I've finally bought a Vanquish - no, not that one...
Discussion
Over a week ago, I did a thing. For me, it was impulsive: ie. it took less than five year to decide. A Vanquish S now joins my V12 Vantage AMR. And what a combination this is proving to be.
I’ve always loved the first iteration of Aston Martin’s V12 Vanquish lineage. It was a personal thing. Back in the early 2000s, I was contracting for a games company, who sent me to various car companies to draw things, including TVR, Marcos, Eagle E-Types, and Newport Pagnell. Aston Martin had just launched its new model. But I was there to draw the DB5.
I spent 2 days being distracted in Aston Martin’s service building (now Aston Martin Works) with a tape measure, camera, pen and paper scribbling down the curves of the DB5. All around me, cars were starting up, and wafting by. I could have probably done my work in a day if it wasn’t for those cars.
At the end of the second day, a sales lady very kindly suggested I may want to have a ride in their new car. For a fresh faced boy who had never been in cars more exciting than a Cavalier, I naturally jumped at the chance.
Off we shot. And I really mean “shot”. I just remember very vividly glancing wide eyed at the speedo down the local dual carriage way. I will not repeat the reading, but I was smitten from that moment on.
Experiences like this cement your sentiment to a brand. I never dreamed I’d own an Aston Martin, but here I am today staring at the mesmerising haunches of Ian Callum’s magnum opus. Back in 2006 it was painted in, what I uncouthly call “resale grey”, it’s a few metres of monochrome outside and in. Meteorite Grey metallic paintwork meets Obsidian black leather. And yet I couldn’t care less for the lack of colour. This is a car you buy based on condition and history, not chasing an illusive specification.
Being on my second SportShift VH era Vantage, the ‘box found within the V12 Vanquish didn’t phase me. In fact, it was an attractor. I’ve owned a V8 Vantage manual, but it’s the SportShift that lights my fire. It’s such an engaging box. All the merits of manual ‘stick interaction coupled with the tactile trigger of a the paddles.
Yes. I had watched Clarkson in period playing the clown on TV with this model. And I’d read enough about these cars to know the ‘box is always said to be the weak link. But I’d also learnt to ignore crowd opinion, and instead judge things for myself. 200+ miles later, I am amazed how good the “ASM” SportShift in this example is. Smooth, quick and an utter joy. It slides into first, approaching roundabouts and junctions like butter. It instantly responds to requests, both going up and down the box. I may have already be tuned to lifting on shifts, but that should not be alien to any manual ‘box pilot.
Heading back a month on time, the thought of a V12 Vanquish arose following a great trip out with friends to a local coffee + cars venue. There, a lovely silhouette of a V12 Vanquish was parked prominently in a car sales barn. One friend lamented how much he wanted one. So back at home, I did a quick search for him. I found LF06 OKX in Auto Trader. It looked good. Damn, it looked very good, plus it was purported to have excellent history. So I passed details of the advert on, and suggested it may be a good one.
A day later, I messaged my friend again and asked cheekily if he wouldn’t mind if I looked to buy it. I don’t really know what it was. Perhaps the history. Even though it was being sold privately, it had been bought by the previous owner from HWM a year before. I know HWM well, especially Paul and Guy. It’s where I’d bought my yellow V12 Vantage.
A quick enquiry later, Paul kindly confirmed it was a good one and had been properly prepped before its sale the year previous. That’s really all I needed to know. But I did my due diligence and asked around further, including with the owner, Tim Cottingham of AMHT and my good friend, Steve Waddingham, Aston Martin’s historian.
The previous owner went out of his way. He was also very open and trusting. A full service was arranged at Aston Martin Hatfield (due to its location near the seller) along with a fresh MOT, where I could also see it up on the ramp before buying.
Alastair, the service manager of Hatfield couldn’t have been more helpful. The seller and I spent the best part of 2 hours there, inspecting, arranging the admin and chatting. I really appreciate Alastair’s help.
And so I drove off with another 12 cylinders. This example has been used very sparingly annually for the past 10 years, so my fear was that it would be a “grumpy” car due to this. But it’s now munched flowing and stationary motorway miles, A roads, B roads and smaller with amazing energy. It’s a brilliant example, and I have struck Vanquish gold.
