Being a lucky owner of a rare and valuable Series II it would clearly be insane to think about changing cars.

However I'm going a little wibbly in the brain department. Let me explain.

I planned to get into an S5 in 2010/11 brand new, but the new price point of the S5 means that I'm not able to do that.

So I have three option :

1. Stick with S2 - hope S4 / Aeromax depreciates and buy in in a couple of years as planned, or just keep s2 long term. After all it's a rare version of rare car which is never a bad thing...

2. Trade the S2 against a brand new S4 and spec it exactly to my tastes and keep forever. Appealing as I never bought a new car before.

3. Trade the S2 against a s/h S4 now (assuming I can find a good deal) Probably saving around 7-8k over cost of speccing new and putting me in an S4 for the long term. Who cares who specced it as long as it's black...

4. Just sell the s2 for the best money and invest in a Vanquish S instead on the basis it will make pots of money in the long term...

What would you do?
Been offered a good deal recently on an S4? Drop me a PM...

Simple, keep the S2 and buy a vanquish as well

Room at my place for storage

Cool - all sorted then!

What I hadn't checked is the width of a Vanq - my current garrage is too old school to fit a Vanq in.

Also the gearboxes, even on the 'S seem to be made of chocolate, so the only sensible option is a manual conversion which adds 10k plus to the purchase price. Not impossible, but a considerable additional expense..!

I like aspects of the Vanquish but imho, it isn't a classic in the making in the short term... maybe in 25+ years but what would worry me is the shoddy technology in them (esp the transmission) and the cost to maintain it while you wait for it to appreciate.

My choice, given your provisos above, is to go for a run-out S4 in your specification. You know you love the car and the latest engine is great as are the myriad of minor tweeks.

Indeed. Has to be said that this is not a 'need to change' so it's really all about the deal - if I can find one good enough I can go for it. If it doesn't then no bother - after all I have a very fine rare and valuable Series II which covers 95% of the bases the S4 does anyway....

mr tony..... go for a brand new s4. as simon says the engine and even the auto box is fantastic.... I've just come the other way round. (ie) from a conventional mass produced luxury car to a morgan. I test drove a black, brand new, auto aero8 s4, and loved it......but most of all (in the points and options you made) there's nothing like the fun of specing a new vehicle. and the smell of newness.

How many chances do you get to watch something so amazing being hand crafted? Not many!

Having a Morgan built and being able to watch (parts) of the car being assembled is a very special event.

I believe you can get an invite to watch your Veyron being build but Morgan owners can have the same experience for approximately £800,000.00 less (using the Sport as an example )

I have a couple of friends with Aston's and both complain that the running costs are horrendous. I am sure that the Vanquish will become a collectors classic car at some point in the future, but as Simon says - when?

The 4.8L engine is really much stronger than the 4.4L, the low-down torque is tremendous and the autobox is good, if not up to PDK standards imho.

In any case your usual Dealer has sold one of his new Aero stock, but still has this S4 in Rolls Royce Garnet over Black wings and it is a manual, which I'm sure you'd prefer. Price listed looks like list, but I'm sure that a deal would be in the offing.

Come on dmat, let's know more. When are you going to introduce yourself and your Aero and publish some photos of it too?

I pick up my Aeromax in June, Had grest fun specing it.... this included a factory visit so i could see as many other colours and specs as possible. It's a nervous time wondering every night, when you shut your eyes, if you have nailed it.... I even had a word with Matt Humphries to get his views on combinations ( great designer and great man, he sees things in colours we don't - like mid tones etc etc....to me silver is silver )....... as soon as I can I'll be posting photos, I can't wait.

dmat