What Aston Martin's do you put in a garage for $200k

For me:
Vanquish S for the weekends
Rapide For the daily

 

I can't agree more.
Definitely a late Vanquish S (MY2006) and a Rapide.

 

I think it would depend on whether you want your 200K investment to be worth 100K in a year or to be something that might hold its value.

 

DBS Volante with manual + Vanquish Mk I (or S if it fits)

 

The best 06 vanquish S I can find

 

aren't "investment grade" Vanquish S's over $200k now?

 

I would get an AM v8 from the 70's or 80's. My favorite 'affordable' AM. The vantage had between 375hp and 430hp, which was quite a bit in the late 70's and 80's and are in your price range...

Something like this one would be awesome, but might break the budget...

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/aston-martin/v8/1989/391044

 

Id buy a Vanquish S (the real one) and send it to the factory to have it converted to a manual gearbox. Or try to find one that has already been done (Tom at Autosport Design can help).

The original V8 vantage might be out of budget. I think $300k+.

 

this!!!

 

Not even close. $100K (or less) should do fine.

 

Or you can have :

2006 Vanquish S : $130k
2009-2010 V8 Vantage 4.7 manual : $70k

 

A Vantage V12 S with a custom made hood that doesn't destroy the car's presence. (I'm thinking the hood alone could cost as much as the car . . . and I'd have to have two made on the spot just in case.)

 

If possible, I'd want the standard hood from the V8. I'd be perfectly willing to pay for some lightweight tech that would compensate for whatever heat relief those vents enable.

If the standard hood can't be used, I'd get rid of those carbon fiber plug-in vents by having vents/louvers cut into a standard hood. (I'm assuming the louvers wouldn't deflect over time, either because of the extra heat from the V12 or other factors. If cutting them into a standard hood can't be done, I'd have the hood made of a material that could handle it. I hate the standard vents!)

 

Option 3. Two Bond cars. Two top of the range cars. Two v12 cars. One convert/one coupe. One manual/one SSM. One 'daily'/one 'occasional'. One modern/one not as much.

Stay away from two Gaydon cars (too much the same inside).

 

vote for option 4. that is what i would do. DBS and vanquish seem to do dual use.

 

manual DBS in casino royale

 

If you get a Vanquish (the first one), please budget $$ to have it converted to manual as the gb is really bad by today's standards. Even for a relaxed GT car.

 

The gearbox of the Vanquish is not as bad as it is rumored. In fact if you have the updated to S version it is actually pretty good so long as you do not have to face heavy traffic/congestion.

 

Bull. There's nothing wrong with the trans, only the operators.

 

The VQ gearbox has and will get its share of ink and controversy.
I drive both the S and non S properly setup. The non S was upgrade with the S sensors.
I think both the pro and detractors of the gearbox are right. In fact it highly depends on who maintained the car and did the gearbox adjustements.

If the trani was not setup properly, then the car will be a nightmare. On the other hand, if a tech who knows his job setup these trani and the switch points, the car shifts like a dream. Not Ferrari track fast but fast enough for most drivers but the experts going over 150 on the road. there is too much rumors about slow shifting. If yoou get the car tuned right and you understand the car (drive it like a manual), shift is plenty fast.

For those far away from a qualified mechanic, there is a guy who has come up with a true auto transmission, fast with paddle shift. Mod completely reversible. Said to be awsome but $$$$.

but since most VQ dont do over a couple of thousand miles in 10 years, who really cares...

 

V12 Vantage is the only modern, non-special edition Aston I'd get. It was actually better than the flagship models. They took the flagship engine and crammed it into the lighter and smaller car.