Upgrading from a VPI Aries 1- is it worth it?

I am an owner of a VPI Aries Series 1 table and have made numerous "mods"/"upgrades" to it over the years. New belt, VPI reference 40 feet, VPI SS clamp, SME arm with SME internal wiring and tonearm cable. Was going to sell it but talked to the VPI folks (Harry and son Matt) and they said it was one of the best tables they ever made and if they had to make it today it would be priced in the $10K to $12K range just due to all the materials they used in its construction and assembly. So needless to say I kept it and did the upgrades, well worth it.

The Aries is still a lovely table (I have an Aries 3). Get a Fatboy unipivot or gimbal with the VTA tower and it’s a high-end deck IMO. I have both and like both, though probably prefer the unipivot w/ dual pivot a bit more. They’re a bit pricey, but maybe a used one pops up.

Your Aries will perform very well, even in that floor, if you can simply brace your rack against the wall. I used a foam Auralex tile wedged tight in there. Simple, cheap, reversible - and extremely effective! No more worries about the stylus popping out of the groove, flapping my woofers around, or pushing the amp into clipping. Add some HW-40 feet to tame the ~ 100Hz "drum" resonance these tables are susceptible to. BOOM - super awesome table :)

Thank you for your thoughts.

When I brought the table to VPI they also hinted at "they don't make them like they used to" kind of thing.  They were also impressed with the condition of the table considering the age.  So we did discuss potentially upgrading the tonearm but I was caught a little off guard by the cost of the upgrade- a new 3D is $2k and the tower is another $1.5k- and then there's labor.  So call it a $4k+ proposition; and the Fabboy alone is $4.5k.  So that is when I started wondering if newer table (used) att some point down the line would make more sense.

But from the sounds of it it does seem that upgrading Ares 1 parts might be a better proposition.
@audibleguy 
Was it complicated to get the SME installed- did VPI do it?  You sound very pleased with this new combination.

Do any of you have any thoughts on other tonearms  that would work well with the Aries outside the VPI line-up?

@mulveliing
Thanks for the suggestions- Unfortunately I cant brace the rack to the wall because of some artwork that extends right behind it - but I will look into upgrading the feet.

Getting a gimballed VPI arm is a big upgrade to the weakest link in VPI tables. It’s an easy upgrade. The original unipivot design arms just don’t match up. The Delos will just explode with music.

I own an original Aries Extended (12" unipivot arm). I upgraded to a Jelco TK-850L. It was a successful upgrade and brought real life to my Skala.  Too bad that Jelco arm is no longer available.  

That ls one of the best cart, there is 2 option, get fatboy arm and upgrade phono stage. Me personally like tube in phono section. Either one will improve the sound .