Any V8V 4.3 owners?

[steeviegeebies]

Had my 4.3 from new in 2006. Can't see myself selling it - I absolutely love the car.
Std Vantage 4.3 is very sure footed and it fits like a favourite pair of shoes - but isn't especially quick. If that really matters be patient and wait for a N420 or Prodrive version to become available and you'll have same power or more than a 4.7 in a 4.3 car.
Mine has been totally reliable and a joy to own (just note they need to be kept on a conditioner / trickle charger when unused for a fortnight or more otherwise battery will go flat).

[Speedraser]

V8Andrew said:

TKP said:

I fully agree with you, but the early 4.7 look 99% the same as the 4.3. No big diffusors, no side skirts. I looked at a 2009 and a 2011 or 2012 4.7 and the looks of the 2009 did suit me better.

The only major difference in styling is I believe the side skirts and the front grill. I agree not too much addenda, but personally I prefer without the fussy side skirts. The newer grill is actually ok. I wonder in 30 years time how the design will be considered. My feeling is that like E type jags and lambo countach, you want an early one as the design is pure.

MY09 4.7 body looks exactly the same as the 4.3. Only the wheels are different (either multi-cross-spoke (standard) or 5-spoke (Sports Pack)). For MY10, the mirrors got bigger, and the number of grille bars decreased from 8 to 6. The N400 sills became optional -- the standard sills were unchanged. It stayed this way until MY12.25, when the sills, nose and tail were changed.

They're all stunning, but I, too, think the original design is the best of them all (I do love the 5-spoke Sports Pack wheels).

[Speedraser]

Martin,

The 4.3 V8V is a great car. I own a MY09 4.7, and while it's obviously quicker still, IMO, the 4.3 is plenty quick (you need to rev it, but that's ok), handles beautifully and is one of the best looking cars ever made IMO. I've owned mine from new, and even after more than 7 years it still feels very special. It's been completely reliable, too. Happy hunting -- these are wonderful cars.

[davek_964]

martindesu said:

I am looking to trade in my E92 M3; ready to go on a ~£35k V8V car. I have fallen for Tungsten silver (and possibly meteorite), especially with clear rear lights, but also prefer a black interior (not blue or bright red).

I've seen this car, https://goo.gl/Kol4FM , and might go and view it tonight, but I am a little put off by 7 previous owners, and it doesn't have some spec I really quite want (namely cruise control, bluetooth).

Then there's this N400 (just over budget, yet) which is a great car, but at 65k miles if I use it as a daily for the next 5 years I would be getting towards 130,000 miles which then impacts on resale perhaps a bit too much? Unsure.

This is nice, but the interior really dates it, IMO:
https://goo.gl/H5zO3x

I'm getting impatient, but I really should hold out for the perfect car for my money....!

That first link does list bluetooth.

I wanted cruise, and when I went to view my car I was pretty sure it didn't have the options I wanted and that I wouldn't buy it. I did, and I have no regrets - so definitely worth viewing. Don't rule stuff out just because of nice-to-have options if they are fundamentally a good example.

ETA : I know it bothers some people, but I've never cared how many owners my cars have especially when they're 10 years old. These kind of things are toys, so although a one owner example is nice it's not that surprising that there are examples that have changed hands a lot. If it's a good car with good history, it wouldn't bother me.

[davek_964]

Have to see it in the flesh - from the pics, not sure I could live with it but in the real world it might be different.

Memory seats which is nice, and not something mine has which I wish it did. Red calipers a plus too for me.

[blade runner]

Looks nice on the outside, but I couldn't live with that interior to be honest - especially the steering wheel. If you prefer a black interior, I'd hold out for something else.

[northernmedia]

I had black with chancellor inserts, much easier on the eye.

That said, if you like it buy it.

[Mr.Tremlini]

I have to agree with blade runner on the steering wheel, if that was black the whole red thing would be much easier to live with even if a red interior was not your first choice, mind you, better than the teal inserts etc of the other one...
I waited two years before buying the Vantage that I did, and that was not the one I expected to buy, but I love it none the less.

[Pitcombe]

Have you seen the car advertised by Cameron Sports Cars of Bath, Meteorite Grey with Iron Ore interior, 18000 miles, f.s.h., and good spec. the bonus is the cheap road tax. This came up days after I put down a deposit on a 27000 mile Titanium Silver model. I am not complaining however, as I am very pleased with my car, but would have had this like a shot, especially as it was local to me.

Edited by Pitcombe on Tuesday 7th March 22:22

[Murph7355]

Clutches can ride high at the pedal. Not necessarily a sign it's going.

I'd want to know what they were doing to "fix" the rear light. Fronts do mist up, rears not IME.

Display will show "Premium Audio" when you turn on the stereo if it has it.

Personally wouldn't want a car with a Parrot. I'd want the integrated set up. These aren't that rare so if it were me I'd be waiting I think, unless this one is particularly cheap.

Did you get to check the service paperwork? How's the paint? What year is it? Link??

