Thinking of buying V8 Vantage.
Discussion
shropshireAston said:
Check Out Mcgurks - always have nice stock.. and great place to buy from .. I got my first Aston from there and they made it an amazing experience :-)
Welcome :-)
I bought mine privately, having done some research before going to look at the car (thanks Kris) but before travelling from Norwich to Reading I had already decided that if the car didn't work out then Mcgurks would be my next stop... they can't be too far away from you either Mac??Welcome :-)
johnnyBv8 said:
If he didn't respond to the original ad enquiry, it's perhaps not surprising that he didn't respond to the Gumtree ad. You're getting yourself wound up un-necessarily tbh; insulting a random person on an internet forum usually isn't massively effective, and neither is asking for forum reassurance on sweeping generalisations about Aston owners.
There are as many strange sellers as there are strange buyers; if you don't get a good vibe about a seller or if they don't respond, just move on. I'm sure you'll find the right car soon; I'm on my second one and they're fantastic (I've bought a Vantage privately twice and sold privately once!).
Yup, you're right. It's just that I treat others how I expected to be treated myself with honesty and respect, not too much to ask for. Just find it annoying but that's life. I still hope to join the ranks at some point. There are as many strange sellers as there are strange buyers; if you don't get a good vibe about a seller or if they don't respond, just move on. I'm sure you'll find the right car soon; I'm on my second one and they're fantastic (I've bought a Vantage privately twice and sold privately once!).
Edited by johnnyBv8 on Wednesday 22 February 17:57
macdeb said:
Hello, I'm thinking of buying an AMV8 Vantage, budget around £35k, maybe more for right car. Anything I should look for? I know about clutches and brakes but anything else? I appreciate any input.
I sold my beloved DeTomaso Pantera to buy an AMV8V 2006, I've had it now for about 12 months & it still amazes me how beautiful it looks from every angle, how magnificently it drives & the glorious sound (with the help of Clive's Exhaust by-pass switch) attracts so much admiration. Edited by macdeb on Tuesday 21st February 17:23
My advice apart from all the experts on here is stretch your budget to source the lowest mileage model with the highest spec you can find.
Make sure you have a detailed FSH with services completed by the experts On Time.
Mine never had any rectification work on the 1st to 2nd gear stiffness issue & it is very apparent when cold but I don't find this a problem as by the time engine & gearbox temps are up to operating levels the problem has gone.
Apart from clutch issues is the timing case gasket oil leak, look for this & if this gasket is leaking & hasn't been changed out its a big job.
Good luck with your searching & get some club assistance if you can.
PS; I am biased LOL but this is THE colour
They do seem to have some nice stock, love the Forest Green V8V.
Holding back on a visit until the TVR's gone/funds in place as I'm bound to fall in love with something when I see it.
I'm guessing the cars are prepped to a high standard and the warranty worth something as the prices are probably north of Main Dealer Timeless cars, although this is quite tricky to assess as main dealers appear to be getting less and less of the sub £35k cars, and you can only judge cars that are comparable.
The big gamble is a £35k dealer car a safer bet than a well researched £30k private/non specialist dealer car, £5k buys a lot of 'fettling'.
I've got a local dealer that has quite a few V8V's in but specialises in low mileage prestige, and charges a premium for the low odometer readings.
Holding back on a visit until the TVR's gone/funds in place as I'm bound to fall in love with something when I see it.
I'm guessing the cars are prepped to a high standard and the warranty worth something as the prices are probably north of Main Dealer Timeless cars, although this is quite tricky to assess as main dealers appear to be getting less and less of the sub £35k cars, and you can only judge cars that are comparable.
The big gamble is a £35k dealer car a safer bet than a well researched £30k private/non specialist dealer car, £5k buys a lot of 'fettling'.
I've got a local dealer that has quite a few V8V's in but specialises in low mileage prestige, and charges a premium for the low odometer readings.
raceboy said:
They do seem to have some nice stock, love the Forest Green V8V.
Holding back on a visit until the TVR's gone/funds in place as I'm bound to fall in love with something when I see it.
