That book is a must buy before getting too serious about purchasing an AM. I wish I had it before buying my first one. Owning a Lotus and the local dealer being both Lotus & AM gave me a little more exposure to the marque, but I may've bought a different car had I read the book before I started. That, and I am not so "need a manual" like I did when I first started down the AM path. I am really into the paddles now and I never thought I would say that! Between the Rapide and my friend's California; I am sold on the paddles.

 

Evidently I was misunderstood...
I would LOVE a Vanquish. A Vanquish S Volante is on my short list. I'd also love a DB11 Volante, but they only come with the V8 with zero option for the V12.
For me, it's down to a Vanquish or a McLaren 650S for my next purchase.
Both are much more purchase cost AND maintenance cost than my XKR, and I'm sure more than any of you's guys's XKRs. Yes, I can still afford either a AMV or the 650S, but I'd prefer to NOT spend that much.
Is it worth (to me) paying an additional $100,000 beyond the value of my MAYBE $28,000 XKR to get pretty much the same thing with the Vanquish?
Sure, go ahead, yell at me and say that XKRs and Vanquishes are nothing alike. Sorry, they are. Sure, Astons have that bit extra (as I have said repeatedly in this thread) but One Hundred Grand more 'bit extra'???
How fun would it be to see some Vanquish acting all hot-**** on the freeway, thinking his $350k wondercar was all that, and then leave him in the weeds with a pitiful stock Gag-uar?

 

Vanquish has the largest single panel carbon fiber application of any car made to that point; that costs a lot of money. The price is in line with any other car that has a carbon fiber body, even ones that aren't as masterfully crafted as the Vanquish.

XKR is not leaving a Vanquish "in the weeds" on the highway. Highway acceleration is where the Aston V12 really impresses. Dodge has several cars that are faster than both; none of them are an Aston either.

If you want full on sporty, the V12 Vantage S is really something. Friend has both '05 and new Ford GT, along with Vantage V12S. He puts the V12S in the same league as the '05 Ford GT in terms of analog driving nirvana.

 

And yet, read any, and I mean any and every review of an XKR vs. a DB9 or a Vantage, V8 or V12, and you will not find a single review where despite the wonderful "feelings" that the reviewer might have had driving the Astons, by the end of the review the XKR or XKRS is chosen every time as the preferred car. I could not find a single exception in searching through many, many side by side test drive comparisons. I think the DB9 and DB11 as well as the previous Vantage generation are beautiful, special cars, but are they special enough to warrant the enormous price differences, not to me. And not to any single reviewer who drove the cars back to back. It is a sub-lateral move.






and

 

If only comparisons were apple to apple. But they're not. I thoroughly enjoy my XKR. Fun to drive. Fun to look at. With enough lineage and panache to hold it's own in most circles.
Compared to a similar year DB9, the numbers are almost identical, though, the DB gets its power from a NA V12, not a SC V8, so the experience is quite different. A Vanquish will
push the HP number closer to 600, and again, a very different experience. But honestly, that's where the sameness ends. And it's not about ethereal things, but very tangible and
real stuff you can see with your eyes and touch with your hands and feel with your bottom.
As others have pointed out, if it's just numbers, a Dodge or Ford will trump the Jag, and yet we see a difference.
You can buy a suit at Men's Wearhouse, and it will fit well enough, and the wool will be virgin, and it will have buttons and pockets and a lining and pants. And to most eyes, and probably
wearers it'll be as good as anything they could imagine costing more than the few hundred dollars they spent. On the other end, you could dress yourself in Isaia. Off the rack, but made
the way a suit should be made. Not cheap, but not the most pricey. It's sort of the Jag of suits. And then there's a Kiton, easily 10K, or you could spring for the Kiton 50, named for it's price.
They're all the same thing with the same type of parts. But they're all made differently and the experience of wearing one over the other is remarkably and profoundly different.
There is not affordable alternative to the XKR. Especially a 6 year old Jag. There's cheap fast cars. Maybe the Lexus LC500...or something better in almost all ways.

 

In South Florida where a Bentley is what a Mercedes might be elsewhere, a 7 year old exotic gives the impression of a desperate has-been peacock.
Especially when deadbeat Youtubers have made videos on how to buy these cheap. Cheapen it in the eyes of millions.
Fortunately, in those circles they have never heard of an XK and its still from the future.

(all that to say if you are going to buy a used has-been, XKR is the has-been that never was, Thank god, I hate competing with the young punks, this is the best way)

 

@Queen and Country The price of entry on an AM or the like might be affordable, but staying at the table can cost a few if you're not up to the task.

