V8 Vantage - what's it really like?
Discussion
So, my last update could probably be summarised as : I like driving my 360 more than the Vantage.
However, it seems it is possible to overdose on Ferraris. The Europe trip was great, and screaming a 360 through the mountain passes will stick in my memory for a long time. But - by the time I got back, I was happy to dump the 360 straight in the body shop to have my broken rear bumper fixed / front stone chips sorted and was really looking forward to using the Vantage again.
It hasn't disappointed. Nothing much to say - it's only been a few weeks - but I'm really appreciating it again.
I was supposed to attend something in the new forest today and did start heading down there - but weather was rubbish and I had other things I should have been doing so turned around after about 40 miles. However it was a nice drive - and strangely, the car felt pretty quick, which is not something I'd often say.
I have the 360 back, but it hasn't actually been out of the garage since and at the moment I'm happy with it there. Cayenne is being mostly ignored even though the weather is now beginning to change to Cayenne suitable weather. But for now, the Vantage is my car off choice most days.
However, it seems it is possible to overdose on Ferraris. The Europe trip was great, and screaming a 360 through the mountain passes will stick in my memory for a long time. But - by the time I got back, I was happy to dump the 360 straight in the body shop to have my broken rear bumper fixed / front stone chips sorted and was really looking forward to using the Vantage again.
It hasn't disappointed. Nothing much to say - it's only been a few weeks - but I'm really appreciating it again.
I was supposed to attend something in the new forest today and did start heading down there - but weather was rubbish and I had other things I should have been doing so turned around after about 40 miles. However it was a nice drive - and strangely, the car felt pretty quick, which is not something I'd often say.
I have the 360 back, but it hasn't actually been out of the garage since and at the moment I'm happy with it there. Cayenne is being mostly ignored even though the weather is now beginning to change to Cayenne suitable weather. But for now, the Vantage is my car off choice most days.
Today's update wasn't planned, but I felt like a rant - I just watched somebody reverse into my car. Fortunately, there is absolutely no damage.
I was parked in town and happened to be walking past the car as a white BMW was parking in the (fairly large) space in front. As he was straightening up, I was surprised how close he got to my front bumper, then he pulled forward and I figured he'd finished so turned away. Glanced back, and saw he was now touching my front bumper. There were an elderly couple on the pavement watching him, and I said to them - has he just hit my car? They nodded.
Obviously I went over - his wife said 'we couldn't have touched it, the reversing sensors didn't go off'. To which I replied - I saw it, and they saw it.
They then became apologetic, and fortunately both cars were damage free even from any paint (and with a white BMW and a black Vantage it would have been obvious if there was any paint transfer).
Left me very annoyed but could have been worse. It did prove I'm a snob though - although I used the word 'car' with the elderly couple, when I approached the driver of the BMW I informed him that he just reversed into my 'Aston'. I'm ashamed of myself!
Apart from that, the other notable event this month is replacing the thermostat which I summarised in another thread. Glad that's sorted.
Oh, and a mail from the Indy I use informing me that - although they have no record of servicing my car, it's due a 10 year / 100k service based on time. I suggested this was unlikely given the rather larger service bill they gave me in March, and they have since found my records.
Although I should really wait until spring, I find myself very tempted to get my wheels refurbed to sort the kerbing out. I really fancy black this time but that would mean new wheel centres and I think I'm too lazy to sort that out so they will probably end up silver again.
Right, I'm off to find an air gun so I can use BMWs as target practice...
I was parked in town and happened to be walking past the car as a white BMW was parking in the (fairly large) space in front. As he was straightening up, I was surprised how close he got to my front bumper, then he pulled forward and I figured he'd finished so turned away. Glanced back, and saw he was now touching my front bumper. There were an elderly couple on the pavement watching him, and I said to them - has he just hit my car? They nodded.
Obviously I went over - his wife said 'we couldn't have touched it, the reversing sensors didn't go off'. To which I replied - I saw it, and they saw it.
They then became apologetic, and fortunately both cars were damage free even from any paint (and with a white BMW and a black Vantage it would have been obvious if there was any paint transfer).
Left me very annoyed but could have been worse. It did prove I'm a snob though - although I used the word 'car' with the elderly couple, when I approached the driver of the BMW I informed him that he just reversed into my 'Aston'. I'm ashamed of myself!
Apart from that, the other notable event this month is replacing the thermostat which I summarised in another thread. Glad that's sorted.
Oh, and a mail from the Indy I use informing me that - although they have no record of servicing my car, it's due a 10 year / 100k service based on time. I suggested this was unlikely given the rather larger service bill they gave me in March, and they have since found my records.
Although I should really wait until spring, I find myself very tempted to get my wheels refurbed to sort the kerbing out. I really fancy black this time but that would mean new wheel centres and I think I'm too lazy to sort that out so they will probably end up silver again.
