Help purchasing a v8 vantage
Discussion
RobDown said:
I find that more generally in Aston Martins. Always get guys in 911s and M3s looking to “race”. I just don’t feel the need to. I know it can go fast. That’s enough for me
Had a lovely drive from Cardiff to Portmerion yesterday. Hood down at 0 degrees!Had a few tailgaters, I just pulled over and gestered for them to pass
Aston Timeless seems like the best route if you want to buy from a dealer as their prices don't seem to be significantly more than non-specialist dealers and they probably have the least hassle warranties . McGurk's is probably the only independent I would have bought from but their prices are similar to Aston .
Aston Engineering are brilliant. Their workshop is breathtaking and some of the cars they look after are just stunning. They do a lot of race preparation as well as restorations and have an excellent paint shop and trimmer as well.
Adam, the Service Manager is a really nice guy to deal with and they explain everything to you and I’ve always felt I’ve paid a fair price for the work done and they take an interest in your car.
I’d very strongly recommend them and I’m not easily pleased !!
Loved my TVRs but not sure about the new Griffith.I just loved the old factory and the fish and chip lunches and meeting Peter Wheeler who was a personal hero of mine.
I think it’s too expensive . Wheeler went upmarket and it didn’t work and I hope the new owners don’t experience the same problems.
I want a Vanquish next as I love the looks and the interior. I’m not convinced by either the DB11 or the new Vantage as I loath the dashboards in both.
Adam, the Service Manager is a really nice guy to deal with and they explain everything to you and I’ve always felt I’ve paid a fair price for the work done and they take an interest in your car.
I’d very strongly recommend them and I’m not easily pleased !!
Loved my TVRs but not sure about the new Griffith.I just loved the old factory and the fish and chip lunches and meeting Peter Wheeler who was a personal hero of mine.
I think it’s too expensive . Wheeler went upmarket and it didn’t work and I hope the new owners don’t experience the same problems.
I want a Vanquish next as I love the looks and the interior. I’m not convinced by either the DB11 or the new Vantage as I loath the dashboards in both.
raceboy said:
I swapped my 4.0 Chimaera for an 06 (07 MY) Vantage last July, TVR to Aston does seem a well trodden path and I can see why.
I don't know if its nostalgia or accurate (many cars having come between), but I think the Vantage drives very much like my old Chim. Certainly the closest comparable I have had in terms of engine, handling, weight of controls/clutch etc. Feels very much like a classier, better put together car that drives very much in a similar fashion. Even down to a slightly lazy V8 that needs to be worked to get it to deliver but is equally happy just being a lazy GT cruiser with enough torque not to have to worry too much.And here's yet another ex-TVR-now-Vantage owner ! I agree completely that it feels like a better built and more luxurious TVR. The weight of the controls and general feel is very similar although it is a *much* heavier car overall and that becomes obvious the first time you go round a corner.
Another TVR to Aston convert here. After four TVR's I took the plunge and went for an AMV8 Vantage, as I'd always wanted one. My budget started out at £35k and in the end I paid £49k for the best I could afford, a very low mileage 4.7 from main dealer with 'timeless' warranty. Just as well as it needed a new engine as it turns out 
A very rare and relatively unheard of fault apparently. I've just ran it in and at the moment I can say I wouldn't go back to any other car. Don't let my tale put you off, they are fab' and as others have said are usually very tough if looked after.
A very rare and relatively unheard of fault apparently. I've just ran it in and at the moment I can say I wouldn't go back to any other car. Don't let my tale put you off, they are fab' and as others have said are usually very tough if looked after. Shnozz said:
I don't know if its nostalgia or accurate (many cars having come between), but I think the Vantage drives very much like my old Chim.
Might just have been my exceptionally loud Chimaera but SWMBO would not have entertained the round trip to Leeds at the weekend in the TVR but was more than happy to nod off in the passenger seat of the Aston, it was barely audible sat with the cruise control set to 70 and soothing tunes on the stereo, might also help that the TVR never had the roof fitted. 
