what next ?

[franki68]

As you know I love my r8,but all good things come to an end and I am now in need of a change .
I have only driven 2 cars I would contemplate swapping for,the Aston Vantage v12 is my dream car,but just slightly out of my price raneg at the moment and I am also fearful of the depreciation and runnning costs involved in such a car.But it is the sort of car I could imagine keeping for 10 years such is its beauty and elegance and that epic engine.
The nIssan GRT blew me a way to be honest,it is a superb car,problem is it is very common near me,at least 4 others,whereas there are no other r8s.
Lastly I have found a good offer on the v10 ,a new one (to my spec) with £5k off list and a good finaince rate compared to the market.

So I would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who has got any of these cars,especially v10 owners...is the extra grunt worth the money (bear in mind my v8 is running at around 445bhp so it lies somewhere between the stock r8 and the v10 performance wise)

[mlpor]

Well, . . . . you can take a tip from Jeremy Clarkson's view. The R8 V10 TopGear episode only recently aired here in the US. Jeremy seemed underwhellemed by the experience - the V10 is apparently "too good" - no excitment, no thrills, no edge of your seat "We're all about to die . . . . . ." a la Corvette ZR1. Too bad. I'd hold out for the new McLaren MP$-12c There's apparently a video clip or two floating 'round showing Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton having a spin or two in one of the almost production prototypes.

[Garyhun]

Why not take a V10 out for a test drive and see if YOU think the extra grunt is worth it. I found it effortlessly very fast when I test drove one recently - plenty in reserve which is what you want. I could not justify to myself upgrading BUT the Spyder may make me change. At the end of the day it's all very subjective.

Aston V12 is a gorgeous car, it has to be said!

[Garyhun]

Well, . . . . you can take a tip from Jeremy Clarkson's view. The R8 V10 TopGear episode only recently aired here in the US. Jeremy seemed underwhellemed by the experience - the V10 is apparently "too good" - no excitment, no thrills, no edge of your seat "We're all about to die . . . . . ." a la Corvette ZR1. Too bad. I'd hold out for the new McLaren MP$-12c There's apparently a video clip or two floating 'round showing Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton having a spin or two in one of the almost production prototypes.

To be fair JC is not someone you want to use as a benchmark for your car decisions - TG is more entertainment now than serious car info program. In the Sunday Times he raved about the V10, yet changed his view for TopGear. Go figure!

[mlpor]

To be fair JC is ......... Go figure!

Fancy that. With those innitials I'd have suspected him of being . . . . well almost infalible Cheers,

[kthacher]

Clarkson is to usable car advice as Cramer is to usable stock market advice. Both are entertainers that have long since abandoned any pretense of credibility.

[randombloke]

To be fair JC is not someone you want to use as a benchmark for your car decisions - TG is more entertainment now than serious car info program. In the Sunday Times he raved about the V10, yet changed his view for TopGear. Go figure!

exactly - tg is all about "entertainment", so contradictions, hypocrisy and inaccuracy are no barriers to them if it makes for good telly.

is the extra grunt worth the money (bear in mind my v8 is running at around 445bhp so it lies somewhere between the stock r8 and the v10 performance wise)

do you feel the v8 lacks power?

[CPBRI]

Not many better looking cars than AMs. I've driven the V8 Vantage and was left cold. Besides, not enough head room for me.

Have not driven the Nissan, but it sure is a performer. I just don't care for the look or the Fast and Furious feel I get from it.

You say you love your R8 but you want a change. (I can certainly appreciate that). I have only 700 miles on my V10, but am very happy with it. Love the NA engine and the exhaust note is a crowd pleaser. Of the 3 you mentioned, I'd vote for the R8 V10.

[franki68]

'do you feel the v8 lacks power?'

I think that depends on perspective,I came into mine from a 997 turbo and prior to that an m6,so in comparison the r8 did seem lethargic,hence the remap and exhaust mods.Now I don't feel it lacks power,but after the aston v12 and gtr it seems rather slow,and I have had mine now for nearly 3 years (a world record for me ) so i do fancy a change.Normally the v10 does not appeal but I am just wondering if it does give that sense of specialness you get say in the aston or in a lambo/ferrari ? A test drive is a must for me of course,but there are not many v10s around for sale here in the uk (I know audi Uk are very dissapointed about the lack of v8 owners upgrading ,maybe because the v8 is so good ?).
The £5k discount and tempting (relatively) finaince rate have made it an option I should consider,but I do think it is the least likely one for me to change to as it would be so similar to the v8 in many ways. Hence the question(s).
On the gtr board there are a few who say they have changed into the gtr (from the r8)and not regretted it ,I would like to hear from someone on here who has done that (if anyone has).

[London Lad]

I wouldn't be changing my V10 for either of the cars you mention. I would love to own an Aston as it suits my age and image (A Gentleman's Grand Tourer) but I couldn't live with the build quality.

The GTR is an amazing car but if I owned one it would always be just a toy in addition to something else.

I think when my time with the R8 is at an end, which is probably two years down the road for me, then I will probably be looking for something completely different, maybe a big GT of some sort or a Merc SRS or even a big touring saloon like the new 'baby' Rolls