Over the coming months, I intend to write up my thoughts on how the original V12 Vanquish compares to my V12 Vantage AMR with the 12 years between them. I feel it’s a direction not too many have taken. They are such different cars on all levels, and yet there is naturally DNA shared between them. I relish this voyage of discovery.
I’ve always loved the first iteration of Aston Martin’s V12 Vanquish lineage. It was a personal thing. Back in the early 2000s, I was contracting for a games company, who sent me to various car companies to draw things, including TVR, Marcos, Eagle E-Types, and Newport Pagnell. Aston Martin had just launched its new model. But I was there to draw the DB5.
I spent 2 days being distracted in Aston Martin’s service building (now Aston Martin Works) with a tape measure, camera, pen and paper scribbling down the curves of the DB5. All around me, cars were starting up, and wafting by. I could have probably done my work in a day if it wasn’t for those cars.
At the end of the second day, a sales lady very kindly suggested I may want to have a ride in their new car. For a fresh faced boy who had never been in cars more exciting than a Cavalier, I naturally jumped at the chance.
Off we shot. And I really mean “shot”. I just remember very vividly glancing wide eyed at the speedo down the local dual carriage way. I will not repeat the reading, but I was smitten from that moment on.
Experiences like this cement your sentiment to a brand. I never dreamed I’d own an Aston Martin, but here I am today staring at the mesmerising haunches of Ian Callum’s magnum opus. Back in 2006 it was painted in, what I uncouthly call “resale grey”, it’s a few metres of monochrome outside and in. Meteorite Grey metallic paintwork meets Obsidian black leather. And yet I couldn’t care less for the lack of colour. This is a car you buy based on condition and history, not chasing an illusive specification.
Being on my second SportShift VH era Vantage, the ‘box found within the V12 Vanquish didn’t phase me. In fact, it was an attractor. I’ve owned a V8 Vantage manual, but it’s the SportShift that lights my fire. It’s such an engaging box. All the merits of manual ‘stick interaction coupled with the tactile trigger of a the paddles.
Yes. I had watched Clarkson in period playing the clown on TV with this model. And I’d read enough about these cars to know the ‘box is always said to be the weak link. But I’d also learnt to ignore crowd opinion, and instead judge things for myself. 200+ miles later, I am amazed how good the “ASM” SportShift in this example is. Smooth, quick and an utter joy. It slides into first, approaching roundabouts and junctions like butter. It instantly responds to requests, both going up and down the box. I may have already be tuned to lifting on shifts, but that should not be alien to any manual ‘box pilot.
Heading back a month on time, the thought of a V12 Vanquish arose following a great trip out with friends to a local coffee + cars venue. There, a lovely silhouette of a V12 Vanquish was parked prominently in a car sales barn. One friend lamented how much he wanted one. So back at home, I did a quick search for him. I found LF06 OKX in Auto Trader. It looked good. Damn, it looked very good, plus it was purported to have excellent history. So I passed details of the advert on, and suggested it may be a good one.
A day later, I messaged my friend again and asked cheekily if he wouldn’t mind if I looked to buy it. I don’t really know what it was. Perhaps the history. Even though it was being sold privately, it had been bought by the previous owner from HWM a year before. I know HWM well, especially Paul and Guy. It’s where I’d bought my yellow V12 Vantage.
A quick enquiry later, Paul kindly confirmed it was a good one and had been properly prepped before its sale the year previous. That’s really all I needed to know. But I did my due diligence and asked around further, including with the owner, Tim Cottingham of AMHT and my good friend, Steve Waddingham, Aston Martin’s historian.
The previous owner went out of his way. He was also very open and trusting. A full service was arranged at Aston Martin Hatfield (due to its location near the seller) along with a fresh MOT, where I could also see it up on the ramp before buying.
Alastair, the service manager of Hatfield couldn’t have been more helpful. The seller and I spent the best part of 2 hours there, inspecting, arranging the admin and chatting. I really appreciate Alastair’s help.
And so I drove off with another 12 cylinders. This example has been used very sparingly annually for the past 10 years, so my fear was that it would be a “grumpy” car due to this. But it’s now munched flowing and stationary motorway miles, A roads, B roads and smaller with amazing energy. It’s a brilliant example, and I have struck Vanquish gold.
Over the coming months, I intend to write up my thoughts on how the original V12 Vanquish compares to my V12 Vantage AMR with the 12 years between them. I feel it’s a direction not too many have taken. They are such different cars on all levels, and yet there is naturally DNA shared between them. I relish this voyage of discovery.
Great looking car and cracking photos. Congratulations chap.
They are just lovely cars and a real sense of occasion to drive. I love mine - I have an 05 S and like you, it was a bit of an impulse as I too spend 5 years researching. I then usually talk myself out it and buy another road or gravel bike instead
.
Hopefully see you at one of the Aston Owners meets - look out for a midnight blue one
They are just lovely cars and a real sense of occasion to drive. I love mine - I have an 05 S and like you, it was a bit of an impulse as I too spend 5 years researching. I then usually talk myself out it and buy another road or gravel bike instead
. Hopefully see you at one of the Aston Owners meets - look out for a midnight blue one
Great looking car, love the 1st gen Vanquish
You need to get to this on Sunday
https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/asto...
Loads of Vanquish owners will be there and it's always a great day out.
You need to get to this on Sunday
https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/asto...
Loads of Vanquish owners will be there and it's always a great day out.
Edited by paulrog1 on Sunday 14th June 10:59
By far the best looking of the 'modern' Astons.
The 'James Bond resale grey' thing... well, it happens to suit this car very well and a partial re-trim to lighten up/change the interior slightly is an easy change down the road.
I regret passing up a Vanq S with a manual conversion at a local specialist for sub-50k. I'm always too interested in convertibles...
Stunning car, congrats.
The 'James Bond resale grey' thing... well, it happens to suit this car very well and a partial re-trim to lighten up/change the interior slightly is an easy change down the road.
I regret passing up a Vanq S with a manual conversion at a local specialist for sub-50k. I'm always too interested in convertibles...
Stunning car, congrats.
Castrol for a knave said:
Great looking car and cracking photos. Congratulations chap.
They are just lovely cars and a real sense of occasion to drive. I love mine - I have an 05 S and like you, it was a bit of an impulse as I too spend 5 years researching. I then usually talk myself out it and buy another road or gravel bike instead.
Hopefully see you at one of the Aston Owners meets - look out for a midnight blue one
Thanks! They are just lovely cars and a real sense of occasion to drive. I love mine - I have an 05 S and like you, it was a bit of an impulse as I too spend 5 years researching. I then usually talk myself out it and buy another road or gravel bike instead
. Hopefully see you at one of the Aston Owners meets - look out for a midnight blue one
"...a real sense of occasion to drive". I think that sums it up best.
How many years have you had it? And look forward to chatting next Sunday!
paulrog1 said:
Loads of Vanquish owners will be there and it's always a great day out.
I have several questions for seasoned owners. Such as why is the battery conditioner factory connection something you'd stick a guitar aux cable in??? 
Obi Wan said:
It s pretty cool that the ride you took led you to purchasing your own car years later. What video game where you working for?
My son asked me this. It was for Codemasters, but not being a gamer, not a clue!I also had to draw:
- E-Type
- Chrysler Neon (a very boring road car version!)
- Formala Ford racer
- TVR Tuscan racer (I think it was Peter Wheeler's own, which is how I got to meet him and his dog... memorable!)
- Marcos something (different wheelbase side-to-side
)
NDA said:
Brings back some memories - I had a V12 Vanquish when they launched. A beautiful looking (and sounding) machine.
999gsi said:
That is a lovely looking car, has it been ceramic coated ? Its has an amazing gloss finish gloss finish. Great photos especially the one taken on the bridge..
I imagine you are as happy as I am, having taken delivery of my Vanquish on Friday.
Not yet ceramic coated. The camera is probably doing a lot of the heavy lifting there. I have four things on the list without question (and known before I parted with money):I imagine you are as happy as I am, having taken delivery of my Vanquish on Friday.
- [Most important] Ice blasting with Dinitrol protection for the chassis, as I did recently with my Vantage. If you wanna keep these cars in good order, start on the bits you can't see. I found a fantastic place near Tewkesbury who's fanatical about the details: https://www.autoiceblast.co.uk/
- 4x wheel refurb (they're not dreadful, but could be smartened)
- Ceramic coating (including alloys) + interior clean and re-colour slight wear on driver's bolster. Both of these to be done by another great new find: https://cotswoldbespoke.com/ who did the Vantage the other week with stunning results.
