Discussion
Seriously thinking about changing my Lotus Elise for a vantage, I've owned 997's, Cayman, 430, Evora's etc
Concerned about running costs so what's the deal real world, early car as I'm looking to spend around 30k - 35k
Dad's had DB9's as well a Rapide however I have an expensive house, family so can't justify the spend
Boggy
Concerned about running costs so what's the deal real world, early car as I'm looking to spend around 30k - 35k
Dad's had DB9's as well a Rapide however I have an expensive house, family so can't justify the spend
Boggy
Servicing will cost £700-£1,300 a year depending on what year, where you live, whom you use.
Insurance maybe £1k a year.
Tyres are around £300 each I think.
This website will give you a rough idea of how much parts cost: http://astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantage
MPG maybe 20-25.
It is a more expensive car to run/maintain than an Elise. I'd guess mine costs around £5k a year all in, not including depreciation. I half wish I hadn't worked that out now.
There are many threads that cover this, a few of which:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=756...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=631...
Insurance maybe £1k a year.
Tyres are around £300 each I think.
This website will give you a rough idea of how much parts cost: http://astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantage
MPG maybe 20-25.
It is a more expensive car to run/maintain than an Elise. I'd guess mine costs around £5k a year all in, not including depreciation. I half wish I hadn't worked that out now.
There are many threads that cover this, a few of which:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=756...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=631...
First of all, welcome.
Second, but the book: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=... It will tell you most of what you want to know. Also, get used to the search function. Your question comes up, a lot.
Thirdly, we call it a V8V. The AMV8 was from the '70s & '80s.
Second, but the book: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=... It will tell you most of what you want to know. Also, get used to the search function. Your question comes up, a lot.
Thirdly, we call it a V8V. The AMV8 was from the '70s & '80s.
Running costs for me have been very sensible.
Insurance is @£300 (and I'm not an old duffer!), servicing £600-900 depending on service (major one at year 7 I think), tyres cost what they cost at the time but I've been pretty light on mine, seeing 16k+ from a set.
I spent a little sorting out some snags with belts and a dodgy pick-up sensor when I first got it in 2011, but happy to say it's been cheaper to run than the Mrs' Golf (which drives her mad!)
Insurance is @£300 (and I'm not an old duffer!), servicing £600-900 depending on service (major one at year 7 I think), tyres cost what they cost at the time but I've been pretty light on mine, seeing 16k+ from a set.
I spent a little sorting out some snags with belts and a dodgy pick-up sensor when I first got it in 2011, but happy to say it's been cheaper to run than the Mrs' Golf (which drives her mad!)

