My new Vantage S Roadster

[mikey k]

So i've done the deed!
I started out looking for a V8VS roadster with the light weight seats in. On the basis that if I'm going to change it had better be for exactly the spec I wanted. My two fav dealers came up with new stock or confirmed builds that had some of my perfect spec but not all (at list prices ). I looked around at used ones and there are very very few with the light weight seats (come to think of it I've only ever seen 2 none S roadsters with them in!) and those where either press or demo cars. All were over priced on that basis as well! I'd almost resigned myself to waiting until spring as there was no point it sitting in the garage doing nothing over the winter.

I got an email from Grange Exeter offering to buy my existing 4.7 back so I gave them a shot at it! The next day they came back with a good part ex, considering I put 11k miles on it in a year. They had got a discount off new from the factory on the exact spec I wanted, only condition was I had to take delivery before the end of September. After a couple of days back and forth on minor details we agreed the deal and put the deposit down. The downside was they wanted my 4.7 now to give me the best part ex on before the roadster price drop off after the summer. So I'm Astonless for my Jock Hoon (any one want to hire me their V12 for a week )
With the weather like it is today it hard no being able to have a roofless blast round Snowdonia either It will be a long 2 months

[mikey k]

Here's the factory order confirmation of build

Model: V8 Vantage S Roadster
Country: United Kingdom
Hand of Drive: Right Hand Drive
Transmission: 7-speed Sportshift II
Handbook Language: English
Seat Configuration: 2 Seater
Seat Type: Lightweight Seat
Instrument Pack Language: Language - English

Exterior Colour: Lightning Silver Paint DBS Special Colours

Upper Colour: Obsidian Black Leather (LX57)
Upper Stitching Colour: Silver (N2829) - 10M Coarse Thread
Lower Colour: Obsidian Black Leather (LX57)
Lower Stitching Colour: Silver (N2829) - 10M Coarse Thread

Seat Outer Colour: Obsidian Black Leather (LX57)
Seat Outer Stitching Colour: Silver (N2829) - 10M Coarse Thread
Seat Inner Colour: Obsidian Black Leather (LX57)
Seat Inner Stitching Colour: Silver (N2829) - 10M Coarse Thread

Exterior Hood Colour: Black Hood
Headlining Inner Colour: Tailors Grey Volante Headlining
A Pillar Stitch Colour: Silver (N2829) - 10M Coarse Thread
Carpet Colour: Obsidian Black Heavyweight Carpet
Carpet Stitching Colour: Silver (N2829) - 10M Coarse Thread

In Car Entertainment Aston Martin 700w Premium Audio
Carpet Embroidery Colour Carpet Embroidery - Silver
Carpet Embroidery Pattern Carpet Vantage S Logo
Seat Embroidery Colour Seat Embroidery - Silver
Facia Trim Weave Alloy Facia
Seat Embroidery Pattern Vantage S Logo
Seatbelt Seatbelt - Warm Charcoal
Steering Wheel: Obsidian Black Leather (LX57)
Steering Wheel Stitch: Silver (N2829) - 10M Coarse Thread

Wheels 10 Spoke Forged Graphite D.T
Brake Calipers Grey
Protective Film Delete Protective Film
Rear Badge Delete Vantage S Badge
Front Parking Sensors Front Parking Sensors

Accessories:
High Spec Alarm
Satellite Navigation

Edited by mikey k on Wednesday 3rd August 16:46

[mikey k]

I've only ever bought used cars still in manufacturers warratany.
But finding one to this spec was never going to happen.
I think the combination of the colour and the options will make it a great car.
It will only ever have been "abused" by me so I know exactly what is going on with it.

It will be delivered to Grange with out the boot badge, protective film or front plate holder on.
I'm going to plaster it in blue body tape and drive up to Cheshire.
It will be stored for 3 weeks to let the paint degas and cross link properly.
Whilst it's doing that I'll get the roof lining and carpets stain guarded. I'm also going to get the brake calipers and all over the alloys treated with two coats of this to protect them from day one.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-no-845...

Once the paint is "solid" I'll get it paint corrected (no car comes out the factory perfect )
Then off to Ventureshield for a full PPF kit, I'm going to add the inner door sills and the back of the CF seats to it as well.

