Any V8V 4.3 owners?

[James Alexander]

Hi Max,

The colour is DBR9 Racing Green......

[whoami]

James Alexander said:

Hi Max,

The colour is DBR9 Racing Green......

That's a lovely colour, looks great.

[dalecan]

James Alexander said:

Hi,

I agree with all points with regards to the speed, the 4.3 feels slightly underwhelming after a while, but who cares, the whole experience is what you buy one for.

I've attached an image of mine.......was looking for a DB9 but when this came up at McGurks, I pushed the button within a day of it arriving in his showroom. Go for it, you will not be disappointed..

She is a beaut!

[Mr.Tremlini]

Hi Martin, I was going to draw your attention to my 4.3 blog which but your moniker seemed familiar and I see you were already there...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

...I subsequently have felt bad for not keeping it up, but in my defence it was a very busy summer followed by a couple of months on the move from which I just got home today so I will atone soonish... If you do the Zurich trip again, or whatever, feel free to pick my brains about the 4.3.

[Mr.Tremlini]

James Alexander said:

Hi Max,

The colour is DBR9 Racing Green......

That's a great colour on the Vantage IMO.

[The Surveyor]

martindesu said:

Are there any optional extras that people regret not holding out for, or any they thought they'd need but hardly use?

The only thing I wish mine had is folding mirrors but that is just because it's quite a wide car for normal garage door. I've never used the heated 'screen, heated seats (although Mrs Surveyor likes them), but would miss the memory seats. Everybody who sits in the car tries the seats and not being able to put them back at the press of a button would properly annoy!

Mine has the basis stereo which is adequate rather than awesome, if ICE matter push for a Premium system.

Mine's a 2007 manual 4.3, in black with dark grey interior and the dark wheels and is gorgeous IMHO. They really are a sublime GT car and perfect for long distance touring rather than a tight and nimble sports car. Saying that, they do have a wonderful ride and handle very well. I've never found the 4.3 lacking but I came from a Speed 6 Tuscan so was well used to exploring the full rev-range. Not as fast at the TVR, but equally just as vocal.

The sat-nav is old technology but perfectly usable with current disk update. Full post-code search and has got us around Spain, France, and Italy without error.

Nice safe black, but the best colour IMHO to show off the lines.

[Neil1300r]

The Surveyor said:

The only thing I wish mine had is folding mirrors but that is just because it's quite a wide car for normal garage door.

Pop into your nearest Aston dealer. Ask them nicely to re-fllash the car so the mirrors fold.

[The Surveyor]

Neil1300r said:

The Surveyor said:

The only thing I wish mine had is folding mirrors but that is just because it's quite a wide car for normal garage door.

Pop into your nearest Aston dealer. Ask them nicely to re-fllash the car so the mirrors fold.

is it that easy, I though the actual Volvo mirror units a switch needed to be changed as well. If it's just a software thing then i'll get that sorted.

[Neil1300r]

The Surveyor said:

is it that easy, I though the actual Volvo mirror units a switch needed to be changed as well. If it's just a software thing then i'll get that sorted.

Assuming they are powered mirrors, yes it is. Early cars didn't have the feature but Aston developed the code to "retrofit" it. It is a slight pain if you swap the battery/ let it go flat you need a dealer to flash if again. I needed if on my 2006 to get past a narrow garage opening

[blade runner]

martindesu said:

Are there any optional extras that people regret not holding out for, or any they thought they'd need but hardly use?

I sometimes wish I could have found one with premium audio, but in the end I found a car that ticked all my other boxes, so it seemed foolish to pass it up on just that one that thing. Cruise control is very useful in these days of average speed cameras, so glad I have this option. Exterior and interior colour were the most important aspects to get right for me, beyond that I would say that condition and history trump any particular options. Even with only very basic spec, they are still great cars and I doubt the lack of one or two preferred options will ruin your enjoyment. As I mentioned before, I like the analogue nature of the early Vantages and the simple, pared down look and feel is part of their attraction.

[JohnG1]

James Alexander said:

Hi,

I agree with all points with regards to the speed, the 4.3 feels slightly underwhelming after a while, but who cares, the whole experience is what you buy one for.

I've attached an image of mine.......was looking for a DB9 but when this came up at McGurks, I pushed the button within a day of it arriving in his showroom. Go for it, you will not be disappointed..

That is a thing of beauty. Excellent choice Sir!

[James Alexander]

Thankyou John.

Nearly enjoyed a year of ownership with the car and apart from a couple of intermittent tyre faults (which cleared up on their own) and idling for too long just before the M25 Dartford Tunnel which caused the car to temporarily go into 'limp mode' aka 'foot to the floor 2mph mode' in the fast lane......my experience has been incredible.....looking forward to the day I can trade up to a manual V12 in the same colour.

No other car / brand stirs up so much emotion !!!!

Edited by James Alexander on Saturday 14th January 18:05

[V8Andrew]

James Alexander said:

Simply stunning colour

[Graze01]

martindesu said:

davek_964, Graze01, thank you both for your comments. Exactly the kind of owner feedback I was after. The 4.3 is plenty quick enough. It's not about speed. It wasn't when I got my SL55 and that thing shifted like crazy!

Did you buy dealer cars? Privately? That's my next task - get a bit of finance with a dealer or a small bank loan and buy privately...

Thoughts? And thanks again all for the discussion so far

k

I bought from a dealer, cars in Australia are dearer than the U.S. Or UK (govt taxes and charges), so a bit over $100k was my limit and that meant 2007 or 2006 cars. I chose low kms (30,000) with the Aston Warranty.

Now I know the cars I'd buy the next one privately but as my first time I wanted the security of the warranty just in case as the purchase price was pretty much "all in" for me

Good luck and keep us informed

Graeme

[Ballistic Banana]

Ive had my 4.3 for 7 years this year time for a change... No I dont think so. Love it all round, never driven the 4.7 so cant comment on the differences.

[ace of the base]

Ballistic Banana said:

Ive had my 4.3 for 7 years this year time for a change... No I dont think so. Love it all round, never driven the 4.7 so cant comment on the differences.

Good man!

[TKP]

Whats the color of the car? I maybe blind...

Brown seatbelts on black leather?

[The Surveyor]

If you're going to put a few miles on it, don't pay a premium for a low mileage car which you're then just going to de-value. The spec of that 2006 car looks nice but a lot will depend on condition rather than pure mileage. There are as many abused low mileage cars as there are mint ones which have been carefully used.

Check the seats for wear, check the body for accident damage, stone chips, corrosion. Check everything works and check silly things like the tail-gate struts and tyres (spec, condition and age).

Good luck

[TKP]

I thought "warm charcoal" was a bit brownish but apparently I'm wrong.

Looks great and it's a manual; color is nice, I'm not such a fan of the red breaks but if you like it, it's for sure nice with this color. And I like the wheels. Heated Front Screen I have never seen before as an option but I miss PDC.

[ChilliWhizz]

martindesu said:

Meteorite Silver, with black interior. No brown at all from what I see!

Snap!

Although my wheels are 'anthracite'....




And the interior has a small splash of red




Great colour combo Mr Desu... Good luck with the purchase

Chilli..