Owned both... an 08 R8 & an 07 Vantage. The R8 was purchased new in 2007 (european deliver no less!).... but gone one year later... a victim of the recession. In 2010 I purchased the 07 Vantage used. When it came time to replace the 2007 Vantage in 2013 I decided on a 2013 Vantage S. No regrets.
NOTE: dsvantage... I too have an A4 Avant as my dog car.

 

Drove an older Aston V-12 and it was a nice, albeit softer, heavier GT car.

Tracked the R8 V8 and V10 manuals. Fantastic track cars. Engine in the right place, excellent sound (V8 more so) and a nice, low center of gravity. Neutral, forgiving, fantastic driver's cars. I found the R8 to also be a very usable "every day" super car on public roads as well, same day I drove the Aston.

I also take issue with the speed differential. AWD is a fantastic enabler of speed under any condition, wet/damp, leaves, uneven road surfaces, launching, etc. And if the R8 V10 DCT is geared like the Huracan, it will clearly be the quicker car, possibly a 10 second car which is very, very rare air (edit, ESPECIALLY being normally aspirated and no hybrid assist).

Dual clutch, not a torque converter.

 

Which Aston V12 did you drive? The V12 Vantage isn't exactly a soft GT car.

 

Good point and my experience is so long ago I should have stated that. It was a DB9 Volante in 2009.

 

Great info and debate for sure. I have an Audi RS5 today with the same DCT in the current R8, it is very impressive. I have no desire for a true manual transmission regardless of vehicle, I'm a tech guy and want to look forward not backwards with the tech. That being said I actually like the SS in the vantage it is a nice mix of tech and old school feel, I would assume the SS3 in the V12S is superior to the one in my 08 v8v.

In the end I think it's the looks that will get me and the v12 roar. Someone posted a pic earlier in the thread with a v8v next to an R8 and the R8 was not impressive. The
Aston is still the better looking vehicle for sure. I am going to watch the prices and the used market for what I am looking for and pick up one of these in the spring, hopefully.