Early V8 Vantage
Discussion
Hi,
Taking a tentative step towards AM.
Currently run a tvr Griffith and a merc sl500.
So I'm quite use to the odd big bill!
Thinking about chopping both in and taking the vantage route.
Will be looking towards the bottom end of the barrel price wise.
Are there any major issues with early cars?
Not really a fan of silver or grey but might not have a choice really.
Any pointers or advice greatfully received.
Taking a tentative step towards AM.
Currently run a tvr Griffith and a merc sl500.
So I'm quite use to the odd big bill!
Thinking about chopping both in and taking the vantage route.
Will be looking towards the bottom end of the barrel price wise.
Are there any major issues with early cars?
Not really a fan of silver or grey but might not have a choice really.
Any pointers or advice greatfully received.
clarkmagpie said:
Hi,
Taking a tentative step towards AM.
Currently run a tvr Griffith and a merc sl500.
So I'm quite use to the odd big bill!
Thinking about chopping both in and taking the vantage route.
Will be looking towards the bottom end of the barrel price wise.
Are there any major issues with early cars?
Not really a fan of silver or grey but might not have a choice really.
Any pointers or advice greatfully received.
Clutch and headlight leds seem to be the biggest gotchas with these cars. Front leds are usually a 1500 headlight replacement job by, although some have managed a repair? Taking a tentative step towards AM.
Currently run a tvr Griffith and a merc sl500.
So I'm quite use to the odd big bill!
Thinking about chopping both in and taking the vantage route.
Will be looking towards the bottom end of the barrel price wise.
Are there any major issues with early cars?
Not really a fan of silver or grey but might not have a choice really.
Any pointers or advice greatfully received.
Clutch you're looking at around £2k. The miles they go? Seems to range from 15k to 70k. From what I've seen the manuals seem to last longer in general. A heavy clutch can be a sign it's go. I believe flooring it in a high gear at Low revs can also identify a worn clutch, if it slips of course
Good luck with your search, they're fantastic cars and really get under the skin. I'm on my second now, only dipped my toe in the water in July last year!
2005 were launch cars, you can tell because the stereo display is yellow. 2006 had some much wanted changes and the best change was for 2007MY year cars. You can tell an '07MY car as the seat stitching goes down the middle of the seat pad to headrest, same as current cars.
If you can, get an '07 onwards car.
No great dramas you cant self fix as you're used to on a TVR. If you're really handy and have a lift and 1/2-1 day spare, clutch too. Save yourself £1.5k of labour.
High miles is zero issue.
If you can, get an '07 onwards car.
No great dramas you cant self fix as you're used to on a TVR. If you're really handy and have a lift and 1/2-1 day spare, clutch too. Save yourself £1.5k of labour.
High miles is zero issue.
Nearest one for sale is over in Newcastle so might try and make an appointment in the new year.
I can only imagine it will be a mix between the tvr and merc.
Which would be good.
I find myself forgetting about the tvr and taking the merc every time.
It does everything easier, not as quick or loud but no drama, no constantly watching gauges, imagining noises, fearing looking the pillock when it doesn't start somewhere!
I can only imagine it will be a mix between the tvr and merc.
Which would be good.
I find myself forgetting about the tvr and taking the merc every time.
It does everything easier, not as quick or loud but no drama, no constantly watching gauges, imagining noises, fearing looking the pillock when it doesn't start somewhere!
Back in 2008 I swapped my Tuscan (after 8 years of ownership) for a 2007 V8 Vantage, OK the Vantage was only 14 months old and so no issues and it was still under manufactures warranty. However I did miss my TIV greatly, there's something very special about TVR's. I would think long and hard about what you are giving up before leaping into an Aston.
Don't get me wrong, Aston's are fantastic cars and beautiful to just sit and look at as I sometimes do. If you do decide it's what you want my advice would be to go for the 2007 model onwards as most niggles had been sorted.
Happy hunting and Merry Christmas
Don't get me wrong, Aston's are fantastic cars and beautiful to just sit and look at as I sometimes do. If you do decide it's what you want my advice would be to go for the 2007 model onwards as most niggles had been sorted.
Happy hunting and Merry Christmas
I did test drive couple year old 3.2s boxter a long time ago and got as far as the road end before taking it back!
You will be right, some cars you either get or you don't.
Every car I've bought I've gelled with instantly.
Bought Elise and rs6 with out actually driving them.
The missus took the Elise out and liked it, good enough for me!
The rs6 was SOR at a garage, owner wouldn't let anyone out till money was exchanged.
But this would be a few steps up the ladder so NEED to make sure!
You will be right, some cars you either get or you don't.
Every car I've bought I've gelled with instantly.
Bought Elise and rs6 with out actually driving them.
The missus took the Elise out and liked it, good enough for me!
