4.3 or 4.7 Vantage

[EBruce]

yeti said:

whoami said:

There's a very noticeable increase in performance between the 4.3 and 4.7 cars. Perhaps of more importance, is the improvements made in the suspension.

Drive a 4.3 car back-to-back with a 4.7 sport pack car and you will be very disappointed with the 4.3.

What about a 4.3 Sports Pack and standard 4.7? Genuinely curious??

4.3 Sports Pack > 4.7 Standard from a suspension/handling perspective

[AdamV8V]

George H said:

Not pictured is the iPhone 3GS that took the picture, my 27" iMac, my iPod classic and my appletv

We know an iPhone took the picture, George.

Because it's st

[MrOrange]

yeti said:

What about a 4.3 Sports Pack and standard 4.7? Genuinely curious??

That's what swung it for me. The N400 was just more visceral, better appointed, looked nicer and (at the time) 5k cheaper than the cheapest 4.7s. I hear the "you will notice the performance difference ... night and day" etc and that's not what I felt and I drove them back to back.

[George H]

AdamV8V said:

We know an iPhone took the picture, George.

Because it's st

Btw you don't need to put the censored smiley in, PH does that for you

And my iPhone 4S took awesome pics before I lost it!

[RIB27]

George H said:

I'm a self confessed apple lover!

Me too! I don't care if it's expensive, it's the best.

[Speedraser]

Sukh,

The obvious thing to do is go out and drive a 4.3 and a 4.7 and see if it's worth the difference to you. IMO, the 4.3 is a great car, and plenty quick. Having said that, I think the 4.7 is significantly improved. Also, while the 4.7 is clearly much stronger in the low- and mid-rpm ranges, it is also significantly stronger when revved hard.

[Jockman]

yeti said:

I sit >in< the car rather than outside it, that's originally why I bought a TVR rather than a 911, the interiors were stunning. It's also why I always try to change interiors to suit my tastes (if indeed I have any). It's where I spend the time, the outside is for others to look at really

Now you've lost me le Yeti, but thanks anyway for the logistical affirmation.

We were all one of 'the others' at purchase point - we bought the car because it passed us in the street or we saw it on TV etc. Many of us had a feel for what colour leather we wanted but other than that only the really particular buyers ventured further. Most of us settled for the high standard spec. Indeed, judging by recent events, you bought your car despite not really liking your interior - so you changed a great deal of it to suit your unique personal taste.

I also note when newbies post up pics of their fabulous new cars, very rarely do they show us the interior.

But, as always, there is no right or wrong - each to their own

[Neil1300R]

George H said:

It may be overpriced considering it doesn't even have simple software to rotate a picture but I'm a self confessed apple loser!

EFA

[yeti]

Jockman said:

Now you've lost me le Yeti, but thanks anyway for the logistical affirmation.

The point being, my blue chum, I spend more time inside the car than outside looking at it. Interiors are very important to me. That's why I never understand the suicide-black interiors, especially when people think they're 'lifted' with some silver stitching All the colours known to leather-dyeing man... and they picked black

I love my interior layout and design, all I have really done is change some finishes to surfaces and controls for a nicer no-cost-compromise design. The original DB9 interior is a lovely place to be as was my Maserati.

I originally went to buy a 911, sat in the 911 (993), then the Maserati. Bought the Maser based on its interior!

[v8woollie]

Here's my simplistic perspective. I feel blessed in that I could afford (finally after many years of hankering for one) an Aston Martin. I knew there was a 4.7 version of the V8V but at the time I purchased they were out of reach for me. I was told by the dealer that there were options to bring the 4.3 to 4.7 spec and ultimately it is possible to do so and spend less money than the equivalent age 4.7. They did make an honest statement and say that the 4.7 is a better all round car and that AM Works do provide 4.3 upgrades to get closer to the 4.7 performance.

Coming from the Audi S4 when I drove the 4.3 I decided it was plenty fast for me. I had found with the Audi that in normal day to day driving when you accelerate hard it is very soon that you slow down because you have caught up with the traffic in front. The 4.3 is the same but it catches up quicker than the S4 did, so for me the 4.3 is fast enough.

I will be looking at the BR exhaust system with the original back box and the AM sports pack or an equivalent third party offering. I think for around £7.5K I will be able to get close to the 4.7 performance.

But for me, in normal day to day ownership and use, I am happy to have a V8V, and a 4.3 V8V at that. Unless going on a hoon down deserted country lanes, I doubt that there is a massive difference between a 4.3 and 4.7 around town and just sitting in the V8V makes me feel like any journey is a special one.

So I am happy with my lot and happy at last that I can experience Aston Martin ownership. To be honest in some ways I am glad I started with a 4.3 as I now see a journey of upgrading that perhaps with a 4.7 I wouldn't have bothered with (given that fundamentaly I think the car is fast enough in 4.3 form).

Edited by v8woollie on Sunday 22 April 09:51

Edited by v8woollie on Sunday 22 April 12:56

[v8woollie]

yeti said:

The point being, my blue chum, I spend more time inside the car than outside looking at it. Interiors are very important to me. That's why I never understand the suicide-black interiors, especially when people think they're 'lifted' with some silver stitching All the colours known to leather-dyeing man... and they picked black

I love my interior layout and design, all I have really done is change some finishes to surfaces and controls for a nicer no-cost-compromise design. The original DB9 interior is a lovely place to be as was my Maserati.

I originally went to buy a 911, sat in the 911 (993), then the Maserati. Bought the Maser based on its interior!

My interior is grey with light grey stitching. I was told it is quite unusual.

[mikey k]

I haven't topped myself in either of my Astons.
I like the black interior with the contrasting stitching and roof liner
On that basis I don't mind being a sheep

On the 4.3 vs 4.7 I would go
S - 4.7sp - N400 - 4.7 - 4.3

[Murph7355]

v8woollie said:

...
But for me, in normal day to day ownership and use, I am happy to have a V8V, and a 4.3 V8V at that. Unless going on a hoon down deserted country lanes, I doubt that there is a massive difference between a 4.3 and 4.7 around town and just sitting in the V8V makes me feel like any journey is a special one....

Sensible post

As much as the 4.7 is well considered a step forwards (it would be very worrying if it weren't), I would wager that even (especially) over a b-road hoon in real world conditions the difference in outright performance is slim.

Buy on condition (and possibly spec - bearing in mind many things are expensive to retro-fit). I suspect this mantra will be oft repeated in 10yrs' time.

[yeti]

mikey k said:

I haven't topped myself in either of my Astons.

The day has barely begun Mr k...

[yeti]

mikey k said:

On the 4.3 vs 4.7 I would go
S - 4.7sp - N400 - 4.7 - 4.3

Indeed. But what about when you start introducing sports pack cars or AM power upgrades?

Better a 4.3 with Sports Pack and AM airbox power upgrade than a bog standard 4.7 for £7k more - plus the ability for the OP to get into one now rather than waiting a year? Genuine question!

[ShortTimers]

MrOrange said:

yeti said:

What about a 4.3 Sports Pack and standard 4.7? Genuinely curious??

That's what swung it for me. The N400 was just more visceral, better appointed, looked nicer and (at the time) 5k cheaper than the cheapest 4.7s. I hear the "you will notice the performance difference ... night and day" etc and that's not what I felt and I drove them back to back.

I wood agree with Mr Orange... the N400 is a great compromise, especially if you can get one.... its got the extra grunt that the 4.3 lacked and the sports pack really sets it off... the interior is the only let down as I like the 4.7's and the whole ECU instead of the volvo key... that said you do get the updated seats in the N400 so its comfortable....

No as the Sun is shinning i'm off for a blast

[mikey k]

yeti said:

Indeed. But what about when you start introducing sports pack cars or AM power upgrades?

Better a 4.3 with Sports Pack and AM airbox power upgrade than a bog standard 4.7 for £7k more - plus the ability for the OP to get into one now rather than waiting a year? Genuine question!

I am with you on the modding but most won't be so it would be unrealistic and too complicated to put an order to that
That modded 4.3 you mention is an N400
On B roads I know my S is ALOT quicker than a 4.3

[v8woollie]

yeti said:

Indeed. But what about when you start introducing sports pack cars or AM power upgrades?

Better a 4.3 with Sports Pack and AM airbox power upgrade than a bog standard 4.7 for £7k more - plus the ability for the OP to get into one now rather than waiting a year? Genuine question!

Or even better a 4.3 with Sports Pack upgrade and BR exhaust.

[Lunablack]

I came from a very well sorted griff 500 to my 4.3V..... At first I was a little disappointed that my griff would leave the vantage for dead, in a straight line..

But after driving the vantage and getting my confidence up... It soon became obvious, that the vantage as a whole is in a different league.... From a to b..on normal roads, the vantage would destroy my old Griff... And so it should...it's so much newer in both design and technology

Still miss the griff though.... But glad I got the AM....

[mikey k]

Plus the AM is an EVENT to drive what ever model or spec it is, or however it is driven.
Which we seem to be missing here.