RE: Spotted: 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Discussion
Try plugging the reg no. of a 2007 vantage with 40k on the clock into webuyanycar. The trade price is £31k. I had no idea retail margins were so high at the luxury end. Find a trade friend and pay them a couple of grand to find a car for you.
There are two reasons the vantage felt slow to Clarkson. One, it's heavy. It weighs more than many saloons. Second, peak torque occurs at very high rpm. It is not surprising that they moved to a 4.7 litre unit on later cars.
I've looked at a number of cars from 6 series BMW upwards and I think only one qualifies as a future classic - the Aston Martin. It is produced in small enough numbers and non-car people like it. As other people have said, it is how you feel, not how fast it is.
I'd love to know from the guys that race these cars where are the best places to lose weight: tubular exhaust manifolds, aftermarket back box, lightweight flywheel, carbon propshaft, carbon Recaros.
As soon as I get one, I'll post the pictures.
There are two reasons the vantage felt slow to Clarkson. One, it's heavy. It weighs more than many saloons. Second, peak torque occurs at very high rpm. It is not surprising that they moved to a 4.7 litre unit on later cars.
I've looked at a number of cars from 6 series BMW upwards and I think only one qualifies as a future classic - the Aston Martin. It is produced in small enough numbers and non-car people like it. As other people have said, it is how you feel, not how fast it is.
I'd love to know from the guys that race these cars where are the best places to lose weight: tubular exhaust manifolds, aftermarket back box, lightweight flywheel, carbon propshaft, carbon Recaros.
As soon as I get one, I'll post the pictures.
tallrider said:
Try plugging the reg no. of a 2007 vantage with 40k on the clock into webuyanycar. The trade price is £31k. I had no idea retail margins were so high at the luxury end. Find a trade friend and pay them a couple of grand to find a car for you.
There are two reasons the vantage felt slow to Clarkson. One, it's heavy. It weighs more than many saloons. Second, peak torque occurs at very high rpm. It is not surprising that they moved to a 4.7 litre unit on later cars.
I've looked at a number of cars from 6 series BMW upwards and I think only one qualifies as a future classic - the Aston Martin. It is produced in small enough numbers and non-car people like it. As other people have said, it is how you feel, not how fast it is.
I'd love to know from the guys that race these cars where are the best places to lose weight: tubular exhaust manifolds, aftermarket back box, lightweight flywheel, carbon propshaft, carbon Recaros.
As soon as I get one, I'll post the pictures.
The V8 is a rever and that is part of the character - GT one minute, screamer the next ( especially the 4.3 exhaust). Early 4.7's are too quiet. The N400's seem to hold price well.There are two reasons the vantage felt slow to Clarkson. One, it's heavy. It weighs more than many saloons. Second, peak torque occurs at very high rpm. It is not surprising that they moved to a 4.7 litre unit on later cars.
I've looked at a number of cars from 6 series BMW upwards and I think only one qualifies as a future classic - the Aston Martin. It is produced in small enough numbers and non-car people like it. As other people have said, it is how you feel, not how fast it is.
I'd love to know from the guys that race these cars where are the best places to lose weight: tubular exhaust manifolds, aftermarket back box, lightweight flywheel, carbon propshaft, carbon Recaros.
As soon as I get one, I'll post the pictures.
Weight loss is hard on these there are no light weight aftermarket manifolds, the back boxes save a little, there are light weight flywheels but that affects the performance of the high reving engine.
It already has CF propshaft and CF seats are an option on later cars. The 4.7 GT4 race car is "only" 230 kg's less and that is striped out. So not too many weight saving areas.
mikey k said:
The N420 is more of a parts bin special and does use alot of the options from a standard car. The dealer who sold me my V8VS (and was actually knowledgable 
) mentioned the suspension (maybe just springs) and the N400 air boxes (which are also on the V12 and V8VS) I know from having a MY09 car and a MY12 car the MY09 knobs are a lot less metal than the MY12 ones
All of the literature -- Grant Neal's book, Tim Cottingham's AMOC Register, AM brochures, magazine tests, etc. -- state that the N420 has the Sports Pack suspension. The N420 engine is no different from the standard 4.7 -- the air boxes are not changed. ) mentioned the suspension (maybe just springs) and the N400 air boxes (which are also on the V12 and V8VS) I know from having a MY09 car and a MY12 car the MY09 knobs are a lot less metal than the MY12 ones About the console knobs, I'm certainly willing to be proven wrong, but those in my MY09 are definitely metal. Those in a MY12 I looked at a few days ago do look a little different -- more of a brushed finish than the satin finish in my car perhaps.
What can you expect from a guy who likes paddle shifts?
tallrider said:
I'd love to know from the guys that race these cars where are the best places to lose weight: tubular exhaust manifolds, aftermarket back box, lightweight flywheel, carbon propshaft, carbon Recaros.