The rs6 was SOR at a garage, owner wouldn't let anyone out till money was exchanged.
But this would be a few steps up the ladder so NEED to make sure!
james-witton said:
They're a great team at Newcastle
Give them a ring I'm sure they'll sort a couple of test drives out for you
Maybe in this: https://used.astonmartin.com/en-GB/Search/Details~...Give them a ring I'm sure they'll sort a couple of test drives out for you
Good spec for an early Vantage with Premium Audio and other goodies.
If it helps at all this video gives a good indication of sound and performance of early 4.3 V8's, most videos don't seem to capture the sound quite right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyzU9GjQpPM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyzU9GjQpPM
Edited by NickCW on Sunday 25th December 12:56
There was very little difference in the basic spec of 05 to 08 cars so don't be put off an early car, the extras each car was originally specced with make a far bigger difference. Also any niggles the early cars suffered with were not sorted out by 08, think paint bubbling on the edges of aluminium panels and mirror stalks, O2 sensors, engine thermostat, door modules, can't think of any others. Most early cars will have had these sorted anyway. The clutch is capable of lasting 100k miles, it just depends how it is driven.
The most important aspect to find out before you take the plunge is whether or not the Vantage is capable of replacing the 2 cars you already have. People either get the Vantage or they don't. I've had 2 the current one for 6 years now with no plans to sell, to my eyes there is no better looking car than the early Vantage.
The most important aspect to find out before you take the plunge is whether or not the Vantage is capable of replacing the 2 cars you already have. People either get the Vantage or they don't. I've had 2 the current one for 6 years now with no plans to sell, to my eyes there is no better looking car than the early Vantage.
Bincenzo said:
Have you driven one yet? You need to, because it will be very different to what you're used to.
I disagree. I think the vantage is the closest thing to a v8 TVR I have ever driven. Whether that is a good thing or bad is subjective. However, to me it's a better built, prettier car with very similar driving characteristics. Far from the last word in handling, grip or performance but makes you feel special, v8 noise and positioned up front and (safely) tail happy. Very much reminds me of my old Chimaera. AstonExige said:
clarkmagpie said:
Hi,
Taking a tentative step towards AM.
Currently run a tvr Griffith and a merc sl500.
So I'm quite use to the odd big bill!
Thinking about chopping both in and taking the vantage route.
Will be looking towards the bottom end of the barrel price wise.
Are there any major issues with early cars?
Not really a fan of silver or grey but might not have a choice really.
Any pointers or advice greatfully received.
Clutch and headlight leds seem to be the biggest gotchas with these cars. Front leds are usually a 1500 headlight replacement job by, although some have managed a repair? Taking a tentative step towards AM.
Currently run a tvr Griffith and a merc sl500.
So I'm quite use to the odd big bill!
Thinking about chopping both in and taking the vantage route.
Will be looking towards the bottom end of the barrel price wise.
Are there any major issues with early cars?
Not really a fan of silver or grey but might not have a choice really.
Any pointers or advice greatfully received.
Clutch you're looking at around £2k. The miles they go? Seems to range from 15k to 70k. From what I've seen the manuals seem to last longer in general. A heavy clutch can be a sign it's go. I believe flooring it in a high gear at Low revs can also identify a worn clutch, if it slips of course
Good luck with your search, they're fantastic cars and really get under the skin. I'm on my second now, only dipped my toe in the water in July last year!
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Is the headlight replacement a DIY job or does it need to go to a dealer to do?
OP, sounds like i'm in a very similar situation to you, please keep us updated.
Hello,
I too had a couple of TVRs that at the time I said would be forever. I was lured away from a Chimera by a Cerbera (bigger bills) and I had a Porsche for 10 years (even bigger bills) before the AM. The Porsche was clinical but not a patch on the TVR or AM for sense of occasion.
The AM seems of a similar blood line to the TVR but it's the cleverer more successful older brother, however some people prefer the young cheeky family member as Bincenzo has said you MUST drive a couple (not one) before you decide, that way you will enter into your next decision slightly better informed.
The AM is less raw but I would suggest as equally satisfying.
I would suggest condition not mileage / age / options is the way to approach these.
Sean
I too had a couple of TVRs that at the time I said would be forever. I was lured away from a Chimera by a Cerbera (bigger bills) and I had a Porsche for 10 years (even bigger bills) before the AM. The Porsche was clinical but not a patch on the TVR or AM for sense of occasion.
The AM seems of a similar blood line to the TVR but it's the cleverer more successful older brother, however some people prefer the young cheeky family member as Bincenzo has said you MUST drive a couple (not one) before you decide, that way you will enter into your next decision slightly better informed.
The AM is less raw but I would suggest as equally satisfying.
I would suggest condition not mileage / age / options is the way to approach these.
Sean
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