Help purchasing a v8 vantage
Discussion
Just bought a Vantage for the second time Si, and went for an '06 myself as it was hard for me to justify newer as a third car. (And to be fair I prefer the cleaner lines) As well as general condition, my main concern was getting a car with a clear history of good maintenance and at the mileage it has (fast approaching 50k) a new clutch fitting, as I really didn't want stung with the £3k bill I had with my last one. I was actually happy to compromise on spec just for someone having footed that bill just before I bought the car!
Hi Si, I bought my '56 plate Vantage in October 2016. I bought privately however the chap who had owned the car before the chap I actually bought the car off is a PHer and very kindly provided me with information about the car. He was the second owner and the chap he sold it to had only put 4k miles on it in two years, and was sadly selling due to illness. Mine is a 'facelift' car, although I think the only difference is the seats in the 'facelift' car are (I've read) 'better' than the pre-facelift cars.... I don't know if this is correct or not as I've never sat in them 
I drove less than 5k miles in the first 12 months, she flew through the MOT in October last year with no advisories. Costs to date have been new battery a couple of days after I got her home (£120 from Halfrauds, fitted it myself), two new upstream 02 sensors, total £105 for the pair off the bay (NGK jobbies) and £45 labour to change them out on the lift at the local TVR Indie (Thanks Matt Smith). Guy who did the MOT for me (also does my TVR) reset the ECU error message FOC.... And a service at AM Cambridge which included a few extra bits topped out at £900... So total expenditure (maintenance and servicing) to date (fifteen and a half months) excluding MOT is a tad under £1200.... and not expecting (fingers crossed) any thing else until the next service in October this year. As far as I'm aware the car (now 60k miles) is on its original clutch, however I did budget for a possible £3k clutch bill when I bought the car. My intention is to fit a dual plate and lightened flywheel when the day does come... I'm fairly competent on the spannering front, having done nut and bolt rebuilds including engines, and it's my intention to carry out jobs such as brake discs/pads myself (maybe new air filters too before next service).
I was in the fortunate position of not having to sell my Chimaera (garage space and budget) to get the Aston, and I have to say the two cars really do complement each other
Feel free to pm me if you think I can offer some useful info, what it's like to drive etc...
I won't go into how special the Aston is, how it makes you feel, the attention it gets, or my bad neck (looking back at it all the time)
Good luck with it..
Chilli
I drove less than 5k miles in the first 12 months, she flew through the MOT in October last year with no advisories. Costs to date have been new battery a couple of days after I got her home (£120 from Halfrauds, fitted it myself), two new upstream 02 sensors, total £105 for the pair off the bay (NGK jobbies) and £45 labour to change them out on the lift at the local TVR Indie (Thanks Matt Smith). Guy who did the MOT for me (also does my TVR) reset the ECU error message FOC.... And a service at AM Cambridge which included a few extra bits topped out at £900... So total expenditure (maintenance and servicing) to date (fifteen and a half months) excluding MOT is a tad under £1200.... and not expecting (fingers crossed) any thing else until the next service in October this year. As far as I'm aware the car (now 60k miles) is on its original clutch, however I did budget for a possible £3k clutch bill when I bought the car. My intention is to fit a dual plate and lightened flywheel when the day does come... I'm fairly competent on the spannering front, having done nut and bolt rebuilds including engines, and it's my intention to carry out jobs such as brake discs/pads myself (maybe new air filters too before next service). I was in the fortunate position of not having to sell my Chimaera (garage space and budget) to get the Aston, and I have to say the two cars really do complement each other
Feel free to pm me if you think I can offer some useful info, what it's like to drive etc...
I won't go into how special the Aston is, how it makes you feel, the attention it gets, or my bad neck (looking back at it all the time)
Good luck with it..
Chilli
All the knowledge you need is in the modern Aston bible here
http://astonmartinreview.co.uk/
The specialist Aston independent network is very good, some of the well established ones have a better rep than many dealerships. I would have no problem buying from either if its the right car for you.
http://astonmartinreview.co.uk/
The specialist Aston independent network is very good, some of the well established ones have a better rep than many dealerships. I would have no problem buying from either if its the right car for you.
I bought my 06 from an Indy last year with 45000 miles, one of the things that tipped the balance between it and another almost identical car and deal with another Indy was the fact that it had a recent clutch.
Check closely around the door handles, lower front edges of the doors, and rear edge of the roof for any paint bubbles, I missed a couple on mine!! and under the mirror support arms for crusty paint.
Other than that it's as per any other used car, study the service history, maybe try and get a chat with the previous owner (I did, and 15 minutes on the phone with him was priceless) make sure the electrics all work, particularly heated seats if it has them,
The only possible drawback with an Indy is the warranty, I've yet to find one suitable for anything other than toilet paper regardless of the glossy handbooks etc, the AM warranty is the reason you pay around £2-3k more for a dealer car.
