Worth considering: McLaren 650S prices are now less than half of a new 720S.

https://carbuzz.com/features/a-used-...cheap-supercar

 

I think I've said this probably three times in this thread alone. I have had my eyeballs on one listed at $129,900 for awhile now. Considering contacting the dealer, see how I could take a look.

 

How close is a McLaren dealer to your house? It's over an hour at best for me. Makes owning one a little less attractive to me.

 

The one I've been drooling over is in Texas, about 1100 miles for me. Not really a day trip. That also would make servicing a bit more difficult as the closest dealer is Denver, about 500 miles.

 

You don't see that as a bit risky with so little indy's working on McLaren? At least you can fix an Aston Martin. McLaren does offer some attractive certified car warranties; better than Aston's pricing (not by that much).

 

I've been creeping so McLaren sites, and evidently the Average Guy CAN do some work on their own cars. When it gets into the electronics is where they have problems. Evidently the 650s are about the most bullet-proof of any McLaren ever. Dude's do their own oil changes and such, although I always thought the engine bays were Locked Down. I guess they aren't all that locked.
I dunno, man. I'd sure like to have one.
Aston dealer in Denver and Las Vegas, both about the same distance for me. I lived in Vegas for some years, don't want to go there again as it has taken a big poop on itself.

 

How about the new NSX? You won't have to worry about going to the dealer and just as exotic technology and construction; if not more. On my list too. I drove one over the winter and was impressed. More substantive that I ever thought!

Here's the one I test drove. It's Acura's North East demo car. 60K miles, beat on by every auto journalist in the North East and I couldn't tell if it 10k miles on it! Many, many track days among them. I could count the sticker tape on the wheels to equal the mileage!

 

I dunno, man. I don't relish the thought of driving around a Honda and thinking it's 'cool'. It may BE cool, but not really what I'd want. From Jaaaaaagggggg to a Honda? Where would the celebration come in?
Besides, and this is a COMPLETE deal-breaker.......
Where is the Convertible????????

 

The NSX is just so pedestrian looking, actually it's just ugly. I'm not a McLaren styling fan either, but it's at least better than the NSX. Now a first generation NSX, I could certanly go for...

 

As the xkr is so unique its virtually impossible to find a suitable replacement that ticks all the boxes some look good but lack the sound , others might have the sound but are simply boring unfortunately most other vehicles pale in comparison and I not being critical but I can pick a fault with every 'suitable replacement' that comes to my mind bottom line I think we've all struck it lucky with this model yet cursed at the same time as we have nothing to move onto in the near future

 

Exactly That! ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

 

There's always a 2013-14 AM DB9, which will feel related, and if you've kept your Tesla stock, a 2019 Vanquish will more than fill the void. Third choice, the MB AMG GT. After that it's all Italian.

 

If you're going to a DB9, expecially one that's 7 years old, I'd rather look for a low mileage 2014-15 XKR or XKRS. Straight up going to the DB9 is a downgrade in performance and technology to any 5.0L XKR, so is it just for the "prestige" factor? Most of us would look to "move up" to our step from an XKR not down just for a name's sake.

 

Sort of agree with this, but with some caveats;
DB9, sort of a straight trade across, though with some 'status' and maybe a bit more panache, but still too similar and too much $$$.
Yes, a Vanquish would be Yummy. Too bad one of equal age to a good XKR is very close to $100,000 more. Not worth it for again, pretty much straight across, but with even more Panache, but my dog, they are gorgeous.
MB is meh. Weird styling and is more an dick car than Audi. And again, way too much $$$ for what you get.
Italian? Ha. While gorgeous, fast, chutzpah out the ying-yang, most normal folk can't afford the scheduled maintenance costs, let alone the car payment.
WE NEED A NEW XK/R!!!

 

I don't get how everyone is saying a DB9 is a down grade from a XKR. A DB9 2013+ is the final spec and just an amazing car. I'd look at 2013+ if buying. More power with the Vanquish styling touches. Hard for me to say between the Vanquish and DB9 which one I'd choose. Vanquish is the flagship, has more interior space, but the bulging lines can look less graceful. One real accident and the car could be write off. DB9 is well... a DB. The quality of materials used throughout either car is a jump up from the Jag. Not everything is linear with price either, but to dimiss either car is a lateral move to me is absurd. My buddy's GTR is faster than most Ferrari's, but it'll never be Ferrari despite any performance metric the GTR has.

