Which forum for 2019+ Vantage?

[ZT260SE]

Enjoy your new car. Looking forward to reading your review and initial impressions!

[turboman786]

In terms of car ownership, Ive been very lucky to have owned many many cars, but for PH purposes I'll list a few to give a point of reference for my ownership reviews...

C63 (6.2), M3x 4 (e46/e92), AMG GTS, R8 V10 (Gen 1 and 2), F430, M6 GC, Cayman S, 997 C2S, BMW M4 CP, plus quite a few others!

Mine is a 68 plate with 13k miles, 2 previous owners and still under AM warranty.

Its got a nice spec, its my first Aston so Im not entiretly sure whats an option and whats standard but its got:-

Zaffre Blue Exclusive paint
Obsidian black leather with Cote Dazure Blue highlights
Premium audio
Comfort pack
Glass buttons
Quad exhaust
Black bodypack
Alacantar headlining
360 view cameras
Gloss black roof panels
gloss black mirrors etc
PPF

The looks : simply stunning. Im not sure why people on here dont like it as its stunning IMO in the metal, and so far everyone in my car friend circle has totally agreed. The car looks clean and menacing, whilst still looking classy.

Interior : Initially I HATED it - the old merc command system is just a few gens old and feels totally substandard for a car of this league - the buttons look like theyve come from a Dacia and same observation as the command system - it all works fine but Id have to spend a LOT more to get the new fresh interior that has now graced the DB12

Sound - Im not hugely into turbo cars, have owned plenty and have owned my current 2016 R8 for years simply due to the glorious V10. Having said that, this is a very nice engine, great response, and good sound from the standard exhaust (does the 4 pips signify sports exhaust?...I think its just a trim option but do educate me if Ive got it wrong!)...Id like it to sound aBIT louder on idle but I think for most people it will be plenty loud enough - in S+ and track mode it sounds pretty menacing and does a few cracks and pops (a few is Ok in my book , but not a fan at all of the pop pop pop scene, so this car has an acceptable balance) without looking/feeling like a tool

Performance - this is a very quick car - 505bhp, 3.5 0-60 and feels responsive and rapid - again my benchmark is the v10 R8 which is a fair bit more dramatic and exciting, but as far as turbo cars go this merc 63 engine is pretty damn good...its VERY heavy on fuel (I know its not a major consideration but Ive been getting about 130 miles to a tank which is dreadful and explained by my foot/honeymoon ownership period) - averaging 12mph over the 500 miles Ive driven but Im sure a lot more could be acheived with care. I wish it revd out like a NA V10 but thats just wishful thinking !

Handling- its on MP4s, and when tyres are cold it kicks out very easily and feels a little "slippy" - this coupled with bad weather hasnt helped but when tyres are warm and roads are not soaking it grips well, feels solid on the road - the suspension is firm but more than acceptable and Ive been driving it daily with zero comfort issues. Not really had the chance to really push it as its been dark/wet most of the time and the country roads can be dangerous at this time of year espcially in a car that Im still learning - the car is far more capable than Ive experienced so far

Brakes - excellent but lack feel. Not carbon brakes, just the standard steels, but more than capable albeit a bit dead in feel if Im being critical

Image - its an Aston - its says Aston Martin on the back...nothing else needs to be said. It gets a positive response on the road and oozes style and class IMO. Not crass at all as many M cars etc have become in the current generations

Feelgood factor - feels great to drive. A really well put together package and far more dynamic and sorted than I was expecting - I dont feel that this car is a GT car - its a full on junior supercar IMO...

Running costs will be high, I had my last free service at AM today and also had 2 lights ordered under warranty (headlight and rear taillight full of water/condensation) so look out for this if buying out of warranty (nearly £4k at AM). I will certainly renew the warranty at £1800 and depending on cost may extend the service pack

As you can tell Im no car reviewer but I hope my observations generate a conversation on this brilliant car.

All in all Im very pleased with it. 8.5/10 overall.

[Minglar]

turboman786 said:

In terms of car ownership, Ive been very lucky to have owned many many cars, but for PH purposes I'll list a few to give a point of reference for my ownership reviews...

C63 (6.2), M3x 4 (e46/e92), AMG GTS, R8 V10 (Gen 1 and 2), F430, M6 GC, Cayman S, 997 C2S, BMW M4 CP, plus quite a few others!

Mine is a 68 plate with 13k miles, 2 previous owners and still under AM warranty.

