So what have you done with your Aston today?
Discussion
Hi Alex, the rapide S is an excellent car which I have tried over the past five days. I am used to a V8 vantage and use it daily. The rapide is a "wafting" car perfect for eating up trans-continental journeys. I drive to Tuscany via the south coast of France and Monaco each summer and it would be fantastic for that. The boot is smaller than the vantage coupe and that would be a problem for me. I have driven a few hundred miles since getting the car and tried the narrow winding roads of the Peak district, up and down Winnats pass a couple of times (see YouTube) and the car not surprisingly feels less agile than the Vantage ( at least the way I drive and it's 21inches longer than my V8V ).The eight speed box is a delight and the power delivery improved noticeably in sport mode. The sound is amazing and start up sounds like God has arrived. I thought the V12 would spoil me for the N430 but surprisingly I don't think so, I am looking forwards to the sharpness of the new car and the involvement of the manual box. In short a different beast from the Vantage and not for me but great if you have place in Italy to drive to with 560bhp on offer.
DocW said:
Hi Alex, the rapide S is an excellent car which I have tried over the past five days. I am used to a V8 vantage and use it daily. The rapide is a "wafting" car perfect for eating up trans-continental journeys. I drive to Tuscany via the south coast of France and Monaco each summer and it would be fantastic for that. The boot is smaller than the vantage coupe and that would be a problem for me. I have driven a few hundred miles since getting the car and tried the narrow winding roads of the Peak district, up and down Winnats pass a couple of times (see YouTube) and the car not surprisingly feels less agile than the Vantage ( at least the way I drive and it's 21inches longer than my V8V ).The eight speed box is a delight and the power delivery improved noticeably in sport mode. The sound is amazing and start up sounds like God has arrived. I thought the V12 would spoil me for the N430 but surprisingly I don't think so, I am looking forwards to the sharpness of the new car and the involvement of the manual box. In short a different beast from the Vantage and not for me but great if you have place in Italy to drive to with 560bhp on offer.
Thanks for the detail, I'm surprised by the boot space. Will try to get hold of a Rapide when my V8Vs next goes in.
Collected my new N430 today from Stratstone Wilmslow. It's the "stealth" version, jet black with the cantrail and mirror backs in skyfall silver. Its a bit more understated than some of the other 430's. I had glass switches and a DBS gear knob put in, the cabin this evening looked even better with the illuminated switches and I find the gear changes more positive with the weight of the alloy knob. I have bought a water filter to make washing the car easier so I can rinse it and leave to dry without water spotting. Buying a black car apparently is a full time job. ![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/3222qPkC.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/CiwOveln" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/CiwOveln.jpg[url][img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/CiwOveln.jpg)
Thanks for the positive responses. I added the dragon 88 Aston badge as a last minute detail. The gold sits well on the black but might not be to everyone's taste. After the first drive I got an email from a fellow PHer to say "was that your car with a gold badge I saw passing this evening?" I'll post a couple of interior pictures as there are some nice cosmetic differences from my previous V8V.
Hi Phil,
The first time I used the filter a couple of days ago I chickened out with leaving it to dry in the sun as there seemed to be spotting, so out came the microfibre towels and I dried it as normal. I phoned the maker (race glaze) and discussed what I was doing. Firstly I was putting the filter between the tap and a pressure washer and that was pulling the water through too quickly to allow the resin to act. I also put a question on detailing world and the same response came back. The very helpful guy from race glaze said connect it on a short length of hose and do not turn the tap on fully. Use an open ended hose pipe and "sheet" the water over the car. I took that to mean, hold the hose at an angle and the water runs off in a "sheet". I did this today and it is better with a few spots which I took off with some detailing spray. I think I was way too optimistic and the reviews saying" I spray it and leave it in the direct sun then its perfect" are from myopic aston owners who have white cars.
The first time I used the filter a couple of days ago I chickened out with leaving it to dry in the sun as there seemed to be spotting, so out came the microfibre towels and I dried it as normal. I phoned the maker (race glaze) and discussed what I was doing. Firstly I was putting the filter between the tap and a pressure washer and that was pulling the water through too quickly to allow the resin to act. I also put a question on detailing world and the same response came back. The very helpful guy from race glaze said connect it on a short length of hose and do not turn the tap on fully. Use an open ended hose pipe and "sheet" the water over the car. I took that to mean, hold the hose at an angle and the water runs off in a "sheet". I did this today and it is better with a few spots which I took off with some detailing spray. I think I was way too optimistic and the reviews saying" I spray it and leave it in the direct sun then its perfect" are from myopic aston owners who have white cars.
I've got the race glaze filter - looks like a fire extinguisher and costs a little over £100 from memory. I do as DocW now does, short hose to it, and shortish hose from it too (on a long hose you have to let all the old water out before you get to filtered water). Its not perfect but much better than plain tap water. You only need it on the last rinse.
I've bought a filter for filling my hot tub that's meant to last for tub 3 fills and then thrown and costs about £20 - I might try that sometime as a comparison.
I've bought a filter for filling my hot tub that's meant to last for tub 3 fills and then thrown and costs about £20 - I might try that sometime as a comparison.
No need to go to detailing world. If you want to know anything, just drop me a message. With water filters, like you found out, they are not a magic solution. however, they can help. I used to use the aqua gleam ones, running a 30ppm into a 0ppm and then sheeting over the car. The best thing to use for that is a watering can.
Ultimately, the best thing to do is get the car well protected and thereafter washing, rinse it off and use an air blower like this one:
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/metro-vac-...
Use this to blow most of the water off the car and then use a soft drying towel or microfibre and wipe off any excess. To be honest, i think these things are a must for aston owners, because so much water is hidden behind the rear lights, badges, panel gaps etc. You could completely dry the car and then give it a going over with one of these and you would have to start again.
Love the badge btw. I was shown a solid gold one at the factory. Also love the carbon one too.
Have you had the car detailed or any protection applied other than your detailing spray?
Ultimately, the best thing to do is get the car well protected and thereafter washing, rinse it off and use an air blower like this one:
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/metro-vac-...
Use this to blow most of the water off the car and then use a soft drying towel or microfibre and wipe off any excess. To be honest, i think these things are a must for aston owners, because so much water is hidden behind the rear lights, badges, panel gaps etc. You could completely dry the car and then give it a going over with one of these and you would have to start again.
Love the badge btw. I was shown a solid gold one at the factory. Also love the carbon one too.
Have you had the car detailed or any protection applied other than your detailing spray?
Hi all,
Finally got the chance to get out for a drive and take a couple of pics. Loving the car and thankfully the former owner (one owner car) clearly cherished it and kept the car in great condition - only 4k on the clock. I am undecided whether the plates that came with the car will stay, although actually I don't think they look too bad.
Finally got the chance to get out for a drive and take a couple of pics. Loving the car and thankfully the former owner (one owner car) clearly cherished it and kept the car in great condition - only 4k on the clock. I am undecided whether the plates that came with the car will stay, although actually I don't think they look too bad.
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