Roll on end of September

[mikey k]

krisdelta said:

Sounds like it will be worth the wait! Will you not achieve more privately for your 4.7 - and get the added benefit of not being car-less?

I tried for a month or so.
Selling high end cars privately is hard work
Plus the part ex was only £3k off what I was asking.
Roadster prices (all makes) drop sharply as the summer ends so I was against the clock for the best price.
To have kept it until end of Spetember would have meant a service, tax, MOT and front tyres. Offsetting that against the lower part ex made it a no brainer! IMHO

[mikey k]

Interesting MSN review (which I'd agree with from my experience)

http://cars.uk.msn.com/reviews/aston-martin-v8-van...

[mikey k]

Jockman said:

Looking nice Mr K for some future pics.

You mention Front PDC twice - I assume you mean Front and Rear ??

What size wheels are standard on the S ??

You seem intent on debadging. I can understand on a standard V8V but why on the S ??

What is your approach to the buying process - Stratstone (wilmslow) + Grange Exeter + another - are they all different groups with separate selling powers ??

I just pasted the factory order in to the post so yeah front & rear PDC
I do have a bit of OCD for debadging, it looks tidier, plus it makes paint correction and cleaning so much easier. Plus I like to keep them guessing

The standard S wheels & tyres are;
Front: 8.5J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza
RE050 245/40 R19
Rear: 10.0J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza
RE050 285/35 R19

So the front wheels are the same width and the rears are 0.5" wider.
Both tyres are 10mm wider.

Having said that I've specified the lighter Sports Pack wheels. I hope they are also wider than the normal V8 wheels!

[mikey k]

MrOrange said:

! Electric parking brake !

Is that the end of our beloved fly-off handbrake?

No - I think you misread something

From the brochure;

Brakes
_ Front: Ventilated and grooved two-piece
floating discs, 380 mm diameter with
six-piston monobloc calipers
_ Rear: Ventilated and grooved steel discs,
330 mm diameter with four-piston
monobloc calipers
_ Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with
‘Track’ mode
_ Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
_ Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
_ Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
_ Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
_ Positive Torque Control (PTC)
_ Hill Start Assist (HSA)
_ Traction Control (TC)

[mikey k]

JohnG1 - I did consider it - the tweeters alone are nearly worth it Pretty pointless in a roadster that has the roof down 90% of the time though It was explained to me you will only really get a benefit from original CD's any MP3's will be too compressed to give a difference. As all my music is mp3 it seemed pointless.

Adam2S - I left the interior logos in to reminded me of the difference between this one and the last one I did consider the polish sills but was told they don't offer them any more The S sills are a different design with machined contours in it. That picture of your interior looks great (but then I would say that )

[mikey k]

Update from the factory!
"Planned Online Date” of 01/09/2011
So they will start building it 1st week after the August shutdown!

[mikey k]

Looks like I'm going to get the new Garmin sat nav and the new "beam" wipers what ever they are!

[mikey k]

Just over a month to go

[mikey k]

Well I found out today that they actually started the build on Monday!

[mikey k]

I did contemplate asking!
I'd wish I'd suggested a tme lapse camera on it taking a picture every minute over the build
That would be really interesting

[mikey k]

Its having a rest tomorrow gathering its energy for final push to becoming a car!

[mikey k]

Looks like I did well on my part ex.
They've now dropped it to just under £57k

Found out earlier in the week my sport pack wheels will be "normal" width on the rear (0.5" narrower than S wheels) with the S tyres on them!
I was a little concerned to begin with but then I realised it will be an even bigger unsprung weight saving and will allow me to stick with the "standard" RE050's when I need tyres!

Getting really impatient now

[mikey k]

update - still in the paint shop

[mikey k]

Do they do any other colours

[mikey k]

Engine met drive train last week.

[mikey k]

nice mental image!

[mikey k]

Jockman said:

JohnG1 said:

Was Barry White playing in the background as two became one?

Off Thread and it was NOT me - see, only 90% are my fault.

Mr K, I shall be asking Big Al to remove this dangling carrot of a thread

I deny all dangling
I was orginally told end of September delivery and it looks like they are making slow but sure progress towards it! (I hope! the wait is killing me!)