4.3 to 4.7 Vantage, a couple of weeks in....
Discussion
After nearly 5 years of ownership I’ve recently replaced my 4.3 Vantage (2006/55, 40k miles) with a 4.7 Vantage (2009’09, 24k miles).
The cars look almost identical – very similar spec inside and out. I really would’ve liked a bit more visual change, but it was the right car and has been very well looked after by the previous owner. It wasn’t advertised for sale (I bought it from a forum member). A few compare/contrast observations below for anyone considering doing similar:
Engine/mechanicals:
• Exhaust note - very similar….I can’t tell the difference!
• Tickover - engine itself seems a little louder on tickover.
• Gearbox - gearshift is noticeably lighter/less notchy.
• Suspension/steering - better composed (4.3 also used to give a slight kickback/loose feeling occasionally, which AM told me was normal).
• Ride - might be my imagination, but 4.7 ride seems a bit harder.
• Performance - the main reason for going for the 4.7. The extra power and torque really transforms the car – it feels much more lively.
Interior:
• Sat nav - less fiddly, and better to use (but still fairly rubbish!).
• Hi-Fi - I’ve only got the standard hi-fi now, not the premium which I had last time. I guess I can tell the difference, but it wouldn’t sway me for/against selecting a particular car.
• Bluetooth - a bit of a let down: I thought I’d be able to stream music through it, but seems that I can only use it for the phone (happy to be corrected on this!).
• Dash - I preferred the simpler look of the 2006 style dash with the 3 aluminium dials. Piano black looks smart though.
• Seats - later style seats are a bit more comfortable/hugging.
• Other stuff – a few later features which are quite useful (e.g. cubby box, steering wheel stereo controls etc).
My 4.3 was a superb and trouble-free ownership experience (hence my replacing it with another Vantage), but the performance hike of the 4.7 makes it feel significantly sportier. Most of the other changes are marginal, and I’d say it’s a fairly similar ownership experience so far. I’ve read elsewhere that the 4.7 makes the Vantage “the car that the 4.3 should’ve been”, and I’d tend to agree with that.
For anyone currently contemplating a V8 Vantage....they're fantastic cars in any guise. If your budget is the 4.3, buy it and enjoy it. If your budget is the 4.7, buy it and enjoy it a little bit more
...
The cars look almost identical – very similar spec inside and out. I really would’ve liked a bit more visual change, but it was the right car and has been very well looked after by the previous owner. It wasn’t advertised for sale (I bought it from a forum member). A few compare/contrast observations below for anyone considering doing similar:
Engine/mechanicals:
• Exhaust note - very similar….I can’t tell the difference!
• Tickover - engine itself seems a little louder on tickover.
• Gearbox - gearshift is noticeably lighter/less notchy.
• Suspension/steering - better composed (4.3 also used to give a slight kickback/loose feeling occasionally, which AM told me was normal).
• Ride - might be my imagination, but 4.7 ride seems a bit harder.
• Performance - the main reason for going for the 4.7. The extra power and torque really transforms the car – it feels much more lively.
Interior:
• Sat nav - less fiddly, and better to use (but still fairly rubbish!).
• Hi-Fi - I’ve only got the standard hi-fi now, not the premium which I had last time. I guess I can tell the difference, but it wouldn’t sway me for/against selecting a particular car.
• Bluetooth - a bit of a let down: I thought I’d be able to stream music through it, but seems that I can only use it for the phone (happy to be corrected on this!).
• Dash - I preferred the simpler look of the 2006 style dash with the 3 aluminium dials. Piano black looks smart though.
• Seats - later style seats are a bit more comfortable/hugging.
• Other stuff – a few later features which are quite useful (e.g. cubby box, steering wheel stereo controls etc).
My 4.3 was a superb and trouble-free ownership experience (hence my replacing it with another Vantage), but the performance hike of the 4.7 makes it feel significantly sportier. Most of the other changes are marginal, and I’d say it’s a fairly similar ownership experience so far. I’ve read elsewhere that the 4.7 makes the Vantage “the car that the 4.3 should’ve been”, and I’d tend to agree with that.
For anyone currently contemplating a V8 Vantage....they're fantastic cars in any guise. If your budget is the 4.3, buy it and enjoy it. If your budget is the 4.7, buy it and enjoy it a little bit more
...Edited by johnnyBv8 on Thursday 27th October 09:15
Interesting reading.
A bit more interior storage space would definitely be nice, and I do think the lack of stereo control on the steering wheel is a bit surprising on my 4.3. Agree with the centre console being nicer on the 4.3.
I do have moments when I think I should look at 4.7s again - it would be nicer to have a newer car if my Aston ownership is going to be long term, plus of course the extra power.
There are a few things from the 4.3 I'd miss, but I really should browse the classifieds occasionally just in case the right car tempted me!
ETA : Bluetooth sounds the same as in my 4.3.
A bit more interior storage space would definitely be nice, and I do think the lack of stereo control on the steering wheel is a bit surprising on my 4.3. Agree with the centre console being nicer on the 4.3.
I do have moments when I think I should look at 4.7s again - it would be nicer to have a newer car if my Aston ownership is going to be long term, plus of course the extra power.
There are a few things from the 4.3 I'd miss, but I really should browse the classifieds occasionally just in case the right car tempted me!