Buying 10 year old exotic pets is always a bit of a worry, but i'm just coming up to a year with mine and had it serviced by my trusty local Indy last week, it was the first time he'd seen it, and he's meticulous like me, which is why I use him for both my Vantage and my Jag, I asked him to give it a really good going over and when I picked it up he confirmed what I was hoping when he said "no problems at all, you've found a good un there"
Check closely around the door handles, lower front edges of the doors, and rear edge of the roof for any paint bubbles, I missed a couple on mine!! and under the mirror support arms for crusty paint.
Other than that it's as per any other used car, study the service history, maybe try and get a chat with the previous owner (I did, and 15 minutes on the phone with him was priceless) make sure the electrics all work, particularly heated seats if it has them,
The only possible drawback with an Indy is the warranty, I've yet to find one suitable for anything other than toilet paper regardless of the glossy handbooks etc, the AM warranty is the reason you pay around £2-3k more for a dealer car.
Buying 10 year old exotic pets is always a bit of a worry, but i'm just coming up to a year with mine and had it serviced by my trusty local Indy last week, it was the first time he'd seen it, and he's meticulous like me, which is why I use him for both my Vantage and my Jag, I asked him to give it a really good going over and when I picked it up he confirmed what I was hoping when he said "no problems at all, you've found a good un there"
I sold a TVR T350 to buy a Vantage. I bought my 2007 from Stratstone in Hagley. Wanted the security of a warranty.
Car was well prepped and I had no problems in the first 12 months. Had it serviced at Stratstone but wasn’t impressed and never went back. I use Aston Engineering in Derby which is 60 miles away but wouldn’t go anywhere else.
I’ve done usual small jobs like thermostat and had paint bubbles done etc.
At 40,000 and nearly 11 years old it still runs like a Swiss watch and I still love it.
I’ve owned it 6 years and it’s a keeper . I’m going to be buried in it.
I’d love a DB5 but need a lottery win.
My advice is to have it checked over before you buy by an Aston specialist and keep 3-5,000 in the bank in case of a clutch etc needing replacement. They are bombproof if you look after them and have them serviced promptly by someone who knows what they are doing. Actually it’s like running a TVR !!!
Buy well and you’ll enjoy every day of ownership but don’t rush in , go and look at cars and read the bible and look for a thorough history and also AMOC membership as they usually test the cars properly.
Good luck.
Car was well prepped and I had no problems in the first 12 months. Had it serviced at Stratstone but wasn’t impressed and never went back. I use Aston Engineering in Derby which is 60 miles away but wouldn’t go anywhere else.
I’ve done usual small jobs like thermostat and had paint bubbles done etc.
At 40,000 and nearly 11 years old it still runs like a Swiss watch and I still love it.
I’ve owned it 6 years and it’s a keeper . I’m going to be buried in it.
I’d love a DB5 but need a lottery win.
My advice is to have it checked over before you buy by an Aston specialist and keep 3-5,000 in the bank in case of a clutch etc needing replacement. They are bombproof if you look after them and have them serviced promptly by someone who knows what they are doing. Actually it’s like running a TVR !!!
Buy well and you’ll enjoy every day of ownership but don’t rush in , go and look at cars and read the bible and look for a thorough history and also AMOC membership as they usually test the cars properly.
Good luck.
Funny how many people move from TVR, me too. I bought a 2006 V8V to test the mark before I went for a convertible......and like all the others it's been 3 years and it is a keeper!
The best advice is treat it like a well made TVR, look after it and it will look after you. I use Millview in Macclesfield and they are very good, they service it and let me know what else needs doing to keep it in tip top condition which I do or if it's major they do.
Things to watch are clutch, wheel bearings, brakes, thermostat, electronic gremlins (usually from a knackered battery) and it should be loved! Catalysts can come loose too but rare. I missed that mine had part worn tyres on the near side which got me worried it had been hit that side but no it was all fine.....
The best advice is treat it like a well made TVR, look after it and it will look after you. I use Millview in Macclesfield and they are very good, they service it and let me know what else needs doing to keep it in tip top condition which I do or if it's major they do.
Things to watch are clutch, wheel bearings, brakes, thermostat, electronic gremlins (usually from a knackered battery) and it should be loved! Catalysts can come loose too but rare. I missed that mine had part worn tyres on the near side which got me worried it had been hit that side but no it was all fine.....
sifocus said:
Thank you for the info so far... I’ve Been reading up all day and on you tube looking at the reviews. It seems they need to be revved hard to wake up which is all part of the fun. I had a Tuscan s for a while and that was too eager to kill me from any rpm.