Boggy said:
Seriously thinking about changing my Lotus Elise for a vantage, I've owned 997's, Cayman, 430, Evora's etc
Concerned about running costs so what's the deal real world, early car as I'm looking to spend around 30k - 35k
Dad's had DB9's as well a Rapide however I have an expensive house, family so can't justify the spend
Boggy
Boggy,Concerned about running costs so what's the deal real world, early car as I'm looking to spend around 30k - 35k
Dad's had DB9's as well a Rapide however I have an expensive house, family so can't justify the spend
Boggy
I like you came (or about to) from 16 years of 911's as weekend play things to a 2006 V8 (bought in Oct 2008) which I recently replaced for a V12 Vantage!!
I suspect as you'll only use at weekends etc, you'll maybe get through one set of tyres over a 3 maybe 4 year period. That's all I did and at around £225 for Bridgestones not too bad. Insurance well as always that depends on age and where you live , as an example mine only cost me £450 per annum! :-)
Servicing is meant to be 10,000 or annually which ever comes first, but my view of that was only a max 5,000 per annum on expensive fully synthetic oil it can wait 18months and I am sure you could find a good indie near you to keep price down even further!
Personally, I'd look for as later car as you can afford and have it inspected prior to purchase and then obtain that great big smile and respect from other road users that you only seem to get with an Aston :-)
Hope that helps.
My car goes in for it's major service next week, after lurking around on here there was much mention of the fact that main dealers could be haggled with over the set price servicing. Did just that, and right enough negotiated a few hundred off the initial quote, which is always handy to keep in mind when adding up your projected costs.
Boggy
its not £5k every year though...well i guess if you included depreciation and fuel it *could* be if you do 10k miles a year
...the last few years on mine, doing 3K miles a year, its cost me a £550 service , £280 tax (pre March 06 car) ...thats how I justify keeping it for such low mile use these days. I Had some discs n pads for £1k ish and tyres at £1k but not in the same year
tyres are £220-250 a corner, say a grand fitted for a set on avg. Rears every 20K ish, fronts 25-30k miles
brake discs and pads about £500 per axle + fitting and lasting 30k miles ish
of course if you bought a car and need new consumables and service within 12 months you are looking at £2.5-3K ish
..clutch is the biggie for most people..if you are lucky you can get the wear parts replaced for £1200 if it goes, otherwise its a £2k-2.5k job ...im still on the original clutch at 70k miles
Overall Ive had my Vantage since 2007, it cost less most years than I spent on my old Elise and my RS6 wagon...in fact (touch wood!) its been the cheapest car ive had to run in the last 10 years
its not £5k every year though...well i guess if you included depreciation and fuel it *could* be if you do 10k miles a year
...the last few years on mine, doing 3K miles a year, its cost me a £550 service , £280 tax (pre March 06 car) ...thats how I justify keeping it for such low mile use these days. I Had some discs n pads for £1k ish and tyres at £1k but not in the same year
tyres are £220-250 a corner, say a grand fitted for a set on avg. Rears every 20K ish, fronts 25-30k miles
brake discs and pads about £500 per axle + fitting and lasting 30k miles ish
of course if you bought a car and need new consumables and service within 12 months you are looking at £2.5-3K ish
..clutch is the biggie for most people..if you are lucky you can get the wear parts replaced for £1200 if it goes, otherwise its a £2k-2.5k job ...im still on the original clutch at 70k miles
Overall Ive had my Vantage since 2007, it cost less most years than I spent on my old Elise and my RS6 wagon...in fact (touch wood!) its been the cheapest car ive had to run in the last 10 years
Since getting my '07 V8V coupe in December last year, it has cost:
Service - £650 (7-year service at a main dealer)
Tax - £500
Insurance - £220
Tyres - £450 (replaced all 4 as they were old - didn't 'need' to as such)
However, the car still had AM warranty remaining, so I also claimed:
o new rear shocks
o new wiper mechanism (it was clicking)
o new radiator fan assembly (a bit of vibration, which is still there, really)
o new N/S headlamp unit (the washer jet assembly broke away)
o new drivers door window lift assembly (a bit loose/rattly)
o couple of temp sensors
I only used the main dealer for servicing so that I could get the AM warranty stuff done...
Now that the AM warranty has expired, I will probably use Warranty-direct - they have 2 options;
o £1500 expensive option that covers everything, including wear and tear - seems much better than the AM version
o £380 version that covers failures, but garage rates only up to £140/hour (I think)
I don't think AM ownership needs to be that expensive. Older Gaydon cars are pretty reliable and if you are prepared/happy to 'tinker', then you can sort most things out yourself. The main-dealer network relies on people who can afford to buy new/nearly-new cars sending it back to the garage for every little thing. They will then replace anything they can think of and charge accordingly
Feel free to message me direct if you want to chat about anything.
Cheers - Simon
Service - £650 (7-year service at a main dealer)
Tax - £500
Insurance - £220
Tyres - £450 (replaced all 4 as they were old - didn't 'need' to as such)
However, the car still had AM warranty remaining, so I also claimed:
o new rear shocks
o new wiper mechanism (it was clicking)
o new radiator fan assembly (a bit of vibration, which is still there, really)
o new N/S headlamp unit (the washer jet assembly broke away)
o new drivers door window lift assembly (a bit loose/rattly)
o couple of temp sensors
I only used the main dealer for servicing so that I could get the AM warranty stuff done...
Now that the AM warranty has expired, I will probably use Warranty-direct - they have 2 options;
o £1500 expensive option that covers everything, including wear and tear - seems much better than the AM version
o £380 version that covers failures, but garage rates only up to £140/hour (I think)
I don't think AM ownership needs to be that expensive. Older Gaydon cars are pretty reliable and if you are prepared/happy to 'tinker', then you can sort most things out yourself. The main-dealer network relies on people who can afford to buy new/nearly-new cars sending it back to the garage for every little thing. They will then replace anything they can think of and charge accordingly

Feel free to message me direct if you want to chat about anything.
Cheers - Simon
BravoV8V said:
simonpa said:
Tyres - £450 (replaced all 4 as they were old - didn't 'need' to as such)

I would struggle to get a pair of tyres for £450. Out of interest, what tyres have you put on?
Edited by J12KJR on Tuesday 4th November 12:55
BravoV8V said:
simonpa said:
Tyres - £450 (replaced all 4 as they were old - didn't 'need' to as such)

I would struggle to get a pair of tyres for £450. Out of interest, what tyres have you put on?
They are better in the wet than the RE050s, as good in the dry, less noise and more comfortable ride (sidewalls are a little less stiff).
I find them more progressive when pushing on as well.
The RE050s are 10+ year-old technology and I don't think the compound has changed since they first came out.
I've used Kumhos on road and race cars and think they are good VFM, even if stuff like the Pilot Cups and SS are a bit stickier (in the dry).
Just my opinion - I'd rather have a set of new 'good to excellent' tyres and change them every 2-3 years than keep a set of 'optimal' tyres for 4-5 years.
My car is a daily driver and tyres kept outside will degrade a lot quicker than ones kept in a dark garage and only let out for a couple of hours a month.
Cheers - Simon
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