Vantage Panel Fit
Discussion
Been looking at a few early V8 Vantages recently and almost all of them have had one or another issues with panel fit either around the bonnet or the boot lid. Just wondering if this just my bad luck with what's around at the moment or if poor panel fit is a fairly common issue on the older cars?
I'm tempted to view a car that I've just found but in the picture below, but the boot lid looks to be quite a way out of alignment on the O/S which makes me nervous in regard to possible previous body damage. Can't quite work out if it's just the boot lid that's off as the gap between the top of the rear light cluster and the rear wing is also quite different between left and right. Am I worrying too much and panels like this can be fairly easily re-aligned at a dealer or should I be wary? If it's an easy fix, have to wonder why the seller hasn't rectified prior to advertising as the rest of the car looks fine.
I'm tempted to view a car that I've just found but in the picture below, but the boot lid looks to be quite a way out of alignment on the O/S which makes me nervous in regard to possible previous body damage. Can't quite work out if it's just the boot lid that's off as the gap between the top of the rear light cluster and the rear wing is also quite different between left and right. Am I worrying too much and panels like this can be fairly easily re-aligned at a dealer or should I be wary? If it's an easy fix, have to wonder why the seller hasn't rectified prior to advertising as the rest of the car looks fine.
I had a similar question / concern, till I compared 4-5 cars side by side at a dealership.
The gap between where the boot lid meets the rear bumper was pretty much different on all cars.
And these were 2-5 year old cars.
The gap is adjustable, but I don't is right to have different gaps on different sides.
The gap between where the boot lid meets the rear bumper was pretty much different on all cars.
And these were 2-5 year old cars.
The gap is adjustable, but I don't is right to have different gaps on different sides.
On all of the Vantages that I saw during my search, panel gaps were pretty consistent - except where there were clear signs of work having been done such as resprayed wings etc.
Whilst they can be adjusted, that boot fit would certainly make me question what had gone on previously and you'd be remiss not to do so.
Whilst they can be adjusted, that boot fit would certainly make me question what had gone on previously and you'd be remiss not to do so.
Edited by Frances The Mute on Tuesday 19th July 22:42
From what ive seen the gap is consistent and really good. The boot lid is an easy 5 min job and a bit of care.
However that looks all over the place and would concern me how its ended up like that, I cant believe its been like that all its life from new
There are plenty of cars out there to choose from, so be picky, and do all the usual checks, maybe pay for an independent inspection to be sure of what else could be lurking underneath.
However that looks all over the place and would concern me how its ended up like that, I cant believe its been like that all its life from new
There are plenty of cars out there to choose from, so be picky, and do all the usual checks, maybe pay for an independent inspection to be sure of what else could be lurking underneath.
My boot on my DB9 also was out of alignment, I noticed that if I removed the rubber seal on the side which was out the boot closed properly, so I trimmed off some material effectively lowering the seal slightly and put the rubber seal back on, plus adjusted the 2 rubber stops either side, all perfect now!!!
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Thanks everyone for your input - it was most helpful to have some opinions before I went to look at the car last night.
According the seller, after he'd bought the car (privately, 3 months ago) he wanted to rectify various stone chips and scratches. And to ensure there was no paint mis-match between panels, had the whole car re-sprayed. To be honest at that point I switched off, as even though the car looked straight and the re-spray seemed to be a decent quality, the logic behind it and the quick sale/resale turnaround just didn't add up. Service history was also not great and although it drove perfectly well and looked the part, it's certainly not something I was going to take a chance on.
I pointed out the tailgate alignment and he didn't really have any explanation or recollection whether it was the same prior to the re-spray. To be fair, it looks somewhat worse on the pictures than in real life, not helped by the fact the light cluster on that side is fitted tight to the bumper which makes the top gap look even worse than it needs to be. Had everything else been up to expectaions then I might have taken a punt, but added to all the other issues it was a no-brainer really.
The search continues...
According the seller, after he'd bought the car (privately, 3 months ago) he wanted to rectify various stone chips and scratches. And to ensure there was no paint mis-match between panels, had the whole car re-sprayed. To be honest at that point I switched off, as even though the car looked straight and the re-spray seemed to be a decent quality, the logic behind it and the quick sale/resale turnaround just didn't add up. Service history was also not great and although it drove perfectly well and looked the part, it's certainly not something I was going to take a chance on.
I pointed out the tailgate alignment and he didn't really have any explanation or recollection whether it was the same prior to the re-spray. To be fair, it looks somewhat worse on the pictures than in real life, not helped by the fact the light cluster on that side is fitted tight to the bumper which makes the top gap look even worse than it needs to be. Had everything else been up to expectaions then I might have taken a punt, but added to all the other issues it was a no-brainer really.
The search continues...
blade runner said:
Thanks everyone for your input - it was most helpful to have some opinions before I went to look at the car last night.