Right, I'm off to find an air gun so I can use BMWs as target practice...
Edited by davek_964 on Saturday 15th October 10:59
davek_964 said:
Today's update wasn't planned, but I felt like a rant - I just watched somebody reverse into my car. Fortunately, there is absolutely no damage.
I was parked in town and happened to be walking past the car as a white BMW was parking in the (fairly large) space in front. As he was straightening up, I was surprised how close he got to my front bumper, then he pulled forward and I figured he'd finished so turned away. Glanced back, and saw he was now touching my front bumper. There were an elderly couple on the pavement watching him, and I said to them - has he just hit my car? They nodded.
Obviously I went over - his wife said 'we couldn't have touched it, the reversing sensors didn't go off'. To which I replied - I saw it, and they saw it.
They then became apologetic, and fortunately both cars were damage free even from any paint (and with a white BMW and a black Vantage it would have been obvious if there was any paint transfer).
Left me very annoyed but could have been worse. It did prove I'm a snob though - although I used the word 'car' with the elderly couple, when I approached the driver of the BMW I informed him that he just reversed into my 'Aston'. I'm ashamed of myself!
Apart from that, the other notable event this month is replacing the thermostat which I summarised in another thread. Glad that's sorted.
Oh, and a mail from the Indy I use informing me that - although they have no record of servicing my car, it's due a 10 year / 100k service based on time. I suggested this was unlikely given the rather larger service bill they gave me in March, and they have since found my records.
Although I should really wait until spring, I find myself very tempted to get my wheels refurbed to sort the kerbing out. I really fancy black this time but that would mean new wheel centres and I think I'm too lazy to sort that out so they will probably end up silver again.
Right, I'm off to find an air gun so I can use BMWs as target practice...
Glad to hear there was no damage.I was parked in town and happened to be walking past the car as a white BMW was parking in the (fairly large) space in front. As he was straightening up, I was surprised how close he got to my front bumper, then he pulled forward and I figured he'd finished so turned away. Glanced back, and saw he was now touching my front bumper. There were an elderly couple on the pavement watching him, and I said to them - has he just hit my car? They nodded.
Obviously I went over - his wife said 'we couldn't have touched it, the reversing sensors didn't go off'. To which I replied - I saw it, and they saw it.
They then became apologetic, and fortunately both cars were damage free even from any paint (and with a white BMW and a black Vantage it would have been obvious if there was any paint transfer).
Left me very annoyed but could have been worse. It did prove I'm a snob though - although I used the word 'car' with the elderly couple, when I approached the driver of the BMW I informed him that he just reversed into my 'Aston'. I'm ashamed of myself!
Apart from that, the other notable event this month is replacing the thermostat which I summarised in another thread. Glad that's sorted.
Oh, and a mail from the Indy I use informing me that - although they have no record of servicing my car, it's due a 10 year / 100k service based on time. I suggested this was unlikely given the rather larger service bill they gave me in March, and they have since found my records.
Although I should really wait until spring, I find myself very tempted to get my wheels refurbed to sort the kerbing out. I really fancy black this time but that would mean new wheel centres and I think I'm too lazy to sort that out so they will probably end up silver again.
Right, I'm off to find an air gun so I can use BMWs as target practice...
Edited by davek_964 on Saturday 15th October 10:59
Someone (unknown) dinged the rear bumper on my wife's BMW convertible in a car park and disappeared - £1500 or so for a new bumper if it is to look perfect again - makes you want to spit when not owned up to. Her previous Z4 got a ding in the door in similar fashion (different car park) but luckily she was there to witness it before the woman in the other car drove off and was obliged to admit that she'd done it.
Can I borrow your air gun after you've finished with it?
Over the last 30 years cars have got (much) bigger but car parking spaces haven't AFAIK. This doesn't excuse bad parking/door opening and not owning up to hitting someones car but it just makes knocks more likely to happen. Like most I try to avoid busy car parks and if I have to use them seek out "special" spaces like this one in Car Park 1 at Birmingham airport 
Turns out I was wrong - when I was telling the neighbour about it he took a look and pointed out the front grill has a slight warp in the middle. And I didn't get the BMW registration. Great.
The good(?) news is that I've just discovered a major damp problem in my house, which means the Vantage grill is not really something I'm worried about right now.
Ever have one of those days you wish you'd stayed in bed?
The good(?) news is that I've just discovered a major damp problem in my house, which means the Vantage grill is not really something I'm worried about right now.
Ever have one of those days you wish you'd stayed in bed?
davek_964 said:
Turns out I was wrong - when I was telling the neighbour about it he took a look and pointed out the front grill has a slight warp in the middle. And I didn't get the BMW registration. Great.
The good(?) news is that I've just discovered a major damp problem in my house, which means the Vantage grill is not really something I'm worried about right now.
