EVO Review of F12 v. Aventador v. Vanquish.

Beautifully done video. Enthusiasm for all three cars. Looking forward to reading that issue of Evo.

 

The Vanquish looks soooooooooo old compared to the other 2.

What I liked about the F12 is what he thought was a negative. It's subtle and doesn't seem like a big "boy toy". It has a elegance while the Aventador has a big neon sign on it saying "look at me". It's the difference between "wow that guy has money" and "wow, that guy has taste".

Nothing wrong with shouting but it can get old after a while.

 

I completely agree!

 

Read the article and interested to see they would choose the Aventador if their feet were held to the fire, even though there was nothing to choose between it and the F12. This is not a full road test, merely impressions on some of their favourite roads. The Aston does better than expected but in this company is more of a GT, but after the F12 and Aventador it comes across as something of a relief.

Just back from trying the F12 myself and whilst clearly a fantastic car, I have a couple of issues, one of which amazed me. When moving your foot from the pedal that controls 740 HP to find the brake my toe was getting caught on the underside of the dash, particularly on a pair of large knurled knobs which secure a panel-not a nice feeling as it could literally prevent my foot finding the break, literally stop it. I would deign to suggest a design fault but no one else has commented. Secondly the steering will take some getting used to. All very well being so direct on the 458 as you sit on top of the front wheels, all very pointy, but when you have yards of bonnet in front of you, you feel more remote from the front wheels, a bit like steering a supertanker from the stern. Anyone else encountered these issues?

 

You must have bigger feet than me!

No, I didn't notice that about the brake problem.

I did notice the "pointy-ness" of the steering but I rather liked it as it reminded me more of the 458 than a GT. The hood is definitely longer but I found that the car didn't seem "big" to me. The interior is rather like the 458 but with the rear shelf instead of a window for the engine.

What I did think to myself driving the F12 was: I can see taking this out for dinner where in the 458 spider it's like "oh man, this car is too flashy for a nice evening out". F12 is sort of the modern equivalent of the Daytona and the 458 a modern equivalent of the 246 Dino gt.

In other words:

F12= Elegant 458= Sexy.

It's like: "I'm driving a Ferrari...." vs "I'M DRIVING A FERRARI!!!!!!"

 

I think that is absolutely right as regards the difference, in the right colour this is a very elegant car, not flash, not brash.

The brake problem concerned me and I am only a 44 shoe (10 UK) and my dealer could see the issue. Really quite frightening and I need convincing. The steering, well you have wider roads in the US so maybe that helps and it may just take time, but I immediately preferred that of the 458, but then that is what I am used to.

 

Maybe you had the seat adjusted incorrectly? I didn't see any issue in moving my feet. It's interesting you did though.

 

It could be a RHD vs LHD quirk.

 

Good idea. It is so bad that unless I can get it resolved I will not be trading on up.

 

Interesting video... I do not believe these cars belong to the same category to be compared. That is not to say that these cars are not comparable to each other and close in their capabilities. I just feel front engine GTs should not be compared to mid-engine sports cars. The driving dynamics are different. It is a bit like comparing a 365GTB/4 to a BB512 or a Testarossa.

 

Even though the Aston is hopelessly outclassed here,I still like it a lot and would not mind having it as one of the cars.
Lambo,although looks good on paper, with it's cartoonish looks appeals (IMO) only to lifetime welfare lottery winners,rappers and folks who really have a serious image issues.
F12 is from a different planet in every aspect.......

 

great video

 

I enjoy reviews that actually point out how special this level of car is. One can see the OPINIONS of the drivers and decide what matches personal desires the most. I can't imagine being disappointed by the Aston in how I would use any car. What a great drive this must have been with all three of those cars.

 

Yes exactly. Candice Swanepoel with the skills of Sasha Grey.

 

Mr. Mayor. Your 'money vs. taste' analogy was dead on.

 

I think to almost everyone but Ferrari aficionados, for a pair of 400K automobiles that is splitting a mighty fine hair. I'm willing to bet for most non-car nuts it's also a distinction people would make between the Aston and the Ferrari.

 

I think you misunderstand. The comparison is between the 458 and the F12.

 

Concerning you're second sentence; you're probably right.

But is it really a comparison;

The Aston leans a lot, styling wise, both interior and exterior, on it's Aston brothers and sisters, and they've introduced quite a lot of cars in recent years; Vantage, Virage, DB7. DB9, DBS, Rapide. Although I like this Vanquish the most.
The Aston interior, although fully leather, still looks a bit bland and the centre part of the dash reminds me of a bit of a Ford Mondeo, just like the interior of the Vanquish make I, did.
The Aston is relatively heavy, especially for a car in which they've used so much carbon, it's heavier than the Ferrrari, and by quite some margin.
The Aston has less power than the F12 and the gearbox doesn't seem as good.
And then the sound, while the Vanquish is great, the F12 is epic....

Finally the Aston is more expensive, which given the above, seems inappropriate. (Edit; it's less expensive by approx. 10%)

 

As you say the 458 has that tight connection between brain and steering response that makes for the illusion that you are on a racing bike. It was the first and most prominent sense of the car when I first drove it. Given that there is not that much difference in front/rear weight distribution between the 458 and F12, your sense of a difference between the two cars may be mostly a brain-sight thing.

 

Just looked into that, and you're right. Sorry about that.

Diff. here in the Netherlands is 35k Euro. The F12 HELE is 370K and the Vanguish is 334K (both before options).

 

I think the f12 is one of the prettiest cars in a long time, while the 599 impressed me the looks, for me were meh. The f12 regrabbed the wow factor. I quite like the aventador, but in a different way. The aventador in my eyes is very over the top and flamboyant and over the top. Which I like, but at the same time the f12 is just so ... perfect. Everything about it seems so right. The aston vanquish lovely it may be but the truth is I would much rather take a used dbs in manual than that. for the other two I'm not sure I prefer their older counterparts over them at all.

 

You're right on the money, couldn't agree more.

 

vanquish and f12 such classy cars

even the vanquish is..old..compare to both i still like it alot, not a single angle on the car is wrong

again lady gaga(lambo) screaming for attention