Its got a nice spec, its my first Aston so Im not entiretly sure whats an option and whats standard but its got:-

Zaffre Blue Exclusive paint
Obsidian black leather with Cote Dazure Blue highlights
Premium audio
Comfort pack
Glass buttons
Quad exhaust
Black bodypack
Alacantar headlining
360 view cameras
Gloss black roof panels
gloss black mirrors etc
PPF

The looks : simply stunning. Im not sure why people on here dont like it as its stunning IMO in the metal, and so far everyone in my car friend circle has totally agreed. The car looks clean and menacing, whilst still looking classy.

Interior : Initially I HATED it - the old merc command system is just a few gens old and feels totally substandard for a car of this league - the buttons look like theyve come from a Dacia and same observation as the command system - it all works fine but Id have to spend a LOT more to get the new fresh interior that has now graced the DB12

Sound - Im not hugely into turbo cars, have owned plenty and have owned my current 2016 R8 for years simply due to the glorious V10. Having said that, this is a very nice engine, great response, and good sound from the standard exhaust (does the 4 pips signify sports exhaust?...I think its just a trim option but do educate me if Ive got it wrong!)...Id like it to sound aBIT louder on idle but I think for most people it will be plenty loud enough - in S+ and track mode it sounds pretty menacing and does a few cracks and pops (a few is Ok in my book , but not a fan at all of the pop pop pop scene, so this car has an acceptable balance) without looking/feeling like a tool

Performance - this is a very quick car - 505bhp, 3.5 0-60 and feels responsive and rapid - again my benchmark is the v10 R8 which is a fair bit more dramatic and exciting, but as far as turbo cars go this merc 63 engine is pretty damn good...its VERY heavy on fuel (I know its not a major consideration but Ive been getting about 130 miles to a tank which is dreadful and explained by my foot/honeymoon ownership period) - averaging 12mph over the 500 miles Ive driven but Im sure a lot more could be acheived with care. I wish it revd out like a NA V10 but thats just wishful thinking !

Handling- its on MP4s, and when tyres are cold it kicks out very easily and feels a little "slippy" - this coupled with bad weather hasnt helped but when tyres are warm and roads are not soaking it grips well, feels solid on the road - the suspension is firm but more than acceptable and Ive been driving it daily with zero comfort issues. Not really had the chance to really push it as its been dark/wet most of the time and the country roads can be dangerous at this time of year espcially in a car that Im still learning - the car is far more capable than Ive experienced so far

Brakes - excellent but lack feel. Not carbon brakes, just the standard steels, but more than capable albeit a bit dead in feel if Im being critical

Image - its an Aston - its says Aston Martin on the back...nothing else needs to be said. It gets a positive response on the road and oozes style and class IMO. Not crass at all as many M cars etc have become in the current generations

Feelgood factor - feels great to drive. A really well put together package and far more dynamic and sorted than I was expecting - I dont feel that this car is a GT car - its a full on junior supercar IMO...

Running costs will be high, I had my last free service at AM today and also had 2 lights ordered under warranty (headlight and rear taillight full of water/condensation) so look out for this if buying out of warranty (nearly £4k at AM). I will certainly renew the warranty at £1800 and depending on cost may extend the service pack

As you can tell Im no car reviewer but I hope my observations generate a conversation on this brilliant car.

All in all Im very pleased with it. 8.5/10 overall.

That’s a well written and informative review. Thank you very much and I’m glad you’re enjoying your new acquisition. As a 68 plate car it will be a fairly early example so it may have come from the factory with the plain old two exhaust pipe set up. The quad upgrade was a common retro fit on these early cars and imho it really should have been standard from launch as it looks so much better. I’m not sure if it means it’s a sports exhaust, but as you say it definitely improves the look. I really liked the gloss black pack. I test drove an early car in August 2018. It had only two exhaust pipes but it looked very nice in white with the gloss black. To my mind it’s a sensible choice, not as expensive as the CF option, and so much better looking than the, at the time, standard dull grey. I would agree with your assessment of the engine, drivetrain, performance and handling. I didn’t really like the pops and bangs etc on the overrun, but apart from that I think AML nailed it in these aspects. Interesting what you’ve said about the lights. A very common issue with the previous generation cars, but I’ve never heard of condensation in the latest gen. That’s a result getting them fixed now while they are still covered. And Zaffre Blue is a lovely colour too. Well done! But I’m sure we would all really like to see a picture or two please! BRM.

[Calinours]

I can’t believe that even the ‘new’ Vantage STILL has issues with water getting into the lights - FFS.

OP - you might not understand that comment about a tiny part of your great review. Owners of the previous gen cars will...

