It’s fine, I get it – you really have to drive the Z NISMO to understand, and 63% of you select the Supra. The Supra is headed for extinction soon, and it makes me wonder about not only dying cars, but dying brands. Lotus must be on it’s tenth owner by now. And maybe…Aston Martin? Yesss – still here, and still making new sports cars. That means niche, and niche can mean big deprecation. Let me show you with an Aston Martin Vantage.
The 2019 Aston Martin Vantage vs the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible
Automotive love is a lot like regular love – it starts on the outside. The looks draw you in.
But like romance, the looks have to lead to substance. You don’t just stare at your sports car (or your wife, wouldn’t that be fun), you also drive it. Interact with it. It’s here where the relationship blossoms. No doubt, the Brit looks sexy. So I’m giving this Aston Martin Vantage some tough competition. These are both real sports cars whose values tell different stories.
The Vantage gets a twin-turbocharged V-8 from the AMG catalog, and it’s one of my favorite modern engines. It’s bolted to an eight-speed automatic (a stick was a rare option), and with 503 horsepower on tap, it’s plenty fast. The car has been around for a while now – 2018. The infotainment is woefully outdated, and the interior has never exactly been Mercedes-level in quality. But it’s an Aston.
By now, you should know just how much I love the Corvette C8 – specifically this Z06 model. Don’t let the fact that it’s a convertible fool you – performance is still blistering and better suited to hear that amazing naturally aspirated V-8. But no matter what, it’s still “just” a Corvette, and because the Z06 has been pretty impervious to depreciation, it’s still expensive. That also makes it flawed.
Love is never rational. Let’s take both out to dinner and see what’s what.
The 2019 Aston Martin Vantage
I’m bringing you a bit of a problem child with this Vantage:
- 28,300 miles
- Cosmos Orange over Pure Black leather
- Totally stock, and Cali-owned for its life
- Tons of options that added over $50k to the original sticker
- Despite the lower mileage, this is a well-worn example, with an accident history, front lip and wheel scuffs, and headlight damage. Best to get a PPI.
- I’d call it a modern car, but by no means is it up to date. A tiny 8-inch screen and Mercedes old COMAND interface are clues. No CarPlay either.
- Original MSRP: $201,424
- Current bid: $40,250
Now, here’s an almost-exact comp that sold for $80,500. Same color, similar mileage, no damage history. Can you image losing over $120k in value over eight years? Their loss is our gain, and the damage to this specific example will make it even cheaper.
Let’s swipe right (or is it left?) and see the Vette’s dating profile.
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible
Regular Vettes are getting cheaper by the day – seems that supply has finally caught up. But the Z remains an outlier because of its engine.
- 1,400 miles (what is wrong with you – drive this!)
- Pearl White Metallic over Ceramic White interior
- Z07 and Carbon Fiber Aero Package – not required, but nice to have
- No accident history
- 70th Anniversary Special Edition Package (Torch Red seat belts, carbon fiber and sueded microfiber-wrapped steering wheel, red-painted brake calipers, 20-inch front and 21-inch rear graphite “Spider” wheels, and more)
- You know it – flat-plane LT6 5.5-liter V8, 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque that sends the juice to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
- Current bid: $102,000
If you take a peak at the Z06’s depreciation, you might be put off by that clearly declining curve. But remember that the Z06 starts at $106k – those inflated values from a few years ago are because of the initial demand. You do not want to buy a $200,000 Vette (maybe the ZR-1, we’ll see). And some are still above MSRP – $150,000. Simply put, the Z06 isn’t nearly as good a value to buy as the Aston right now.
But this is love, isn’t it? Which one did you fall for?
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