This is a sad day for Ferrari.

How can Aston Martin make a car that sounds so good and Ferrari not.
Great photography though.

Keep your 812's, I think that is the moral of this video

 

Not a terribly surprising result, at least for those of us that have watched the 12C and Vanquish videos. The 812 is magnificent, regardless where one lines up on its styling, the driving dynamics are incredible; and so it was always going to be difficult to improve on that car while running out the same engine (and effectively the same power), but this time with the modern emissions/sound restrictions choking off the normal Ferrari V12 symphony. Meanwhile. Aston has moved their top level GT offering forward significantly. Complete with better chassis, endless torque, all while featuring the classic Aston styling, the Vanquish is a viable competitor for really the first time.

In the end, it’s always good to have options.

 

Yes no comparison from a sound standpoint. A dying breed of quality sounding cars out there now. Agree 812 last decent sounding one. Predecessors were amazing as well.

 

Id take the 12 cilindri over the Aston any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

Really? People think Top Gear (British publication) favouring Aston (British brand) is an honest and unbiased review?

This has always been the case and anyone who has been following Top Gear on TV and print for any amount of time would know this for a fact.

They do their best to prop up British brands, as they should, but it's hardly surprising.

Facts from the review: the 12Cilindri is faster, better to drive, better quality, better tech ...

Anyone who buys this crap go out and buy the Aston and then justify your choice by quoting Top Gear.

I am sure you will be very happy.

 

I saw the video differently. First, I understand the historical context of Jethro Bovingdon as a reviewer. His original 812 SF review was by the far the most effusive among all reviews in its praise. He could not hide his zeal for that platform. Years later, while behind the wheel of the 12C (same engine, more sound restriction, heavier weight) he struggles to find how the car is “better” than the 812. He lands on saying that Ferrari intends to move the car more in the GT direction. Meanwhile, it’s clear that the Vanquish is a massive step forward from previous Aston offerings (better chassis, endless torque, sound turned up not down). As Ferrari is now steering the 12C in the GT direction rather than front mid-engine super sports car, one has to ask if Aston has built a better GT car (Gentleman’s Cruiser). In terms of pure driver, the 12C is better (but not as good as its predecessor), but might the Vanquish be the better GT (more enjoyable car for eating up miles).

I intend to do the direct comparison myself. I have an inbound 12C and Vanquish to join my existing 812 GTS. Both should arrive summer 2025. I’ll see which I like most. Perhaps, I keep all 3.

 

Clearly Top Gear has always had a bias towards English cars but in comparison tests previously the Ferrari V12s always beat the AM 12s in most parameters. This one is different: He is basically saying Ferris’s neutered the car to make it a true GT and lost the “Supercar “ which made the F12/812 so endearing to most of us. AM has upped its game- more supercar and less GT in the mixture. Yeah AM needs less weight and RWS to make it even more agile- hopefully a Superleggera version appears soon(and a spider version please)
Current 812 owners are ecstatic- their cars will hold more value in all likelihood until hopefully Ferrari corrects its course.

 

Is not because someone told that one is better than the other so it is . IMHO the Aston sounds like a MIXER for prepare food . Please listen again. The quality of the sound is very good on the Ferrari , maybe will be a bit low in terms of volume but if you’ll go with the GTS you ‘ ll have the choice to open the rear window and I can assure you the volume will go up to 30% more ( this is my personal experience with SF and 812 GTS ) .

 

Point is that the AM is right there and is raising their game. Ferrari is getting soft, catering to a different crowd perhaps. Their design is also questionable to many. Moreover, they are a pain in the ass to deal with and the new pricing is obscene. Now you have a viable choice in this segment.

 

I saw this video a day or so before. What actually shocks me more is the side profile of the AM. Its beautiful even though its been done 100 times before. That red metallic paint helps. They do all this and then give it a steering wheel that reminds me a child's toy.

The AM is prettier, the 12C bolder. My problem with the AM is -- it looks like it was made 10 years ago. I can't tell the difference between one and another. Its pretty, but familiar. Too familiar.

I don't think its a sad day for Ferrari. Its a happy day for AM as they are finally starting to catch up more than putting their cars in Bond movies.
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What ??? 12C is a Competizione with new clothes... The sound is down, indeed, and this is only the beginning of the end

 

The 12C is growing on me. I'm starting to get it.

But I still like Ferrari's with round tail lights better.

 

The resale market would agree with you.

 

You are on point on saying this is only the beginning of the end! Last 20 yrs was amazing

 

I’m not sure TG are British biased on this occasion. I think the key comment I read somewhere above is that Ferrari is moving away from where it has been - which JB has a strong preference for - and Aston is doing what it has done better than previously. So in that sense you can see why the Aston wins for him.

However, for most people, the DCT and n/a engine are hard to see past when deciding which to own. In the past, although it is true that Ferrari has lifted their price significantly, I feel like the previous Astons were a higher percentage less than the previous Ferraris (could be wrong). The Aston is definitely not a cheap car and its residual is probably more uncertain than the Ferrari. It could be an expensive car to own, plus the worry of them overproducing once the initial enquiry list is exhausted. I think Aston has a propensity to do that more than Ferrari.

Neither will be a cheap car to own - pick what you prefer. It’s good that Aston has been able to produce a genuinely credible competitor.

 

Competition improves the breed.

 

There is a sad part though.

We live in the last bit of the golden age of ICE vehicles. 5 years from now I can't imagine any car maker making something similar to either.

 

.......spiky borderline evil F12 TDF.........

Come on.

Marcel Massini

 

If folks stop buying, the market will course correct....

 

Even the driver's emotions are very obvious and fake. It's just a British magazine trying to boost a dying British car brand losing 1.8 millions per day

 

I hate to say this but Ferrari is Ferrari. It kinda gets a pass from consumers more than other makers. Bottom line, they will sell enough and they know it.

I rather like this video. Perhaps a bit of British clickbait but its a healthy discussion.

 

Yeah there are some diehards but trust me they are losing their mystique with many.

 

Porsche is talking about an ICE Taycan. Took 4-5 years but they’re pivoting to market demand.

 

what’s “enough” though? 2,500 units? 5,000 units? 8,000? One odd thing about the 12 Cilindri is that casual car enthusiasts don’t seem to care. When I was more interested in it, I was showing friends who had not seen it and had no clue. And frankly, almost all were “meh” about it.

 

If you look at their line up they only need about 1500-2000 to make it "successful". They will make a super version that will get them another 500 or so.

They only need 8000 cars a year to be very profitable.