AM V8 Vantage - questions, questions, questions from newby

[train01]

Having always fancies an AM V8V I started having a look to see whats avialable. I am looking to spend about 40-42K but first some questions:

1) Which is more desirable, manual or auto? - http://www.redlinespecialistcars.co.uk/car.php?id=...
2) What are must have extra from a re-sale point of view?
3) Should I only buy from AM specific dealers?
4) Re 4 saw a car at Redline in Yorshire as the right price
4) Best colours to by from re-sale point of view

I am sure I will have loads more qestions

[GlynMo]

1) Only you can answer that - some love the flappy paddle thing, others (me included) don't like it.
2) and 4)5)! buy it for yourself, not the next owner!
3) If you do your homework, you should be ok buying trade or private.

Good luck!

[mikey k]

1) Its not an auto, its the same gearbox with a paddle control/actuator. They didn't come in until 07 with the roadsters. The choice is personal drive both and see what you think!
2) The only real must is sat nav (even though it is $hit) but most have it
3) I would advocate a dealer only because they are more likley to sort the little niggles to get it the way you want (After haggling on price I got 17 other things done on mine!) Or go indie and get it inspected by a dealer or DMS
4 or 5?) Silvers and Blacks hold value better but buy for your own pleasure I do like that Toro red.

BTW the one you link is claimed to have a sports pack IIRC it only came in on the 4.7's as a result of the N400 suspension changes.

[bogie]

1) Which is more desirable, manual or auto? depends...personally if you intend to keep it a while, Id go manual -the clutches seem to last longer

2) What are must have extra from a re-sale point of view? sat nav, 19's..but I doubt you will find any poverty spec cars without them

3) Should I only buy from AM specific dealers? - makes no odds, maybe a beat cheaper non franchised

4) Re 4 saw a car at Redline in Yorshire as the right price - seems fine

5) Best colours to by from re-sale point of view - the usual silvery grey, blacks and dark colours, with dark interiors

[moveover]

Why is SatNav such a must? As everyone points out, it's crap so no-one uses it, and it's just something else that will eventually start rattling / vibrating. I saved £££'s on my V8V without SatNav and instead use my iphone app, which works perfectly.

I wouldn't get too hung up on needing SatNav.

[bogie]

if every car you come across has sat nav, when you come to sell, it will be used as a bargaining point...just how it is im afraid

2 cars for sale, identical, one with ,one without, buyer goes for one with, or expects discount

[alxce]

I am going to break ranks on this one and question why everyone is so down on the Sat Nav. I have a 2007 V8V and having just upgraded the disks to the latest level I think it works just fine. The main difference is that it now has full postcode search capability which has been my only real issue with it so far.

I will be objective and agree it still doesn't come up to the standard of what I have in a Mercedes but it does a pretty good job.

In response to the debate on whether it is a must-have option, I wouldn't buy one without it and I think that is true for the majority of buyers. It means if you go down that route then you stand to significantly limit your resale market.

[steveatesh]

alxce said:

I am going to break ranks on this one and question why everyone is so down on the Sat Nav. I have a 2007 V8V and having just upgraded the disks to the latest level I think it works just fine. The main difference is that it now has full postcode search capability which has been my only real issue with it so far.

I will be objective and agree it still doesn't come up to the standard of what I have in a Mercedes but it does a pretty good job.

In response to the debate on whether it is a must-have option, I wouldn't buy one without it and I think that is true for the majority of buyers. It means if you go down that route then you stand to significantly limit your resale market.

Plus 1. I agree it could be better (like all things) but it works and mine (MY2010) has been accurate every time I've used it. I accept touch screen portable devices are easier but being used to COMAND on the Merc I much prefer the AM version with full post code. The most alarming thing about the AM version is the female voice! Personally I wouldn't consider an AM without it.

[mikey k]

I can give you numerous reasons why the Aston Sat Nax is crap! (and why I've hard wird my 550 go in )

Slow to lock on to GPS position
No way to load points of interests to it (petrol stations)
No itineray planning which is a must for my Euro & B road blasts
No traffic information
Doesn't have the Wilmslow AM service depot on it
PITA to negotiate through the menus
Does not dim at night
Graphics are misleading and confusing (compared to TT & Garmin!)

Though I accept it has caught up some ground with full postcode searching

[bogie]

the satnav is perfectly useable for what I want ...lets not forget, Aston make cars, not computers

so whos do you buy in? ..who will sell you their sat nav?

I upgraded mine and manage with it just fine...certainly as good as the BMW version in my Rangey

[Zod]

alxce said:

I am going to break ranks on this one and question why everyone is so down on the Sat Nav. I have a 2007 V8V and having just upgraded the disks to the latest level I think it works just fine. The main difference is that it now has full postcode search capability which has been my only real issue with it so far.

I will be objective and agree it still doesn't come up to the standard of what I have in a Mercedes but it does a pretty good job.

In response to the debate on whether it is a must-have option, I wouldn't buy one without it and I think that is true for the majority of buyers. It means if you go down that route then you stand to significantly limit your resale market.

The Satnav is woeful. Just about its best feature is the one to do the same route in reverse. Otherwise, the display is awfully dated and so is the data input. At least they now offer TMC in the UK.

The satnav on my slighly older M5 is much better and in my new X5 the satnav is extraordinarily good.

[Zod]

bogie said:

the satnav is perfectly useable for what I want ...lets not forget, Aston make cars, not computers

so whos do you buy in? ..who will sell you their sat nav?

I upgraded mine and manage with it just fine...certainly as good as the BMW version in my Rangey

That BMW version is two generations out of date. The Aston one is OK in that I can use it to get to places, but not up to the standard of the car.

[drcarrera]

Zod said:

At least they now offer TMC in the UK.

Is that right? I thought it was still continental Europe only! Is this only on the very newest cars, or can the older HDD versions be upgraded to activate this?

[Zod]

drcarrera said:

Is that right? I thought it was still continental Europe only! Is this only on the very newest cars, or can the older HDD versions be upgraded to activate this?

I thought they did on the newest cars.

[bogie]

Zod said:

That BMW version is two generations out of date. The Aston one is OK in that I can use it to get to places, but not up to the standard of the car.

yes, I know, even I couldnt cope with that one and upgraded it to just one version out of date

maybe when Volvo do a new one for their cars, we will be able to steal the Nav computer for a few hundred quid and just slot it into the boot

[bogie]

Zod said:

That BMW version is two generations out of date. The Aston one is OK in that I can use it to get to places, but not up to the standard of the car.

yup, sure is, at least the BMW one is easy upgrade to just one version out of date

maybe when the new Volvo one is out, we will get an upgrade to our Astons

[RichB]

bogie said:

maybe when Volvo do a new one for their cars...

Sounds old compared to the ones Volvo have been fitting for the last 2 or 3 years. I get a new Volvo every 8-9 months and auto dimming (dims along with the instrument lights changing intensity day/night), traffic information (picked up from the radio), places of interest etc. are all standard features of the Volvo system.

Edited by RichB on Monday 7th February 20:47

[gary.taylor17]

Cannot think why sat nav or not should influence your judgement.See something you like, then buy it.
There all beautiful.
Good Luck

[train01]

The search continues

Lower miles older car http://www.stratstone.com/vehiclesearch/used/aston... or higher miles yonger car http://www.stratstone.com/vehiclesearch/used/aston... only thing is the second car has no cruise

[mikey k]

Like the black one
Rear lights have been done
Interior is "brave" but lightens it up