2005-7 VanquishS (or SDP) - future classic?
Discussion
While they're not strictly comparable but given how the market for DB2/4, 5's 6, has skyrocketed, I'm considering an original Vanquish S as an investment to put in storage but also to use for the odd weekend trip. I've driven a standard Vanquish and I'm smitten. I've also noticed two SDP models are AM and at Nick Mees which have the upgrades bar the engine.
I've bought the book but I'd value any other advice or guidance.
Thanks
Jeremy
I've bought the book but I'd value any other advice or guidance.
Thanks
Jeremy
yes what rob just said. i am lucky enough to own what you are looking for and all i can say is they are glorious machines to both look at and to drive.
there are more issues with the early ones but a later S is pretty much sorted but have it inspected anyway wherever you buy it from. rotten chassis is just one thing to ruin your day.
all resolvable but never too cheap.
they have in recent years gone up considerably though and still rising as many disappear into collections, sadly many to never be seen again. As they are capital gains tax free at present and as bank rates are so rubbish, they along with many other cars are now owned by people that will never fully appreciate them. Please don't be another.
stick a sports box on it and they are pure theatre.
there are more issues with the early ones but a later S is pretty much sorted but have it inspected anyway wherever you buy it from. rotten chassis is just one thing to ruin your day.
all resolvable but never too cheap.
they have in recent years gone up considerably though and still rising as many disappear into collections, sadly many to never be seen again. As they are capital gains tax free at present and as bank rates are so rubbish, they along with many other cars are now owned by people that will never fully appreciate them. Please don't be another.
stick a sports box on it and they are pure theatre.
The Vanquish/S (2001-2007) is already a classic and the best modern Aston Martin you can get for investment... and driving experience 
Why the Vanquish (and especially the S) could be considered as the "next DB5" ?
- its timeless design mixing charisma and sexiness
- the last ever of Newport Pagnell factory since the DB4 in 1958
- only 2578 ever made (1086 of them were Vanquish S), so a pretty rare car
- in the case of the S, more than 200 MPH of top speed, one of the fastest AM ever
- one of the most beautiful engine sounds ever, no other modern V12 Aston can beat it
- a very raw car without DSC, only a limited slip differential and traction control, pure driving experience
- the gearbox is not an automatic with torque converter, it is a manual with electro-hydraulic clutch, which allows you to feel greatly the car while changing gears
- iconic status because the Vanquish back in 2001 was a complete new model
- it announced the following models of the current range
- while all new modern Aston are good cars, they all look like the same
- the new Vanquish 2013/2015 (which, to me, doesn't deserve the name at all...) remains a "tuned" DB9 2013, not at all a new model as the Vanquish was 14 years ago
- it was mixing craftsmanship and modern technologies
- it appeared in James Bond "Die Another Day" in 2002
The Vanquish/S (2001-2007) will remain as one of the most iconic Aston Martin ever made.
People are realizing more and more that the Vanquish is something quiet special.
Many have been criticizing the gearbox while 99% of them never sat in a Vanquish (I repeat that many times on other forums but that's so true).
The early models might have suffered a bit from the clutch because of the lack of magnetic sensors but that was added later. Besides, only the S clutch is available since 2005, as a replacement part.
I can confirm here that the gearbox works perfectly fine if you know how to drive it. In fact, it works as a F1 Ferrari gearbox, the system is the same.
One of my friends who owns a 2002 Vanquish since new, currently has 45 000 miles with his S clutch, and it is only worn at 50% so you can see how long it can last.
Prices in the UK and rest of Europe are firming up.
It's becoming more and more difficult to find a Vanquish S.
No doubt that the value will keep on increasing over the next years.
I think any car enthusiast would fall in love with the Vanquish at the first driving.
The way it drives, the way it sounds, the way it looks… this car is just MAGICAL !!!
Definitely, if you can get a late (2006 & 2007) Vanquish S, that's the best you could do.
Some pictures of our '07 S, the one shown at Geneva Motorshow 2007
Why the Vanquish (and especially the S) could be considered as the "next DB5" ?