Edited by Calinours on Wednesday 22 November 12:50

[Minglar]

Calinours said:

I can’t believe that even the ‘new’ Vantage STILL has issues with water getting into the lights - FFS.

OP - you might not understand that comment about a tiny part of your great review. The rest on here here will though...

Hence my comment. First time I’ve ever heard of it but as we know posts on these cars in this forum are relatively scarce nowadays I would think removing the rears is more complex than on the previous generation cars though. And getting the alignment right on re-fitting is probably harder too as both lights need to seemlessly flow with the central light bar. OP please let us know how this goes and what is involved. An an aside, you still need to upload a picture or two of your car!
BRM.

[TeddS]

Sounds lovely! Pictures please!

[turboman786]

Pics to follow, Ive just not had any daylight to take any in a decent location !

[WarmSince74]

turboman786 said:

In terms of car ownership, Ive been very lucky to have owned many many cars, but for PH purposes I'll list a few to give a point of reference for my ownership reviews...

C63 (6.2), M3x 4 (e46/e92), AMG GTS, R8 V10 (Gen 1 and 2), F430, M6 GC, Cayman S, 997 C2S, BMW M4 CP, plus quite a few others!

Mine is a 68 plate with 13k miles, 2 previous owners and still under AM warranty.

Its got a nice spec, its my first Aston so Im not entiretly sure whats an option and whats standard but its got:-

Zaffre Blue Exclusive paint
Obsidian black leather with Cote Dazure Blue highlights
Premium audio
Comfort pack
Glass buttons
Quad exhaust
Black bodypack
Alacantar headlining
360 view cameras
Gloss black roof panels
gloss black mirrors etc
PPF

The looks : simply stunning. Im not sure why people on here dont like it as its stunning IMO in the metal, and so far everyone in my car friend circle has totally agreed. The car looks clean and menacing, whilst still looking classy.

Interior : Initially I HATED it - the old merc command system is just a few gens old and feels totally substandard for a car of this league - the buttons look like theyve come from a Dacia and same observation as the command system - it all works fine but Id have to spend a LOT more to get the new fresh interior that has now graced the DB12

Sound - Im not hugely into turbo cars, have owned plenty and have owned my current 2016 R8 for years simply due to the glorious V10. Having said that, this is a very nice engine, great response, and good sound from the standard exhaust (does the 4 pips signify sports exhaust?...I think its just a trim option but do educate me if Ive got it wrong!)...Id like it to sound aBIT louder on idle but I think for most people it will be plenty loud enough - in S+ and track mode it sounds pretty menacing and does a few cracks and pops (a few is Ok in my book , but not a fan at all of the pop pop pop scene, so this car has an acceptable balance) without looking/feeling like a tool

Performance - this is a very quick car - 505bhp, 3.5 0-60 and feels responsive and rapid - again my benchmark is the v10 R8 which is a fair bit more dramatic and exciting, but as far as turbo cars go this merc 63 engine is pretty damn good...its VERY heavy on fuel (I know its not a major consideration but Ive been getting about 130 miles to a tank which is dreadful and explained by my foot/honeymoon ownership period) - averaging 12mph over the 500 miles Ive driven but Im sure a lot more could be acheived with care. I wish it revd out like a NA V10 but thats just wishful thinking !

Handling- its on MP4s, and when tyres are cold it kicks out very easily and feels a little "slippy" - this coupled with bad weather hasnt helped but when tyres are warm and roads are not soaking it grips well, feels solid on the road - the suspension is firm but more than acceptable and Ive been driving it daily with zero comfort issues. Not really had the chance to really push it as its been dark/wet most of the time and the country roads can be dangerous at this time of year espcially in a car that Im still learning - the car is far more capable than Ive experienced so far

Brakes - excellent but lack feel. Not carbon brakes, just the standard steels, but more than capable albeit a bit dead in feel if Im being critical

Image - its an Aston - its says Aston Martin on the back...nothing else needs to be said. It gets a positive response on the road and oozes style and class IMO. Not crass at all as many M cars etc have become in the current generations

Feelgood factor - feels great to drive. A really well put together package and far more dynamic and sorted than I was expecting - I dont feel that this car is a GT car - its a full on junior supercar IMO...

Running costs will be high, I had my last free service at AM today and also had 2 lights ordered under warranty (headlight and rear taillight full of water/condensation) so look out for this if buying out of warranty (nearly £4k at AM). I will certainly renew the warranty at £1800 and depending on cost may extend the service pack

As you can tell Im no car reviewer but I hope my observations generate a conversation on this brilliant car.

All in all Im very pleased with it. 8.5/10 overall.

