New '07 Vantage Owner

[Bravo73]

Hello Everyone,

Long time lurker, first time poster etc.

After lots of years in several types of M3s (from an e30 through to a CSL), I thought that it was about time that I bought a proper car. Although the German cars had served me well, it was about time that I got myself a decent British motor. Bentleys, Jags and even Morgans don't push enough of the right buttons so it could only one marque - an Aston.

So I did what many others have done before me. I found the AMOC forum and then the PH forum and bought Grant's book! (the first edition! What feels like years ago!) I'm not quite respectable/old enough yet for a DB9 so I would have to 'settle' (yeah, right!) on a V8 Vantage. This would also allow me to scratch another petrolhead itch. I've had plenty of 4 and 6 cylinder cars in the past so a V8 is the natural progression.

When I started looking in earnest recently, I was explicitly told 'no horrible silver or grey'. I also discounted the obvious blacks. So I was looking for something in one of the more 'interesting' colours, ideally one of the 'traditional Aston' light greens such as AM Racing Green. (But it turns out that V8Vs in AMRG are rarer than rocking horse poo). A dark blue, a Toro Red or even one of the lighter blues would've also worked. However, when we finally visited an Aston dealer, I was told in no uncertain terms that a dark blue was out and Meteorite Silver was the colour to go for.

So I found a '07 (so it had the newer seats), manual (very important after having an SMG for the last few years), coupe (no roadster, thanks) in Meteorite Silver with an Iron Ore interior (grey/black would have been far too 'suicide' for me). It's got practically all of the various toys that I was after: powerfold mirrors (to help getting in the garage), cruise (for those planned pan-Continental trips), bluetooth and Premium sound (wow, just wow). And one final, but hopefully important, option:





I only picked the car up last week so it's already got pretty mucky. So, before anybody asks, I haven't got any photos of the car itself yet. But as a pretty 'standard' combination of meteorite silver/iron ore/seven spoke 19" wheels, I hope that you can picture what it looks like.

My first impressions? Well, the first thing that I did on the drive home from the dealer was to pull fuse 22. Oh. My. God. Like someone else has posted elsewhere, it now makes a sound like the Devil gargling spanners. The CSL makes a great noise but this is just something else. So, although I'm preaching to the converted, it looks divine, goes like stink and makes an unearthly sound. Petrolhead nirvana.

And it's only been a few days but I've already started ordering a few little bits and pieces for it. I've got a set of Tony's stereo knobs on their way and a little stubby aerial to replace the OEM whip aerial. Performance-wise, a Vantage is never going to get near a CSL in terms of 'race car for the road' speed or handling. And why would it want to? It's a completely different proposition. But if/when I do start spending on upgrades, I think that I will be taking a trip to BR. For the time being however, the Stratton Motor Company is just down the road from me and after been shown around their workshops recently, that's definitely where it's going to be looked after.

So, I guess this is just a quick hello from me and hopefully I'll get to meet some of you over the next few months/years.


Bravo73

[Bravo73]

Okay, okay, okay. I guess that 'dem rules is rules'.

The sun is currently shining, I've got no work on for the afternoon (at the moment) and the open road is calling. I can't promise you David Bailey (just an ageing iPhone 4S). But watch this space. I'll be back in a few hours.




(And rest assured, it will only be fed on V-Power).

[Bravo73]

Outside:



Inside:



After a quick wash:

[Bravo73]

cowman1960 said:

Hi there, i like you have recently purchased a Aston, tell me every time you look at her you dont smile to yourself

Absolutely.

And that picture above of the engine cover is also now the background on my 'phone. I grin every time that I use the 'phone.

[Bravo73]

Grant3 said:

Now as Neil wisely said.............

Neil1300R said:

Take the parcel shelf out.

It's a free sports exhaust system.

Well, I tried that this afternoon. Blimey, what a difference. The parcel shelf would appear to be really, really effective at damping out any exhaust sounds.

So no parcel shelf for me for the time being.

[Bravo73]

Neil1300R said:

But did you work out it folds in half and stows at the bottom of the boot in the cut out?
Keeps it in the car, in case you have soemthing in the boot and don't want people to see when parked up.

Yep, just about. I didn't have the manual on me at the time (or now, so I can't check) but I managed to get it to fit in the 'indent'. Is the flap meant to sit vertically, just by the boot catch?

[Bravo73]

Doh!

I guess that I'd better RTFM.

[Bravo73]

Neil1300R said:

Bravo73 said:

Yep, just about. I didn't have the manual on me at the time (or now, so I can't check) but I managed to get it to fit in the 'indent'. Is the flap meant to sit vertically, just by the boot catch?

No!

Hmmm, I've now had a look in the manual and rearranged the shelf so that the flap is now under the rest of it (a la the picture). Bizarrely though, it seems to sit in the boot better with the flap vertical. Oh well...

[Bravo73]

Grant3 said:

You just unhook the ties from the rear hatch and the shelf slides backwards from its retaining slots -

NB You'll need to pull the red tab to withdraw the locking pins on both sides of the shelf itself.