What are the options, if its not got the options??
Discussion
Hi guys.
I am currently searching for a used V8 vantage. I want a car with as many options as possible - but as many of you will have experienced, you find a great car but it might be missing just those one or two things you really wanted.
Sound system - are there upgrades available for the standard system? After having the logic 7 system in my M3 i really want a car with the best possible sound system.
Charger point for trickle charger - this is going to be my second car and that is a great little tool, by the sounds of it.
Basically, are the options available from new available to fit aftermarket?
Of course, this situation is not desirable as i dont want to fork out more money after buying the car.
Is it just a case of being patient and holding out for the perfect car or is it a case of compromise?
What are your second hand experiences with buying.
I am currently searching for a used V8 vantage. I want a car with as many options as possible - but as many of you will have experienced, you find a great car but it might be missing just those one or two things you really wanted.
Sound system - are there upgrades available for the standard system? After having the logic 7 system in my M3 i really want a car with the best possible sound system.
Charger point for trickle charger - this is going to be my second car and that is a great little tool, by the sounds of it.
Basically, are the options available from new available to fit aftermarket?
Of course, this situation is not desirable as i dont want to fork out more money after buying the car.
Is it just a case of being patient and holding out for the perfect car or is it a case of compromise?
What are your second hand experiences with buying.
Hi have you got grant book, this is a great help. I convinced myself I need retractable mirrors due to narrow garage but have yet to use them found the mirrors to be the easiest way to tell how close to the wall I was(best clipping the mirror than the wheel arch). I thought they all had a socket for the trickle charge.
I suppose what I am saying is it is nice to have all the options but you may not use them, best to get the car and enjoy it.
I suppose what I am saying is it is nice to have all the options but you may not use them, best to get the car and enjoy it.
The 700W is not an essential but is a very nice to have. I am not sure what you mean about the charging point...? The V8Vs have 12 v sockets in the front and in the boot. This is a standard fit. Most people charge use the boot point - it's the same as a cigarette lighter type fit and a simple plug in.
Don't get hung up on the options
To answer you two questions;
Premium sound (700W) is noticeably better than std, the B&O set up gets mixed reviews. It is very very expensive to swap between them afterwards.
ALL gaydon cars are easy to put on a trickle charger, most have sockets in the boots just for this.
This is because they have kill batteries and then control modules if they don't
Sat Nav seems to be MUST have option even though it is dated, cars with out it are VERY rare.
Options I'd recommend - sports pack, Premium sound and front parking sensors
To answer you two questions;
Premium sound (700W) is noticeably better than std, the B&O set up gets mixed reviews. It is very very expensive to swap between them afterwards.
ALL gaydon cars are easy to put on a trickle charger, most have sockets in the boots just for this.
This is because they have kill batteries and then control modules if they don't
Sat Nav seems to be MUST have option even though it is dated, cars with out it are VERY rare.
Options I'd recommend - sports pack, Premium sound and front parking sensors
Robbie_FRS said:
yea, got the book. very helpful.
ideal budget would be £30 - £35k. looking for 06 - 07 ish i would think for that price range?
Currently looking in the same market, there doesn't appear to be that much difference in what original owners chose from the option list, all seem to have the 19's, 18's were standard but I'm yet to see a car on them, satnav, again not seen a car without it, then beyond which monotone colours they picked for the inside/outside all seem pretty sparse of lavish extras, folding mirrors, premium hifi, and heated seats appear to be the 'nice to have' extras that would be a pig to retro fit.ideal budget would be £30 - £35k. looking for 06 - 07 ish i would think for that price range?
Great advice from the PH crew, adding a few summary thoughts.....
The key with options is deciding what's important to you and aiming to find a car with most of them fitted as retrofitting is always expensive. But as mentioned don't get too hung up on ever last goodie, just distil things to your key items, and if some are missing but the car's condition, history and price is right then you may not miss what you haven't had!!
If you have the guide you will find a retrofit or aftermarket note against the options that can be easily added after purchase, along with an idea of cost. As you will see, things like cruise, powerfold, clear lights, sports pack/exhausts, powerkits, facia finishes, glass switches, bodywork skirts, grilles, meshes or carbon additions, parking cameras (if nav is fitted), aftermarket iPod connection, different alloys,/calipers (etc) can all be added officially to keep the car A.M. official. Of course they are much more expensive to fit aftermarket!
As you have noted things like the sound system, nav, Bluetooth, seats (heating, styles, memory) etc are not easily modified without huge expense or moving away from official support, so it is much more sensible to find a car with these fitted, if they are important to you.
Talking about the sound system, the detailed 4 page coverage will give you all the information you need and Premium is important for those that want best audio, but ultimately only you will know if the standard Vantage audio is good enough for your ears. If you have found the right car without Premium the key is (as suggested) to spend some time listening to the audio and ensure you take your favourite music and play with the set-up, listening stationary and on the move!
Best of luck
The key with options is deciding what's important to you and aiming to find a car with most of them fitted as retrofitting is always expensive. But as mentioned don't get too hung up on ever last goodie, just distil things to your key items, and if some are missing but the car's condition, history and price is right then you may not miss what you haven't had!!
If you have the guide you will find a retrofit or aftermarket note against the options that can be easily added after purchase, along with an idea of cost. As you will see, things like cruise, powerfold, clear lights, sports pack/exhausts, powerkits, facia finishes, glass switches, bodywork skirts, grilles, meshes or carbon additions, parking cameras (if nav is fitted), aftermarket iPod connection, different alloys,/calipers (etc) can all be added officially to keep the car A.M. official. Of course they are much more expensive to fit aftermarket!