According the seller, after he'd bought the car (privately, 3 months ago) he wanted to rectify various stone chips and scratches. And to ensure there was no paint mis-match between panels, had the whole car re-sprayed. To be honest at that point I switched off, as even though the car looked straight and the re-spray seemed to be a decent quality, the logic behind it and the quick sale/resale turnaround just didn't add up. Service history was also not great and although it drove perfectly well and looked the part, it's certainly not something I was going to take a chance on.
I pointed out the tailgate alignment and he didn't really have any explanation or recollection whether it was the same prior to the re-spray. To be fair, it looks somewhat worse on the pictures than in real life, not helped by the fact the light cluster on that side is fitted tight to the bumper which makes the top gap look even worse than it needs to be. Had everything else been up to expectaions then I might have taken a punt, but added to all the other issues it was a no-brainer really.
The search continues...
Walked away. Good move. Would not wish to cast the seller in a poor light, my point is more that you backed your judgement.According the seller, after he'd bought the car (privately, 3 months ago) he wanted to rectify various stone chips and scratches. And to ensure there was no paint mis-match between panels, had the whole car re-sprayed. To be honest at that point I switched off, as even though the car looked straight and the re-spray seemed to be a decent quality, the logic behind it and the quick sale/resale turnaround just didn't add up. Service history was also not great and although it drove perfectly well and looked the part, it's certainly not something I was going to take a chance on.
I pointed out the tailgate alignment and he didn't really have any explanation or recollection whether it was the same prior to the re-spray. To be fair, it looks somewhat worse on the pictures than in real life, not helped by the fact the light cluster on that side is fitted tight to the bumper which makes the top gap look even worse than it needs to be. Had everything else been up to expectaions then I might have taken a punt, but added to all the other issues it was a no-brainer really.
The search continues...
Road rash can be quite harsh on the Vantage but that seems a weak reason to spend so much on a full respray...
So another one looked at yesterday. 350 mile round trip to view a supposedly 'immaculate' car. Hadn't been washed so was filthy dirty though I suspect this was deliberate to try and hide poor respray on both sides and the roof. Panel fit was ok for a change but overspray all over the place on the inner door seals and the rubber strips all along the top of the upper window chrome trims. Dull paint on both doors and bonnet, dent in one door, sill covers and bumper dimpled due to overtightening of fixings, both wing mirror arms corroded, rear diffuser mesh rusty, wheels flaking etc.
Don't know what's going on with the cars I'm looking at - our 60k mileage Peugeot people carrier has better paintwork and interior condition than any of the Vantages I've seen to date with almost half the miles... On the up-side I did get passed by a Midnight Blue and a Meteorite Silver car on my way home which I thought both looked nicer than I remembered, so now widening my search across a couple more colours.
Don't know what's going on with the cars I'm looking at - our 60k mileage Peugeot people carrier has better paintwork and interior condition than any of the Vantages I've seen to date with almost half the miles... On the up-side I did get passed by a Midnight Blue and a Meteorite Silver car on my way home which I thought both looked nicer than I remembered, so now widening my search across a couple more colours.
To view two Vantages in doubtful condition, might be bad luck.
Were they perhaps both private sellers?
Dealer cars would obviously be sold at higher prices (overheads), but it has been mentioned on here, that a dealer will sometimes pass-on some cars within the trade, when they are below standard.
All the cars I've seen so far have been private sellers - I can't afford the main dealer premiums and nothing around in the independent dealers that has looked worth viewing. I'm re-looking at the one in the first picture again today as, despite the full re-spray, it's still the best I've seen so far. Already made some calls about having it inspected at the local Stratstone next week if I think it's worth it after today. Since I pointed out the boot lid alignment last time, the seller has had the light re-fitted and adjusted the bump stops and it's apparently all straight again.
check the paperwork to see who resprayed it. Contact them and see if there is anything else they did which hasnt appreard on the paperwork...
I agree a whole respray for a few stone chips is a bit daft, but not impossible so might be valid.
Dont forget the MOt history check https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
I agree a whole respray for a few stone chips is a bit daft, but not impossible so might be valid.
Dont forget the MOt history check https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
The main dealer cars aren't exempt from problems either.
I looked at an 18k mile car and it looked as though the previous owner dragged both feet over the sill panels whenever getting in and out, wore a sandpaper jacket to wear the bolsters and flung the seat belt off as hard as they could every time they used the car - there were hundreds of dings in the alloy trim pieces everywhere. I don't understand how you could damage a car so much with so little use.
The nearside quarter panel was also a different colour to the door. The dealer insisted 'some' of this would be rectified before delivery, but in my experience once they've had your money they'll conveniently forget.
I looked at an 18k mile car and it looked as though the previous owner dragged both feet over the sill panels whenever getting in and out, wore a sandpaper jacket to wear the bolsters and flung the seat belt off as hard as they could every time they used the car - there were hundreds of dings in the alloy trim pieces everywhere. I don't understand how you could damage a car so much with so little use.
The nearside quarter panel was also a different colour to the door. The dealer insisted 'some' of this would be rectified before delivery, but in my experience once they've had your money they'll conveniently forget.
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