FERRARI F355 OR ASTON MARTIN BD7 VANTAGE

Opinions on F355 6 speed or Aston Martin DB7 V12 Vantage 6 speed. What would you buy.
Car would not be used as a daily driver.

 

Chalk and cheese, as the English say.

What do you really want?

 

The Aston might be less expensive in the long run, but the exhaust-sounds the 355 makes coming down from 7 or 8000 rpm with a Tubi (or the equivalent), is worth the financial and mental aggravation the Ferrari presents.

The sound is exquisite. Nothing else like it!

 

Get a clean f355. There are so many reasons why not too. For those of us who do get it there is nothing else even close.

 

GT vs sports car, which do you want? I went f355 and couldn't be happier, but I wanted a full on (super) sports car that I could flog on track from time to time.

 

If you get a BD7 will you only drive it backwards?

 

Good god get the 355 over the DB7.

355's are near if not fully depreciated. DB7's are a $20k car. Too close in looks to a Jaguar and waaaay too expensive replacement parts to be worth anything in the future IMHO. Dad has a Volante with an inline 6 and a stick. Nice car but too Jag-ish. He paid thirty-ish for it and I'll be surprised if he breaks even..

355 all the way. Buy a nice example today and it'll be worth almost what you paid for it in the future.

 

+1

355

 

If you're OK with a the performance of an older car, I'd stretch a bit and get a great 328 or a Porsche 993. I think those are the two rising stars in the not-vintage-but-not-modern category. The 993 is faster; the air-cooled engine is special; and the quality of the whole thing makes the 355 and DB7 look like Yugos.

$60K-$70K gets you a very nice example of either.

But between the 355 and DB7, if those are the only two, I would go with the Ferrari. The DB7 feels a lot like a Ford inside -- granted the Ferrari interior is also cheap and poorly made, but it doesn't feel like a rental car, and it feels/sounds/looks more exotic.

As posted earlier, a DB7 is a $20K-$30K car and will never be a collectible. DB6 was the end of the line in that regard.

 

993 faster than a 355? Maybe a turbo, but for sure not any of the lower models...

 

The base 1998 993 was in the high 4 second range. The 993 Turbo was slightly under 4 seconds, 0-60, so probably quicker than the 360.

F355 was also just under 5 seconds according to: Ferrari 0-60 Times & Ferrari Quarter Mile Times | Ferrari 355, 360 Modena, F430, 458 Spider, 2012 FF, F50, New Enzo 0-60 and 2013 Ferrari 599 GTB 0 to 60 stats!

Seat of the pants, I don't think most drivers would notice the difference. Probably a few tenths depending on how dialed-in the car was.

But I was comparing to the 328, which is about 6 seconds 0-60, IIRC. A 993 would probably be a full second quicker, which is pretty noticeable. But if I had to put money into an "emerging classic", the 328 and 993 would be where I'd look. For absolute speed, I don't think any of the cars in this thread are contenders anymore, FWIW.

 

1998 was the 996. The 355 would be comfortably quicker than any 993 outside of a turbo. It's a couple tenths quicker to 60 and a solid half second faster in the 1/4. Anything that can do 0-60 in under 5 and run the 1/4 in the 12's is still a quick car imo, faster than 99% of what is on the street.

I really like the 993, but don't love them. I think for their current prices, you have to love them to justify it. I'd honestly prefer a 928 gts for the money. That said, I bought a 355, so thats where my fun money went. No regrets, there's no other car remotely comparable for the money.

 

Just to dispel and misunderstanding from *ahem* some posters on FChat that argue a 997 S is faster than a 430... when you drive these cars AS THEY WERE INTENDED.

The 993 and some of these variants might "feel" faster but is that the torque that's giving that perception. My experience is that the 355 and 360 have flatter torque curves. You have to wind them up to beyond 5k for max performance. Its a driving style that some people aren't used to with engines that develop more torque lower in the RPM spectrum but flatten or drop with higher RPM.

BTW not too sure about the collectability of the 928 yet despite the back patting on rennlist. Agreed GTS is a better drive.

 

'98 was the last year of the 993.

Not sure about the numbers -- but the Zero to 60 site is a compilation of third party tests. Regardless, the difference between the 355 and 993 is pretty much a wash.

928 is nice but a different beast -- more 550-ish, IMHO. 993 is raw, loud and fast.

 

Only turbo in '98, which we agree is faster than the 355. The base isn't really close, most over 5 seconds 0-60 except the Carrera 4S which does it in just under 5 due to the all wheel drive. Still loses ground in the 1/4. Carrera RS might keep up to 60, but it's not a base model and a lot more expensive than a 355 at this point and still slower in the 1/4 (and also not available in the US).

Here's a decent compilation of different 993 models. Carrera RS fastest outside of the turbos at 4.7 to 60, same as a 355. 1/4 in 13.2 which is .3-.4 slower than a 355. Turbos a little bit faster in the 1/4, lot faster to 60 due to the all wheel drive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_993

 

This should answer your question!



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQcdeS9yebI]Ferrari F355 GTS Capristo exhaust sound part 1.wmv - YouTube[/ame]

 

This is not a serious question.

 

Is this beauty vs beast? DB7...yuk!

 

Proper sounding F engine!


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If you get a DB7, make sure there is a dealer near you. There is no hand held device to help you investigate and cancel codes except at the dealer. But it sure makes a beautiful garage queen.

 

You know this is a Ferrari forum??))))))))))