Very tempted to bite the bullet and sign up for the Rockingham track day as I'm just not driving the Aston in the same 'hooligan' mode the TVR was, the Aston just seems too Gentlemany to throw about.
raceboy said:
Might just have been my exceptionally loud Chimaera but SWMBO would not have entertained the round trip to Leeds at the weekend in the TVR but was more than happy to nod off in the passenger seat of the Aston, it was barely audible sat with the cruise control set to 70 and soothing tunes on the stereo, might also help that the TVR never had the roof fitted.
Very tempted to bite the bullet and sign up for the Rockingham track day as I'm just not driving the Aston in the same 'hooligan' mode the TVR was, the Aston just seems too Gentlemany to throw about.
ha ha - yes, perhaps I should add "more refined" in addition. Was thinking more the way the car drives though in terms of front engined (ish) big lazy V8 that is unstressed and has to be pushed to keep up with even a hot modern hatch, whilst having heavy feeling clutch and steering and pretty rudimentary handling. Not exactly the final word in vehicle dynamics but just good old honest fun and a lovely sound. Very tempted to bite the bullet and sign up for the Rockingham track day as I'm just not driving the Aston in the same 'hooligan' mode the TVR was, the Aston just seems too Gentlemany to throw about.
macdeb said:
Another TVR to Aston convert here. After four TVR's I took the plunge and went for an AMV8 Vantage, as I'd always wanted one. My budget started out at £35k and in the end I paid £49k for the best I could afford, a very low mileage 4.7 from main dealer with 'timeless' warranty. Just as well as it needed a new engine as it turns out A very rare and relatively unheard of fault apparently. I've just ran it in and at the moment I can say I wouldn't go back to any other car. Don't let my tale put you off, they are fab' and as others have said are usually very tough if looked after.
Not sure how rare this is!! In my search for a V8S I came across one at a main dealer which had a new engine fitted - oil starvation due a slipped bearing. Seen mention of this related to the 4.7 engines. A very rare and relatively unheard of fault apparently. I've just ran it in and at the moment I can say I wouldn't go back to any other car. Don't let my tale put you off, they are fab' and as others have said are usually very tough if looked after. davek_964 said:
No it isn't.
I'm quite capable of revving the nuts off a car. Regardless of whether you do that or not, the car simply does not feel fast. As I said - look at the speedo and it is relatively quick - but it simply does not feel like it is to me, even if you rev it to the red line in low gears.
zI'm quite capable of revving the nuts off a car. Regardless of whether you do that or not, the car simply does not feel fast. As I said - look at the speedo and it is relatively quick - but it simply does not feel like it is to me, even if you rev it to the red line in low gears.
oh dear me..........anyone can drive a Maclaren like a lazy arse and it will still outpace my V8V regardless of my driving style......not what I meant but best to leap to conclusions. If you do a like for like with equally powerful cars it wil keep pace - the perceived difference is down to driving style.....
Veg said:
davek_964 said:
No it isn't.
I'm quite capable of revving the nuts off a car. Regardless of whether you do that or not, the car simply does not feel fast. As I said - look at the speedo and it is relatively quick - but it simply does not feel like it is to me, even if you rev it to the red line in low gears.
zI'm quite capable of revving the nuts off a car. Regardless of whether you do that or not, the car simply does not feel fast. As I said - look at the speedo and it is relatively quick - but it simply does not feel like it is to me, even if you rev it to the red line in low gears.
oh dear me..........anyone can drive a Maclaren like a lazy arse and it will still outpace my V8V regardless of my driving style......not what I meant but best to leap to conclusions. If you do a like for like with equally powerful cars it wil keep pace - the perceived difference is down to driving style.....
To me - and I know I am not the only one from countless other posts - it does not FEEL fast regardless of driving style. If I floor my Cayenne - hardly a McLaren - I feel it surge forward. If I floor the Vantage, it doesn't - even though in reality it accelerates quicker. The Vantage does not feel fast which - for me - makes it disappointing down a twisty road because it doesn't feel like it accelerates out of bends with any urgency.