As you have noted things like the sound system, nav, Bluetooth, seats (heating, styles, memory) etc are not easily modified without huge expense or moving away from official support, so it is much more sensible to find a car with these fitted, if they are important to you.
Talking about the sound system, the detailed 4 page coverage will give you all the information you need and Premium is important for those that want best audio, but ultimately only you will know if the standard Vantage audio is good enough for your ears. If you have found the right car without Premium the key is (as suggested) to spend some time listening to the audio and ensure you take your favourite music and play with the set-up, listening stationary and on the move!
Best of luck
On the sound system I suggest listening to a car with the different setups first. I was like you and wanted the premium but in the end have the most basic stereo and I find it perfectly adequate albeit that I do have an iPod connection fitted. You can retrofit options but it is probably more economic to buy the right spec. I'm having cruise control added to mine and if I didn't already have the correct steering wheel it would be very expensive.
You have lots of good advice already. My thoughts are if it is a coupe, which of course would be cheaper, then you could get away without heated seats. Personally I could not live with the basic 160 watt sound system. You are unlikely to find one without sat nav but it isn't much good anyway. I do not use the cruise control very much as it is rarely on a motorway. Your first Aston will be very special so perhaps the colour and service history/ mileage will be more of a deciding factor than the options.
Good luck in the search.
Good luck in the search.
MarkW34 said:
I also wanted premium sound, but plumped for the right car for me which only had basic sound. It ticked every other box perfectly and I don't regret it at all. In fact I rarely listen to the audio as I enjoy the car's soundtrack so much (it is a manual though).
same here...but in 2007 there was not much choice in the used market and I took a car with the regular stereo. Never been bothered to upgrade, its more than adequate. I am a bit deaf though anyway there a lot more choice now, so if you really want some options, then wait for them. Only you can decide if you want to wait 3, 6 12 months for the exact car to come up for sale
stereo wise, you can always upgrade aftermarket, better speakers, more pokey amp....the sky is the limit really depending how much you want to spend
fitting a £5 charger cable in the boot for a trickle charger is no issue either, although Ive not seen a car without one yet
Robbie_FRS said:
Hi guys.
I am currently searching for a used V8 vantage. I want a car with as many options as possible - but as many of you will have experienced, you find a great car but it might be missing just those one or two things you really wanted.
Sound system - are there upgrades available for the standard system? After having the logic 7 system in my M3 i really want a car with the best possible sound system.
Charger point for trickle charger - this is going to be my second car and that is a great little tool, by the sounds of it.
Basically, are the options available from new available to fit aftermarket?
Of course, this situation is not desirable as i dont want to fork out more money after buying the car.
Is it just a case of being patient and holding out for the perfect car or is it a case of compromise?
What are your second hand experiences with buying.
Not too sure on the V8V, but I had an early DB9 with the Linn stereo and it was absolutely awful, and a real PITA to try and get it any better. It was doable, but at a cost. I'd recommend getting the best audio you can (I guess the 700w system, don't think the B&O ever made it into the V8V) and make sure you get your iPod connectivity to it. If the technology is up to this, then it should pair your phone too. CTEK chargers are compatible. Everything else is pretty much up to you and what you want. Whilst the sat nav isn't terribly robust, the system is upgradable, depending on the disc. (a search on here will help…) and make it good enough. I went from a DB7 with none of the above, to a 9 with phone and iPod but really poor stereo, to a V12V with B&O and no regrets!I am currently searching for a used V8 vantage. I want a car with as many options as possible - but as many of you will have experienced, you find a great car but it might be missing just those one or two things you really wanted.
Sound system - are there upgrades available for the standard system? After having the logic 7 system in my M3 i really want a car with the best possible sound system.
Charger point for trickle charger - this is going to be my second car and that is a great little tool, by the sounds of it.
Basically, are the options available from new available to fit aftermarket?
Of course, this situation is not desirable as i dont want to fork out more money after buying the car.
Is it just a case of being patient and holding out for the perfect car or is it a case of compromise?
What are your second hand experiences with buying.
Good luck!
hashluck said:
Yes the B&O did, not worth the extra thought or seeking it out imo
Fair enough, although I didn't think it made it on the earlier cars.It's horses for courses - I don't think I'd iron out the £5k for it as an option, but as someone else took the hit I'm more than happy with the results!
wokkadriver said:
Fair enough, although I didn't think it made it on the earlier cars.
2010 I think for Vantages so unlikely to be spotted on any sub £35k cars The Premium system sounds like a 'nice to have' option, and if I find a car that doesn't have it but ticks all the other boxes I'll be using it as a negotiator but wouldn't blow the deal because of it, but them I'm coming from a TVR fitted with a Mini Disc headunit and a pair of 6x9 speakers....but it's rarely on, much prefer the music from the tail pipes.
I'm a big fan of music in cars, but in my V8V coupe (noting the challenge is different in a roadster) the "basic" sound was more than adequete. With the standard Sub, there is plenty of range of sound and with fuse 22 out, I never hankered for anything more in 3 years of daily use.
The rear 12v point is for the trickle charger, the boot closed fully despite the cable. Now is a good time to buy an Aston, leave it 8 weeks and prices will firm as the sun comes out.
I'd be looking to spend closer to your budget max to get a 2007MY if possible, but keep a little back for any snagging from your first few weeks of driving
The rear 12v point is for the trickle charger, the boot closed fully despite the cable. Now is a good time to buy an Aston, leave it 8 weeks and prices will firm as the sun comes out.
I'd be looking to spend closer to your budget max to get a 2007MY if possible, but keep a little back for any snagging from your first few weeks of driving
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