Reply to "Aston Martin Vantage"

All awesome points, and input! The Aston Martin Vantage sings to me. I just love the way it looks, outside and in and THAT'S why I'd get one! It's THAT car I want. I just can't ignore them much longer! I was considering getting a used V8 (I like the way they sound better, plus you can supercharge it), maybe an '09, or a '10. The real questions are: go sporty (white with black and red interior), or elegant (black/black, or tungsten/burgundy)? And: stick or paddle shifters?

I would like to get it as a garage mate, but it may actually be a replacement for my Pantera. Thing is, I'm not sure that even a Vantage could ever reach the level of satisfaction that I get from my Pantera. I don't think any car can. I've reached a crossroads with it, though. I bought my first Pantera in '98 when I was 30, and have had a vision in my head of what I want it to look like and be like long before that. I got my targa 5-S 10 years ago, and am ready to transform it into my vision.

I look at my Pantera as mine, to do with what I want, other's opinions be damned! The recent threads on here and on the Ferrari Forum about the values of certain Panteras, and the rarity and uniqueness of the Pavesi Targas has made me rethink the application of my vision to this particular Pantera. What I want to do is drastic and would require sheetmetal surgery, and restructuring of the interior. I'm beginning to think I should, for the car's and marque's sake, not hot rod this Pantera.

To me, selling it would be like putting down your life-long dog, or horse.

I would eventually get another '74L, or '74 GTS this time, targa it, then go off the deep end with that one. I have to have a targa though. That is the sticky wicket! So I'm seriously torn right now. Give it up for it's own good and move on to a Vantage, or listen to the little devil on my shoulder and have at it?

Don't hold back.

Michael