550 vs AM Vanquish | FerrariChat

550 vs AM Vanquish

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by riverflyer, Nov 8, 2007.

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  1. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
    Full Name:
    John
    On the plane a couple of days ago, I read a great piece on the Vanquish in Evo(why are our car mags such rubbish here in the states?).
    I miss my 550 and have been thinking about getting another and wondered if there are any 550 or 575 owners who also own/have owned a vanquish and could offer some driving comparisons?
    Both quite beautiful, I think the AM is a bit heavier.
    What do you think?
     
  2. 2000 456M

    2000 456M F1 World Champ

    Sep 29, 2007
    12,600
    Portland, OR
    Full Name:
    Allan
    Go to youtube and type in: Top Gear Aston Ferrari 575

    Jeremy Clarkson & co do a side-by-side comparison on the Isle of Wight. Two segments. The 575 is the unanimous victor.
     
  3. PCH

    PCH F1 Rookie

    Apr 7, 2004
    3,007
    You stole my thread!...http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=168988
     
  4. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
    Full Name:
    John
    Hey Drew, great minds......
    so what did you decide?
    I love the hips on the am, reminds me of 964 or 993 turbos.
     
  5. PCH

    PCH F1 Rookie

    Apr 7, 2004
    3,007
    John, you have a PM.
     
  6. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,325
    Palos Verdes
    Full Name:
    Vince V
    I was looking at this comparison as well. Wife loves the Vanquish and used prices are a huge deal. Same with a 550, but not yet with 575's. Bottom line is the performance is there with the 550, but the chic-factor is huge with the AM. Problem was, I went to Monterey and stayed at the same hotel as the AM club (who had a welcome party outside my room - huge entertainment factor :)). Every AM, including Vanquishes had a vanity plate related to 007. Truly tacky, wishful thinking on the part of the typical owner and very revealing about the ownership demographic. Shaken or stirred? :p
     
  7. tritone

    tritone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 8, 2003
    7,199
    On the Rock
    Full Name:
    James
    shaken by your revelations, but stirred by the V12 sound anyway.......
     
  8. tmario

    tmario Formula Junior

    May 11, 2004
    337
    New York
    Full Name:
    Mario
    My 0.02. I looked at a Vanquish prior to eventually buying a 575. I like a lot about the Vanquish, but the transmission is a bit sluggish and I could not get past the HUGE "A" pillars. I love the interior of the AM better, though and the engine has a nice sound. Overall not as crisp as a 550/575.
     
  9. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
    Full Name:
    John
    Vince, great post. We stayed about a block from that hotel and were walking by one night on our way downtown and saw some cars drive in. Walked around and looked at all the various models. AM has made some very cool cars over the years, but it seems the 550/575 is regarded, as Mario stated, as being the better drivers car.
    I guess I need to test drive a Vanquish but its so hard to get real life feedback from a short drive on crappy secondary roads.
     
  10. Lagerlout

    Lagerlout Formula Junior

    Jan 5, 2006
    468
    West Sussex, UK
    Full Name:
    Mr. LL
    Drive one, you won't want one after that..

    IMO hype, no substance, looks, no substance. I drove a brand new Vanquish S a few months ago and the transmission was diabolical and to be honest didn't feel anywhere near as quick as it should.

    Can't sugar coat it guys, was a real let down and I've been an AM fan well before I was interested in F's.

    The V8 is supposed to be a much better car, my business partner has the new Roadster, lovely car, seems a bit slow compared to my Porker but huge gobs of prescence.
     
  11. riozilla

    riozilla Formula Junior

    Jan 25, 2006
    596
    Austin, TX
    Was that your Black 550 at the Casa Munras in Monterey? Saw it in the parking lot. I stayed there as well (with my DB9).

    On this thread, I looked hard at a 550 and then picked up my AM. I toyed with the Vanquish but the DB9 was the right car for me. I still hurt for a Ferrari now and then and one day i hope to be able to have both my AM and a 550/575 (maybe a 612 or 599 by then).

    Rio

     
  12. zero

    zero Guest

    Apr 24, 2007
    776
    As good as an Aston maybe. For me personally the Aston will never have the passion that ferrari provokes for me deep inside. Cut me, do i not bleed....... Ferrari Rosso:D
     
  13. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,194
    Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales
    Full Name:
    Angus Podgorney
    #13 Sfumato, Nov 10, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hi John.
    Wonderful sounding lump. Box is teh suk. I kept wishing for more of everything. Here is AMS comparo chart. 550 or 575 will leave one for dead. I annoyed a couple friends that way ;) Get another 550.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  14. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
    Full Name:
    John
    thanks Lee, you have a pm
     
  15. drive4fun

    drive4fun Rookie

    Jan 19, 2005
    40
    I have tracked a Vanquish s and a 575M back to back several times with the same conclusion. While I still love the Vanquish styling, it is a cramped and heavy cruiser with no hope of competing with a 550 or 575. The 575M exceeded my expectations on its cornering and braking while the Vanquish was well short of my expectations on both. The brakes were cooking after a handful of laps and the paddle tranny is a real clunker compared to the Ferrari F1 (even in its older versions). Both cars are pretty nice deals on the used mkt as they depreciate like rocks.
     

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