First V8 Vantage advice

First V8 Vantage advice

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Discussion

Hillbilly75

Original Poster:

34 posts

114 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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Hi there,

I am new to all this so forgive me if I am asking something stupid and obvious.

I am within touching distance of realising a boyhood dream of buying a V8 Vantage. I am looking at 07/08 plate 4.3s manuals that have done early 20,000 miles as a mid point that strikes the right balance between budget and the best car I can afford.

My question is about the sort of costs I can expect for running it - what experience have others who run these found?

Insurance and fuel is obvious, but in terms of servicing and common problems that arise what sort of budget should I put aside each year?

Many thanks for any help team!

BREMBOV6

496 posts

147 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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I have a friend who bought one last year, 06 plate with sub 20k miles.

I believe rust can be an issue around the door locks he also has had issues with water getting in via a seal on the rear glass which then sits in the boot. There is a buying guide on here I believe.

Think there is a diffrence in the tax on earlier V8's being more expensive.

Sure somebody on here will be able to help you more. But its of great build quiality I feel a stunning place to be and that noise is just incredible!

mikey k

13,011 posts

215 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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BREMBOV6 said:
I have a friend who bought one last year, 06 plate with sub 20k miles.

I believe rust can be an issue around the door locks he also has had issues with water getting in via a seal on the rear glass which then sits in the boot. There is a buying guide on here I believe.

Think there is a diffrence in the tax on earlier V8's being more expensive.

Sure somebody on here will be able to help you more. But its of great build quiality I feel a stunning place to be and that noise is just incredible!
Doors are aluminium so it's not rust more paint lifting, more recently ther has been one report of rusting rear wheel arches (they are steel)
The boot leak had a TSB so shouldn't be an issue any more
Tax is unchanged unless it is a VERY early car before the March 06 change.

Impasse

15,099 posts

240 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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The reason why this thread is quiet is because they don't tend to suffer from any particular catastrophic failures. You will most likely experience the odd annoying niggle but overall they are a reliable car. Budget around £1k pa for preventative maintenance (slightly less at a reputable indie) and consumables are all down to how and how much you use it or whether you're comfortable changing a set of brake pads yourself etc.

bogie

16,344 posts

271 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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There are many threads on running costs and a lot is in Grants book.

My quick summary ...all independent prices, and wear obviously depends on how you drive...Ive done a couple of trackdays and a few touring holidays, the rest is mixed motorway, A/B road...very little town use

pre March 2006 (like mine) = £280 road tax
18mpg avg
£400 pair front tyres every 25-35K miles
£500 pair rears every 20-25K miles
discs £250 per axle every 40K miles
pads £250 per axle every 20-30k miles
service - £600 ish every 10K miles
clutch - £2K ish, varies. Im at 68K miles and original is still fine

things that have gone wrong since 2007 (never bothered with warranty after 3 years)

2 wheel bearings(hub assembly), £450 each fitted
coolant sensors x 2, £18 each
aux drive belt/pulley, £150 fitted
lambda sensor £90 fitted
air con compressor £500 fitted
thermostat - £180 fitted

overall the modern Vantage is not really much more expensive than say running a premium German saloon with a big engine...but a damn site nicer place to be smile

Edited by bogie on Tuesday 23 September 14:49

Neil1300r

5,487 posts

177 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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Servicing costs are in the Frequently Asked Questions sticky Wiki at the top of the Aston Martin sub forum

Wh1teKnight

42 posts

114 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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Hi Hillbilly,

I've just put my deposit down on a nice Vantage with a main dealer, i asked them about servicing and they said their prices were in the region of £600 on a small service, and £900 on a large service ... apparently the large service is only about every 4 years .... but im sure there are people here better positioned to tell you stronger facts - after all the dealer was after a sale ...

Hillbilly75

Original Poster:

34 posts

114 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Wh1teKnight said:
Hi Hillbilly,

I've just put my deposit down on a nice Vantage with a main dealer, i asked them about servicing and they said their prices were in the region of £600 on a small service, and £900 on a large service ... apparently the large service is only about every 4 years .... but im sure there are people here better positioned to tell you stronger facts - after all the dealer was after a sale ...
Thank you for the responses so far, very helpful.

