Buying / improving used V8V 4.3 – what I’ve learned:
Discussion
I’ve just finished sprucing up my first (used) Aston. I trawled Pistonheads for hours for most of this information so thought I’d share for anyone buying a used V8 4.3
Buying from Stratstone:
Found the car I wanted at Stratstone Mayfair – 07 V8 Vantage 4.3 Roadster Sportshift in Grigio Titanio Ferrari with Anthracite alloys and red calipers.
No discount but very accommodating fixing things – machine-polished the surface scratches, new headlight – I didn’t ask them to replace the chipped rear tyre – from reading other posts I should have. Salesman Brad Carr was very helpful and took us on a factory visit to Gaydon in a shiny new Rapide. Fantastic day out. Can never drive a non-Aston now!
A couple of weeks later I had a dodgy boot button fixed under warranty– collected and returned same day –fixed and nicely polished.
Front plate/plinth:
Removed the plinth as described in the thread below– really easy (but needed to touch up some bumper paint, see later for paint link):
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=994...
Found an online Irish number plate maker who supplied smallerplate without needing the DVLA form, only £15. (shorter but still within DVLA rules). Came in two days: http://www.myshowplates.com
Clear rear lights:
Harwoods quoted £1200 fitted – Stratstone price-matched and did the work while it was in for the boot-catch. For me makes a huge difference, especially with a darkish-silver metallic.
Shiny glass gear buttons:
The only thing I didn’t like about the car was the plastic Drive, Neutral, Reverse, Comfort buttons.
Nicholas Mee – who were very knowledgeable and helpful - changed them for the glass ones. I LOVE the new ones. The button labeled SPORT actually does whatever the COMFORT button used to – anyone know what that ACTUALLY does? Is it gearing/suspension/nothing at all???
Adding Front and reversing camera.
I curbed the alloys on Day 1 (insured, phew) and narrowly missed grounding on a curb – the bonnet is much longer than I thought – so I wanted cameras installed.
They were (very professionally) installed by the famous James from Trackaphone on the same day as changing the buttons. Nicholas Mee charged £2.2k with VAT for cameras and buttons.
iPod/iPhone integration:
It has the Denison glovebox-ipod kit installed already on the standard audio system– I found the Tune2Air gizmo works like a charm with my iPhone (£58):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B73MIUY/ref=...
Though had a funny moment when I left Google navigator running on my iphone and the common Google voice started arguing with the posh Aston voice as they tried to navigate me to different places!
Also found a discreet iphone5 charger to sit in the socket between the seats £13:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009I2UH2W/ref=...
Touch up paint for stone/key chips:
FANTASTIC kit from Chipex.co.uk –perfect colour match clever little application tools and solvent to wipe off excess – much better than what I’ve had from BMW, Vauxhall and Mercedes in the past – truly invisible repairs. The cheapest kit did the job. There’s a fixed chip on the right back edge of the rear boot lid but you cant see it in the photo, and barely even in daylight even though I know where it is. Their ref for Grigio Titanio Ferrari is Aston Martin 1173D
Wheel touch up paint:
If you have Anthracite painted alloys Fix-a-chip FORD Dark Shadow Grey 26B was a perfect match for me– again the cheapest kit worked for (£8), plus their pro-brush and cleaner – makes minor chips/scrapes invisible.
Aston GRIN:
The grin came with the car – it’s not going anywhere. Every time I drive it. Yesterday a white van driver pulled alongside to help guide me into a space… I was expecting abuse but got a thumbs-up. I’m truly loving every minute in it.
Any mods left? Maybe cruise-control – what do you think?
Neal ☺
Edit:
I have since added Twin plate clutch, Adjustable electronic suspension, Michelin tyres: write-up further down this post (page 3)
Buying from Stratstone:
Found the car I wanted at Stratstone Mayfair – 07 V8 Vantage 4.3 Roadster Sportshift in Grigio Titanio Ferrari with Anthracite alloys and red calipers.