I'm guessing the cars are prepped to a high standard and the warranty worth something as the prices are probably north of Main Dealer Timeless cars, although this is quite tricky to assess as main dealers appear to be getting less and less of the sub £35k cars, and you can only judge cars that are comparable.
The big gamble is a £35k dealer car a safer bet than a well researched £30k private/non specialist dealer car, £5k buys a lot of 'fettling'.
I've got a local dealer that has quite a few V8V's in but specialises in low mileage prestige, and charges a premium for the low odometer readings.
If you research your cars, know what to look for and buy a well cared for car, I don't think that dealer vs private purchase is "a big gamble", whatever your budget. You could buy an aftermarket warranty if you feel you need it, but in 6 years of ownership there's been nothing that I could've claimed on a warranty; just standard running/maintenance costs.Holding back on a visit until the TVR's gone/funds in place as I'm bound to fall in love with something when I see it.
I'm guessing the cars are prepped to a high standard and the warranty worth something as the prices are probably north of Main Dealer Timeless cars, although this is quite tricky to assess as main dealers appear to be getting less and less of the sub £35k cars, and you can only judge cars that are comparable.
The big gamble is a £35k dealer car a safer bet than a well researched £30k private/non specialist dealer car, £5k buys a lot of 'fettling'.
I've got a local dealer that has quite a few V8V's in but specialises in low mileage prestige, and charges a premium for the low odometer readings.
However, a £30k car is right at the bottom end of the market wherever you buy from. If I were you I'd spend the £35k but look to buy privately, making sure it ticks all the boxes in terms of FSH, recent service, clutch, bodywork etc etc. The prices are quite mileage sensitive, but they're quite robust cars so don't necessarily be put off by one with a few more miles on it.
johnnyBv8 said:
....but they're quite robust cars so don't necessarily be put off by one with a few more miles on it.
I don't mind a few miles, I'll be doing quite low numbers so it'll balance out after a few years. 
There's been one on my 'watched list' for a while, the fact it's stuck about a bit might be a clue it's not quite perfect or people are put off by 80k, but it's had a clutch and brakes, it's a safe colour and Sytners managed to shift a yellow auto cab with over 100k recently, if I didn't know I'd be shafted on PartEX with a TVR I'd have a trip to see it.
aspidito said:
...
My advice apart from all the experts on here is stretch your budget to source the lowest mileage model ...
My advice apart from all the experts on here is stretch your budget to source the lowest mileage model ...
I would avoid garage queens.
These cars had plenty of teething pains in their early years and many would only be apparent after putting miles on the car (I did pretty high mileage in mine in the first few years and whilst I don't have the specific details in front of me, I am sure some of the common problems didn't start to surface until the car had done 20-30k miles).
They also get much better with age IME, especially engines and gearboxes.
I would be looking for one that has had decent usage all of its life but that has been well looked after, has had all common faults addressed and no major issues in its recent past. I would be going over the service history like a hawk and not just look at stamps. Look at everything changed at every service - see where previous owners saved money and where they didn't.
I'd also be over every inch of the car as actual condition is king. Check fluid levels, tyre pressures etc etc as well as the obvious stuff like blisters in the paint and scuffs on the leather (indicators as to what the current owner has done with it).
My old car ended up with an average of 6,000 miles per annum on it and it barely felt run in. I would not be put off in the slightest by an early car with 60k miles on it. Resale is neither here nor there IMO as you'll be paying less for it anyway, and be more inclined to use it.
raceboy said:
I don't mind a few miles, I'll be doing quite low numbers so it'll balance out after a few years.
There's been one on my 'watched list' for a while, the fact it's stuck about a bit might be a clue it's not quite perfect or people are put off by 80k, but it's had a clutch and brakes, it's a safe colour and Sytners managed to shift a yellow auto cab with over 100k recently, if I didn't know I'd be shafted on PartEX with a TVR I'd have a trip to see it.
Is the 80k car in the North East ? I viewed that last Autumn....There's been one on my 'watched list' for a while, the fact it's stuck about a bit might be a clue it's not quite perfect or people are put off by 80k, but it's had a clutch and brakes, it's a safe colour and Sytners managed to shift a yellow auto cab with over 100k recently, if I didn't know I'd be shafted on PartEX with a TVR I'd have a trip to see it.
