Discussion
Oooooh, it's good to be back. Ooooh, it's great to have a car so loud my ears are ringing from it after a 3 hour drive. Ah, I've missed that smell of scorched fibreglass. 
So, anyway, there's this odd clunking noise coming from the... *grin* Not yet.
1x T350t in iced titanium with anthracite wheels and carbon fibre roof panels. My thanks go to Ricardo for being a top gent and not making me prise the keys from his hand one finger at a time.
Now, to get that wear and tear warranty sorted...
So, anyway, there's this odd clunking noise coming from the... *grin* Not yet.
1x T350t in iced titanium with anthracite wheels and carbon fibre roof panels. My thanks go to Ricardo for being a top gent and not making me prise the keys from his hand one finger at a time.
Now, to get that wear and tear warranty sorted...
Thanks all! Nice to be home. 
Very difficult to compare. When I bought the Aston it was the perfect car (given that I couldn't afford a Vanquish/DB9/etc)... I was driving 5 miles a day to work, and wanted fun on the weekends, etc. As an allrounder, it was great - fast enough for some serious fun, and refined/practical enough to just hop in and drive to work without any worries. With a main dealer a 10 minute walk from home and a 10 minute walk (in the other direction) from the office, and a specialist literally a 2 minute walk up the road, it all made sense. And it was a dream I'd had for so very long.
But, now I'm doing 130+ miles a day Mon-Fri commuting, it's a bit different... the fuel economy isn't exactly stellar, the mileage that'd add would kill the residuals in under a year, and the clutch is not the best fun in stop-start rush hour traffic on the M6. Picking up the Passat for that suits perfectly, but it left the Aston trying to be a weekend toy, which isn't really its forte. Now, TVRs - that's something they ARE particularly good at!
As an aside, the XKR made a better weekday driver... no heavy clutch, lots of extra gadgets, and absolutely bulletproof. Throwing an automatic with steering you could control with your little finger into corners meant it just wasn't as fun on the weekends, though - the manual box and heavy steering made such a difference in the DB.
As a direct comparison with the Tiv, up to 100 or so, the T350's faster, past that the Aston'll probably edge the 3.6 for a bit, and above 130 I'd expect it to eat it (not least because it's rock-solid cruising at 150+). Cornering, the T350'll leave the DB7 for dead - it's simply not got a tonne of lead under the bodywork making fast switch-back corners, well, "pendulous". It's the feel of the car, though - the directness of steering, the feel through the seat, etc. Definitely makes for a better toy.
And, more to the point, it's freed up a substantial chunk of cash for investment (which is the main requirement at the moment!)
When the engine goes pop. 
Speaking of mods... is it just me or is there no front spoiler on your Tusc in those photos on your profile now? Not finding it a bit "interesting" about 130 or so without it?
Nah, it's still an atrociously executed build of a beautifully designed engine (well, I can't speak for the last 12-18 months or so of what's been put out of the factory, to be fair). I fully expect it to need a rebuild for valve guides within the next 10,000 miles. However, there's enough acceptance from most people on the forums of those problems now for me to not get completely infuriated with certain views any more. And, more to the point, if there's a wear-and-tear warranty that'll cover the rebuild, and plenty of specialists out there who can sort it once and for all without me paying the development costs, that makes it a whole different proposition! Oh, and finally... it was £1300 for a service on the Aston where NOTHING beyond plugs, filters, and fluids was done. And that's 6 month servicing. Frankly, that's more expensive over a couple of years than TVR servicing + the chance of a rebuild!
nelly1 said:
What's it like compared to the Aston then?
Very difficult to compare. When I bought the Aston it was the perfect car (given that I couldn't afford a Vanquish/DB9/etc)... I was driving 5 miles a day to work, and wanted fun on the weekends, etc. As an allrounder, it was great - fast enough for some serious fun, and refined/practical enough to just hop in and drive to work without any worries. With a main dealer a 10 minute walk from home and a 10 minute walk (in the other direction) from the office, and a specialist literally a 2 minute walk up the road, it all made sense. And it was a dream I'd had for so very long.
But, now I'm doing 130+ miles a day Mon-Fri commuting, it's a bit different... the fuel economy isn't exactly stellar, the mileage that'd add would kill the residuals in under a year, and the clutch is not the best fun in stop-start rush hour traffic on the M6. Picking up the Passat for that suits perfectly, but it left the Aston trying to be a weekend toy, which isn't really its forte. Now, TVRs - that's something they ARE particularly good at!
As an aside, the XKR made a better weekday driver... no heavy clutch, lots of extra gadgets, and absolutely bulletproof. Throwing an automatic with steering you could control with your little finger into corners meant it just wasn't as fun on the weekends, though - the manual box and heavy steering made such a difference in the DB.
