Looking for V8 Vantage guidance

[The Surveyor]

Good afternoon all, I'm considering a V8 Vantage to replace my TVR Tuscan and was looking for some guidance on what are the better buys in the sub £40k price bracket.

Initial searches suggest that the engines are quiet strong and high mileage shouldn't be a massive concern, however with the 2007 facelift is it better to go with a lower mileage early car, or a higher mileage later car.

Also, how long should a clutch last on the manual cars?

Thanks

Paul

[davek_964]

I chose lower mileage early car. Partly because I wanted to be sure I liked them, and I wanted to be near the bottom of the depreciation curve - I think you still pay a bit of a premium for a facelift and they didn't have anything I felt I couldn't live without.

Clutch is how long is a piece of string I think. Mine has done 35k miles and doesn't slip - on the other hand, it's a bit heavy and a bit grabby, so at the next service I might bin it and get a new one anyway.

[Jon39]

Welcome.

Quite a number of people have come from TVR.

I am sure you will know about the 4.7 change in 2008, but values have not reached the figure you mention yet.

I can only comment on your clutch question.
With the layout of torque tube and rear gearbox, clutch replacement does have a high labour cost.
A few clutches have developed early faults, but generally the life depends solely on the driver.
Some on this forum have mentioned over 65,000 miles on the original clutch, but with Top Gear treatment, maybe just a few thousand miles.
With a Sportshift gearchange, I think the amount of wear can be established by a dealer.
The reverse gear is a high ratio, so repeated reversing up a slope wears the clutch.

Good luck finding your ideal car.

[JS1500]

I went for a higher (average at 52k?) mileage 2007 facelifted car as mileage doesn't seem much of an issue with these and I significantly preferred the newer seats etc. Condition was the deciding factor for me with this particular car.

Clutches seem to be the weak point of these, but mine is still on the original (as far as I'm aware) and now at 55,700 miles with no signs of slipping.
The one previous owner did almost exclusively motorway miles in it, so that's probably why my clutch is still ok.

[The Surveyor]

Thanks guys. So the advice appears to be 'buy on condition' rather than mileage.

I'll let you know how the search goes.

Cheers

Paul

[Neil1300r]

The Surveyor said:

Thanks guys. So the advice appears to be 'buy on condition' rather than mileage.

I'll let you know how the search goes.

Cheers

Paul

They were designed and built to be used every day. Think Porsche 911 not Ferrari - mileage doesn't make a huge difference on price, just condition.

[dig123]

You are best getting Grants book as it list out all the changes. Originally I wanted an 07-08 but did not like the updated centre console as I wanted a manual and the latter is a bit higher so went with a late 06. But as you have noted condition is better than milage but it does depend on how those miles have been driven.

[Cockey]

The V8V is a very different car to the Tuscan. I love mine as a daily driver. My standard 4.3 feels very soft and comfortable compared to my Tuscan, quick enough (although Tuscan is much quicker) and sounds amazing.

Personally, I find they compliment one another well, but I suppose it's all relative. If your daily driver is particularly boring, then a 4.3 might tick all the boxes as a second car. However, if it were my only car, I'd probably be looking for at least a V8Vs.

[The Surveyor]

Cockey said:

If your daily driver is particularly boring, then a 4.3 might tick all the boxes as a second car.

My daily is a Volvo V60 with a mighty 1.6 Diesel engine so nearly everything feels quicker... I'm not looking for something as silly quick as the Tuscan but it has to feel special and nicely swift, but something much more usable than the old Maserati. So far, I think the Vantage fits the bill nicely.

Cheers for the help.

Paul

[JS1500]

From your description I would say a Vantage will make you happy.
Coming from a 440bhp B5 RS4 with it's twin turbos the Vantage does feel a fair bit slower but it's so well poised and that word again, 'special', it's lovely to drive and a very pleasant place to sit!

[krisdelta]

Mine was a daily drive for 3 years and 20k miles. I sold it with 52k, still with the original clutch going strong. Very un-stressed engine and I had one issues in my ownership. Buy on condition with full evidence of servicing and enjoy the Aston Martin experience for the same price as a moderately specced Audi / BMW 3.0 diesel

[renmure]

The Surveyor said:

My daily is a Volvo V60 with a mighty 1.6 Diesel engine so nearly everything feels quicker... I'm not looking for something as silly quick as the Tuscan but it has to feel special and nicely swift, but something much more usable than the old Maserati. So far, I think the Vantage fits the bill nicely.

Cheers for the help.

Paul

A Vantage does sound like it will fit the bill for you. They certainly feel (and look) special, they are comfortably swift enough for almost any occasion and they are perfectly useable.

I know it's easy to spend other folks money, but if I were in your shoes I would be looking for a 2007 or later car (I like the newer seats) and a manual gearbox (nothing against the sports shift but nothing for it that would make me want it more than a manual) and I wouldn't be concerned about buying one privately as long as it had a good service history to match the condition.

[Cockey]

Something which didn't occur to me until I actually bought my car was playing music from my phone/mp3 player/USB stick. Unless you're happy with CDs and radio, try to find a car with either built in blue tooth or the after market Dension kit. It's quite expensive to get it sorted otherwise. (Luckily found mine to have the Dension fitted)

ETA: I just realised factory blue tooth doesn't mean you can stream music from your phone - it's blue tooth for the car phone. For it to be converted for blue tooth streaming is between £500 - £2k depending on the year of the car.

Edited by Cockey on Tuesday 7th July 16:27

[Jon39]

Cockey said:

Something which didn't occur to me until I actually bought my car was playing music from my phone/mp3 player/USB stick. Unless you're happy with CDs and radio, try to find a car with either built in blue tooth or the after market Dension kit. It's quite expensive to get it sorted otherwise. (Luckily found mine to have the Dension fitted)

Did the USB socket (in the arm rest storage compartment) come with Premium Audio, or was it a later standard fitment at some point?

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 7th July 16:14

[Neil1300r]

Jon39 said:

Did the USB socket (in the arm rest storage compartment) come with Premium Audio, or was it a later standard fitment at some point?

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 7th July 16:14

Later. What arm rest storage compartment?

[Jon39]

Neil1300r said:

Jon39 said:

Did the USB socket (in the arm rest storage compartment) come with Premium Audio, or was it a later standard fitment at some point?

Later. What arm rest storage compartment?

Above transmission tunnel, where your elbow is when changing gear (manual gearbox). Perhaps this compartment was introduced with the 4.7 model changes.

[nw28840]

I have the Center Console with USB and phone connection in my March 1st 2008 V8 Vantage Roadster.

[davek_964]

Jon39 said:

Neil1300r said:

Jon39 said:

Did the USB socket (in the arm rest storage compartment) come with Premium Audio, or was it a later standard fitment at some point?

Later. What arm rest storage compartment?

Above transmission tunnel, where your elbow is when changing gear (manual gearbox). Perhaps this compartment was introduced with the 4.7 model changes.

On my 2006 I have a lovely leather pad which looks like it should be the lid to a very useful storage area - but isn't. Near the back of this there is a compartment which is obviously for cups / bottles although only small ones I think.

I need Dension myself but haven't sorted it yet because I struggle to justify the cost.

[Speedraser]

Arm rest storage compartment introduced for MY08.

[dig123]

Not my car but I thought the later centre consol was to high for a manual gear stick so went with the earlier model, not quite sure why there was not space under the earlier models.[url]

Early centre

Later centre

Edited by dig123 on Tuesday 7th July 20:38