Murph7355 said:
aspidito said:
...
My advice apart from all the experts on here is stretch your budget to source the lowest mileage model ...
My advice apart from all the experts on here is stretch your budget to source the lowest mileage model ...
I would avoid garage queens.
These cars had plenty of teething pains in their early years and many would only be apparent after putting miles on the car (I did pretty high mileage in mine in the first few years and whilst I don't have the specific details in front of me, I am sure some of the common problems didn't start to surface until the car had done 20-30k miles).
They also get much better with age IME, especially engines and gearboxes.
I would be looking for one that has had decent usage all of its life but that has been well looked after, has had all common faults addressed and no major issues in its recent past. I would be going over the service history like a hawk and not just look at stamps. Look at everything changed at every service - see where previous owners saved money and where they didn't.
I'd also be over every inch of the car as actual condition is king. Check fluid levels, tyre pressures etc etc as well as the obvious stuff like blisters in the paint and scuffs on the leather (indicators as to what the current owner has done with it).
My old car ended up with an average of 6,000 miles per annum on it and it barely felt run in. I would not be put off in the slightest by an early car with 60k miles on it. Resale is neither here nor there IMO as you'll be paying less for it anyway, and be more inclined to use it.
And I speak as both a McGurk customer and someone who is determined to get as much use out of these fantastic cars as possible! Why save it for the next owner!?
Buying privately or even from a non AM dealer is a gamble, you can do your best to put the odds in your favour but there are some things that can't be easily predicted.
My first V8V I bought from Syntner BMW. It was 8yrs old with nearly 60k on the clock. Come with a 6month warranty. Sold it 18months later having only had to replace the thermostat. Used Jag equivalent and got a local prestige car dealer/garage to fit. Cost less than £150 all in.
So in that scenario I wouldn't have made good use of an AM warranty.
December I bought a 6yr old V12V with 21k on the clock. It's been back to the dealer twice, once to have the headlight replaced due to failing leds and mirror arm corrosion, then a second time with a cracked intake pipe. They collected and delivered on both occasions, second time was given a hire car foc. With labour I imagine that's over £3k of claims in two months. Still got another year warranty to go.
So in that scenario I'm glad I've got the AM warranty!
So for me unless something special comes up, I'll only buy from a dealer for my next Aston.
And for me I'd never be worried about buying an Aston with higher miles. As above a well looked after, regularly used car can sometimes be a better, more reliable bet than a seldom used, hasn't had all the issues resolved garage queen.
So, I need to put some miles on mine before the warranty is out this time next year, such a hardship
My first V8V I bought from Syntner BMW. It was 8yrs old with nearly 60k on the clock. Come with a 6month warranty. Sold it 18months later having only had to replace the thermostat. Used Jag equivalent and got a local prestige car dealer/garage to fit. Cost less than £150 all in.
So in that scenario I wouldn't have made good use of an AM warranty.
December I bought a 6yr old V12V with 21k on the clock. It's been back to the dealer twice, once to have the headlight replaced due to failing leds and mirror arm corrosion, then a second time with a cracked intake pipe. They collected and delivered on both occasions, second time was given a hire car foc. With labour I imagine that's over £3k of claims in two months. Still got another year warranty to go.
So in that scenario I'm glad I've got the AM warranty!
So for me unless something special comes up, I'll only buy from a dealer for my next Aston.
And for me I'd never be worried about buying an Aston with higher miles. As above a well looked after, regularly used car can sometimes be a better, more reliable bet than a seldom used, hasn't had all the issues resolved garage queen.
So, I need to put some miles on mine before the warranty is out this time next year, such a hardship
I've bought many cars privately - in fact all 3 of my current cars were private purchases.
Obviously there is no warranty but then you generally pay less in the first place so it's swings and roundabouts.
I imagine the reassurance of a warranty is nice, but I've not had any regrets so far.
Obviously there is no warranty but then you generally pay less in the first place so it's swings and roundabouts.
I imagine the reassurance of a warranty is nice, but I've not had any regrets so far.
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