"sweet spot" Vantage
Discussion
Contrary to the mainstream opinion on this forum, I believe that the "sweet spot" Vantage looks like this:
- 4.3, because of sound
- dark metallic grey (hides aging better than plain black)
- manual gearbox because extinct soon and because SS is an acquired taste
- Fuse22 pulled, much cheaper and less naff than an aftermarket sports exhaust
- black leather interior, which makes it look timeless and less pipe-and-slipper-y than magnolia
- very modest spacers on rear wheels to fill the arches
- DBS taillights , because the red ones make the car look dated
Basically the Tremlini Vantage sans wrapping.
Probably at the very bottom end of the scale, price-wise. 20, 25k GBP? Yes, yes, yes later models are "better" in this and that respect, but for the typical usage, e.g. a 200km blast on the weekend, it does not really matter. These cars are not to win a track race competition, or to compete with chav's souped-up bangers at the traffic lights.
The design is now almost 20 years old, and in this configuration it is really hard to tell.
Yes, most cars are "quicker" or "feel" quicker. But the sound, the design, the timeless aura, and all that for a modest amount of money...that would be my definition of "sweet spot".
(But yes, I do understand that because of the Vantage's low price, it is the go-to car for people switching from lesser brands, and "because Aston Martin", they expect that it should be faster and "be'a" than their previous M3s and all, and that usually leads to disappointment and/or modding, as we can read here often)
- 4.3, because of sound
- dark metallic grey (hides aging better than plain black)
- manual gearbox because extinct soon and because SS is an acquired taste
- Fuse22 pulled, much cheaper and less naff than an aftermarket sports exhaust
- black leather interior, which makes it look timeless and less pipe-and-slipper-y than magnolia
- very modest spacers on rear wheels to fill the arches
- DBS taillights , because the red ones make the car look dated
Basically the Tremlini Vantage sans wrapping.
Probably at the very bottom end of the scale, price-wise. 20, 25k GBP? Yes, yes, yes later models are "better" in this and that respect, but for the typical usage, e.g. a 200km blast on the weekend, it does not really matter. These cars are not to win a track race competition, or to compete with chav's souped-up bangers at the traffic lights.
The design is now almost 20 years old, and in this configuration it is really hard to tell.
Yes, most cars are "quicker" or "feel" quicker. But the sound, the design, the timeless aura, and all that for a modest amount of money...that would be my definition of "sweet spot".
(But yes, I do understand that because of the Vantage's low price, it is the go-to car for people switching from lesser brands, and "because Aston Martin", they expect that it should be faster and "be'a" than their previous M3s and all, and that usually leads to disappointment and/or modding, as we can read here often)
Edited by RMDB9 on Saturday 13th February 07:02
I agree mostly....I think they are 2 sweet spots for the used Vantage buyer depend on style you prefer:
buy the best early 4.3 manual in a grey/black leather
buy the best early 4.7 2012.25 model manual in a grey/black leather
You get 90% of the S upgrades from 2012.25, particularly on a Roadster where sports suspension is standard spec.
My first 2006 Vantage coupe was black, and always looked fantastic when cleaned....for about 24 hours.
My current 2012 Vantage Roadster is manual and tungsten, it never looks as good as black when its cleaned, but it never really looks dirty either, it kinda looks the same most of the time
buy the best early 4.3 manual in a grey/black leather
buy the best early 4.7 2012.25 model manual in a grey/black leather
You get 90% of the S upgrades from 2012.25, particularly on a Roadster where sports suspension is standard spec.
My first 2006 Vantage coupe was black, and always looked fantastic when cleaned....for about 24 hours.
My current 2012 Vantage Roadster is manual and tungsten, it never looks as good as black when its cleaned, but it never really looks dirty either, it kinda looks the same most of the time
Mmm...If I was buying now, id say
4.3 - spend £25k to £32k and you can find some nice examples with <50k miles on them
My logic is you want something well maintained, that does not need a full suspension refresh as it nears 100k miles, but you dont want to pay significantly more for ultra low mileage or few years newer, you dont gain much for your money, other than more depreciation.
4.7 2012 onward start around £45k. No need to spend more than £55k and many will be "S" models at that price, unless you want a specific version like N430. You can find the last cars from 2017 for £70k...but for a used buy at £70k I would be going for a V12, there is too much depreciation still to come out of a 2017 4.7 at £70k whereas the V12 will be older but closer to the bottom of its depreciation curve.
4.3 - spend £25k to £32k and you can find some nice examples with <50k miles on them
My logic is you want something well maintained, that does not need a full suspension refresh as it nears 100k miles, but you dont want to pay significantly more for ultra low mileage or few years newer, you dont gain much for your money, other than more depreciation.
4.7 2012 onward start around £45k. No need to spend more than £55k and many will be "S" models at that price, unless you want a specific version like N430. You can find the last cars from 2017 for £70k...but for a used buy at £70k I would be going for a V12, there is too much depreciation still to come out of a 2017 4.7 at £70k whereas the V12 will be older but closer to the bottom of its depreciation curve.
Yeah, grey is dull. This is the first grey/silver car Ive owned... its Tungsten silver, so it does change colour a bit in sunlight when clean...but its a shade of grey/silver from distance.
I dont love grey cars, its just the practicality. Specifically because the car lives out side and grey is easy to keep clean. I live on a dusty farm lane and all the cars are covered in a fine layer of dust within 24 hours.
If I was buying new and had the garage space, I think I would go for one of the blue or purple colours......
If you are shopping for a value used Aston, you really are not going to have that much choice in colour anyway, you better get used to looking at greys or black
I dont love grey cars, its just the practicality. Specifically because the car lives out side and grey is easy to keep clean. I live on a dusty farm lane and all the cars are covered in a fine layer of dust within 24 hours.
If I was buying new and had the garage space, I think I would go for one of the blue or purple colours......
If you are shopping for a value used Aston, you really are not going to have that much choice in colour anyway, you better get used to looking at greys or black
Bogie, thanks.
Lets stick with that 25k early 4.3. Would a 4.7 be twice as good, when costing twice as much? I dont think so.
The "Aston feeling" can be had at 25k, and I think spending more money will only give a very incremental return, when looking for cars of that period 2000-2015. Of course we are excluding V12s, any kind of really special models/specs etc.
Lets stick with that 25k early 4.3. Would a 4.7 be twice as good, when costing twice as much? I dont think so.
The "Aston feeling" can be had at 25k, and I think spending more money will only give a very incremental return, when looking for cars of that period 2000-2015. Of course we are excluding V12s, any kind of really special models/specs etc.
Edited by RMDB9 on Saturday 13th February 13:07
No....a £50K 4.7 from say 2014 is not twice as good or twice the experience of a £25K 2006 4.3
I loved my 4.3 and it was a great car, relatively few issues over 8 years/83k miles. I always wanted the convertible though, it is a different experience, and hence when the MY 2012 cars came into my budget thats what I changed my 4.3 coupe for. The 4.3 still drove and looked great when I traded it in. The dealer serviced, sorted out the stone chips, put a warranty on it and sold for £30k... a great buy for someone in 2015.
The 40bhp or so difference in the 4.7 is more noticeable in the real world than you imagine, but only in as much as that you can be one gear lower on over takes and more lazy whereas if you want to make progress in a 4.3 you have to use the gearbox, often drop it down 2 gears for an overtake. If you only drive the 4.3 you wont know the difference.....a bit like if you never drive the V12 you wont know what you are missing either
I loved my 4.3 and it was a great car, relatively few issues over 8 years/83k miles. I always wanted the convertible though, it is a different experience, and hence when the MY 2012 cars came into my budget thats what I changed my 4.3 coupe for. The 4.3 still drove and looked great when I traded it in. The dealer serviced, sorted out the stone chips, put a warranty on it and sold for £30k... a great buy for someone in 2015.
The 40bhp or so difference in the 4.7 is more noticeable in the real world than you imagine, but only in as much as that you can be one gear lower on over takes and more lazy whereas if you want to make progress in a 4.3 you have to use the gearbox, often drop it down 2 gears for an overtake. If you only drive the 4.3 you wont know the difference.....a bit like if you never drive the V12 you wont know what you are missing either
I disagree that a 4.3 is a sweet spot purely by choice because of the noise. Both 4.3 and 4.7 sound like a V8 should but with slightly more noise from the 4.3.
Many will say that the 4.7 improved on the common observation that the 4.3 needed some more mid-range. "old" shape, 4.7 with manual gearbox i would say is the sweet spot.
Many will say that the 4.7 improved on the common observation that the 4.3 needed some more mid-range. "old" shape, 4.7 with manual gearbox i would say is the sweet spot.
Totally pointless to list one´s very personal and subjective specification/perception of a V8 Vantage and then defining this personal taste as a so-called “sweet spot”. Obviously this does not propel but will only split the forum.
A serious – but really not new - topic would be like: “Is a 4.7 really worth the premium over the 4.3?”
A serious – but really not new - topic would be like: “Is a 4.7 really worth the premium over the 4.3?”
These are the true essentials that really make the "sweet spot" 
I was having something close to this conversation with a friend who restores classic cars. His view was that 4.3 Vantages are great value, but only if the rear subframe doesn't need doing. In his experience, a 2005 Vantage is likely to need rear subframe rust addressing (remove, powder coat, refit) sooner rather than later, and that expense should, he felt, be factored in to the buying decision. Any views on this issue?
LTP said:
The “sweet spot” for Vantages is the place on the drive where you can park it, wash it and admire it. Doesn’t matter what spec it is, as long as it’s a VH Vantage.
This.... Everyone's tastes are different, I didn't want black pain nor a black interior, to me they are boring and I have a daily driver that black and it's a nightmare to keep clean.
So Meteorite Silver, Tungsten Silver or Grigio Titanio were the outside colours of choice, it had to be tan, powder blue or red inside and it had to have the originals design with the wrap under sills. To my eyes a more rounded design.
I wasn't bothered whether 4.3 or 4.7 and I drove both, the 4.3 is a lazy engine but can be woken up with some select upgrades and remap.
The exhaust note is perfect and I hardly ever have the radio/CD etc playing as it's not required.
On another note I'm already sick of the Golf and Audi drivers constantly pushing for a race at any opportunity they get.
drt30 said:
What were the upgrades on the post 2012 vantage?
Front brakes upgraded to Vantage S size discs and 6-pot calipers. Clearly better brakes but, if running costs are important, it should be noted that these discs (and pads) are much more expensive to replace.Vantage S size tyres: 245/40 & 285/35 versus 235/40 & 275/35.
Vantage S / V12V style front bumper and rear diffuser but (as standard) made of black plastic rather than carbon fibre.
Think that was about it.
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