V8 Vantage Centre Console

[David Ramsbotham]

My 2007 V8V has , what I believe is, the standard centre console, which is effectively just an armrest with a small trinket tray between the seats.
It looks to me as though the 2008 car has a taller assembly with trinket tray more forward and perhaps an opening armrest?
As there are few if any places to store small items in the car I wondered if anyone had thought about retrofitting the later centre console into an earlier car like mine?
Any thoughts, observations and feasibility comments gratefully received.
Thanks, David.

[bogie]

Apparently easy to do, but not cheap unless you can find used parts

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[TR-Spider]

Keep in mind that the raised armrest may sevierly obstruct the manual gear change...
An alternative would be creating compartments on the rear shelf behind the seats.

[David Ramsbotham]

Thank you very much for the responses.

Just need to check gear change issue and look out for some parts that don’t break the bank or look if they have been used for a kick around the yard!

[bogie]

TR-Spider said:

Keep in mind that the raised armrest may sevierly obstruct the manual gear change...
An alternative would be creating compartments on the rear shelf behind the seats.

Why.........will it be different to a factory manual car with the later armrest ? (just trying to imagine it retrofitted to the earlier console)

I have had 2 manuals now with the later centre console and dont experience any issues

[Cold]

Astonmartinbits supply them new made to order to suit your leather colour etc. Lead time of 6-8 weeks.
Not the cheapest thing you'll ever buy, though.

https://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantag...

[David Ramsbotham]

Yes, saw them thanks,but not going to take out a second mortgage at my age!

[drac]

bogie said:

TR-Spider said:

Keep in mind that the raised armrest may sevierly obstruct the manual gear change...
An alternative would be creating compartments on the rear shelf behind the seats.

Why.........will it be different to a factory manual car with the later armrest ? (just trying to imagine it retrofitted to the earlier console)

I have had 2 manuals now with the later centre console and dont experience any issues

I completely agree with you, I read so many comments about the Vantage manual position and the armrest. I don't find anything wrong with it. I think their issues may be due to bad seat and steering wheel position.

I have the steering wheel as high and far towards me as possible, In this position with my hands at 3 & 9 my elbows are clear of the door and centre rest. If I relax my grip slightly then I can rest both arms down. The gear lever is only a small drop away from the wheel and there is nothing to bang my elbow on.

[Graze01]

David

I did exactly this in my 07 V8V

picked up an armrest from a volante - not an exact fit but i made up a piece to fill the gap at the rear of the armrest & the parcel shelf & got the whole thing recovered

needs a few minor mods to the base to screw it into place but nothing drastic

big improvement - and as said above no issue with gear lever

[telum01]

Guess I'm lucky because I love the seating positions I have set in mine. I prefer the early armrest with rear-ward cup holders because I can stick a cup of coffee back there and not have it in my way while driving. No reaching around like I'd have to with the updated armrest. Just my opinion and situation, of course.

[David Ramsbotham]

Graze01, many thanks for photo and installation comments which are very helpful.
Did you just get a local trimmer to do it for you or go back to AML?
Cheers, David

[bogie]

I do use the small foam wedge elbow rest thing in the cup holder, it works well for me.

yes the later console is awkward if you try to actually use the cup holder

[Graze01]

David Ramsbotham said:

Graze01, many thanks for photo and installation comments which are very helpful.
Did you just get a local trimmer to do it for you or go back to AML?
Cheers, David

David

Local trimmer. Too far from here (Brisbane, Aus) to use any U.K. trades people

Happy to send you more photos if you need

Graeme

[David Ramsbotham]

Really appreciate your help Graeme.

To be clear is it just the lid I need to get?

I have seen a somewhat dirty one for sale over here, appears to have an electrical socket and another plug in socket attached to it. Did you come across these and, if so , how did you deal with them?

Sorry to be a pain, cheers, David

[Graze01]

David

its the whole cubby box. Ill take some photos later today for you

I didnt bother with the connections in mine (from a 2010 car) which had to do with ipod connection arent compatible with the07 stereo anyway - I just left them unconnected

photos to follow

Graeme