No discount but very accommodating fixing things – machine-polished the surface scratches, new headlight – I didn’t ask them to replace the chipped rear tyre – from reading other posts I should have. Salesman Brad Carr was very helpful and took us on a factory visit to Gaydon in a shiny new Rapide. Fantastic day out. Can never drive a non-Aston now!
A couple of weeks later I had a dodgy boot button fixed under warranty– collected and returned same day –fixed and nicely polished.
Front plate/plinth:
Removed the plinth as described in the thread below– really easy (but needed to touch up some bumper paint, see later for paint link):
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=994...
Found an online Irish number plate maker who supplied smallerplate without needing the DVLA form, only £15. (shorter but still within DVLA rules). Came in two days: http://www.myshowplates.com
Clear rear lights:
Harwoods quoted £1200 fitted – Stratstone price-matched and did the work while it was in for the boot-catch. For me makes a huge difference, especially with a darkish-silver metallic.
Shiny glass gear buttons:
The only thing I didn’t like about the car was the plastic Drive, Neutral, Reverse, Comfort buttons.
Nicholas Mee – who were very knowledgeable and helpful - changed them for the glass ones. I LOVE the new ones. The button labeled SPORT actually does whatever the COMFORT button used to – anyone know what that ACTUALLY does? Is it gearing/suspension/nothing at all???
Adding Front and reversing camera.
I curbed the alloys on Day 1 (insured, phew) and narrowly missed grounding on a curb – the bonnet is much longer than I thought – so I wanted cameras installed.
They were (very professionally) installed by the famous James from Trackaphone on the same day as changing the buttons. Nicholas Mee charged £2.2k with VAT for cameras and buttons.
iPod/iPhone integration:
It has the Denison glovebox-ipod kit installed already on the standard audio system– I found the Tune2Air gizmo works like a charm with my iPhone (£58):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B73MIUY/ref=...
Though had a funny moment when I left Google navigator running on my iphone and the common Google voice started arguing with the posh Aston voice as they tried to navigate me to different places!
Also found a discreet iphone5 charger to sit in the socket between the seats £13:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009I2UH2W/ref=...
Touch up paint for stone/key chips:
FANTASTIC kit from Chipex.co.uk –perfect colour match clever little application tools and solvent to wipe off excess – much better than what I’ve had from BMW, Vauxhall and Mercedes in the past – truly invisible repairs. The cheapest kit did the job. There’s a fixed chip on the right back edge of the rear boot lid but you cant see it in the photo, and barely even in daylight even though I know where it is. Their ref for Grigio Titanio Ferrari is Aston Martin 1173D
Wheel touch up paint:
If you have Anthracite painted alloys Fix-a-chip FORD Dark Shadow Grey 26B was a perfect match for me– again the cheapest kit worked for (£8), plus their pro-brush and cleaner – makes minor chips/scrapes invisible.
Aston GRIN:
The grin came with the car – it’s not going anywhere. Every time I drive it. Yesterday a white van driver pulled alongside to help guide me into a space… I was expecting abuse but got a thumbs-up. I’m truly loving every minute in it.
Any mods left? Maybe cruise-control – what do you think?
Neal ☺
Edit:
I have since added Twin plate clutch, Adjustable electronic suspension, Michelin tyres: write-up further down this post (page 3)
Edited by NealCS on Monday 19th January 17:05
Thanks Justin - I'm very grateful to all those who posted info for me. Feel like I've got a new Aston for less than half price!
I saw somewhere on here you can get just the reversing camera for a lot less. Though I've found the bleeps pretty accurate, whereas seeing forward was my problem. Also, the reverse camera display doesn't have the lines on it like the forward one. Not sure why. They are very useful - once I spent a while calibrating then with the help of some cones!
I saw somewhere on here you can get just the reversing camera for a lot less. Though I've found the bleeps pretty accurate, whereas seeing forward was my problem. Also, the reverse camera display doesn't have the lines on it like the forward one. Not sure why. They are very useful - once I spent a while calibrating then with the help of some cones!
