thinking about going to the darkside...

Buy whatever makes your neurons want to jump out of your skull. If that car is a Trabant, a Honda a Ferrari or a Lambo...get whatever is in your means that makes your neurons cry for dear life every time you drive it.

If a Lambo isn't like bathing with a radio in bathwater, nothing is.

Go for it.

 

buy something that feels 'special'
a Vanquish WAS a great car, now you really need to find a manual 'S'
I'ld go for the Lambo, it'll blow your socks of anytime you'll drive it

todays BIG GT's are just fast/slightly better looking Mercs
I'd rather have a real Sportscar,
V12Ferrari's: only with handling pack option f.e.

 

What he said..... in spades...

Go with your gut....

Mike

 

I've driven them and like them a lot. My only criticism is that the clutch in the 6sp I drove seemed to have little feel and was a bit too on/off. I think a paddle shift would feel better in that car.

I agree about V 12's they're great and a dying breed.

 

I'd try driving your TR or Boxer daily for a few weeks, and then see if you still want to drive a mid engine 12 daily.

If it were me, I'd get a 612. Which is what I actually did.

But, if the Lambo is what gets you going, then go for it!

 

Seems to me what you are desirous of is a McLaren F1. V12, light weight, low levels of electronics, goes fast......

Now if Ferrari could only put a V12 in a 2600 pound car.....

 

I want a Lambo too. The mid engines just feel more exotic and I can just sit and stare at a Lamborghini for hours.

 

The Vanquish would be my choice.
Manuals only were offered at the very end but at a steep custom premium. They only made a couple worldwide.
Actually "normal" Vanquishs are pretty good deals in the used car market.
There is a stunning green one locally with 10k miles at $70k or so.
Nothing sounds like a Vanq.
The car exudes class.

 

I don't know anyone who daily drives a Murcielago. The 456 was designed to be a 'normal' car, which may be why you're bored with it. They are easy to get in and out of, carry stuff, and won't disappear into a pothole.

As far as Lamborghini style, I'm pretty conservative and to me the Countach and Diablo look like pimpmobiles (except maybe the early LP400 Countach before it got Pontiac-ed with all the plastic cladding, wings, etc.) The Murcielago design is a lot cleaner, IMHO, but you're still screaming LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!! every time you drive it, and scissor doors seem kind of adolescent. Up to you whether that's your thing, but I couldn't stand it.

The Vanquish is more tasteful, although I like the Ferrari 550/575 more. If I had an extra garage bay, it would be really hard not to do a 550 at this point.

Tom Papadopoulos at Auto Sport Design in NY had several of these that were converted by Aston to a manual gearbox. If I were out for a Vanquish, that would be the way I would go. Apparently (I haven't driven one so don't know from personal experience) the paddle shift in the Vanquish is unreliable and buggy.

 

The doors are very convenient when in tight spaces.

 

Hey nothing says you cant buy a Murcielago and try to DD for 6 months and if it doesnt work, just use it as week end toy and get a used 997 for DD purpose.

 

No problem using it as a DD. If you can avoid reversing

 

I was looking at a 550 at one point and the dealer had Vanquish in the same show room.
Dont get me wrong the 550 is a great car but the Vanquish just has this presence. Hard to describe.
Supossedly the paddle shift is not all that bad reliability wise but yes a stick would be first choice. But I think an Aston aftermarket kit is like $20k ! !

Ended up with a Boxer.

 

It's strange the 456 has become ordinary. I have DD my 997 for 4 years now and 80.000 kms and it's always a blast. Maybe you just need a tubi on your 456 ?

 

I just said to my wife today that I SHOULD own a Lambo sometime during my life...
being 40, I should start thinking more about it. A Lambo (for me) is on the list of cars that would be fun to have for a year or two.
Why not?
Its not a marriage. Sure, it could hurt a bit, but would probably be a blast while it lasted!

 

Lambo's are are a lot of fun, but probably not your daily driver as you would get annoyed with a few things pretty quickly. They are best for when the "mood" is right.