Speedbird One - My return to Aston Ownership
Discussion
About 14 months ago I made the pathetically stupid error of selling my 2006 V8V Manual Coupe. What followed was over a year of very genuine mourning! I replaced it with a Mercedes E350 Convertible, but I couldn't warm to it. My neighbour, Mark (another PH forumite known as jibberingloon) also has a V8V and mercilessly mocked and chastised me (quite rightly) for pretty much all of 2019. Every time he drove past with his annoying smug grin plastered all over his horrible face I lambasted myself for the worst of all life decisions I'd ever made! Then in November...my wife announced she was pregnant with our first child. A 4x4 or people carrier loomed. What remained of my pride was going to be lost on the school run in Dacia Duster or Nissan Qashqai. NO. JUST NO.
During that fateful year I had spent many an hour on Piston Heads and Autotrader looking for something to replace the empty void within my heart and soul. Drinking wouldn't numb the pain, should I turn to hard drugs? Maybe S&M? Then, finally, winded from the news of our very welcome and much loved future arrival, I decided enough was enough. It was time to have my own baby too.It was now or never. As luck would have it, I found an obscenely cheap 2008 V8V Roadster with Sportshift on Autotrader. It seemed too good to be true, but as it was just over an hours drive away I thought I'd go and see it anyway. It was a private seller, a man who obviously had an addiction to motoring, but perhaps not to the same sort of taste as me! The car had been wrapped in matte black with matte read 'highlights'. The black grille had been fitted and the OEM wheels had been dipped to match the body. It takes all sorts, and I'm sure many here will be fond of the style, but it's not for me. To my amazement the car was structurally and mechanically sound, with just one or two minor technical issues to resolve - a jammed SatNav unit and a pesky DSC Service Required light accompanied by Traction Control Failure. Otherwise, the car was in fine shape. It had been used, it had just over 80,000 miles on the clock, but it had obviously been well cared for and had a full service history. I still had my reservations due to the price, but after doing my man maths I purchased it there and then. I figured that with the money I saved I could spend a lot on making it truly mine and have reserves for any future issues that might arise.
The drive home was even better than the first time I purchased an Aston. I know many people aren't fond of the Sports Shift, but having owned both I actually prefer it. It certainly takes some getting used to, but once you've learned what makes it tick, it's hard to stop smiling. I've used my last Aston as a daily driver and will do the same with this one. With that in mind the SS has really made life less tiring when I'm stuck in traffic on the M25 on my commute to Heathrow.
So, here she is, as I bought her, not only my daily drive but also my project car:
Pre-wrap
With the help of Mark (jibberingloon) I immediately set to work on making changes. The first task of the many I have planned was to take off the red wrap on side strakes and the front and rear lips. I purchased some updated OEM 19 inch wheels and replaced the originals and also replaced the grille which had been wrapped matte black with the original silver one. This is what she looks like today:
As a dedicated and misguided tinkerer I have an awful lot I want to do to the car. I plan to make it very unique whilst also retaining true Aston Martin style. I've got some very exciting projects lined up for it will I'll be sure to document along the way on this thread. I don't want to talk too much about some of them as they're rather ambitious and might not work out, but the eventual aim is to make the car my own 'Special Edition'. At some point that will include a respray or change of wrap and a total internal retrim.
Two of my major passions in this world are cars and aviation. I'm very lucky to fly for a living for a certain Big Airline. Partly inspired by the recent Concorde Special Edition DBS I've decided to follow a similar theme myself, so I'm calling the car 'Speedbird One' which is the historic callsign of British Airways Concorde and is now also used as the callsign for our special Business Class only service from London City to New York JFK which is operated by the aircraft I currently fly.
During that fateful year I had spent many an hour on Piston Heads and Autotrader looking for something to replace the empty void within my heart and soul. Drinking wouldn't numb the pain, should I turn to hard drugs? Maybe S&M? Then, finally, winded from the news of our very welcome and much loved future arrival, I decided enough was enough. It was time to have my own baby too.It was now or never. As luck would have it, I found an obscenely cheap 2008 V8V Roadster with Sportshift on Autotrader. It seemed too good to be true, but as it was just over an hours drive away I thought I'd go and see it anyway. It was a private seller, a man who obviously had an addiction to motoring, but perhaps not to the same sort of taste as me! The car had been wrapped in matte black with matte read 'highlights'. The black grille had been fitted and the OEM wheels had been dipped to match the body. It takes all sorts, and I'm sure many here will be fond of the style, but it's not for me. To my amazement the car was structurally and mechanically sound, with just one or two minor technical issues to resolve - a jammed SatNav unit and a pesky DSC Service Required light accompanied by Traction Control Failure. Otherwise, the car was in fine shape. It had been used, it had just over 80,000 miles on the clock, but it had obviously been well cared for and had a full service history. I still had my reservations due to the price, but after doing my man maths I purchased it there and then. I figured that with the money I saved I could spend a lot on making it truly mine and have reserves for any future issues that might arise.