This is a great review and I agree with the whole emotional perspective of owning an Aston. I also have a 2018 Vantage which I've owned since May and I cannot stop looking at it / driving it / boring all my friends about it

I drive mine daily and even if it's a cold, miserable and wet Monday morning, my mood is instantly lifted the moment I slide into the drivers seat. I've also been lucky enough to own some nice metal over the years but none of them hold a candle to the Aston for the way it makes me feel.

Enjoy the car and I look forward to some pics.

[Ninja59]

Calinours said:

I can’t believe that even the ‘new’ Vantage STILL has issues with water getting into the lights - FFS.

OP - you might not understand that comment about a tiny part of your great review. Owners of the previous gen cars will...

Edited by Calinours on Wednesday 22 November 12:50

Some DB11 and DBSS have as well, but they have revised the condensation drains.

Condensation in lights is normal, the older VH they tried to actively seal them entirely making the situation worse.

So whilst on the face of it the same issue, the response is different generally unless it has got to a degree of not resolving itself on newer models.

[LTP]

Ninja59 said:

Some DB11 and DBSS have as well, but they have revised the condensation drains.

Condensation in lights is normal, the older VH they tried to actively seal them entirely making the situation worse.

So whilst on the face of it the same issue, the response is different generally unless it has got to a degree of not resolving itself on newer models.

In support of AML it's rare these days for a car manufacturer to do the detail engineering work on a component like a headlamp - this will usually be entrusted to the "expert" supplier that wins the contract. AML's issue is their low volumes and small tooling budget means they are often not attractive to the really big players in the Tier 1 pool that would traditionally supply the likes of Mercedes.

Edited by LTP on Friday 24th November 11:24

[Calinours]

LTP said:

Ninja59 said:

Some DB11 and DBSS have as well, but they have revised the condensation drains.

Condensation in lights is normal, the older VH they tried to actively seal them entirely making the situation worse.

So whilst on the face of it the same issue, the response is different generally unless it has got to a degree of not resolving itself on newer models.

In support of AML it's rare these days for a car manufacturer to do the detail engineering work on a component like a headlamp - this will usually be entrusted to the "expert" supplier that wins the contract. AML's issue is their low volumes and small tooling budget means they are often not attractive to the really big players in the Tier 1 pool that would traditionally supply the likes of Mercedes.

Edited by LTP on Friday 24th November 11:24

Yeah. Of course. All the more important to learn lessons from previous mistakes than?

[turboman786]

[turboman786]

[turboman786]

Few random pics of the car, these were provided to me by the chap I purchased the car from. They arent the best but give tou an idea of my car !

[CSK1]

Congratulations! Car looks great and I love the colour. I know someone who has a DBS Superleggera Volante in this colour and it looks beautiful, especially in the sunshine where it really pops.
Enjoy your new car!

[Ninja59]

LTP said:

In support of AML it's rare these days for a car manufacturer to do the detail engineering work on a component like a headlamp - this will usually be entrusted to the "expert" supplier that wins the contract. AML's issue is their low volumes and small tooling budget means they are often not attractive to the really big players in the Tier 1 pool that would traditionally supply the likes of Mercedes.

Edited by LTP on Friday 24th November 11:24

Wipac supply all lighting minus the DBX which is Hella.

It is true that Wipac tend to do smaller volume higher end stuff though doing a lot of RR, Bentley, Mclaren and AM work.

A true point on not being attractive though and we have seen that eith the DB12 already with one wheel being made unavailable, although I believe the manufacturer has gone bankrupt. For the bigger suppliers AM are just not large enough to be a priority.

[DMZ]

That’s a great looking car, enjoy!

[Stark999]

Well I made a silly mistake. Love AM btw. Went to my first 69 plate Vantage, loved it and two days later realised all the things missing from it. Wrong paint, no premium audio, full alcantara was too much and realised I didn’t like the alloys. Gave the car back and lost £5K and bought a 9 month old convertible with Premium, Xenon Grey paint, service pack and 21’’ wheels. I’m in Love and it’s my daily driver

[PinkHouse]

Stark999 said:

Well I made a silly mistake. Love AM btw. Went to my first 69 plate Vantage, loved it and two days later realised all the things missing from it. Wrong paint, no premium audio, full alcantara was too much and realised I didn’t like the alloys. Gave the car back and lost £5K and bought a 9 month old convertible with Premium, Xenon Grey paint, service pack and 21’’ wheels. I’m in Love and it’s my daily driver

Isn't there a 14 day right to return in these cases that could have saved you £5k?

[bogie]

turboman786 said:

Lovely colour and spec