I am also considering Apple CarPlay (ie. new screen required), but that depends on cost. Otherwise it's the phone as satnav + off the shelf adapter to connect to audio.
Minglar said:
Very nice indeed Nick. It s hard to believe the earliest cars are twenty five years old. They still look great today and as you said it s a different experience to your V12VS. Looking forward to hearing further updates. Very well done.
BRM.
Hi Minglar - thanks and yes, a very different experience from the later VH platform V12 Vantage S/AMR. But looking at the design, it still looks fresh in my eyes.BRM.
yeti said:
By far the best looking of the 'modern' Astons.
The 'James Bond resale grey' thing... well, it happens to suit this car very well and a partial re-trim to lighten up/change the interior slightly is an easy change down the road.
I regret passing up a Vanq S with a manual conversion at a local specialist for sub-50k. I'm always too interested in convertibles...
Stunning car, congrats.
Wow! £50k was a low price for a manual. I think even in period, the conversion was £12k+ (I think it's now £20k by Works?).The 'James Bond resale grey' thing... well, it happens to suit this car very well and a partial re-trim to lighten up/change the interior slightly is an easy change down the road.
I regret passing up a Vanq S with a manual conversion at a local specialist for sub-50k. I'm always too interested in convertibles...
Stunning car, congrats.
I have wondered what a Volante version would have looked like. Ian Callum recently showed his Shooting Brake concept (digital only, sadly): https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/how-good-do...
My pockets don't have a spare £550k sitting there, sadly, so I'll have to pass on this occasion. But I don't know why he disliked those large round driving lights on the front so much. One of my favourite design elements.
But yes... grey/monochrome really suits this car, like an expensive suit. The pearlescent white one at the Gaydon event 2 or 3 years ago was lovely too.
Before buying it, knowing what a black/black/black Vantage cabin was like to live in, I did consider contacting AM Works to see how much changing the headlining to a sandy colour would be. But strangely, it's much less oppressive in a Vanquish than a Vantage. Also, the quality and perfect state of the black headlining material made me realise it's probably not the right thing to do.
I got mine in September last year. Still pinch myself that I have one.
I wont make Sunday, had to change plans sadly, but plenty of the Aston Owners gang will be there.
If you have not joined, do so. They are the brains trust for Vanquish and their knowledge is better than factory.
It will save you a lot of money when it comes to parts and the forum is gold dust.
They are the Aston version of TIPEC and a great bunch when it comes to getting stuck in and hands oily.
Enjoy the meet and we will no doubt catch up at a Vanquish bun fight at some point
I wont make Sunday, had to change plans sadly, but plenty of the Aston Owners gang will be there.
If you have not joined, do so. They are the brains trust for Vanquish and their knowledge is better than factory.
It will save you a lot of money when it comes to parts and the forum is gold dust.
They are the Aston version of TIPEC and a great bunch when it comes to getting stuck in and hands oily.
Enjoy the meet and we will no doubt catch up at a Vanquish bun fight at some point
Castrol for a knave said:
I got mine in September last year. Still pinch myself that I have one.
I wont make Sunday, had to change plans sadly, but plenty of the Aston Owners gang will be there.
If you have not joined, do so. They are the brains trust for Vanquish and their knowledge is better than factory.
It will save you a lot of money when it comes to parts and the forum is gold dust.
They are the Aston version of TIPEC and a great bunch when it comes to getting stuck in and hands oily.
Enjoy the meet and we will no doubt catch up at a Vanquish bun fight at some point
Thanks for the advice! I have chatted to the couple with the lovely primrose yellow classic V8 saloon several times.I wont make Sunday, had to change plans sadly, but plenty of the Aston Owners gang will be there.
If you have not joined, do so. They are the brains trust for Vanquish and their knowledge is better than factory.
It will save you a lot of money when it comes to parts and the forum is gold dust.
They are the Aston version of TIPEC and a great bunch when it comes to getting stuck in and hands oily.
Enjoy the meet and we will no doubt catch up at a Vanquish bun fight at some point
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