Thoughts on this V8V Roadster?
Discussion
Beginning to think about changing the cars around and wondered what you think of this V8Vantage Roadster?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Pros for me, I like the colour, I like the idea of an auto as I will use it as an everyday car (and keep the Griff) and being the baby 4.3 isn't a problem (as I will keep the Griff)
What is the price like for a 2007 car? What are the down sides of this age of V8Vantage Roadster?
Thoughts?
R...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Pros for me, I like the colour, I like the idea of an auto as I will use it as an everyday car (and keep the Griff) and being the baby 4.3 isn't a problem (as I will keep the Griff)
What is the price like for a 2007 car? What are the down sides of this age of V8Vantage Roadster?
Thoughts?
R...Lovely colour! 
BUT, it's not an auto...
It'll be a SportShift which is an actuated manual and therefore displays more of the characteristics of a manual than the smoothness of an auto.
Definitely drive a SS box before looking for these based on perceived usability.
BUT, it's not an auto...
It'll be a SportShift which is an actuated manual and therefore displays more of the characteristics of a manual than the smoothness of an auto.
Definitely drive a SS box before looking for these based on perceived usability.
Edited by AdamV8V on Monday 30th June 23:04
Hi Richard,
I did the same and managed to keep my Griff also, but if I am honest I have owned my 4.3 V8 Roadster for a year now and only drove the Griff last week to get the MOT done.
The mileage is nice and low and the benefit of the 4.3 is that lots of the known issues and the fixes can be found on this forum.
I bought my car after the clutch had been done which is goes at circa 20,000 to 30,000 miles lots and lots on here about the life of the clutch!
Doing the "Clutch Learn" every-time you start from cold makes a huge difference to the drive and apparently clutch life, simple procedure so no great hassle.
Also see if there is an oil leak coming from the front of the engine, if there is get this sorted before you buy.
Mine was done twice under warranty and by the last owner just before I bought mine, it's a £1,500 is job.
Also have a listen for belt/bearing noise coming from the front of the engine, a known issue and simple fix.
The SportShift can take a little getting used to as it is a gearbox with actuators pushing and pulling, reverse can be interesting but once you have the hang of the creep mode all is good!
If you want a little more of the Griff sound a set of sports cats are the best way to go, I made the mistake of fitting a lightweight back-box first and then the sports cats and the car is far too tinny.
So the OEM back-box is going back on which means I can also get the benefit of the switch-able valves.
On a standard car most pull out a fuse so they stay open, I had a remote switch fitted so I could decide open or closed, a simple kit that plugs into the fuse.
Take a look at the "Frequently Asked Questions" thread which is pinned 3 from the top of the forum.
So am I happy with my 2008 4.3 V8 Vantage Roadster? Oh yes, very happy!
Regards
Steve
I did the same and managed to keep my Griff also, but if I am honest I have owned my 4.3 V8 Roadster for a year now and only drove the Griff last week to get the MOT done.
The mileage is nice and low and the benefit of the 4.3 is that lots of the known issues and the fixes can be found on this forum.
I bought my car after the clutch had been done which is goes at circa 20,000 to 30,000 miles lots and lots on here about the life of the clutch!
Doing the "Clutch Learn" every-time you start from cold makes a huge difference to the drive and apparently clutch life, simple procedure so no great hassle.
Also see if there is an oil leak coming from the front of the engine, if there is get this sorted before you buy.
Mine was done twice under warranty and by the last owner just before I bought mine, it's a £1,500 is job.
Also have a listen for belt/bearing noise coming from the front of the engine, a known issue and simple fix.
The SportShift can take a little getting used to as it is a gearbox with actuators pushing and pulling, reverse can be interesting but once you have the hang of the creep mode all is good!
If you want a little more of the Griff sound a set of sports cats are the best way to go, I made the mistake of fitting a lightweight back-box first and then the sports cats and the car is far too tinny.
So the OEM back-box is going back on which means I can also get the benefit of the switch-able valves.
On a standard car most pull out a fuse so they stay open, I had a remote switch fitted so I could decide open or closed, a simple kit that plugs into the fuse.
Take a look at the "Frequently Asked Questions" thread which is pinned 3 from the top of the forum.
So am I happy with my 2008 4.3 V8 Vantage Roadster? Oh yes, very happy!
Regards
Steve
Edited by MrBGR on Monday 30th June 23:00
Edited by MrBGR on Monday 30th June 23:01
Thanks to you both. Tell me more about the gearbox then, does this have a clutch peddle or just brake & throttle? Can you drive it like an auto in a traffic jam with your foot on the brake? Truth be told I'm not looking to replicate the Griff, that is what it is and this is intended as a different car.
AdamV8V said:
Have a read of this back over on the TVR forum
Helps if you put the link 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=5&a...
Lovely looking car, the values on these seem to be pretty solid, I was looking at roadsters 3 years ago and it was about this money for a low mile 2008 from a dealer in Glasgow. Pretty much £10k premium on a coupe, sadly for me!