As soon as I get one, I'll post the pictures.
If you are a genuine buyer then pop over to the Aston Martin forum and post a question in the Bamford Rose sticky thread. They are the guys that prepare V8 Vantages for racing for a number of teams.As soon as I get one, I'll post the pictures.
The standard car (all Vantage models) already has a carbon fibre driveshaft. Wrapped up in an aluminium alloy torque tube taking power to the transaxle.
The V12V and V8S have the option of carbon fibre backed lightweight seats.
Remember - the V8 Vantage was engineered when AML was owned by Ford. So everything is built to Ford standards - it's mechanically bulletproof. You can find wear items like the clutch giving out but the engine is solid as a rock and the gearbox is Graziano - best in the business.
robsa said:
As others have said, there is something special about an Aston. I love the 911, but wouldn't blink at one passing me by. I will stop and stare at any Aston going past, though - probably the only car to do so (maybe a Fezza too). I would love to be in a position to own such a car. For me it isn't about performance but how the car would make me feel. And I would feel very special driving one of those!
Let's face it; for most of us, walking out to an Aston every morning would be a great start to the day!
Having said all that, for this sort of money I would be sorely tempted by something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2592110.htm
Same effect, but even more so for me...
Totally agree. That car does not need to try. And most will be genuinely interested in it. Let's face it; for most of us, walking out to an Aston every morning would be a great start to the day!
Having said all that, for this sort of money I would be sorely tempted by something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2592110.htm
Same effect, but even more so for me...
unless you want to mistaken for a Premiership footballer...
robsa said:
As others have said, there is something special about an Aston. I love the 911, but wouldn't blink at one passing me by. I will stop and stare at any Aston going past, though - probably the only car to do so (maybe a Fezza too). I would love to be in a position to own such a car. For me it isn't about performance but how the car would make me feel. And I would feel very special driving one of those!
Let's face it; for most of us, walking out to an Aston every morning would be a great start to the day!
Having said all that, for this sort of money I would be sorely tempted by something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2592110.htm
Same effect, but even more so for me...
Indeed a beautiful car. But it's not really apples and apples is it? One is a modern day road car where you can stick the key in the slot, twist and go.Let's face it; for most of us, walking out to an Aston every morning would be a great start to the day!
Having said all that, for this sort of money I would be sorely tempted by something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2592110.htm
Same effect, but even more so for me...
The other is a handbuilt car designed in the 1950s/1960s and which is now 40 years old and requiring recommissioning. In the world of Aston Martin that is shorthand for "loadsamoney".
They still offer the Vantage with a proper gearbox don't they? I know all the sports and super cars are becoming paddleshifts nowadays. No matter how good they might be I don't think I can be convinced that it would be better than a manual gearbox. Having a gearstick and a clutch is part of driving to me. 
599 Manual box - http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Cur...
I guess they no lonher make the 612 now as it's not on there.
I guess they no lonher make the 612 now as it's not on there.
The only reason I didn't buy one of these in March is my sad addiction to the Morgan. When the convertibles hit £40k, I'm going to have a real dilemma.
The Morgan is rarer, faster, better to drive and more unusual. But the Aston...just look at it. Stunning. One thing putting me off is how common they are here in London...
The Morgan is rarer, faster, better to drive and more unusual. But the Aston...just look at it. Stunning. One thing putting me off is how common they are here in London...
Trommel said:
Harry Flashman said:
One thing putting me off is how common they are here in London...
There's that and the fact they're not universally praised as things to drive. Still, for £30k ...£30k for those looks, that noise, and that interior?
Sold.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Oh absolutely - within reason. I mean you want something fun: otherwise we wouldn't bother with sports cars at all./I'm more talking about the V8V's reputation for not being as good a steer as a 997. Probably true. But I just don't care - I'd rather have the Aston. Similarly, I'd have the convertible Aston over the coupe, despite the fact that I'd clearly be committing Ultimate Wheelman Driving God heresy.
Harry Flashman said:
Oh absolutely - within reason. I mean you want something fun: otherwise we wouldn't bother with sports cars at all./
I'm more talking about the V8V's reputation for not being as good a steer as a 997. Probably true. But I just don't care - I'd rather have the Aston. Similarly, I'd have the convertible Aston over the coupe, despite the fact that I'd clearly be committing Ultimate Wheelman Driving God heresy.
Owned both V8V and 997.1 C2S. Disagree re: steeringI'm more talking about the V8V's reputation for not being as good a steer as a 997. Probably true. But I just don't care - I'd rather have the Aston. Similarly, I'd have the convertible Aston over the coupe, despite the fact that I'd clearly be committing Ultimate Wheelman Driving God heresy.
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