 

I read something on the Astonmartin.com website, it stated something like "If you think a regular service cost upwards of $2000 is too much, an Aston Martin isn't for you".

 

It's the major repairs and parts that could kill you on these cars. Not regular service, unless you enter Ferrari land where belt changes require engine dropping.

What are you getting for a $2000 regular service? Belts filters and oil change? Unless that includes a clutch service or something, it sounds like a ripoff to me.

 

Oil, filter, 26 point inspection, and top off fluids. $2000+. Every six months or 6,000 miles. Dealer prices, of course. DIY and it drops to a hunnerd bucks.

 

That sounds pretty high. I think my annual is around $1300 on the V12. It should be 6K or annually. Oil change, inspection, brake fluid flush, swap batteries in remotes, and a couple of other things. I know one local guy with like 5-6 Aston's that does only at 6K, even if that takes few years to get to. With 20+ cars it does not make sense to annuals (from his perspective).

UK it's much cheaper with many offering attractive flat rate pricing from AM specialists.

 

I was going by the actual Aston Martin website. Right in there it states $2000 for a service.

 

I own a Maserati Granturismo and it seems like it's the same world. My DIY oil change is like any other European car and about $100 or so. Belts are belts, and a special tool to remove it is the only tricky part. Differential oil, $40. Even brakes and rotors, I did them all around with OEM and better than OEM spec in the front for under $1k. Meanwhile I've seen people come back with dealer quotes for $5k.

I think the people paying $2000 for this work at an AM or Ferrari dealer do not overlap at all with the people looking to buy them for fractions of MSRP and DIY the basic maintenance.

 

Here's a UK site with flat rate pricing that advertises in AMOC publications

https://www.strattonmotorcompany.com...nd-aftersales/

 

It's in the sales section somewhere, under something like "Is an Aston Martin for you?" heading. I'll try to verbatim it, but I'll hack it greatly...

"If a servicing cost of $2000 is something you wouldn't be comfortable with, an Aston Martin probably isn't for you".

 

Thinking more and more on this........ I really do love the look of a Vanquish or a DB11 (although no V12 in a volante), but if I'm going to spend an additional $100k+ on a car, do I want something too similar???
Now I'm way leaning towards a McLaren. Maybe keep the Jag also, since it's only worth like $28k anyway.

 

And that's how you move on from an XKR.
You don't.
Just add the next selection to the stable.

 

Unfortunately I only have room in the garage for two cars and my wife would get pretty upset if I made her park on the street so I don't have the option of keeping the XKR when I move on.

I moved on from my last XKR to my present XKR so that was an easy decision but I won't be buying another one.

What ever I buy next will be another daily driver so can't be too exotic or high maintenance. As I have been driving Jags for over 30 years the F Type is the obvious choice but an Aston Martin of some sort would look good in my garage!

 

Fully understand the wife thingy, we have a 4 car garage which in 25 years she has never seen the inside of. And she reminds me daily of that fact in the winter. No room in the shed either as it also is full. We are doing some work this summer on the garage and I offered to make it into a 6 stall and I got "the look" so I guess she will be parking in the driveway again this year. The only thing saving me from giving up square footage is remote start.

 

I think it changes things if you can work on your own car yourself. Unfortunately, I can't. I have neither the space in my garage nor the skills needed. I have a useful motto - "If it ain't broke, it's 'cause I haven't fixed it yet". So I have to take my cars to a local specialist and, from what I can see around here, that is going to cost me quite bit more than the XKR costs. I take your point about annual routine services - there's no way they should cost so much more than a Jaguar. It's if things go wrong the differences begin. They are lovely cars for sure. My wife has longed for one for years, but for me, the XKR is all I need. It has timeless beauty, more than enough performance for my needs, and it didn't cost much to buy and, so far anyway, isn't costing me much to own.

Agree with you there. I have a feeling that my next car will be a Bentley Continental GT Coupe. (Not much point to my mind for a convertible here in the UK. If I lived somewhere they have summers, I'd love a vert). But it will be years away I think, simply because I am in love with my XKR. I have had several Porsches, one Ferrari, a Rolls Royce and numerous (modern) Jaguars over the years. Of all of them so far, the XKR is the one I love the most. It is also the one that has looks and performance and comfort, all in the one machine. I guess I'd say something similar if I had an Aston. I have friends who have had them, or still have them, and they are very special for sure.