ETA : Bluetooth sounds the same as in my 4.3.
I've just done the same, but after driving several i decided going from a 2005 to a 2009 didnt feel a significant enough change.
I went for a 2012 v8 vantage in the end, with the 's' tweaks- brakes and steering being the most notable dynamically, these made a big impression on me on testing.
I've barely driven it yet, but very pleased so far. Its all a personal choice, and all are great cars. It really is a slippery slope though, and you have to draw a budget line somewhere!
I went for a 2012 v8 vantage in the end, with the 's' tweaks- brakes and steering being the most notable dynamically, these made a big impression on me on testing.
I've barely driven it yet, but very pleased so far. Its all a personal choice, and all are great cars. It really is a slippery slope though, and you have to draw a budget line somewhere!
Edited by gibbon on Wednesday 26th October 18:12
gibbon said:
I've just done the same, but after driving several i decided going from a 2005 to a 2009 didnt feel a significant enough change.
I went for a 2012 v8 vantage in the end, with the 's' tweaks- brakes and steering being the most notable dynamically, these made a big impression on me on testing.
I've barely driven it yet, but very pleased so far. Its all a personal choice, and all are great cars. It really is a slippery slope though, and you have to draw a budget line somewhere!
Quite a few people replacing Vantages with Vantages! Is the performance difference what you expected?I went for a 2012 v8 vantage in the end, with the 's' tweaks- brakes and steering being the most notable dynamically, these made a big impression on me on testing.
I've barely driven it yet, but very pleased so far. Its all a personal choice, and all are great cars. It really is a slippery slope though, and you have to draw a budget line somewhere!
Edited by gibbon on Wednesday 26th October 18:12
TKP said:
johnnyBv8 said:
• Other stuff – a few later features which are quite useful (e.g. cubby box, steering wheel stereo controls etc).
The keys? ECU is silly but the Fiesta key is worse...johnnyBv8 said:
Quite a few people replacing Vantages with Vantages! Is the performance difference what you expected?
I've not driven it much to be honest, maybe 30 miles. I will try to get some miles done this weekend and will have a better idea, but basically i just felt like the later you went with the cars, the better they felt. I dont know really how much of that is the 'tightness' of the new cars, but i feel like every interface was just improved. 2012 year steering and brakes i really notice a big difference. Suspension/damping also feels better, firmer with less roll yet somehow less crashy over bumps, i guess this is improved damping. Gearshifts got tighter and sweeter too.Seats are improved too i think, but again, theres an element of newness to this I think.
Torque and power i think is noticeably better, particularly low end torque feels much better.
I was tempted by an 's', but it would have been another 10k over what i went for, and for me, the 2012 v8 I found had so much of the 's' character, bar the exhaust (easily changed i guess), and at the price i paid, it made great sense to me.
Edited by gibbon on Wednesday 26th October 22:40
johnnyBv8 said:
Bit undecided on the ECU - annoying it wont go on a keyring!
Seriously, I just picked up my brand new car a few weeks ago, and this, combined with the tracker tag also have to carry around with me everywhere, just made me think "Really? Did you guys think this through at all?".Of course.. they did. They will happily sell you a lovely little leather case to place your ECU in, with a built in keyring. For a hundred quid or so.
The tracker tag thing makes my blood boil. Does it _really_ have to be the size it is? Could it not be built into the absurdly sized "key"?
The salesman gave the ECU the big up-sell, of course.. But, bottom line; it's been dropped for new models, so we're all on the same page, I think
hashluck said:
That would somewhat defeat the object.
I actually like the "key" and the small sense of start up theatre that goes with it.
Yeah I guess so. I suppose the optimal solution is for it to be integrated into an iphone or android app. That would work (well, most of the time.. I forget my phone about as often as I forget my tracker tag!)I actually like the "key" and the small sense of start up theatre that goes with it.
I know what you mean re the sense of theatre, but it's just not practical.
Edit: The tracker tag should, _at the very least_ be "flat" enough to fit into a wallet, i.e. it needs the profile of a credit card, imho.
johnnyBv8 said:
Yes, I guess that's the same with almost any car though - newer tend to feel better. Just depends when you want to stop spending! I really meant the difference in performance 4.3 to 4.7...
Sorry, my comments were a bit rambling. My comments were about 4.3 to 4.7, apart from the steering and brakes stuff. RampantArmadillo said:
hashluck said:
That would somewhat defeat the object.
I actually like the "key" and the small sense of start up theatre that goes with it.
Yeah I guess so. I suppose the optimal solution is for it to be integrated into an iphone or android app. That would work (well, most of the time.. I forget my phone about as often as I forget my tracker tag!)I actually like the "key" and the small sense of start up theatre that goes with it.
I know what you mean re the sense of theatre, but it's just not practical.
Edit: The tracker tag should, _at the very least_ be "flat" enough to fit into a wallet, i.e. it needs the profile of a credit card, imho.
I really like the ECU (apart from the very silly name!), it's the sense of occasion it engenders every time I get in the car, though I'm still reaching for an imaginary key when I come to switch it off!
A case is absolutely essential; drop on a hard surface & chances are you'll shatter the glass & then you're staring down the barrel of a £1000 replacement!!!!
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