Thanks all - I'll probably bite the bullet and add cruise as next year's upgrade then - anyone with a suitable perforated leather steeringwheel for sale should let me know! (Telephone + cruise)
...only other thing I was wondering is that I've been getting lower back pain on runs over 2hrs - is this common - is it likely I have the seat maladjusted or are there any options available that can switch between softer and sportier suspension?
...only other thing I was wondering is that I've been getting lower back pain on runs over 2hrs - is this common - is it likely I have the seat maladjusted or are there any options available that can switch between softer and sportier suspension?
Also, Molly, the grins continued today when the sun came out and I finally got the top down- just in time for a family 70th birthday so I was giving rides to three generations of whooping grinning relatives - I decide to answer every question with " let's see"....
How fast does it get to 60... "Let's see..." Floors throttle ( grin )
How fast can you go round a roundabout "let's see..." (squeal )
Etc etc...
So far my nerve has run out before the grip has - though I have glimpsed the yellow (traction/DSC control I assume) light flickering on the dash on skittery wet white lines.
How fast does it get to 60... "Let's see..." Floors throttle ( grin )
How fast can you go round a roundabout "let's see..." (squeal )
Etc etc...
So far my nerve has run out before the grip has - though I have glimpsed the yellow (traction/DSC control I assume) light flickering on the dash on skittery wet white lines.
krisdelta said:
Neal, trying to get the anthracite touch up paint from Fix-a-chip, they're struggling to match vs the code above - any further details you can share?
Cheers!
Kris
Sure Kris,Cheers!
Kris
Ford Dark Shadow Grey worked for me - which fix-a-chip labelled with 56B when they sent it to me
I've updated this in the post too.
My impression was they REALLY don't do discounts - this was a convertible car the week before Xmas. But they can fix things which are 'wrong' and were pretty generous there. I wasn't as pushy as some, but I felt a really nice buying experience and superb after sales/warranty service were more important to me than every last pound- I need to love the car and the purchase is where that affair begins for me.
As a separate issue, the service dept price-matched on the mods which was a surprise. And the service was flawless.
As a separate issue, the service dept price-matched on the mods which was a surprise. And the service was flawless.
Bigone: my choice would be to go with the heart! Go with the head and you could end up in a Skoda? Every day spent searching for the perfect 4.7 is a day you're not driving an amazing 4.3! Unless you're planning to sell it only you will know the difference- for me the £10k difference wasn't worth it. Buy the first one you fall in love with and the money you save can be in reserve for when the clutch goes! (Oh plus shiny buttons!)
Edited by NealCS on Tuesday 25th February 21:29
djmac56 said:
How did you come about the tune2air? Did it actively state Dension 500 compatibility? ( I can't figure out why my Layen 30 pin bluetooth adapter isn't seen as connected - when plugged in to the connector the head unit just says something like aux/gw)
I found it somewhere on this forum and took a punt - elsewhere online there are claims it works with "any 30pin iPod connector which displays track names" - I've since upgraded from iPhone to iPhone 5s and it still works. Nothing fiddly - just plug in, connect with Bluetooth code 0000 and that was it. In some ways better than the iPod since you can still control music from the phone - whereas with the iPod I had to unplug it to manually select tracks then plug back in to play (Denison controls too limited/fiddly for my 4000 tracks). Good luck - let us know how you get on?
For anyone following this thread I can share my solutions to the backache and my clutch upgrade experience below : (originally posted in the main forum under the heading: "I have a new car":
THANKS Bamford Rose for giving me a new car!
Well - it’s the same car, (V8 Vantage Roadster 2007/4.3 with Sportshift) but new modifications have utterly transformed it. I had not dared hope for such a big effect on what is already a breathtaking machine.
In essence, it still has loads of ‘personality’ but the bad edges have been knocked off.
I had the Bamford Rose twinplate clutch, lightweight flywheel and switchable suspension done, plus added new slightly wider Michelin Super Sports all at once.
(Also a mod to the Catalyst and ECU remap for a small increase in power and a decent noise change from BURBLE to ROAR, and a three-way switch so I can decide to blast it out or choose stealth mode, or have it as per factory. Finally cruise-control added.)
First impressions:
The steering felt lighter and more responsive. Surprise number One.
