GTS MC Shift vs Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

[MrCoop]

Yeh, I've been hounding my local Alfa dealer for a few weeks now, trying to get a test drive but I keep getting fobbed off with 'it's at another group site at the moment'. Tbh, I've pretty much given up. Like you Iain, I think I'd probably end up buying it if I could find out what one is really like!! I quite like the Montecarlo blue but the Competizione Red would be my first choice.

btw, are you selling your car Iain?

 

[Ewan]

My friend was invited to a track day a few months back, when they bought the first few to the UK. Probably helps that he has an 8C already! He liked it, but was unsure. So he then tested it again via the local dealer and decided to go for it. For colour, he's gone with grey. (His 8C is red).

I don't think he's expecting it to be better than his V12 Aston. Quite the contrary. The Aston felt so special he didn't want to use it. The Alfa, on the other hand, is just an Alfa. All be it a quick one.

 

[iainw]

I am in two minds.its a beast of a car and looks exterior and interior exactly what I like.
I think I am suffering from the typical man thing- just want to try something else. I know it's not going to be financially sensible and will likely be a downgrade. It's also still shite weather so obviously
I am using the RRa lot more. I am selling it to myself in my head that either I want a convertible or I want
Something blisteringly quick. But how can I actually use something faster than what I have that will sound worse
And not look as unique - but cost the same or more money...

 

[iainw]

Yeh, I've been hounding my local Alfa dealer for a few weeks now, trying to get a test drive but I keep getting fobbed off with 'it's at another group site at the moment'. Tbh, I've pretty much given up. Like you Iain, I think I'd probably end up buying it if I could find out what one is really like!! I quite like the Montecarlo blue but the Competizione Red would be my first choice.

btw, are you selling your car Iain?

I know they have one in Cardiff- but I think it's just for the showroom.
I might
Go in and have a look soon just out of interest when I can get a day off.
I love the look of gunmetal grey on it personally.
I just think I would get bored of It quicker than the GTS.

 

[D Walker]

I am in two minds.its a beast of a car and looks exterior and interior exactly what I like.
I think I am suffering from the typical man thing- just want to try something else. I know it's not going to be financially sensible and will likely be a downgrade. It's also still shite weather so obviously
I am using the RRa lot more. I am selling it to myself in my head that either I want a convertible or I want
Something blisteringly quick. But how can I actually use something faster than what I have that will sound worse
And not look as unique - but cost the same or more money...

You are obviously a very intelligent, gifted and skilled individual, and know doubt worked extremely hard, but still don't know what you are really looking for.
You have a great car, modded to your taste. can you exploit something blisteringly quick,
You have answered your own question, can you exploit it, will anything else be more unique!!!
Keep it, stay in the fold and enjoy everything the car and this forum has to offer,
Not a slight, just the observation of an idoit!!!
Dave

 

[Andyk]

I'd take the Alfa over an Aston as well.

Very, very different cars though......Would you really sink 60k into an Alfa.....Wait a year a pick one up for 20p.

 

[iainw]

You are obviously a very intelligent, gifted and skilled individual, and know doubt worked extremely hard, but still don't know what you are really looking for.
You have a great car, modded to your taste. can you exploit something blisteringly quick,
You have answered your own question, can you exploit it, will anything else be more unique!!!
Keep it, stay in the fold and enjoy everything the car and this forum has to offer,
Not a slight, just the observation of an idoit!!!
Dave

Not an idiots observation at all! Probably hit the nail on the head!!

 

[iainw]

That's the thing stopping me Andy. Will it be like the ghibli s- when you can pick one up for BMW money after 2-3 years.
Although the numbers of the QV in the U.K. Is very low- I agree with you that depreciation is an issue.

 

[Contigo]

I don't see why you want to sell it Iain as there is little to replace it with. Get the exhaust modded and wind the windows down and smile!

 

[Felonious Crud]

I know they have one in Cardiff- but I think it's just for the showroom.
I might
Go in and have a look soon just out of interest when I can get a day off.
I love the look of gunmetal grey on it personally.
I just think I would get bored of It quicker than the GTS.

The Alfa's probably a bigger threat to a license than a GTS, which can be enjoyed for looking amazing and sounding even better. The Alfa's kicks come more from speed and handling, I suspect.

The perennial GTS challenge is what the sodding buggery to replace it with. You just know that outside of an FF nothing will come close, which makes for a tricky challenge for a restless heart. And the FF looks nothing like as good.

 

[iainw]

Agree totally Adam.
The California for me is the only F temptation - and it's still not
In VFM territory for me.
You re right re the Alfa. You
Would have to be skidding it around corners and risking your licence every time you pulled away from a green light
For it to come close to a maserati.
One annoying thing about the GTS is Even going at 30mph all the OAPs in the area pull a face and motion the hand down
As if to say slow down you hooligan.
Let's face it - nothing looks or sounds as good in the price bracket 40k-200k!

 

[Felonious Crud]

My experience is that the response is overwhelmingly positive. I do still hanker for a Mclaren but I'd miss the noise and the two extra seats and I can't justify the cost of one.

 

[iainw]

My experience is that the response is overwhelmingly positive. I do still hanker for a Mclaren but I'd miss the noise and the two extra seats and I can't justify the cost of one.

Have you ever been tempted by a GT3 or 911 Turbo?
For me their interior is just so bland and average quality / cramped.
No sense of occasion driving it.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Have you ever been tempted by a GT3 or 911 Turbo?
For me their interior is just so bland and average quality / cramped.
No sense of occasion driving it.

Yes, oddly enough. Had a deposit down on a 997.1 GT3 a year ago. Went like a whippet with a rocket up its ar5e. Mrs Crud rightly pointed out that the Maser is just massively nicer in almost every way. Deposit returned, dream shattered. For the best, with hindsight.

 

[iainw]

Yes, oddly enough. Had a deposit down on a 997.1 GT3 a year ago. Went like a whippet with a rocket up its ar5e. Mrs Crud rightly pointed out that the Maser is just massively nicer in almost every way. Deposit returned, dream shattered. For the best, with hindsight.

Definitely. she probably saved you a fortune!

 

[rockits]

Saved a fortune....I thought they had gone up a fair bit. I wish I had bought a 911 GT3 RS 4.0 when I had the chance

 

[Felonious Crud]

Hmm. Yeah, maybe. It would have been 'free' motoring for the six months I had in mind to keep it. Trouble is, of course, what would have filed the gap post-Porsche? Could only have been back to a Maser?

 

[azapa]

Yes, oddly enough. Had a deposit down on a 997.1 GT3 a year ago. Went like a whippet with a rocket up its ar5e. Mrs Crud rightly pointed out that the Maser is just massively nicer in almost every way. Deposit returned, dream shattered. For the best, with hindsight.

See my "day at the races" post regarding the 997.1 GT3 versus the stradale: neck and neck up to about 130Mph, and I would guess the strad would pull away a tad after. EDIT: I have to point out that these were straight line races. I am sure the porkey would be better with curvy bits...

Regarding replacing the strad, I would not have too many problems to be honest, but will have to go quite up-market. a 458 or Mac it will be when the time (and money) comes..

 

[Felonious Crud]

See my "day at the races" post regarding the 997.1 GT3 versus the stradale: neck and neck up to about 130Mph, and I would guess the strad would pull away a tad after. EDIT: I have to point out that these were straight line races. I am sure the porkey would be better with curvy bits...

Regarding replacing the strad, I would not have too many problems to be honest, but will have to go quite up-market. a 458 or Mac it will be when the time (and money) comes..

It was the manual 'box and the hilarious 'pointability' of the GT3 which made it so much fun. Combined with your ar5e being a good bit closer to the ground and the car being so much smaller it was a blisteringly good drive. But sitting in mine on the drive home I marvelled at the far more modern and frankly much nicer interior, the supreme comfort and the excellent ride. A GT3 (certainly not a 997 anyway) could never achieve that. A 458 or a Macca on the other hand...

So I think we agree - the only progression from a GTS or a Strad (and I personally couldn't persuade myself to part with 40k to go from mine to a Strad) would have to be a whole chunk of change more cash. Which brings us neatly back to your final point.

 

[Andyk]

Again a very different car to yours Adam and built to do a different role to your lovely GTS. While Maserati made the Stradale as a track warrior to compete with the GT3's of this world it really was never going to be a track warrior like the Porsche as its still a little Larry compared. EVO probably put it best and said see the Stradale as a V8 Vantage or Jaguar XKR-R alternative rather than a GT3 one. It's just probably more civilised than the Porsche. Sounds 100 times better as well...