I find it wishful thinking to put the XKR as an equal to a DB9 just based on performance. I don't think there was ever an Aston that was a leader in performance when it came out.

 

This one checks checks all the boxes for me. Skyfall Silver and Chancellor Red with Carbon Fiber. Asking $69,900.
https://www.starmotorvolvocars.com/u...ff834190eb.htm



Is it worth $40-50K more than my XKR? Don't ask my wife!

 

I had the Lotus Esprit Turbo for a couple of years. Never had any kind of trouble with it. My friends in the motor trade, when they discovered what I'd bought, clubbed together to get me a gift. They bought me a pair of walking boots!

But... while the Esprit is a wonderful car, a truly amazing car, it bears no comparison with my XKR. The Lotus has to be 'driven' all the time. All the time. It is never relaxing, even when you're tired. In the dark and the rain (together) it is a nightmare - the steep slope of the windscreen means that any rainwater on it, combined with just a little road grease, plus the lights of oncoming traffic (the Lotus is very low), make it all but impossible to see properly. In those conditions I had to slow down so much that vans and pickups would go right past me. I did love the car though but I wouldn't have another. The XKR is plenty fast enough and can be driven, in Sport mode, like a true sports car, but when you feel like letting the car take the strain, put it in normal mode and let it just waft you along. Best of all worlds, for me anyway.

 

I agree that there is more to a comparison that simply performance data. Looks, style, brand, exclusivity, reliability and so on all come into play. I think Aston Martins are wonderful cars. But... they cost so much more than the (similar or equivalent) XKR for what is, to me, not a huge amount of additional benefit. I would feel I was paying a lot of $$$ for the exclusivity and the brand. Nothing at all wrong with that, but just not for me. Also, I am told that the AMs cost way more to service and maintain, that parts are way more expensive and that reliability cannot always be taken for granted. The XKR is one of the cheapest-to-own cars I have ever had. Servicing is reasonable at one of the many specialists, and most parts are not too bad (some are crazy I agree). The XKR looks stunning, and always will. And they are very affordable to buy. I can scarcely believe that my beautiful XKR, in pretty much perfect condition, cost me about half what my pickup truck cost me (bought new).

I;d like to think that one day I will want something different, but right now, nothing else seems to even begin to compete. These are truly classic cars in the making. They will never look old or dated. And with sensible care, they should last for ever. How many cars can we say that of?

 

I've found even on early DB9s that the materials are a jump up, even from later XKRs. I have loved my XKRs, and they've been great cars, but the DB9 came out when I was a senior in high school and it and the Lamborghini Murcielago were my new, exotic dream cars. I want an early car as I feel despite their flaws, they are excellent value for a DIYer like me (I'd say semi advanced as I sometimes do parts reproduction and fabrication, so not just a parts changer). I feel the Vantage is not my cup of tea. They are good cars, but I like the lengthened proportions and GT manners of the DB more. The Vanquish is more money, and harder edged than I want as well. Jay Leno said it right in a review of the modern Virage; Aston Martin builds you the car you really want. Not too hard edged, really nailing the GT aspect. Having driven the DB9, Vantage (V8 in S) and a DBS.

I want to own a DB9 and have found reading the Grant Neal "The DEFINITIVE GUIDE to the new Gaydon era ASTON MARTIN" book, watching Aston1936 videos and guides, and browsing AMOC stuff; I could be very happy with the ownership experience. Overall robust cars, and the stuff like trans cooler lines, coils and timing cover seals, are relatively inexpensive. Reading the full factory service manual, they are not that bad to work on either! Used short blocks, cylinder heads, transmissions, etc; they are able to be sourced and at what I would call reasonable used prices. Obviously pay attention to oil levels and run the revised dipstick and capacity, and it most likely won't need any internal engine work.

 

Car that costs twice as much as the XK should have more expensive parts, regardless the marque. I don't find that AM's are more difficult to work on. Just as much space in the engine bay. My Aston's have just been annual services basically. Really no different than the Jags. There is an expectation that the Aston should be maintained to a higher level. Few are changing brake fluid every year on an XK, but it standard course on an Aston (for instance).

If you know someone can loan you an Aston Martin for a few days and if you're not convinced then; maybe they're just not for you? Totally reasonable outcome. Some go for a Ferrari or Bentley. Both great choices as well. When you buy any three of those cars, you are buying more than a car. It's also an object d'art and there is that mentality to owning it.