Ever have one of those days you wish you'd stayed in bed?
only monday through to friday generallyThe good(?) news is that I've just discovered a major damp problem in my house, which means the Vantage grill is not really something I'm worried about right now.
Ever have one of those days you wish you'd stayed in bed?
V8V Pete said:
Over the last 30 years cars have got (much) bigger but car parking spaces haven't AFAIK. This doesn't excuse bad parking/door opening and not owning up to hitting someones car but it just makes knocks more likely to happen. Like most I try to avoid busy car parks and if I have to use them seek out "special" spaces like this one in Car Park 1 at Birmingham airport
I know what you mean but in both cases my wife's car was parked fairly well away from others. The woman who backed into her door came from about 20 yards away apparently!davek_964 said:
Turns out I was wrong - when I was telling the neighbour about it he took a look and pointed out the front grill has a slight warp in the middle. And I didn't get the BMW registration. Great.
The good(?) news is that I've just discovered a major damp problem in my house, which means the Vantage grill is not really something I'm worried about right now.
Ever have one of those days you wish you'd stayed in bed?
Sorry to hear about the house.The good(?) news is that I've just discovered a major damp problem in my house, which means the Vantage grill is not really something I'm worried about right now.
Ever have one of those days you wish you'd stayed in bed?
Hope you get it sorted out without too much drama.
davek_964 said:
Today's update wasn't planned, but I felt like a rant - I just watched somebody reverse into my car. Fortunately, there is absolutely no damage.
I was parked in town and happened to be walking past the car as a white BMW was parking in the (fairly large) space in front. As he was straightening up, I was surprised how close he got to my front bumper, then he pulled forward and I figured he'd finished so turned away. Glanced back, and saw he was now touching my front bumper. There were an elderly couple on the pavement watching him, and I said to them - has he just hit my car? They nodded.
Obviously I went over - his wife said 'we couldn't have touched it, the reversing sensors didn't go off'. To which I replied - I saw it, and they saw it.
They then became apologetic, and fortunately both cars were damage free even from any paint (and with a white BMW and a black Vantage it would have been obvious if there was any paint transfer).
Left me very annoyed but could have been worse. It did prove I'm a snob though - although I used the word 'car' with the elderly couple, when I approached the driver of the BMW I informed him that he just reversed into my 'Aston'. I'm ashamed of myself!
Apart from that, the other notable event this month is replacing the thermostat which I summarised in another thread. Glad that's sorted.
Oh, and a mail from the Indy I use informing me that - although they have no record of servicing my car, it's due a 10 year / 100k service based on time. I suggested this was unlikely given the rather larger service bill they gave me in March, and they have since found my records.
Although I should really wait until spring, I find myself very tempted to get my wheels refurbed to sort the kerbing out. I really fancy black this time but that would mean new wheel centres and I think I'm too lazy to sort that out so they will probably end up silver again.
Right, I'm off to find an air gun so I can use BMWs as target practice...
I recently installed a front and rear dash cam that has parking mode which I switch on when the car is parked in a public carpark.I was parked in town and happened to be walking past the car as a white BMW was parking in the (fairly large) space in front. As he was straightening up, I was surprised how close he got to my front bumper, then he pulled forward and I figured he'd finished so turned away. Glanced back, and saw he was now touching my front bumper. There were an elderly couple on the pavement watching him, and I said to them - has he just hit my car? They nodded.
Obviously I went over - his wife said 'we couldn't have touched it, the reversing sensors didn't go off'. To which I replied - I saw it, and they saw it.
They then became apologetic, and fortunately both cars were damage free even from any paint (and with a white BMW and a black Vantage it would have been obvious if there was any paint transfer).
Left me very annoyed but could have been worse. It did prove I'm a snob though - although I used the word 'car' with the elderly couple, when I approached the driver of the BMW I informed him that he just reversed into my 'Aston'. I'm ashamed of myself!
Apart from that, the other notable event this month is replacing the thermostat which I summarised in another thread. Glad that's sorted.
Oh, and a mail from the Indy I use informing me that - although they have no record of servicing my car, it's due a 10 year / 100k service based on time. I suggested this was unlikely given the rather larger service bill they gave me in March, and they have since found my records.
Although I should really wait until spring, I find myself very tempted to get my wheels refurbed to sort the kerbing out. I really fancy black this time but that would mean new wheel centres and I think I'm too lazy to sort that out so they will probably end up silver again.
Right, I'm off to find an air gun so I can use BMWs as target practice...
Edited by davek_964 on Saturday 15th October 10:59
I check it after every time I park and have not seen anything detrimental....although its quite interesting seeing people pass by the car, admire it and take photos :-)
Update time again.
The front grill has now been replaced. The seller on EBay (Paul) had a selection of new and used - the used was very good but for the difference in price I went new. Part ex'd my old one, which means a new genuine bright finish grill cost me £350. A pain, but better than it could have been.
