V8 Vantage As an everyday car

[M-J-B]

I've been down the Boxster S and 996 route some time ago. I then had a 4.8iS X5 and for the last three years a 535D (please don't laugh, they are good cars!).

I'm now looking around again and to be honest thought 997 C2S, or maybe even a 997 Turbo. Money around £50k for a C2S more for a turbo.

But........I've always looked at Aston Martin cars and thought.....one day.

If I wanted to spend say £50k on a V8 Vantage, with all the horror stories I hear via the neighbours dogs mates friends uncle, will they do the job? I know it's a stupid question, but would it be good for say 12,000 mpa?

What age car do you think I should look for?

I would also like to know (although I'll test drive of course) your thoughts re auto v manual. I have the BMW SAT which changes gear in a micro second (bit like SMG, but much smoother). Is the auto ok on a daily basis, is it an old system, will I read a book before it changes gears? I know for example I couldn't live with the previous Porsche Tip as it was, quite frankly rubbish.

Can you also suggest what options I might look for? I assume leather etc. Is a given, what about Bose, heated seats, ipod, memory seats etc etc.

I have done some searching, but real ice responses are always best.

Cheers guys

[GlynMo]

Try http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... as a starting point.

[M-J-B]

GlynMo said:

Try http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... as a starting point.

Thanks Glyn

Any thoughts re the auto box, warranty or options?

[GlynMo]

M-J-B said:

GlynMo said:

Try http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... as a starting point.

Thanks Glyn

Any thoughts re the auto box, warranty or options?

The answers to most of your questions are personal to the individual. I personally don't like the flappy paddles, but I'd have manual any time over auto/paddles. I've not (yet) had to consider an extended warranty - I'm undecided as to whether I'll buy it when the time comes, but I'd definitely want it on a used car I was buying. Options: leather, Sportspack, satnav (it's not the best, but not as bad as some would have you believe!), cruise control, bluetooth are the only essential extras for me. A lot of buyers want the up-graded hifi but the standard one is good enough for a car (which isn't an ideal music environment anyway) imo, and you'll find you listen to the car more than music anyway! The Sportspack is most definitely worth searching out.

[Guycord]

I think the only option which really matters is the Sportspack as it significantly firms-up the ride (not hard but more controlled). The rest I think is really neither here nor there.

Manual / Flappy - personal choice.
Heated seats - nice in the winter.
Cruise control - handy for not losing your licence on motorways
Bluetooth - may be borderline to find BT installed on cars in your indicated price range i.e 07's (some may be installed with a GSM telephone instead of BT)
SatNav - Not the best in AM's but not many made without it. Volvo upgrade discs improve the system considerably
Leather - standard on the whole range. Make sure you have a colour combo you can live with.
Stereo - 160 or 700W. Not much difference when you have 380,000W sound maker under the bonnet.


G

[mikey k]

I'd try for a 4.7 if you can, cosmetically very little change, but under neath 40 BHP more and associated torque increase, revised suspension (basically the N400 setup) and updated software to the sportshift gearbox.
When I was looking I was fixed on a manual, even with the heavy clutch and gearbox. I found it limited my choice as ~70% of the roadsters are sportshift.
So I tried one.
I have driven DSG, PDK, CC and traditional "autos" and had varying success with them. The sport shift I got in 3 gearchanges. Don't use it in comfort (unless you are feeling really lazy) and back off the throttle slightly as you change up. Works a dream in that mode. It will not change up until you tell it to and it will not change down unless it thinks you are about to stall the engine. The newer software in the 4.7 will not change mid corner either.

As to other options there aren't too many that make a difference. Many are cosmetic.
Sports pack if you do like to "press on"
700W Audio is nice and alot better than stock.

[Speedraser]

Just to clarify, it is the Sports Pack suspension on the 4.7 cars that is essentially the N400 spec.

[Murph7355]

M-J-B said:

... but would it be good for say 12,000 mpa?
...

Yes - just buy a well looked after car that's been serviced properly and had all the campaigns done. Buy on condition more than anything else (as usual with such cars).

M-J-B said:

I...auto v manual. ...

The V8V does not have an auto option. It's an automated manual, which is very different (not just me being a pedant).

Try and use one in auto mode and you will loathe it.

Used as manual box would be, it works well. But isn't a patch on Ferrari's version. The manual version's the pick for me on the V8.