You seem to have utterly missed my point. I have said that it is pretty quick - even if it was faster than a McLaren (which it obviously isn't) that wouldn't matter. It doesn't 'feel' like a car that accelerates quickly.
How that can be my driving style when I'm revving the car high - in fact the same as my other cars - is slightly lost on me.
It is simply the way it delivers power. It's a great car and I love mine. But it does not feel quick and I wouldn't consider it a 'fun' car. If you think that's because I drive everywhere at 2k rpm, then you're welcome to your wrong opinion.
davek_964 said:
How on earth did you interpret what I said to mean that?
To me - and I know I am not the only one from countless other posts - it does not FEEL fast regardless of driving style. If I floor my Cayenne - hardly a McLaren - I feel it surge forward. If I floor the Vantage, it doesn't - even though in reality it accelerates quicker. The Vantage does not feel fast which - for me - makes it disappointing down a twisty road because it doesn't feel like it accelerates out of bends with any urgency.
You seem to have utterly missed my point. I have said that it is pretty quick - even if it was faster than a McLaren (which it obviously isn't) that wouldn't matter. It doesn't 'feel' like a car that accelerates quickly.
How that can be my driving style when I'm revving the car high - in fact the same as my other cars - is slightly lost on me.
It is simply the way it delivers power. It's a great car and I love mine. But it does not feel quick and I wouldn't consider it a 'fun' car. If you think that's because I drive everywhere at 2k rpm, then you're welcome to your wrong opinion.
Lightweight flywheel fitted with new clutch + throttle remap does enable engine to spool up (and down) quicker and make car feel a little more urgent. 4.3 even with the N400 power kit did feel a bit sluggish. To me - and I know I am not the only one from countless other posts - it does not FEEL fast regardless of driving style. If I floor my Cayenne - hardly a McLaren - I feel it surge forward. If I floor the Vantage, it doesn't - even though in reality it accelerates quicker. The Vantage does not feel fast which - for me - makes it disappointing down a twisty road because it doesn't feel like it accelerates out of bends with any urgency.
You seem to have utterly missed my point. I have said that it is pretty quick - even if it was faster than a McLaren (which it obviously isn't) that wouldn't matter. It doesn't 'feel' like a car that accelerates quickly.
How that can be my driving style when I'm revving the car high - in fact the same as my other cars - is slightly lost on me.
It is simply the way it delivers power. It's a great car and I love mine. But it does not feel quick and I wouldn't consider it a 'fun' car. If you think that's because I drive everywhere at 2k rpm, then you're welcome to your wrong opinion.
DW
I agree they aren't very quick but so what . I've really enjoyed my 4.3 since I got it and not once thought it wasn't quick enough .
The most fun I had on the road last year was in a car running around 40- 50 BHP - a 1928 Riley - which is slow by any measure .
The Vantage is my first Aston and I don't know why I haven't looked at them before.
OP good luck with your search - don't do what a lot of people do and spend years trying to find the perfect car - they are all second-hand ....
The most fun I had on the road last year was in a car running around 40- 50 BHP - a 1928 Riley - which is slow by any measure .
The Vantage is my first Aston and I don't know why I haven't looked at them before.
OP good luck with your search - don't do what a lot of people do and spend years trying to find the perfect car - they are all second-hand ....
I lusted after a Vantage for many years, but always found an excuse not to do it. Last year the urge came back so to put the thought to bed once and for all, I booked an Aston experience at Silverstone. Did 12 laps in a black Vantage Sportshift that clearly had a hard life, but for a big car it handled really well. So instead of putting me off, I wanted one even more!
A few months later I popped up to McGurks to see what condition I should expect for an 11 yr old Vantage. I recall walking in thinking “remember, you’re just looking” but 2 hrs later I was driving home with the biggest grin, and collected a 4.3 coupe on my birthday.