The drive home was even better than the first time I purchased an Aston. I know many people aren't fond of the Sports Shift, but having owned both I actually prefer it. It certainly takes some getting used to, but once you've learned what makes it tick, it's hard to stop smiling. I've used my last Aston as a daily driver and will do the same with this one. With that in mind the SS has really made life less tiring when I'm stuck in traffic on the M25 on my commute to Heathrow.
So, here she is, as I bought her, not only my daily drive but also my project car:
Pre-wrap
With the help of Mark (jibberingloon) I immediately set to work on making changes. The first task of the many I have planned was to take off the red wrap on side strakes and the front and rear lips. I purchased some updated OEM 19 inch wheels and replaced the originals and also replaced the grille which had been wrapped matte black with the original silver one. This is what she looks like today:
As a dedicated and misguided tinkerer I have an awful lot I want to do to the car. I plan to make it very unique whilst also retaining true Aston Martin style. I've got some very exciting projects lined up for it will I'll be sure to document along the way on this thread. I don't want to talk too much about some of them as they're rather ambitious and might not work out, but the eventual aim is to make the car my own 'Special Edition'. At some point that will include a respray or change of wrap and a total internal retrim.
Two of my major passions in this world are cars and aviation. I'm very lucky to fly for a living for a certain Big Airline. Partly inspired by the recent Concorde Special Edition DBS I've decided to follow a similar theme myself, so I'm calling the car 'Speedbird One' which is the historic callsign of British Airways Concorde and is now also used as the callsign for our special Business Class only service from London City to New York JFK which is operated by the aircraft I currently fly.
Hi A320Martin.... The best of luck with the car and baby! I found here and on 6speed that most owners of three peddle cars do not use
as much as owners of the ASM or sport Shift.. I am sure there are exceptions.
I bought 09 Vantage coupe three years ago --- with sport package in Fire red color-ASM1 trans and still on original clutch with over 43000 miles on it now. I have put 18000 miles plus in three years.
I often take the car up to speeds that would be a ticket if caught.
I have found on my Aston never drive till the engine goes under 1000 rpms at warm up and never take over 3500-4000 rpms till completely at operating temp.
I wish you the best with the new family first and the car second,
as much as owners of the ASM or sport Shift.. I am sure there are exceptions.
I bought 09 Vantage coupe three years ago --- with sport package in Fire red color-ASM1 trans and still on original clutch with over 43000 miles on it now. I have put 18000 miles plus in three years.
I often take the car up to speeds that would be a ticket if caught.
I have found on my Aston never drive till the engine goes under 1000 rpms at warm up and never take over 3500-4000 rpms till completely at operating temp.
I wish you the best with the new family first and the car second,
Looking forward to seeing how this progresses
This group on Facebook may be of interest for modding
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2377398852318829/
Lee
This group on Facebook may be of interest for modding
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2377398852318829/
Lee
Edited by morty1961 on Thursday 9th January 08:09
morty1961 said:
Looking forward to seeing how this progresses
This group on Facebook may be of interest for modding
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2377398852318829/
Lee
Interesting Group!This group on Facebook may be of interest for modding
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2377398852318829/
Lee
Edited by morty1961 on Thursday 9th January 08:09
I may just join out of interest myself!
RSbandit said:
Great post I too was in a similar situation when babies arrived I convinced the missus that if we were gonna have a fairly mundane SUV I needed a fun car for myself ... good luck with the project!
When I found out my wife was pregnant I picked up a Lotus Evora for me and an Octavia vRS for her after we tested about a dozen dreadful SUVs before the local Skoda dealership got their act together and got us a test drive. Evora has a child seat fitted in the back so regularly use it for nursery pickups, normally gets a few comments.
Should take the Vantage up to get him sometimes too, but the noise might scare the other kids.
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