V8 Vantage - what's it really like?

[dwell]

I had a BMW 335i coupe very good, and all the car I ever needed. I swopped it after 5 years for a V8Vantage - all the car I I ever wanted! I’ve just sold it after 8 years- the depreciation was less over 8 years than the BMW after 5 years.

[RMDB9]

AlexNJ89 said:

DanL said:

eems likely - having test driven (but not bought) a Vantage, buying one is likely to be an emotional decision. They look and sound amazing, but they’re not exactly cheap, meaning that you can get something just as fast but more modern for the same price as a used one... That and reading about potential maintenance costs means that (for me at least) my heart would have to have ruled my head.

Given that, if it then breaks your heart, you’re going to be vocal about it...

I've also thought about this a lot.

For example a BMW M2 is the same price. It's faster, lighter, cheaper to run, better mpg, and could even be argued a better drive. It has had 15 years development since the V8V.

So the reason you'd go Aston is purely on looks and sound.

yes, buying an aston IS an emotional decision AND largely driven by its looks and sound. What else? Value for money? Isofix in the rear? Good MPG? Why would these apply as parameters for a brand like this??

[vernierMike]

^^

I have come to believe that buying most things that are not commodity comes down to emotions, and logic can only take you so far. I have a very good friend who is in retail, works for a major watch brand, and when I said 'no, no, I rise above Brand' was comprehensively shown that this is not true - and that we all are, to a greater or lesser extent. Except for my cousin, I think, who alway had the best value (objectively) car but who failed to excite me with any of them! All sorts of things - heritage, quality, experience, reputation, taste, other owners, what my mates/clients/spouse/public might think or say.... I have embraced the inner critic.

My journey started by looking for a very powerful V8 manual sports/GT car that is generally reliable, fairly simple, that I can drive without embarrassment (maybe even pride) and that I can enjoy owning and fettling. The brand (qualities, values, emphasis in the Gaydon cars) of Aston Martin (Bond aside, bit of a mixed one for me!) is, for me, very strong and was affordable so Bob's your uncle. No regrets at all, sat in them (sumptuous, classy, quality leather everywhere), drove only a couple then bought the best I could and I don't mind high miles so. It's a keeper, at least I think it is....

[Calinours]

I agree with the above sentiments. Does anyone actually need an Aston, Porsche, Lambo etc? No. Like a top end suit, an expensive mechanical watch or the expensive kitchen we buy because we want to, because of how the car makes us feel, or how we perceive it will make us feel, and because we are lucky enough, one way or another, that we can indulge our dreams. Sometimes its about acceleration and going really fast, followed by a realisation you just cant do that on real roads and real traffic, well, not if you want to keep your license, so 'more' is needed to keep us interested. Maybe why not too many pistonheaders are yet driving electric cars, even real petrolheads buying Taycan I've seen change their mind.

What is the 'more'? the looks, noise, heritage, the marque of the car (or just the car) you lusted over as a kid? All of the above. Its completely subjective. I love Astons, friends hate them and covet 911 turbo, McLaren, AMG/BMW M/Audi RS etc and that's all absolutely fine by me. We are all different and we should celebrate that. I went out in a mates E92 M3 the other day and could see why he loves it, its a lovely shape and I was really impressed with how it went.

So my advice is - dont overthink it. Go with your heart and you wont regret it. There's really not much in it these days in terms of reliability and running costs for any high performance car - they all have niggles, all will drink fuel and be expensive (relatively) to service, and realistically, all can only travel the same speeds on the roads. So just buy the one that makes you happy, no head over heart stuff.

Then if you decide you don't actually like it, cant live with the impracticality, thirst and maintenance costs, then sell it.

Whats a Vantage like? its similar to a 911, or an R8 or an M3, an F-type V8 or an RS4, and will cost about the same to run. Advantages? Well setting personal prejudice aside, a Vantage (or any Aston for that matter) will generally be considered by non car people to be cooler and prettier than all of them. Disadvantages? Honestly, Vantages, especially the earlier ones, are not quite as quick or good dynamically as its above peers. However, if you dont mind shelling out another 15-20k you can bring an older one genuinely up to par with exhaust manifold, clutch, brake and especially suspension upgrades - but as this will cost, as ever for all of us it will come down to being more about what you are comfortable spending

[Jon39]

vernierMike said:

...... The brand (qualities, values, emphasis in the Gaydon cars) of Aston Martin (Bond aside, bit of a mixed one for me!) is, for me, very strong and was affordable so Bob's your uncle. No regrets at all, sat in them (sumptuous, classy, quality leather everywhere), drove only a couple then bought the best I could and I don't mind high miles so. It's a keeper, at least I think it is....

Calinours said:

....... What's a Vantage like? Well setting personal prejudice aside, a Vantage (or any Aston for that matter) will generally be considered by non car people to be cooler and prettier than all of them. Disadvantages? Honestly, Vantages, especially the earlier ones, are not quite as quick or good dynamically as its above peers. However, if you don't mind shelling out another 15-20k you can bring an older one genuinely up to par with exhaust manifold, clutch, brake and especially suspension upgrades - but as this will cost, as ever for all of us it will come down to being more about what you are comfortable spending

Great comments.

Thank you Calinours, for posting on;
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

After a long dormant period, my topic has come alive again.

[RMDB9]

Calinours said:

Whats a Vantage like? its similar to a 911, or an R8 or an M3, an F-type V8 or an RS4, and will cost about the same to run. Advantages? Well setting personal prejudice aside, a Vantage (or any Aston for that matter) will generally be considered by non car people to be cooler and prettier than all of them.

/End