D mode has become totally fluid. Surprise number Two
Backache gone - six hours hard driving today. Surprise number Three!
Comfort button - now does something useful. Surprise number Four!
Here's a pic - though to be honest it looks the same as before!
I promised to feed back in detail: (It's rather thorough.. see towards end of post for "watch-outs")
Results of Twinplate clutch / flywheel:
Nodding-dog effect has gone. Creep mode smooth (still can judder slightly if you don’t put any gas in) - reverses up steep hills without barbecue smell.
If I just put my foot flat to the floor in D (and hang on tight), it surges forward with beautiful flow. Surpassed 140mph on the straight before my nerve/the road ran out but each gear change was a smooth blip rather than a great jolt with a clunk from the transmission.
On really windy roads in D mode I barely noticed the gears - just point and squirt. Anyone who has felt the 4.3 in original guise will know that’s a revelation.
As a passenger, in Bamford-Mike’s capable hands, I saw how smooth the gear change can be manually too. If you change at the right time it slips in beautifully - no need to lift off the gas or finesse it - just watch the rev counter and click- new redline slightly higher RPM too.
Comfort button really annoyed me when I got the car as it just made it jerky and uncomfy - I felt a bit let down. Now it does what you'd expect, in D mode it makes the gears change at lower revs for a smoother ride. Good in heavy/queing traffic.
Instruction:
Mike was kind enough to take me to try all the new mods at Millbrook proving ground. I am very grateful for his patient tuition in terms of how to get the best from my car, and how to get the best from a corner, many corners, over and over and over. I feel much more "at one" with the car now.
I would show pictures but they covered my iPhone cameras with these stickers which is a shame since they were filming an episode of Silent Witness there with "dead" bodies and Police with guns all over the place!
Swithchable suspension:
Two modes - soft or hard. Hard mode felt similar to the original in terms of feeling the road (and the spine jangling over bumps) though in terms of grip, the car seemed if possible more planted and responsive - which I am guessing is what made the steering feel so much lighter - very subjective as I’m no rally driver and already found it pretty good. Certainly negligible body roll even at high speed and on sharp steering inputs - it darts impressively rather than wallowing - there's no ‘rebound'.
Soft mode - Incredible difference. Even on the track, including the deliberately bumpy bits, a push of the switch takes all the pain away - I wouldn’t say it floats like a modern Jag - the closest comparison I can offer from my experience is the smooth comfort of a BMW - still absolutely in touch with the road and sporty, but polite and forgiving on the spine. I’m sure others with wider driving experience could come up with a better/posher comparison, but I expect you get the idea.
Motorway:
Got stuck in traffic on the way home. Cruise control obviously a bonus, but the smoothness down to very low speeds put a smile on my face... Though not as much as departing the M4 for three hours on twisty A-roads - every tractor overtaken was another chance to hear that joyous noise.
Tyres:
Bamford put slightly wider Michelin Super Sports on.
Rear 275/35 ZR19
Front 245/40 ZR19
Can’t say how these contributed to the extraordinary grip etc as the other mods were simultaneous. But in contrast to the Bridgestones they do project beyond the rims and already saved my alloys when I very gently scraped the kerb pulling over in a too-narrow village high-street -that’s a bonus.
Watch outs:
You can tell that I’ve become a Bamford Rose disciple overnight, and probably feel my excitement from this post - no apologies as thats exactly what the Aston Martin experience SHOULD be for me, and they’ve added massively to that by taking away my nagging doubts about keeping the car as a daily driver long-term.
However let’s be clear - they don’t have a call-centre, a receptionist, a team of email-answerers or their own parts production facility.
My project was delayed weeks by a parts supply issue (giving them time to fix a couple of things without charging me labour), and though I always heard back from Mike, and with very reassuring, sound, economical advice, it was generally later rather than sooner (and sometimes late at night -which says a lot about commitment).
So those with a control-freak disposition (most people who can afford an AM?) may have to grit their teeth a little. I guessed this from the forums already - IMHO its better to have less immediate contact from the guy who actually understands the engineering, than an instant response from a telephone operator. But forewarned is forearmed.
Insurance - Some companies avoid modified cars - my company Sainsbury's are not increasing my premium nor charging me an admin fee. I cannot commend them highly enough for this,
Odd noises - the Aston emits various noises, and one of them was, at first, more noticeable than before. Mike explained, I think it was something to do with the transmission, but I can’t remember and I’ve got used to it. Some of the old noises have gone! I suppose what I’m saying is, it’s like night-and-day compared to my ‘old’ car, but its still not a mass-produced silent-gliding Mercedes.
Afternoon tea:
After all that hair-raising, it was a joy to sweep up the majestic gravel of Cliveden House for afternoon tea. It’s a credit to the original designers that this Aston can be as at home on the track as the most impressive forecourts in the land. I’m sure they’re charming to everyone there, but I like to think we got a slightly extra-special Aston Martin welcome. We got a prime parking spot that’s for sure!
Which used AM to buy?
My choice: a cheap one, and have the mods.
I was feeling red-faced about getting a car which didn’t quite fulfil my daily missions. When I realised I was about to spend £10k modding it I kept wondering, in hindsight, if I wouldn’t have been better buying a £53k -4.7? (Putting aside that I would have never got that past the other half).
I’m comfortable now that I’ve got a car better for my needs than even a sports-pack 4.7, it’s low mileage, new tyres, under warranty and it isn’t going to need a(nother) new clutch!
But I wouldn’t advise this if you like to change cars often as the value of the mods will probably not come back to you if you sell the car. For me, I’m pretty sure I’ve now got a 'keeper'.
And they lived happily ever after (etc…)
Hope to meet some of you at PH events this Summer.
THANKS Bamford Rose for giving me a new car!
Well - it’s the same car, (V8 Vantage Roadster 2007/4.3 with Sportshift) but new modifications have utterly transformed it. I had not dared hope for such a big effect on what is already a breathtaking machine.
In essence, it still has loads of ‘personality’ but the bad edges have been knocked off.
I had the Bamford Rose twinplate clutch, lightweight flywheel and switchable suspension done, plus added new slightly wider Michelin Super Sports all at once.
(Also a mod to the Catalyst and ECU remap for a small increase in power and a decent noise change from BURBLE to ROAR, and a three-way switch so I can decide to blast it out or choose stealth mode, or have it as per factory. Finally cruise-control added.)
First impressions:
The steering felt lighter and more responsive. Surprise number One.
D mode has become totally fluid. Surprise number Two
Backache gone - six hours hard driving today. Surprise number Three!
Comfort button - now does something useful. Surprise number Four!
Here's a pic - though to be honest it looks the same as before!
I promised to feed back in detail: (It's rather thorough.. see towards end of post for "watch-outs")
Results of Twinplate clutch / flywheel:
Nodding-dog effect has gone. Creep mode smooth (still can judder slightly if you don’t put any gas in) - reverses up steep hills without barbecue smell.
If I just put my foot flat to the floor in D (and hang on tight), it surges forward with beautiful flow. Surpassed 140mph on the straight before my nerve/the road ran out but each gear change was a smooth blip rather than a great jolt with a clunk from the transmission.
On really windy roads in D mode I barely noticed the gears - just point and squirt. Anyone who has felt the 4.3 in original guise will know that’s a revelation.
As a passenger, in Bamford-Mike’s capable hands, I saw how smooth the gear change can be manually too. If you change at the right time it slips in beautifully - no need to lift off the gas or finesse it - just watch the rev counter and click- new redline slightly higher RPM too.
Comfort button really annoyed me when I got the car as it just made it jerky and uncomfy - I felt a bit let down. Now it does what you'd expect, in D mode it makes the gears change at lower revs for a smoother ride. Good in heavy/queing traffic.
Instruction:
Mike was kind enough to take me to try all the new mods at Millbrook proving ground. I am very grateful for his patient tuition in terms of how to get the best from my car, and how to get the best from a corner, many corners, over and over and over. I feel much more "at one" with the car now.
I would show pictures but they covered my iPhone cameras with these stickers which is a shame since they were filming an episode of Silent Witness there with "dead" bodies and Police with guns all over the place!
Swithchable suspension:
Two modes - soft or hard. Hard mode felt similar to the original in terms of feeling the road (and the spine jangling over bumps) though in terms of grip, the car seemed if possible more planted and responsive - which I am guessing is what made the steering feel so much lighter - very subjective as I’m no rally driver and already found it pretty good. Certainly negligible body roll even at high speed and on sharp steering inputs - it darts impressively rather than wallowing - there's no ‘rebound'.
Soft mode - Incredible difference. Even on the track, including the deliberately bumpy bits, a push of the switch takes all the pain away - I wouldn’t say it floats like a modern Jag - the closest comparison I can offer from my experience is the smooth comfort of a BMW - still absolutely in touch with the road and sporty, but polite and forgiving on the spine. I’m sure others with wider driving experience could come up with a better/posher comparison, but I expect you get the idea.
Motorway:
Got stuck in traffic on the way home. Cruise control obviously a bonus, but the smoothness down to very low speeds put a smile on my face... Though not as much as departing the M4 for three hours on twisty A-roads - every tractor overtaken was another chance to hear that joyous noise.
Tyres:
Bamford put slightly wider Michelin Super Sports on.
Rear 275/35 ZR19
Front 245/40 ZR19
Can’t say how these contributed to the extraordinary grip etc as the other mods were simultaneous. But in contrast to the Bridgestones they do project beyond the rims and already saved my alloys when I very gently scraped the kerb pulling over in a too-narrow village high-street -that’s a bonus.
Watch outs:
You can tell that I’ve become a Bamford Rose disciple overnight, and probably feel my excitement from this post - no apologies as thats exactly what the Aston Martin experience SHOULD be for me, and they’ve added massively to that by taking away my nagging doubts about keeping the car as a daily driver long-term.
However let’s be clear - they don’t have a call-centre, a receptionist, a team of email-answerers or their own parts production facility.
My project was delayed weeks by a parts supply issue (giving them time to fix a couple of things without charging me labour), and though I always heard back from Mike, and with very reassuring, sound, economical advice, it was generally later rather than sooner (and sometimes late at night -which says a lot about commitment).
So those with a control-freak disposition (most people who can afford an AM?) may have to grit their teeth a little. I guessed this from the forums already - IMHO its better to have less immediate contact from the guy who actually understands the engineering, than an instant response from a telephone operator. But forewarned is forearmed.
Insurance - Some companies avoid modified cars - my company Sainsbury's are not increasing my premium nor charging me an admin fee. I cannot commend them highly enough for this,
Odd noises - the Aston emits various noises, and one of them was, at first, more noticeable than before. Mike explained, I think it was something to do with the transmission, but I can’t remember and I’ve got used to it. Some of the old noises have gone! I suppose what I’m saying is, it’s like night-and-day compared to my ‘old’ car, but its still not a mass-produced silent-gliding Mercedes.
Afternoon tea:
After all that hair-raising, it was a joy to sweep up the majestic gravel of Cliveden House for afternoon tea. It’s a credit to the original designers that this Aston can be as at home on the track as the most impressive forecourts in the land. I’m sure they’re charming to everyone there, but I like to think we got a slightly extra-special Aston Martin welcome. We got a prime parking spot that’s for sure!
Which used AM to buy?
My choice: a cheap one, and have the mods.
I was feeling red-faced about getting a car which didn’t quite fulfil my daily missions. When I realised I was about to spend £10k modding it I kept wondering, in hindsight, if I wouldn’t have been better buying a £53k -4.7? (Putting aside that I would have never got that past the other half).
I’m comfortable now that I’ve got a car better for my needs than even a sports-pack 4.7, it’s low mileage, new tyres, under warranty and it isn’t going to need a(nother) new clutch!
But I wouldn’t advise this if you like to change cars often as the value of the mods will probably not come back to you if you sell the car. For me, I’m pretty sure I’ve now got a 'keeper'.
And they lived happily ever after (etc…)
Hope to meet some of you at PH events this Summer.
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