+1000

That book is addictive and it inspired me to get my first AM years ago.

 

To help the guy out (and myself)... this is the book you guys are talking about, yes?

 

Yes that is the correct book

 

 

Thank you for the link... *purchase*

 

it's a great read... you can skip to page 120... bottom of the page...

"... the 2009MY is our ultimate pick..."
I'd have to agree!

 

Same here

 

That's page 116 in my book so it's going to vary by edition.

I didn't need to read that to know the 09'-11' was my pick, but it was nice to see it verified!

 

Depends on your tastes. I like the styling of the 2012.5+ cars more. Now, the standard plastic front splitter and rear valence were kind of lame, but that's why I have carbon fiber. The N400 type sides skirts on the 2011 would be worth it for me over the earlier side skirts on the 2009, but it comes down to what you like. That's what the book will help you decide.

 

On darker colors the splitter blends in better and on black looks perfectly natural, but I was looking for Lightning or Stratus and IMO those colors really needed that lower paint line. I starred at the new Lightning on the floor of my local for many hours and decided I could live with it, but then discovered the process for turning off the traction control and that was the ultimate deciding factor to stay 09'-11'. I loved the look of the 09' without side skits and longer mirrors, but the N400 sills grew on my so much during my search I focused on 10 and 11, although if a great 09' had come up for sale [Zettinger got the first one that got my attention at the right price] I would have bought it.

But different strokes for different folks. Some love the lipstick which I find very distracting [although I still love Mathman's car].

 

I had an 07, and an 09 Vantage and did not like the new front splitter - however, now that I had a 2015 V8 and V12S I've grown to like the new front ends better - funny how that works.,

 

I absolutely like it on a black car, but I would never own a black car

 

Thank you all for the interaction in this thread. For some reason, I stopped getting notifications of all the replies.

I have just purchased the book and will review it. All your comments and thoughts are exactly what I was looking for (splitters, sills, longer mirrors...etc...). Most car sites and reviews do not detail all the little nuisances between model years.

I do plan to fly just about anywhere to go look at a car, and I do not plan to purchase the first one I see...UNLESS I really like the first one I see.

Still not sure what to do about the Jag XK regarding trading it or selling privately, as well as the timing of it. I don't need to sell it to buy the AM, but I certainly don't need the XK just sitting around either.

All good problems to have, and we are all pretty fortunate to kick these ideas around. I'm enjoying the search and research... exciting.

 

One of the benefits of buying private party, besides price, is no dealer "fees" and if you and the seller are so inclined, you can pay tax on value of the car, rather than the transaction price...