As a direct comparison with the Tiv, up to 100 or so, the T350's faster, past that the Aston'll probably edge the 3.6 for a bit, and above 130 I'd expect it to eat it (not least because it's rock-solid cruising at 150+). Cornering, the T350'll leave the DB7 for dead - it's simply not got a tonne of lead under the bodywork making fast switch-back corners, well, "pendulous". It's the feel of the car, though - the directness of steering, the feel through the seat, etc. Definitely makes for a better toy.
And, more to the point, it's freed up a substantial chunk of cash for investment (which is the main requirement at the moment!)
nelly1 said:
...and how long 'till you start modding it?...
When the engine goes pop. Speaking of mods... is it just me or is there no front spoiler on your Tusc in those photos on your profile now? Not finding it a bit "interesting" about 130 or so without it?
greenie said:
So that does mean the later S6 now has your official endorsement?!
Nah, it's still an atrociously executed build of a beautifully designed engine (well, I can't speak for the last 12-18 months or so of what's been put out of the factory, to be fair). I fully expect it to need a rebuild for valve guides within the next 10,000 miles. However, there's enough acceptance from most people on the forums of those problems now for me to not get completely infuriated with certain views any more.
And, more to the point, if there's a wear-and-tear warranty that'll cover the rebuild, and plenty of specialists out there who can sort it once and for all without me paying the development costs, that makes it a whole different proposition! Oh, and finally... it was £1300 for a service on the Aston where NOTHING beyond plugs, filters, and fluids was done. And that's 6 month servicing. Frankly, that's more expensive over a couple of years than TVR servicing + the chance of a rebuild!J_S_G said:
...Speaking of mods... is it just me or is there no front spoiler on your Tusc in those photos on your profile now? Not finding it a bit "interesting" about 130 or so without it?
Still sitting in the garage mate - I've never got round to fitting it!
It's on my 'to do' list......
Glad to hear it mate J_S_G said:
Oooooh, it's good to be back. Ooooh, it's great to have a car so loud my ears are ringing from it after a 3 hour drive. Ah, I've missed that smell of scorched fibreglass.
Hi J S G,
You were the first to answer my first question when I came to PH in search of a Cerb.
I heeded your eloquent words and have just completed 14 months successful and happy ownership (Just back from the Nurburgring).
Ir does my heart good to be able to return the favour and welcome you back into the "interesting" motoring world.
Congratulations and Good Luck,
Paul
Wow, great car!
Having just bought(a strangely familiar) Aston and having owned a Cerbie I completely agree with your comments about performance, compared to the Cerbera, the Aston is not quick up to 70-80 - certainly you have to think twice before passing something that just wouldn't be a problem in the Cerbera. Above 100 is another story - the Aston seems to get faster the faster it goes, but to be honest thats not that useful on a daily basis. But I like the fact that I don't have a headache after a 2 hour blast (must be getting old).
Oh - and I don't like the fact that unlike in a TVR you don't feel part of a club - no acknowledgement, nothing - I think they are much snootier......
Having just bought(a strangely familiar) Aston and having owned a Cerbie I completely agree with your comments about performance, compared to the Cerbera, the Aston is not quick up to 70-80 - certainly you have to think twice before passing something that just wouldn't be a problem in the Cerbera. Above 100 is another story - the Aston seems to get faster the faster it goes, but to be honest thats not that useful on a daily basis. But I like the fact that I don't have a headache after a 2 hour blast (must be getting old).
Oh - and I don't like the fact that unlike in a TVR you don't feel part of a club - no acknowledgement, nothing - I think they are much snootier......
Mr.Cerbera said:
Hi J S G,
I heeded your eloquent words and have just completed 14 months successful and happy ownership (Just back from the Nurburgring).
Ir does my heart good to be able to return the favour and welcome you back into the "interesting" motoring world.
I heeded your eloquent words and have just completed 14 months successful and happy ownership (Just back from the Nurburgring).
Ir does my heart good to be able to return the favour and welcome you back into the "interesting" motoring world.
Glad you got a good 'un!
The Dude said:
Ah ha....did you happen to go down Friargate on Saturday night?
Saw one go past that looked silver/grey with a thunderous exhaust. Fair made my heart skip and I went all blurry-eyed and nostalgic for a moment.
Saw one go past that looked silver/grey with a thunderous exhaust. Fair made my heart skip and I went all blurry-eyed and nostalgic for a moment.
Oh, that was me alright.
Unless I missed the other one by a matter of minutes... Gassing Station | Tamora, T350 & Sagaris | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff