Hmmm, a little biased chaps, I have owned a 996 sports pack, 996 facelift, 996TT & 997S & now an AMV8. haven't read the review yet, but here are my views for what they are worth!in
The Aston is a fabulous car, not better than Pork just different & just as good in its own way. As it feels totally different to Pork you need time to get used to it.
On the +
The Aston is a better GT, much more comfortable, less drive line shunt, great part throttle response, nice solid chunky controls & fantastic driving position. It is also a very good drivers car, the weight distribution is spot on (51/49) so the car moves all as one & simply flows down your favourite B road, it will also allow the back end to move with a hint of oversteer, making you feel great in the driving seat, it also understeers less than a 911. The car does float & roll a little, more than an 030 or PASM equipped Porker (less than a standard 996), but if you learn to trust it & get used to "flowing" through the bends it really is an amazing drive & the engine sounds even better than a Porsche with PSE. The car also looks fabulous, an automotive jewel inside & out & makes you feel lucky to own it every time you approach it, it also has a great friendly image with fellow road users.
On the -
The engine is slow to rev in the lower rev range, part throttle GT driving is great ,but flat to the floor below 4k revs & you want more response. Above 4,5k it is a demon, with Lucifer screaming in your ears from the exhaust note. The Porker has a much better gearbox, not as manly, but much faster & easy to use, the 911's engine also revs more cleanly from lower revs & it is certainly a little faster, although not by much on the road, but it does "feel" faster than the Aston, it also has better traction out of corners due to the rear weight biase. Pork steering also offers more feel, but is a little too light after you get used to the Vantage. The Porker is also better engineered, you can feel everything is well made, I know which car will be more reliable in a few years time & it won't be the Aston. As a drivers car the 911 has the edge, it is the bigger adrenaline pump, certainly when pushing on above 7/10th's, below that the Aston has the edge, as it flows better through the corners!
So all I am saying guys is don't knock it until you have tried it properly, Pork is fabulous, but so is the Aston in it's own way, this car has got under my skin & I am really pleased I have been lucky enough to own one. I will, of course, be back to Pork soon, but the Aston is a fabulous class act both as automotive art & a drivers car with a roaring V8 heart, all this said by a true Porkernut!
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