German Car Zone

But the R8, whilst very exciting to look at, isn't a classically proportioned or even traditionally beautiful sportscar. The Aston Vantage is easily one of the most gorgeous cars in its class (if not the most gorgeous!)

No doubt the R8 is the benchmark - I'm not disputing that - but the Aston Martin is head and shoulders the French Riviera mansion forecourt champion in terms of class and pedigree.

^True Martin but it's very exaggerating to say that the R8 is unexciting and a joke compared to 911(which looks banal nowadays) and the vantage.IMO the Vantage is nice as long u don't come across alot coz after a while i begin to see it like a budget AM which truly it is

"but the Aston Martin is head and shoulders the French Riviera mansion forecourt champion in terms of class and pedigree."

I somehow think of Ferrari to be that one.

^...Aston compared to the R8 and 911 I should have qualified. An F430 is not a direct Vantage competitor - it sits in a higher bracket.

The R8 does look more exciting than a boggo 911. But the 911 is still the more classic and unique silhouette. It's like a Rolex or an Omega - timeless (er... that sounds a bit daft) - compared with the R8 that's just a touch too TAG Heuer in the classsic stakes.

^Hey i have a TAG

I agree about the 911 design being timeless and classic,it is but to me i prefer the design of the R8 more fresh and modern.I'm actually so tired of AM design and 911 design(to a lesser degree than AM) and i'd love to see some radical new theme for AM and 911 range

The 911 is beautiful, even if you see a lot of them it does not take his beauty away. It's a gorgeous car.
The Aston looks fabulous. Maybe the best-looking car today.

These two also sound gorgeous, sporty and metallic, a pleasure.

The R8 is a stretched TT with a big V8. Sorry, I see some here in Paris, they are not particular. New, yes, sporty, yes, but nothing more. And they sound like...well, an RS4. In few years it will be forgotten.

The R8 may be fast around a track (AWD and 420hp versus a 355hp 911, well, and even then it does not win by a margin)... But this is not the point.

Both 911 and Aston look and sound way better than the R8. Both have a soul the R8 does not have. A Nurb time won't balance that. If you need to speak about a time or a hp-number to justify a car, it's that it's lacking something.

BTW... I'm actually wearing my Omega...

I don't disagree with your preferences - I prefer seeing an R8 to a Carrera S too...

I also have a TAG. Useful, attractive, sporty but ultimately poor-man compared to a pukka Rolex or Omega.

To Raoul: well i didn't say the 911 or AM are bad looking but i'm just tired of the same looks that's.For the R8 then i guess to each his own

To Martin: well it depends on which TAG u r wearing

You make a good point here Raoul. The only reason we tend to overlook the styling of the 911 is because it's so familiar. The R8 just happens to be newer. In time it could well fade with familiarity.

Can't really argue with that.

Like I said, the R8 is a fantastic modern sports car, and I'd have one over an Aston Vantage and maybe even a Carrera S. Just maybe, mind you. But it lacks the classic propotion and compactness of the 911 or the outright beauty and emotion of the Vantage. It's a clinical over-achiever. In a word, it's an Audi.

Rich snob.

Ahaha... Actually it's a Vintage one (1950's), it didn't even cost me the price of the box of a new Omega...

For the rest... I would take a 911 Carrera S over the two others, but the Aston would make me hesitate. The R8 makes nothing to me, even if I reckon the achievment (a bit like the GTR. Fabulous, but not making me want one).

To each his own!

Great discussion -- keep going!!