Just bought a Virage - servicing and insurance?

[ConorNZ]

I bought the Aston Martin Virage from Bonhams yesterday, sweet!

Now I need somewhere in London to get it serviced and start work to on it (there are a few things to do), and also some insurance! Any suggestions?

Re servicing, has anyone worked with Aston Service London or Nicholas Mee? They're both on the right side of London for me.

[ConorNZ]

Here you go. Apologies for the quality - were just taken at the auction and I was nervous so the camera isn't steady!

[ConorNZ]

toohuge said:

Well done, that's a lovely car. All the best with the Aston.
I don't want to put you off but, the definition of optimism is someone who thinks they can just about afford to run an Aston Martin...
You'll be fine.

Thanks for the comments guys - I'm certainly excited about using it. Appreciate the comment toohuge I've set aside £5k pa for maintenance, so hopefully that covers the beast (he says naievely).

[ConorNZ]

timmybob said:

Looks like you snapped a bargain! Great colour combination as well. I love Virages. Shame the O/H doesn't!

Thanks! Let's hope it's a bargain and not a huge money pit. I'll probably know more about the latter when Peter Hamilton at Aston Service London takes a look at it on Saturday morning.

[ConorNZ]

Couple more pics after getting him home from the auction. Had to spend one night on the street, but was then safely tucked away in the underground car park at work.

[ConorNZ]

Well, the story is that I'm always on the look out for interesting cars, having had a few so far. Cars are pretty much my life (that and accounting unfortunately!). I went to a Coys auction last year to bid on a 1967 Iso Rivolta GT, but got outbid. Earlier in the day a Virage (auto with not great history) went for only £14k, and I thought, damn, that's a lot of car for the money.

With the Bonhams auction, I went to the viewing on Sunday having narrowed it down to the Lister Jag and the Virage, read the historie etc. I actually wanted the Lister, despite its lower practicality, but the Virage was first in the auction, so I decided to play it by ear.

During the auction, an Aston Lagonda was up before the Virage and went nuts! The guide was £6 - 10k, and it went for something like £16k!! So here was me thinking the Virage would be a no go either.

However, there was only a few of us bidding, with the auction starting at £8k it slowed remarkebly at £11k, and eventually crept up to £13k plus commission. I almost didn't place the final bid, but did at the last minute, which sealed my fate!

Was a good thing too, because the Lister went for £21k from a guide of £15 - £20k, and outside what I wanted to pay.