- its timeless design mixing charisma and sexiness
- the last ever of Newport Pagnell factory since the DB4 in 1958
- only 2578 ever made (1086 of them were Vanquish S), so a pretty rare car
- in the case of the S, more than 200 MPH of top speed, one of the fastest AM ever
- one of the most beautiful engine sounds ever, no other modern V12 Aston can beat it
- a very raw car without DSC, only a limited slip differential and traction control, pure driving experience
- the gearbox is not an automatic with torque converter, it is a manual with electro-hydraulic clutch, which allows you to feel greatly the car while changing gears
- iconic status because the Vanquish back in 2001 was a complete new model
- it announced the following models of the current range
- while all new modern Aston are good cars, they all look like the same
- the new Vanquish 2013/2015 (which, to me, doesn't deserve the name at all...) remains a "tuned" DB9 2013, not at all a new model as the Vanquish was 14 years ago
- it was mixing craftsmanship and modern technologies
- it appeared in James Bond "Die Another Day" in 2002
The Vanquish/S (2001-2007) will remain as one of the most iconic Aston Martin ever made.
People are realizing more and more that the Vanquish is something quiet special.
Many have been criticizing the gearbox while 99% of them never sat in a Vanquish (I repeat that many times on other forums but that's so true).
The early models might have suffered a bit from the clutch because of the lack of magnetic sensors but that was added later. Besides, only the S clutch is available since 2005, as a replacement part.
I can confirm here that the gearbox works perfectly fine if you know how to drive it. In fact, it works as a F1 Ferrari gearbox, the system is the same.
One of my friends who owns a 2002 Vanquish since new, currently has 45 000 miles with his S clutch, and it is only worn at 50% so you can see how long it can last.
Prices in the UK and rest of Europe are firming up.
It's becoming more and more difficult to find a Vanquish S.
No doubt that the value will keep on increasing over the next years.
I think any car enthusiast would fall in love with the Vanquish at the first driving.
The way it drives, the way it sounds, the way it looks… this car is just MAGICAL !!!
Definitely, if you can get a late (2006 & 2007) Vanquish S, that's the best you could do.
Some pictures of our '07 S, the one shown at Geneva Motorshow 2007
it isnt the clutch thats the issue really no more than any other aston using the same hydraulic unit. the original box had springy wires and potentiometers inside to allow the control unit to understand where the shift was at any given point. these wore out and gave false information or no information resulting in the controller giving up the ghost and dropping you into neutral for safety reasons. they later changed this sensing to magnets and coils which didnt have any wear issues, the first lot later being changed to stronger ones. no wear meant the controller always knew where the shift was and what position the clutch was in.
the ferrari at the time with the same box never had the issues as they bought the whole package from the gearbox company where as aston didnt and developed their own. not too well of course as is well known now. it was a cost issue.
the clutches are fine, you just need to understand this will operate on its own so you dont have the same feedback as a pedal where you feel the slip. if you sit in traffic at about 1100 revs you can be constantly sat on the bite point and your clutch wear will magnify. many owners didnt understand this and hence a fair few clutches didnt last too long. later clutches were improved but the same actual issue exists. its how you drive them.
the great news is to sort the problems is not a hard job and when sorted, they stay sorted. i actually doubt by now there are too many that havent been done.
the rotting chassis is to do with electrolysis between metals i was told.a bit random i grant you. again. easy to spot, it can be resolved.
lovely cars as can be seen with Armens pictures.
the ferrari at the time with the same box never had the issues as they bought the whole package from the gearbox company where as aston didnt and developed their own. not too well of course as is well known now. it was a cost issue.
the clutches are fine, you just need to understand this will operate on its own so you dont have the same feedback as a pedal where you feel the slip. if you sit in traffic at about 1100 revs you can be constantly sat on the bite point and your clutch wear will magnify. many owners didnt understand this and hence a fair few clutches didnt last too long. later clutches were improved but the same actual issue exists. its how you drive them.
the great news is to sort the problems is not a hard job and when sorted, they stay sorted. i actually doubt by now there are too many that havent been done.
the rotting chassis is to do with electrolysis between metals i was told.a bit random i grant you. again. easy to spot, it can be resolved.
lovely cars as can be seen with Armens pictures.
The original LUK clutch in the V12 is arguably better than the first S clutches (but no longer available) as AP Driveline who made the S clutch had many production (and Company) problems (and I believe the LUK plate used materials now banned by the EU).
Edited by V8LM on Sunday 13th September 10:43
Vee12V said:
@Armen Stunning car, possibly the nicest specced I've seen so far.
Agreed! Though the steering wheel is obviously on the wrong side.Stunning car and, yes, solid gold investment.
After originally trying to convince my dad to get himself a DB7 Vantage I'm now going to try the Vanquish approach. He did say he wanted his next car to be "something special"...
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