Wh1teKnight can I ask what one you have gone for?

Edited by Hillbilly75 on Tuesday 23 September 16:06

Omaruk

611 posts

158 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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years 7 and 8 are larger services. Year 7 is plugs and I think year 8 is brake fluid etc. I am sure someone will post a service schedule

bogie

16,344 posts

271 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Omaruk said:
years 7 and 8 are larger services. Year 7 is plugs and I think year 8 is brake fluid etc. I am sure someone will post a service schedule
its in the wiki at the top of the page in this section

plugs, gearbox oil, air filters ....parts alone add £250 ish to the "big service" which is not very often ...its not like some of the Ferrari or Lambo "big services" which you could buy a nice runabout car with the change wink

Jon1967x

7,177 posts

123 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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At the age you could be better off going to one of the well known independent specialists - there is a list in the FAQ and some of them sell stock and there are a fair few on here that feel they really care about the cars v a main dealer where its just a job. I certainly wouldn't rule them out.

The 2007 model year gets the newer looking seats. The auto box came out then too but its an acquired taste. The thing with them is that every year they did a few changes and updates, some years more than others and so its easy to keep talking yourself up a level. The big change was when the 4.7 engine came out.

Running costs - as others have said and there are no real horror stories like there are with early Porsche 997 cars where you have a fair chance of needing a £10k engine rebuild (famous last words!). But then routine costs like a clutch costs a fair bit more than other cars to do.

Seemingly the biggest risk you face is wanting a faster, newer one after a few years smile


JACK6284

326 posts

222 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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When I bought my V8 Vantage I had similar concerns and I think most of the issues that arise have been covered here. Another cost is a new battery at some stage as once this goes the car is dead. I know this is stating the obvious but this happened to me and I was stranded in France.

Buy at a good price and depreciation is low too.

Wh1teKnight

42 posts

114 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Hillbilly75 said:
Thank you for the responses so far, very helpful.

Wh1teKnight can I ask what one you have gone for?

Edited by Hillbilly75 on Tuesday 23 September 16:06
Ive gone for a late 2006 V8 vantange in meteorite. Ive got a post about it in here with a pic ("Looking to join the family").
I was looking for around a 2007 and my local dealer had one come in which was a low miler and looked and drove well so did the deal this weekend gone.

Paul

montecristo

1,043 posts

176 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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You'll almost certainly need a new battery if it hasn't had one recently.

I've owned an early '07 for a year now (and 6k miles). It has needed a battery and the annual service (£1,100 with an approved AM independent). That was it in terms of age-related expenses. The biggest cost is petrol.

Also you might check that the sat nav goes up and down smoothly, in a few old cars that gets worn out.


Hillbilly75

Original Poster:

34 posts

114 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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Thank you everyone, very useful. Only issue now is holding back my nerve to just bite the bullet now. My heart says do it, my head says with winter just around the corner better off waiting until the spring.

Gettoff

1,434 posts

206 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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Hillbilly75 said:
Thank you everyone, very useful. Only issue now is holding back my nerve to just bite the bullet now. My heart says do it, my head says with winter just around the corner better off waiting until the spring.
If you've got nothing to trade in, wait until winter. keep looking all the time and build up knowledge of what's for sale at any one time. If it comes to January and something you like has been up for a couple of months then you could be in a good position for a deal.

Ken Figenus

5,680 posts

116 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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If you time it right winter, end of months, could be the best time to buy...

Use your head on servicing - use premium servicing if you intend to sell to someone who doesn't understand and soon. If she's a keeper then you can probably change all plugs yourself for £17.60 (NGK) - as long as you don't cross thread them that is ;-)

Head not wallet!

Enjoy and no more procrastinating.

KF

BravoV8V

1,858 posts

173 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
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Gettoff said:
If you've got nothing to trade in, wait until winter.
More importantly, buy the book: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Waiting a bit will give you some time to read it and digest it. wink

ident

39 posts

181 months

Monday 29th September 2014
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'Afternoon

I have owned my V8V for 6 years now and can honestly say that the running costs are about the same as any ' Premium Brand ' and generally the service is better from Aston dealers

Cheers Ian

Moderator edit: no advertising please - use the classifieds section.

Edited by jeremyc on Monday 29th September 16:41