I originally wanted a 4.7, partly influenced by the numerous “the 4.3 is slow” comments I’d read, but Matt suggested I try their 4.3 “demo”, and it was plenty quick enough for the roads (in fact it didn’t feel any slower than my old M235i in comfort mode). So decision made. No regrets at all - it just feels so special.
A few months later I popped up to McGurks to see what condition I should expect for an 11 yr old Vantage. I recall walking in thinking “remember, you’re just looking” but 2 hrs later I was driving home with the biggest grin, and collected a 4.3 coupe on my birthday.
I originally wanted a 4.7, partly influenced by the numerous “the 4.3 is slow” comments I’d read, but Matt suggested I try their 4.3 “demo”, and it was plenty quick enough for the roads (in fact it didn’t feel any slower than my old M235i in comfort mode). So decision made. No regrets at all - it just feels so special.
Hi Si, Another TVR owner here who has made the journey to Aston (2007 V8V). I had a 350i followed by a Chimaera 450 and loved them both but as has been said here before SHMBO was getting tired of being subjected to my inner hooligan that always seemed to escape when we went out in theTVR. I had always wanted an Aston and when the opportunity presented itself to make the change I jumped at it with the added bonus that wifey thought it was a great idea (win win!). Having driven both marques now the Aston feels like what TVR will feel like when it grows up! They are both fantastic and I would love to have another TVR but I can’t justify (or afford) both so I’ll stick with my Aston. Mine is low mileage (33k) on original clutch and in nearly three years has only had one wheel bearing and standard servicing at an indi specialist. I use it as a weekend toy but would not hesitate at using daily if I didn’t have a company DD. My advice is go for the best you can afford, find a good indi specialist and keep a small fund for unforeseen issues and enjoy the ownership experience. Cheers G
Thank you everyone for the advice. From a financial point of view, are these holding their money or dropping still? I know you should never buy a car based on depreciation but I’ve lost a fortune on toys over the years. Only my current chimaera will make a little money when/if I take the v8v purchase. Thanks, Si
sifocus said:
Thank you everyone for the advice. From a financial point of view, are these holding their money or dropping still? I know you should never buy a car based on depreciation but I’ve lost a fortune on toys over the years. Only my current chimaera will make a little money when/if I take the v8v purchase. Thanks, Si
Early Vantages bottomed out a while ago and are maintaining value quite well so long as you maintain the car well and dont put another 100k miles on it.I traded in my 2006 Vantage 18 months ago at a main dealer. The trade price I got with 83K miles on it and some work needed was only a couple of grand less to what I had been offered 4 years earlier with 1/2 the miles
Yet another TVR convert here 😀 I looked at V8V nearly 3 years ago but they started at around £30k & I couldn't afford one so I bought a TVR Cerbera Speed 6 instead. Kept this 2 years which included a 2200 mile European trip which was fantastic. When we returned in July I started looking to change it & looked again at V8V only to find prices hadn't really changed. I was lucky enough to sell my Cerb for quite a bit more than I bought it for though which allowed me to find & purchase a 2006 model in Grigio Titanio with decent spec & just over 40k miles. I haven't driven it a lot yet but we've used it on a couple of weekends away & it is a fantastic car, it's not as quick as the Cerb but there's not much in it & I think the Cerb 'felt' quicker than it was because it was so loud. The Aston feels safer, more solid & is obviously much more refined.
Mine has the earlier seats which I don't find are particularly uncomfortable the benefit of it being an earlier car is the RFL is much cheaper.
The Cerb was pretty special to drive & got a lot of attention wherever we went but the Vantage is an Aston Martin & any Aston Martin is a special car to own. Good luck in your search.
Mine has the earlier seats which I don't find are particularly uncomfortable the benefit of it being an earlier car is the RFL is much cheaper.
The Cerb was pretty special to drive & got a lot of attention wherever we went but the Vantage is an Aston Martin & any Aston Martin is a special car to own. Good luck in your search.
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