[Niro]

Guys, I really need your advice and input.

I drive a totally specced-up E46 M3 Cab. I love driving - and I push the car fairly hard - but I also enjoy looking slick (a.k.a. posing) when driving through town. Have had my M3 for a little while now, and feel it's time for a change.

The dilemma is: Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster or Porsche 911-997 Carrera 4S Cabriolet.
The Porsche is £75,000 and is 1 year-old with 2,000 miles (- cost £102,000 when new).
The Aston is around £55,000 and is 3 years-old with 20,000 miles (- probably cost around £95,000 when new).

WHICH DO I PICK?

Considerations:
1) I only want a convertible, i.e. please don't talk about getting a coupé;
2) I only want one of these options, i.e. please don't discuss other cars;
3) The A-M's engine note sounds amazing, but at 4.3L (I'm not looking at the 4.7L engine), it's thirstier than the Porsche's 3.8;
4) I like the 'unique' factor of the Aston;
5) The Porsche is a better driving machine;
6) The Porsche is likely to be much more reliable;
7) I'll keep the car for 4 years, so would be interested in minimizing my depreciation losses - please don't lecture about both cars losing money, as that is obvious; what I mean is keeping such losses relatively low;
8) The Porsche shall be more stable in wet/ poor weather;
9) A lot of my 'peers' have Porsches;
10) I don't want to spend more than £60,000 on the Aston, because if I do, then I'd rather by a Porsche as I would be less forgiving of the Aston's gremlins (being hand-built).
11) The Porsche shall be replaced by a new shape in Autumn 2012 (991 C4S 2013 model);
12) The A-M isn't likely to be replaced until 2014-15.

I'm a young surgeon, so I shall hopefully have many more years of enjoying cars, but I also have the opinion that you have to enjoy life and live for the day (as one just never knows when one's health shall deteriorate).

Your thoughts are gratefully welcomed!

** ADDENDUM: The Porsche is a 2+2, which means that a child-seat could fit thus offsetting the wife forcing me to sell the car, should children arrive earlier into marriage than planned **

[RayC]

Wow tough choice.

I've always had a soft spot for Aston Martins. I think they're sexy as hell.

I love Porsches too, but in your situation, personally I'd go with the AM.

[LarThaL]

Aston. No question. Much more exclusive and stylish. From a pure performance standpoint the Porsche is the winner, but I have always been of the opinion that beyond a certain level of performance (and both these cars are beyond that point), other subjective factors come into play and are more important in your overall enjoyment of the vehicle.

[crackberry]

Wow, that was such a long list.

The 997 is about to take a huge hit in depreciation, save a few models (RS 4.0). I would wait a little because the 991 is supposed to be a major improvement over the 977 before I would make my decision.

What year is the Aston? Get the 4.7 (2009+) model as the power bump is noticeable. Models older than 2009 (especially the 2006 and 2007) have a lot of problems that were not ironed out until 2009.

[MonteCarloM3]

why ask on an M3 board, you should ask this on an aston martin or porsche site.

[Niro]

Originally Posted by MonteCarloM3

why ask on an M3 board, you should ask this on an aston martin or porsche site.

Cos I am an M-man at heart!

Plus isn't your suggestion pointless? (i.e. Porsche fora are likely to support the 997 and A-M fora would probably support the V8V Roadster!!)

[crackberry]

Originally Posted by Niro

Cos I am an M-man at heart!

Plus isn't your suggestion pointless? (i.e. Porsche fora are likely to support the 997 and A-M fora would probably support the V8V Roadster!!)

Wow, you nailed him there.

[Erhan]

Instead of going through those 12 considerations, I'd ask: Do I care about absolute performance?

Yes: porsche.
No: aston..

[supernovae]

Had owned both V8 Vantage and a 997 Targa and I'm telling you to go with Porsche.
The stupid sportshift gearbox is as bad as bac can be. it will eventually kill you in the traffic. The PDKs are way better!

[335OK]

If you want more money to upgrade in 4 years, get the Porsche. Less depreciation and less maintenance

[Niro]

Thank you to everybody for their thoughts.

'supernovae', I notice that your response was your first post - welcome to this forum.
Did you go V8V to 997 to 458 Italia, or 997 to V8V to 458?

[OC3]

Aston Martin

[sameh]

I'd say AM. The biggest missing factor here is driving them. Have u driven both? I believe a good test drive will likely seal the deal. Good luck

[IbanezGod]

Porsche... get the AM new when you have the funds. I wouldn't get an AM out of warranty or where the warranty was almost done. Pcar is more reliable, probably more fun and has the back seats. It's still gorgeous and honestly, I don't think that much highly of AM over porsche as far as the "unique" factor.

I think Porsche is the smart and still very fun choice. Performance of the Porsche is probably better as well.

[ShifterKart]

Looks Aston.......Performance Prosche

I would pick the Aston, way to sexy!

[Brosef]

you should make this thread a poll and include pics.

it's hard to say what I would suggest - two very different cars that serve different purposes. I'd probably stick with the Porsche though if it were my decision.

[Niro]

Thanks to everybody who has contributed.

Brosef, I agree, I should have created a poll in the first place.

[gallian93]

dude.... get the aston...
the Prosche is better at everything...but the one thing it can't do ... is be an aston martin....but get the aston
PS... i hate you ... come back when you have a real problem

[Kyoshi71]

I didnt even have to finish reading:

Aston Martin - case closed

[Nautik]

Aston definitely. Porsche sounds like a wind up toy next to it...

[mkoesel]

Aston, Aston, Aston! There should be absolutely no hesitation here.

And, if your wife pops out a kid early, then sell the car a couple years on and grab a one-year-old used 991 911 at that time. Skip the AWD nonsense, and the lightly used non-S model will be within budget and will probably be as fast or faster than the current 997.2 911 S.

[mdosu]

why here? why not the AMG board and ask them whether I should drive a P car vs a AM? It's all a crap shoot opinion anyways. Most of us don't own P cars or Astons. Plus you own a E46, about half of us here never ever owned a E46.