyone actually buy a new $240,000 458? And would it actually cost $240,000?
You're right about the Gallardo, of course, but it's hardly cutting edge either now (older than the V8 Vantage). The Huracan is highly likely to be closer to the 458 in price. The 458, at $30-50K more, is IMO "significantly" more money, especially since most seem to be heavily optioned to not far off $300K. Can anyone actually buy a new $240,000 458? And would it actually cost $240,000?
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Which, of course, is inarguably the Vanquish, since it is the top of the Aston range.
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Ross,
I agree that many people looking at the V12VS wouldn't see the additional $50-75K or so for a 458 as a factor, but I think that, even at this level, many people would. Also, I don't think it's unreasonable for a Ferrari that typically costs 25-40% more than the V12VS to offer still better performance. Of course, the Vanquish is up there in price, but it really is a different kind of car IMO.
I agree that many people looking at the V12VS wouldn't see the additional $50-75K or so for a 458 as a factor, but I think that, even at this level, many people would. Also, I don't think it's unreasonable for a Ferrari that typically costs 25-40% more than the V12VS to offer still better performance. Of course, the Vanquish is up there in price, but it really is a different kind of car IMO.
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I'm not sure if this is sarcasm or not. If not, the V12VS is being advertised with lines such as "the most extreme Aston", "most ferocious Aston Martin ever built", and "the fastest series production model we’ve ever made". The Vanquish might be the ultimate GT car but that's a different category from the V12VS.
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I'm not sure if this is sarcasm or not. If not, the V12VS is being advertised with lines such as "the most extreme Aston", "most ferocious Aston Martin ever built", and "the fastest series production model we’ve ever made". The Vanquish might be the ultimate GT car but that's a different category from the V12VS.
And the Aston ultimate GT, as you call it, should be the car compared against the XK-RS GT, which is Jag's ultimate GT.
Comparing one brand's top GT against another's top sports car is not a valid comparison of types of cars. You cross shop (if indeed you would do so at all, I wouldn't) an F-Type R V8 against the V12S, and the XK GT against the Vanquish.
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No, you said "best" and the best Aston is the Vanquish, since it is the top of the range by a fair amount. Yes, the V12S is the most extreme Aston, the fastest, the most ferocious, but that doesn't make it the best.
And the Aston ultimate GT, as you call it, should be the car compared against the XK-RS GT, which is Jag's ultimate GT.
Comparing one brand's top GT against another's top sports car is not a valid comparison of types of cars. You cross shop (if indeed you would do so at all, I wouldn't) an F-Type R V8 against the V12S, and the XK GT against the Vanquish.
And the Aston ultimate GT, as you call it, should be the car compared against the XK-RS GT, which is Jag's ultimate GT.
Comparing one brand's top GT against another's top sports car is not a valid comparison of types of cars. You cross shop (if indeed you would do so at all, I wouldn't) an F-Type R V8 against the V12S, and the XK GT against the Vanquish.
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Sorry to bring this back up, but...
IMO, "best" entirely depends on what one wants, and I don't think that the top of the line model is by definition the "best." If one wants the best Aston GT, I'd have to think it's the Vanquish. But if one wants the most sporting, highest performing Aston, the V12VS is it, in which case the Vanquish clearly isn't the best (nor is it intended to be).
The XK GT is the "most ferocious" Jaguar, at least until the F-type R arrives. I can see it being cross-shopped by some (in part due to its very limited production) against either the Vanquish or the "most ferocious" V12VS.
BTW, I wonder if the XKR-S GT's quicker lap in the video is in part due to its significant downforce-producing very large aero addenda.
IMO, "best" entirely depends on what one wants, and I don't think that the top of the line model is by definition the "best." If one wants the best Aston GT, I'd have to think it's the Vanquish. But if one wants the most sporting, highest performing Aston, the V12VS is it, in which case the Vanquish clearly isn't the best (nor is it intended to be).
The XK GT is the "most ferocious" Jaguar, at least until the F-type R arrives. I can see it being cross-shopped by some (in part due to its very limited production) against either the Vanquish or the "most ferocious" V12VS.
BTW, I wonder if the XKR-S GT's quicker lap in the video is in part due to its significant downforce-producing very large aero addenda.