That Orange V12 Vantage...

[Shmee]

Hi all,

I've been lucky enough to see (and film) this Orange V12 Vantage twice now:





However a number of you will have seen that it has been up for sale for the last 6 weeks or so, and has already taken a drop from £105k to £96k in asking price by Harwoods Chichester who are selling it:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3125216.htm

The car carries an incredible spec as its role for the last 9 months and 8,000 miles has sort of sat as a press car however I'm only aware of 2 reviews in which is has ever appeared and nor am I sure what other purposes it's been used for to rack up the mileage and therefore how well it will have been treated.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's intrigued about this car so I wondered what information people may have to offer?

For example I'm not sure whether it's a Carbon Black or not - in theory a CB would have to actually be black but it does carry the plaques on the car saying it is...

And the key question is to how well it will have been treated, most people run in fear at the idea of a press car but others will profess it will therefore have been kept in tip-top condition.

Thoughts?

[XlBilbo]

Am I right in thinking that the only people to drive a press car are those who want to thrash the nuts off it?

[Shmee]

XlBilbo said:

Am I right in thinking that the only people to drive a press car are those who want to thrash the nuts off it?

Yes, hence why they service it between letting it out and fix it back where needed every time (in theory)

But is this actually a full press car?

[toofastforme]

XlBilbo said:

Am I right in thinking that the only people to drive a press car are those who want to thrash the nuts off it?

That is unless it's being reviewed for SAGA magazine. In which case, you'd probably find half-sucked boiled sweets glued to the carpet.

[justin220]

I think it's absolutely stunning. It would make a lovely upgrade from my Orange Evora, but not the right time for me right now.

I used to own an ex press Gallardo (also Orange) and it was faultless the whole time I had it. The service history was bang on, and if anything I'd imagine it'd been looked after better than some private ones, albeit driven a lot harder aswell...

[Neil1300R]

toofastforme said:

That is unless it's being reviewed for SAGA magazine. In which case, you'd probably find half-sucked boiled sweets glued to the carpet.

Bit unlikely that SAGA would review it. Its a Vantage NOT a DB9!

[Shmee]

justin220 said:

I used to own an ex press Gallardo (also Orange) and it was faultless the whole time I had it. The service history was bang on, and if anything I'd imagine it'd been looked after better than some private ones, albeit driven a lot harder aswell...

Exactly what I mean, owners of ex-press cars keep saying this, especially cars that are built to be driven too!

In any case, any info on the history of this car is intriguing, cheers!

[Jockman]

Shmee said:

For example I'm not sure whether it's a Carbon Black or not - in theory a CB would have to actually be black but it does carry the plaques on the car saying it is...Thoughts?

Shmee, surely the prerequisite for naming a car as part of a limited edition 'Carbon Black' range would be that it is in fact Carbon Black.

Not Orange.

Not even Black. Carbon Black is essentially blue. I realise that it may well have the additional interior items as part of this bespoke range but one of the most expensive costs is the paint itself.

It's also starting to sound like damaged goods

[Shmee]

Jockman said:

Shmee, surely the prerequisite for naming a car as part of a limited edition 'Carbon Black' range would be that it is in fact Carbon Black.

Not Orange.

Not even Black. Carbon Black is essentially blue. I realise that it may well have the additional interior items as part of this bespoke range but one of the most expensive costs is the paint itself.

It's also starting to sound like damaged goods

Re-read my post Mr Jockman! I mentioned how it has the Carbon Black plaques, which is just odd!

[Adam2S]

Somebody posted in one of the threads earlier that it IS a carbon black car but was sent back to the factory to be resprayed (and re-stiched) in Orange later.

I think its stunning but with a history like it has you know that you are going to get bottom buck for it when its time to sell. Then again if you paid bottom buck I guess it matters less...

Still I cant help thinking it would be cheaper and less hassle to buy a car with a normal history and wrap it in gloss orange to get the same effect.

[Shmee]

Adam2S said:

Somebody posted in one of the threads earlier that it IS a carbon black car but was sent back to the factory to be resprayed (and re-stiched) in Orange later.

I think its stunning but with a history like it has you know that you are going to get bottom buck for it when its time to sell. Then again if you paid bottom buck I guess it matters less...

Still I cant help thinking it would be cheaper and less hassle to buy a car with a normal history and wrap it in gloss orange to get the same effect.

Ok that's very interesting, I've heard that elsewhere too before now so I suspect it's quite likely the case that it was resprayed hence the debate over whether it's a Carbon Black or not.

My interest in this car extends to the fact that the start price is at bottom buck and it's a loaded spec.

[George H]

As long as it's in good nick, then I can't see any reason to discount it just for being a press car. Looks a lot of car for the money, but personally I would have to change the side strakes/door pulls. I would be a bit concerned as to why it was resprayed too.

My car used to be AM's show car for the MPH show in 2009. Not really the same, but still never had an issue with it, although it had only done circa 1500 miles, not 8k.

Neil1300R said:

Bit unlikely that SAGA would review it. Its a Vantage NOT a DB9!

Unlikely they would be reviewing the Vantage, correct. That is probably left for Cosmopolitan to review.

[Jockman]

Shmee said:

Re-read my post Mr Jockman! I mentioned how it has the Carbon Black plaques, which is just odd!

You've lost me Shmee.

So there are plaques on it saying it is Carbon Black.

Does it have any of the other defining features of this limited edition ???

[Shmee]

George H said:

As long as it's in good nick, then I can't see any reason to discount it just for being a press car. Looks a lot of car for the money, but personally I would have to change the side strakes/door pulls. I would be a bit concerned as to why it was resprayed too.

My car used to be AM's show car for the MPH show in 2009. Not really the same, but still never had an issue with it, although it had only done circa 1500 miles, not 8k.

Likewise I think that would be a non-issue but clearly deters a lot of people to bring the price so low.

Jockman said:

You've lost me Shmee.

So there are plaques on it saying it is Carbon Black.

Does it have any of the other defining features of this limited edition ???

It has all the aspects of a Carbon Black except for the body colour, but as suggested just above, it has been resprayed.

[Jockman]

So it has the full CB Edition add-ons as Adam has kindly listed in this thread.....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

....and it is a 2011 Model.

And It is being sold for 96k.

What's the catch

[George H]

Shmee said:

Likewise I think that would be a non-issue but clearly deters a lot of people to bring the price so low.

I think the colour doesn't help it's chances. The vast majority of people wanting a V12V wouldn't go for bright orange. Even though I think it is brilliant, a lot wouldn't want it.

Also, you would have to think of resale, might be hard to shift on, or you might end up taking a hit on the price.

Edited by George H on Tuesday 11th October 15:34

[Shmee]

Jockman said:

So it has the full CB Edition add-ons as Adam has kindly listed in this thread.....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

....and it is a 2011 Model.

And It is being sold for 96k.

What's the catch

Correct, this is the list:

Carbon Black metallic paintwork
Carbon-fibre side strakes with Black mesh inserts
10-spoke forged alloy gloss black painted wheels with diamond turned finish
Bright finish grille
Front parking sensors
Lightweight seats
Obsidian Black leather and Alcantara interior trim
Piano black facia and centre console trim
Anodised black tread plates
Unique sill plaques

It did have all of that, so at some point in it's life I am assuming was black and therefore the only question remains is why it is now orange and my fear is that something must have happened to it to require a respray or there is some bad history to make it end up at such a low price.

[Shmee]

George H said:

I think the colour doesn't help give it's chances. The vast majority of people wanting a V12V wouldn't go for bright orange. Even though I think it is brilliant, a lot wouldn't want it.

Also, you would have to think of resale, might be hard to shift on, or you might end up taking a hit on the price.

Agreed, will be interesting to see what residuals are offered on it.

[Adam2S]

Jockman said:

You've lost me Shmee.

So there are plaques on it saying it is Carbon Black.

Does it have any of the other defining features of this limited edition ???

http://www.harwoods.uk.com/aston/used-cars/view/50...

Yes it has the full piano black centre console/armrest, the piano black insert in the steering wheel, the black (not graphite) painted wheels, and the carbon side strakes... Options wise it has B&O, first aid kit and brolley - everything else is std on Carbon Black, but press cars are often fully loaded however to give the best impression for the reviews!

http://www.astonmartin.com/cars/v12-vantage/specs

Shmee - dont forget, winter is closing in now... The price drop on this car isnt really tht unusual at this time of year. Still is a very nice car and the orange / black combo is really more all the more dramatic because it is a carbon black spec car.

Anyway Shmee how come you are tempted with a V12V now - wasnt it only a few months back you were tired of the running costs of the V8V and close to selling it to go all sensible? The running costs on a V12V are that bit more hairy still!

[Shmee]

Adam2S said:

Anyway Shmee how come you are tempted with a V12V now - wasnt it only a few months back you were tired of the running costs of the V8V and close to selling it to go all sensible? The running costs on a V12V are that bit more hairy still!

I didn't say I was buying it, I said I was intrigued by it!

And true it was in around April that things looked bad however business has very, very much picked up since then and I'm trying to decide if I'd like to swap my Mini up to an Evoque, change my 'exciting' car or just be sensible and stick with for a bit longer - which is probably the most logical solution!