I love my Vantage. It's like a work of art or a piece of jewelry. It's so effing gorgeous to look at, and it's a sh*it ton of fun to drive as well.

So why do I ask the question in the thread title? It's a serious question. I'm approaching 60 and retirement, and this is really the last sports car I intend to own. My plan has been to give it to one of my kids when I grow too old to enjoy it any longer, assuming one of them ever learns to drive a manual gearbox, another story completely. But with the fast advancement of e-cars that are really fast and autonomous driving (oxymoron?), I wonder if any of them, or anyone at all, will want a car like this in not too distant future. In 15 years the days of the gas powered cars will likely be in the rear view mirror, and the new cars will be driving themselves as well. The driving experience will be mostly dead.

I'm keeping the car for my own enjoyment for as long as I can drive it. But should one hold onto a car that is really fun to drive and look at now, but be an anachronism that's of value only to older people who remember the gold old days?

 

If it makes you happy, why wouldn't you keep it? I intend to.

There's a guy who shows up to local car shows with his Ford Model A (pic below). When I spoke to him, as he was fixing something that was wrong, he had just gotten back from a tour of the great lakes with it... in the box on the back, he keeps a bunch of spare parts in case something breaks. It's what he and his wife enjoy, so it's what he does. What else is there in life that is more important than doing what makes you happy?

 

I don't believe gasoline powered cars are going to totally go away. People still ride horses 100 years after they've been replaced for transportation. Why wouldn't gasoline cars still be used for pleasure? Especially an Aston Martin, which is generally only driven for pleasure in the first place. It's not like all of the sudden old cars will be gone. The time frame is another question. It's going to be interesting to see how long it actually takes for alternative fuel vehicles to replace gasoline but it's going to be a long time to go from 3.5% to 95%.

 

Deckman

im a similar age to you and I'd like to keep driving my car (s) as long as I can as they are one of my hobbies.
Increasingly "the war on speed" as Clarkson put it, and the technology that is being loaded onto cars is reducing the opportunity to enjoy the driving. I expect that by the time we are at the end of our love affair with cars there will be little joy in driving out and enjoying the open road.

on a related thread I recently sold my 75 Triumph TR6, which was a lovely example and brought me a lot of joy and friendships, as I feel those older cars which we loved as young men will have little currency with the younger generations. The guy that bought the TR6 was 63. I will ultimately sell my TR4 in a few years for the same reason.

Eventually our Vantages, Vanquishes and DB's will go the same way unless they have some special history or significance.

so enjoy it while you can, every chance, for any reason, any where

happy driving!

Graze

 

I am planning on keeping mine or buying another just like it and plan on keeping them forever. This is really the last real combustion engined car that is not over teched and will always be interesting to many, and the synergy that creates coupled with the design is discernible to even the non enthusiast. I would like to, at some point, rebuild the engine with better rods and pistons, (the crank is already a work of art as many have noted) and key the oil pump. This would render the engine virtually indestructible. I have had many front engine rear trans cars, beginning with an Alfa Romeo, and the all have the same characteristics and are easy to drive and forgiving. If my hunch is correct, I foresee this make and model following the same path as a few other iconic British cars from the 1960's.

 

I've had 9 Astons - pretty sure this is my last and hope my son and their heirs keep it. One of the last V12S made, and hope to be of some value not too far in the future. Another local 2006 Aston owner died and willed his collection to the wife and kids to keep as family heirlooms.

 

I hope to keep mine a long time as well

 

I don't plan to keep the Rapide for too long. Maybe 2-3 more seasons. I do feel they are worthy of forever ownership. I would just choose a smaller model than the Rapide to keep forever. Vantage V12, DB9 GT, or Gaydon Vanquish would be my picks for life keeper modern Aston's.

 

Like my viking ancestors who were sent out to sea in their burning ships...I intend to be buried in my vantage in about 30 years

 

I bought my 07 V8V manual in 2014 with the plan to keep it until I can't drive it anymore. I do a lot of the service on the car myself and while the technology of the car pushes my abilities at times I keep learning. I can work on cars as it's been a hobby and sometimes a source of income but this car is the most advanced.

People will migrate to new car technologies but this should last me out.

 

I have said it before that my Vantage is a permanent part of my collection. I’m 71 so I will keep it until I can’t drive anymore. Then again my father-in-law kept his car long after he couldn’t drive. He enjoyed having it and looking at it and I would make sure it always look good.

 

If you stay healthy. All long range plans are based on this fact. Speaking from experience on this (Smile)

 

Amazing that we all feel the same. I bought mine with the intention it would be the last car I own, even if I have to crawl out of it and slowly stand up with a cane. It's my only car, and I don't want another, I don't care how impractical it is, if I need more room for a trip I'll hit Enterprise, and now she's behaving, it hasn't stalled since November, which coincidentally is the last last time I washed it. It's just a used car now, just the most beautiful car on the road, no matter how dirty the wheels are. I've had my crazy fun in it, I quit drifting it and doing burnouts when I put the PS4's on which just don't spin like the AM9's did, but I pretty much got it out of my system. Not that I've "grown up" any, just evolved. I haven't raced anybody off a light since they put the new engine in, I just laugh as they burn off and watch them drive away. That said I did have somebody toying with me on the highway the other night, the car ahead of me moved to the slow lane and I've never seen that far with no cars so I dropped it into 4th and hammered it. I was passing 130 on the way to finding out how fast I could get her, when I realized I had an eighth of weed on me [it was legal where I bought it], so it's a good thing these slow down as fast as they accelerate!

I love my car, I hope it lives longer than I do.

 

It's an interesting question as I am now in my mid 70's. In 2012 I bought a 911 991 C2 MT and it was going to be my keeper. 25,000 later a 911 991 GTS MT factory order was definitely going to be my keeper; but 25,000 miles later and health issues questioned that decision.
A Macan it would have to be; sensible, practical and sporty. I could play music, listen to Public Radio but driving lost it's appeal particularly as my health returned.
The 911's opted for turbos and going back to a GTS lost its appeal.
End of March and I was seduced by a 2014 low mileage (less than a 1,000 miles) Vantage V8 MT Coupe, my daily driver.
5,000 miles later I enjoy;
6 speed MT
Hydraulic suspension
NA engine
The handling
The practical beautiful interior and stunning exterior
But most of all; Driving again.
Having learned not to speak of "Keepers"
(If you want to make G-d laugh tell him your plans)
I will be very happy if it sees me out.

 

Ok AFX show you old Porsche car buddies your Aston. When the guys in our Porsche club found out I had an Aston they wanted me to bring it to our next drive and dine. They were all impressed by the Aston. Porsche’s are very nice cars but there is something special about the Aston. When I go to Cars and Coffee with the Aston they always have me park in the reserved spots with the exotic cars. The Porsche would just have to find a spot wherever.