The ASM is an aquired taste, but many here enjoy it - not designed for sitting in traffic I'd suggest though.
There are a few things to watch for on roadsters like gutters / drains getting blocked, and a few people have had a roof module failure too which can be a challenge if you're out and about.
Overall as a 2007 owner - nothing to report, check the service history has been done annually despite the mileage, it should have had 7 services by now.
Oh and make sure you buy the Definitive Guide to AM - sticky at top of forum, it's invaluable for helping buy the right car.
The ASM is an aquired taste, but many here enjoy it - not designed for sitting in traffic I'd suggest though.
There are a few things to watch for on roadsters like gutters / drains getting blocked, and a few people have had a roof module failure too which can be a challenge if you're out and about.
Overall as a 2007 owner - nothing to report, check the service history has been done annually despite the mileage, it should have had 7 services by now.
Oh and make sure you buy the Definitive Guide to AM - sticky at top of forum, it's invaluable for helping buy the right car.
Edited by krisdelta on Monday 30th June 23:28
Price seems good to me for that mileage and the condition looks great, the red stitching works well!
I have just spotted that the garage, Westover Group, is a couple of miles from where I live, they have a good reputation locally, they have looked after one of my cars for 4 years and I am in the process of buying a new car from them at the moment.
With regards to the gearbox basically it has the same pedals as a normal auto; accelerator, brake and has kick-down.
Paddles on the steering wheel allow you to go from auto to manual then a press of the D button returns to auto, R button for reverse, so basically buttons rather than stick!
Yes you can hold the brake in traffic, but if for any amount of time either pressing N or pulling in both the paddles will put the car in neutral, I don't think the creep mode is very clever and this really helps save the clutch.
Spent a few hours, both creeping and static, in Goodwood traffic this weekend and no issues at all!
Occasionally on a steep hill start a little left foot breaking can reduce the load on the clutch and juddering as the power is fed in.
Personally I have got use to it and think it works really well, I am very lucky and my daily driver is a Ranger Rover which is the master of auto waft-ability but getting out of one and in to the other does not cause any drama, they are just different.
Selecting the reverse button can seem a little delayed as can selecting the drive button but you soon get used to it, as I have said it is just different!
If we want the purest driving interaction a manual gearbox gives us then we can take the Griff... ;-)
I have just spotted that the garage, Westover Group, is a couple of miles from where I live, they have a good reputation locally, they have looked after one of my cars for 4 years and I am in the process of buying a new car from them at the moment.
With regards to the gearbox basically it has the same pedals as a normal auto; accelerator, brake and has kick-down.
Paddles on the steering wheel allow you to go from auto to manual then a press of the D button returns to auto, R button for reverse, so basically buttons rather than stick!
Yes you can hold the brake in traffic, but if for any amount of time either pressing N or pulling in both the paddles will put the car in neutral, I don't think the creep mode is very clever and this really helps save the clutch.
Spent a few hours, both creeping and static, in Goodwood traffic this weekend and no issues at all!
Occasionally on a steep hill start a little left foot breaking can reduce the load on the clutch and juddering as the power is fed in.
Personally I have got use to it and think it works really well, I am very lucky and my daily driver is a Ranger Rover which is the master of auto waft-ability but getting out of one and in to the other does not cause any drama, they are just different.
Selecting the reverse button can seem a little delayed as can selecting the drive button but you soon get used to it, as I have said it is just different!
If we want the purest driving interaction a manual gearbox gives us then we can take the Griff... ;-)
Edited by MrBGR on Monday 30th June 23:51
RichB said:
What is the price like for a 2007 car?
There is a near identical car for much the same price at Stratstone Hagley https://used.astonmartin.com/en-GB/Search/Details~...Slightly lower mileage (both very low), slightly better spec (memory seats) but will come with a year's full AML warranty. So looks like the price is about right and might be worth looking at both of these and choosing the one in the best condition.
All Vantages are great cars. But if you usual ride is a TVR a 4.3 may be a bit tame. I went from a Tuscan to a V8 4.3 coupe with manual box and loved the car, but it was very slow compared to Tuscan. After a few years I changed to a V8 4.7, sportshift 2 roadster. Great car, but sportshift was crap for parking, it would randomly lurch forward and you had to do a clutch learn procedure every time you started the car.
Also, the roadster seemed to look small (my wife said it looked like a girls car) compared to my 4.3 coupe. I now have a manual V12V coupe and all is well, not a single issue other than the usual squeaky brakes and the fact I would like a bit more power.
Also, the roadster seemed to look small (my wife said it looked like a girls car) compared to my 4.3 coupe. I now have a manual V12V coupe and all is well, not a single issue other than the usual squeaky brakes and the fact I would like a bit more power.
I'd be tempted by a higher mileage 4.7 at that money, something like this (although there are others) which also has all the right toys........
http://used.astonmartin.com/en-GB/Search/Details~c...
http://used.astonmartin.com/en-GB/Search/Details~c...
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