My kerbed front wheel has also been refurbed by a local specialist - although it took two attempts. The first attempt was an excellent color match to the other wheels but was gloss and my wheels are satin. Second attempt was more successful and I'm now happy.
I've mentioned in another thread that the cold / wet weather is not suiting the car - I'm pretty sure there are shopping trolleys which handle better. Tramlining has always been quite noticeable in the 18 months I've had the car but seems much worse this winter, and in the wet I've had a few warnings despite not driving particular hard. Tyres have a good few mm of tread, but are 6 years old on the front and 5 on the back so time for a change. However, that will wait until the new year when Costco can get them in stock. It is rather unfortunate that I have 3 quite different cars and yet have managed to arrange it such that all 3 needed tyres within a 12 month period. Genius.
I briefly put fuse 22 back in, but the novelty of that wore off quite quickly and it's now out again.
I am forcing myself to use it less at the moment, partly due to the tyres but also because it's the time of year more suited to the Cayenne. However, I do find I would much prefer to use the Vantage most of the time - that was not the case with the 996 turbo it replaced, at least not during the winter.
I had a conversation at the weekend with a friend where I said I'd been thinking about selling the 360 for a year or so because I don't think I use it enough to justify the cost. She asked if I would have been happy taking the Vantage to Europe for my holiday - which as I've already said on here, I really wouldn't have. And I don't think my view has changed. However, in 99% of cases - particularly on UK roads in the southeast - it doesn't seem worth getting the 360 out of the garage when I have an Aston Martin sitting on the drive. Maybe it's an age thing but I do wonder if I'll reduce my cars by one in the next year or so and perhaps replace the Vantage with a newer V8 or even a V12. No immediate plans but we'll see how I'm feeling in the spring.
So in summary - 18 months in, still love it and no regrets about buying it. Fabulous car.
The front grill has now been replaced. The seller on EBay (Paul) had a selection of new and used - the used was very good but for the difference in price I went new. Part ex'd my old one, which means a new genuine bright finish grill cost me £350. A pain, but better than it could have been.
My kerbed front wheel has also been refurbed by a local specialist - although it took two attempts. The first attempt was an excellent color match to the other wheels but was gloss and my wheels are satin. Second attempt was more successful and I'm now happy.
I've mentioned in another thread that the cold / wet weather is not suiting the car - I'm pretty sure there are shopping trolleys which handle better. Tramlining has always been quite noticeable in the 18 months I've had the car but seems much worse this winter, and in the wet I've had a few warnings despite not driving particular hard. Tyres have a good few mm of tread, but are 6 years old on the front and 5 on the back so time for a change. However, that will wait until the new year when Costco can get them in stock. It is rather unfortunate that I have 3 quite different cars and yet have managed to arrange it such that all 3 needed tyres within a 12 month period. Genius.
I briefly put fuse 22 back in, but the novelty of that wore off quite quickly and it's now out again.
I am forcing myself to use it less at the moment, partly due to the tyres but also because it's the time of year more suited to the Cayenne. However, I do find I would much prefer to use the Vantage most of the time - that was not the case with the 996 turbo it replaced, at least not during the winter.
I had a conversation at the weekend with a friend where I said I'd been thinking about selling the 360 for a year or so because I don't think I use it enough to justify the cost. She asked if I would have been happy taking the Vantage to Europe for my holiday - which as I've already said on here, I really wouldn't have. And I don't think my view has changed. However, in 99% of cases - particularly on UK roads in the southeast - it doesn't seem worth getting the 360 out of the garage when I have an Aston Martin sitting on the drive. Maybe it's an age thing but I do wonder if I'll reduce my cars by one in the next year or so and perhaps replace the Vantage with a newer V8 or even a V12. No immediate plans but we'll see how I'm feeling in the spring.
So in summary - 18 months in, still love it and no regrets about buying it. Fabulous car.
Edited by davek_964 on Monday 21st November 19:56
Great write-up.
I go through the same thoughts with my 360 but at the moment it is better than money in the bank so the thought of selling it other than to buy something else never made much sense to me. In saying that, I sold my V8V a year ago and Aston prices seem no different to what they were then.
I go through the same thoughts with my 360 but at the moment it is better than money in the bank so the thought of selling it other than to buy something else never made much sense to me. In saying that, I sold my V8V a year ago and Aston prices seem no different to what they were then.
bogie said:
I dont think the prices for early cars have moved for a few years. Mostly mileage/condition based and maintaining value with inflation. If you get into a £35k car for a few years I dont think there is much to lose other than the buy/sell margin.
This is spot on, my car lost less than £2k between being 5 years old and 8 years old. Get a nice one that's been taken care of and you're away. Lower depreciation than <insert name of almost any car>.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff