have been given that option. most folks tell me not to do it. havent driven the vanquish yet so no idea. i do use the 456 as a daily driver, mini school bus, grocery getter...so the vanquish would have to have the same ability. comments?
i really like the shape of the vanquish, and it does sound great. and i have had plenty of cars, but never an aston martin. so yes i guess i am contemplating a change, but not convinced yet.
Then sounds like a good enough reason to go for it. I'm in a hunker mode, but, will stick with the Ferraris for now.....will always have one in the garage. Have enought probs with Ferraris. The vanquish does sound nice.
I don't know about the vanquish, but the v8 vantage is pretty hard to see out of. The front hood is so high it is difficult to judge the corners or nose length of the car. The 456M has a much airier feeling to the interior, and the vantage is almost claustrophobic by comparison. The best part of the Vantage you don't see from behind the wheel--it's exterior shape is very pretty. I expect the Vanquish is similar in most respects except for the addition of the back seat and more HP under the hood.
I too have heard that the AM's are a tight fit. I guess they are relatively small on the inside compared to their outside dimensions. I am only 5'9" tall so a lot of cars that people complain about fit me well (e.g. a 328 GTS). Everyone loves the lines of the Vanquish so, from that point of view, it is a winner. I personally would prefer the 465M GT, but there is something to be said for trying something new. You can always put an ad on FerrariAds.com and see if you get decent money for your 456 before you take the plunge. Given the way the economy is going, there will be a strong opportunity to buy a used AM Vanquish for many months to come.
Ross If you are seriously considering it then my advice will be not to do it. A friend of mine drove a AM Vanquish and he said it felt slow and bloated. It just doesnt feel quick enough. On the same day he also drove a 355 and said it just showed how bad the AM was. My advice is if you want to move up then get a 612 with an F1 box. Prices have been coming down steadily so they can be had for about £75K upwards in the UK. In all aspects in a step up from the 456 (expect maybe in looks), and dont forget that new they are over £220K nowadays! Like someone else said, the best part of the AM is the outside, and you cant see that sitting behind the wheel.
What about, say, an '05-06 AM DB9 coupe? About same money as an '02-03 Vanquish, very similar performance. More modern looks, current model, imho the DB9 coupe is probably the sexiest production car style-wise. I know the DB9 is more of a GT car, whereas the Vanquish is more of a sports car with fewer frills inside, but then again you already have a GT with the 456, so the transition should be easier.
Ross. As a previous owner of an '05 DB9, I can tell you to stay with a Ferrari. The Vanquish is just a more powerful version of the DB9 and has lots of transmission problems. The DB9 is a 2 seater. The back seats are a joke. Might as well be a package shelf. So if you you transport more than 1 other person you will be out of luck. Also the AM felt very heavy and sitting position is very low so there is limited visibility over the hood and I am very tall. Granted it is a beautiful car on the outside, and it has a state of the art aluminum frame, but the engine is nothing more than 2 Ford V6's welded together. I was so disappointed with it I sold it within a year and took a huge hit on the price. I would think if you need a true 4 seater to go with a 612. If not, why not a 575M?.
ok. you guys, and all the others i spoke to directly, have convinced me to stick with the 456mgt. seems i made the right choice the first time. thx for your comments.
Good choice! Ferrari is the pinnacle of autodom. AM nice, but a dressed up Ford/Jaguar... Nothing, stirs the automotive soul liek a Ferrari V12....
Darn, wish I had not read this thread - I was thinking exactly what Ross initally thought ..... great got that out of my system!
AM were second best artistic design to me...UNTIL Ford copied the look on the new Jags. I think you made the best choice. Here's another thought...with exotic sales off 70+% in last 18 months, aston (with it's private investor ownership) may not be around to sell you parts...
one side comment. i bought the 456 because my wife said i could not buy any more 2 seaters until we had a 4 seater. i really wanted a 612, but it just seemed like way too much money. so did the vanquish at the time. (i wrote many threads about this decision process). so i found what i consider to be the best 456mgt in switzerland. paid slightly below market for it since i bought it privately from a widow that just wanted rid of it. now, 1.5 years on, i find that the 456mgt has not really lost much value, if at all. it might be 10% down from where i paid just because i have driven it so much. BUT the 612 and vanquish have lost 40% ! really happy i made the right economic decision too !
Oh come on now....Buy the Vanquish and let your mates use it when you are bored or cant see out of it. James Bond drives an AM James Bellushi drives a Ferrari
the itch is coming on again...there is a 2002 vanquish with 53k km on the clock from the dealer. asked him if he wants to do a straight swap...
Have you driven the Vanquish? Just drive one. I wouldn't get the 2002, though. I'd get an 03 at least and maybe even an 04. Havign been very impressed with the Vanquish, I'd say absolutely you can drive it every day. Look, I'm a Ferrari guy through and through, but that Vanquish is just a stunner.
I test drove the Vanquish. Owned Vantage, 456M, and 612. Personally, I would stick with 456 (and of course 612).
i will likely stick with the 456 in the end, but i am not emotionally attached to it. (unlike the 512tr for example). so given the right opportunity i would let it go at the right number.
To make the story more concise, I sold Testarossa for Vantage, sold Vantage for 456, and sold 456 for 612. Vantage was like a smaller version of my Mercedes CL500, only lighter, and faster. I wanted a slightly "edgier" car, not so rough and rigid as the Testarossa, that's why 456 came into play.
Vanquish is 90% there in terms of performance. Only the transmission shifts a bit slowly for my liking in some circumstances. Otherwise, grunt, grip, handling, etc. are all first class. Reliability...it's a modern car making big power. The transmission is the weak point, but I have only heard of failures online, none of my friends who have them have had any problem, ever. Mechanically or electrically. If you buy one with a few miles on it, I am sure transmission issues, if any, will have been ironed out. You could always spring for an extended warranty for the additional piece of mind. Looks-wise, I don't think the 456 or 575M or 612 are even in the same league. 575M I can get used to, although I think the rear lights are too small and look beady. Other two are just mediocre, and that's being kind. Vanquish. By a mile. It oozes power, elegance, subtlety, tautness...it's just gorgeous, its stance makes it look like it's crouching, ready to pounce. Unless you are looking for a track car, get the Vanquish. It's stunning, cool, reliable, fast and powerful.
Oh no, Zack. You don't want to start a war here. This is still a Ferrari Forum. Best of luck to you in the hours to come.