They really do need to be worked hard. Drove alongside a 2006 convertible in the sun today. It sounded great, but looked very slow. It was easily outpaced by an Audi S3.sifocus said:
Thank you for the info so far... I’ve Been reading up all day and on you tube looking at the reviews. It seems they need to be revved hard to wake up which is all part of the fun. I had a Tuscan s for a while and that was too eager to kill me from any rpm.
Actually, that's something you should be aware of. They're not particularly slow cars - but they do feel like a fairly slow car (at least the 4.3). If you look at the speedo, they're quick enough when you put your foot down, but they way the power is delivered never gives you much of a feeling of acceleration. To put it into perspective - if I floor my Cayenne, it feels faster.My only advice can come once you’ve bought your dream car... make sure you add plenty of long smile-infested miles! I am convinced that mine is getting better and better only with regarlar weekly long drives.
I did get the trickle charger but never found the need to use it. It’s a great car in all weather and designed to be used and not tucked away.
After 10 months, the only mechanical problem so far as a heat shield falling off the exhaust (caught by the under tray). The £1.50 clip had rusted away, so I had all 4 replaced (2 per side) at a local trusted garage, as recommended by AM Bristol, for the princely sum of £25. I could think of worse!
I did get the trickle charger but never found the need to use it. It’s a great car in all weather and designed to be used and not tucked away.
After 10 months, the only mechanical problem so far as a heat shield falling off the exhaust (caught by the under tray). The £1.50 clip had rusted away, so I had all 4 replaced (2 per side) at a local trusted garage, as recommended by AM Bristol, for the princely sum of £25. I could think of worse!
The speed thing is down to driving style. I had an integrale and an RS2 both of which had the same need to be revved and when you did they flew. Below 3500 revs they both felt as fast as a 1.1 Fiesta...My TVR and daily diesel have oodles of torque to drag them forward whereas the V8v needs to be dropped a gear. The problem with the Aston is you can be doing very illegal speeds in 3rd at 6500 revs!
My mates M4 cant outrun me, in fact through the twisties i can pull away. If you've ever done a TVR track day and seen the Vixens outpace the Griffs you'll know what I mean....
My mates M4 cant outrun me, in fact through the twisties i can pull away. If you've ever done a TVR track day and seen the Vixens outpace the Griffs you'll know what I mean....
I swapped my 4.0 Chimaera for an 06 (07 MY) Vantage last July, TVR to Aston does seem a well trodden path and I can see why.
The Aston doesn't 'feel' as fast as the TVR, but a look at the speedo sometime confirms it is, if not quicker it's just a bit less 'hairy' and I find myself driving the Aston a bit 'Miss Daisy' at times but it's just a lovely place to sit.
SWMBO comes out with me a lot more in the Aston than she ever did in the TVR....still not sure if this is a Pro or a Con.
I bought mine from a Main Dealer but that was based more on the right car at the right time at the right price more than wanting a 'Timeless' car, but the warranty is a nice cushion to have in this first year. Other than a few very small teething issues it's only needed petrol pouring in it in great quantities, and that is a shock coming from the TVR's petrol thimble to the Aston vast tank, economy is very similar but a tank lasts 3 times as long.
The Aston doesn't 'feel' as fast as the TVR, but a look at the speedo sometime confirms it is, if not quicker it's just a bit less 'hairy' and I find myself driving the Aston a bit 'Miss Daisy' at times but it's just a lovely place to sit.
SWMBO comes out with me a lot more in the Aston than she ever did in the TVR....still not sure if this is a Pro or a Con.
I bought mine from a Main Dealer but that was based more on the right car at the right time at the right price more than wanting a 'Timeless' car, but the warranty is a nice cushion to have in this first year. Other than a few very small teething issues it's only needed petrol pouring in it in great quantities, and that is a shock coming from the TVR's petrol thimble to the Aston vast tank, economy is very similar but a tank lasts 3 times as long.
sifocus said:
Thanks for the update chaps. Seems to be reliable and a few have bought a couple. That speaks volumes. Would you bother buying from a main dealer or save and go to an independent?
AM Newcastle have a few older cars in, they come with the benefit of a 1 year AM warranty. Top people to deal with tooVeg said:
The speed thing is down to driving style.
No it isn't.I'm quite capable of revving the nuts off a car. Regardless of whether you do that or not, the car simply does not feel fast. As I said - look at the speedo and it is relatively quick - but it simply does not feel like it is to me, even if you rev it to the red line in low gears.
pggroves said:
Car was well prepped and I had no problems in the first 12 months. Had it serviced at Stratstone but wasn’t impressed and never went back. I use Aston Engineering in Derby which is 60 miles away but wouldn’t go anywhere else.
Keep meaning to go and have a look at Aston Engineering's set up as it's my closest specialist, tempted to try Aston Nottingham for my 1st, still under warranty, service though, but when I'm warranty free a good local specialist is going to be handy. 
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