[TamFB]

I was insistent on buying my MY07 4.3 with a black interior -- until I went to see one with an Iron Ore interior (which I had pretty much ruled out based on photos). As soon as I saw the Iron Ore, I wanted it. Everyone who sees it loves it. I'm so glad I did not go for black in the end. I've seen the black interiors subsequently, and they feel mundane.

I don't have a good picture of the interior, but behind my alpine gin and tonics (with real alpine snow and grass) you can get a glimpse of it in light from a grey sky. It's nothing like this in the flesh either, but it shows that you really can't rely on photos for something like this:




We may be moving to Denmark imminently and they want £50k import duty I can't bring myself to sell it. Do you think it would be happy in a vacuum bag for a couple of years, or will it seize up?

[Murph7355]

That's more in that rear light than I ever had in my fronts in terms of droplets.

I never had a thing in my rears in 8.75yrs with the car used in all weathers and often sat outside.

Others may have had different experiences, but I'd want details bearing in mind the cost of a new light and that you're on a budget.

[Pitcombe]

I have recently been on the same journey that you are on, looking to buy my dream car, an Aston Martin Vantage at a budget. I started looking seriously at the end of last year, and had no real experience of what I was looking at, however having spent hours on this (Pistonheads) site and having bought Grants excellent book ' The definitive guide to the new Gaydon era Aston Martin' I had a much better idea at what to look for. Initially for me, the colour / interior was quite important, I had set myself a mileage limit of 45000 miles, service history and condition were important, as was the state of the clutch and tyres. I very soon realised that I was very unlikely to find a car in my first choice colour, Almond Green (Although I was tempted to go and see a DB9 in this colour at McGurks) Colour and mileage tended to influence the cars I went to look at, but I was always disappointed with the condition, even with as low as 23000 miles on the clock, however, I kept being drawn back to a Titanium Silver model that was advertised at a non specialist dealer about 120 miles away. It was not my choice of colour or interior, but it had only done 27500 miles with full history, had just had a new clutch fitted, and had a whole host of factory options. When I eventually went to see the car, it was in superb condition, and I knew immediately that it was the car for me. Not my choice of colour, but I had long since realised that colour was the least important element of the purchase. As to all the extras, the only thing that I am really pleased it has got, is the premium audio unit. The sound is fantastic, especially if set up the way recommended in another Pistonheads thread. As to the Sat Nav system, the Sync 2 system in my Ford Kuga is about a 1000 times better than the antiquated Volvo system. As for the Colour, well now I've got it, I actually quite like it. YOU WILL KNOW WHEN THE RIGHT CAR COMES ALONG, GO WITH YOUR GUT INSTINCT.
[url]

|http://thumbsnap.com/zLvAiUTZ[/url]

Edited by Pitcombe on Saturday 11th March 09:50

[Graze01]

As you said it looks in great condition

Maybe not you first choice but a good one

Congrats and enjoy

Graze

[dopsonj]

Feel like I'm on a similar journey to you OP,

Waiting for Chichester to have this ready for me to view this week:

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

Was in their yard when I went to see it on Sunday after the 75MM at Goodwood, awaiting some work...

Replacing a 996 C2...

[gibbon]

dopsonj said:

Feel like I'm on a similar journey to you OP,

Waiting for Chichester to have this ready for me to view this week:

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

Was in their yard when I went to see it on Sunday after the 75MM at Goodwood, awaiting some work...

Replacing a 996 C2...

At that mileage and that price, yes I understand its a prodrive, but i would be very tempted to go for a 4.7 later model. Just my opinion of course. On the flip side, that car has held its value fantastically.

[dopsonj]

gibbon said:

At that mileage and that price, yes I understand its a prodrive, but i would be very tempted to go for a 4.7 later model. Just my opinion of course. On the flip side, that car has held its value fantastically.

Only 4.7 with a manual box I could find is the following:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

I plan to likely do 4,000 or less miles PA, so the mindset is to get something a little unique that'll hold it's value (That said I suspect the 4.7 may well do). I think the Prodrive aspect will also appeal to those who know it's a bit more special.

[gibbon]

dopsonj said:

Only 4.7 with a manual box I could find is the following:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

I plan to likely do 4,000 or less miles PA, so the mindset is to get something a little unique that'll hold it's value (That said I suspect the 4.7 may well do). I think the Prodrive aspect will also appeal to those who know it's a bit more special.

I dont disagree with your logic at all. I would just advice you to drive both, as i think residuals will be pretty solid on both, so would buy the one you prefer the drive of. However, the 'Prodrive' effect may well mean that you prefer the ownership prospect and idea of that model, if so, great!

I had a 2005 4.3, had it for 4 yrs and tried several models before I changed, for me the sweet spot of value/performance/difference in feel was a 2012 4.7. But be careful, its very easy to get mission creep!

[bogie]

Wow, nearly £45k for a 2006 4.3 ? with 40K miles on it ? thats nearly double the trade in price for a car of that age. The "perceived" value is just that; I doubt the person trading it in was told it was worth much more thank book trade because it was modified.

Personally id be looking at getting the latest model year in budget or the best VFM car. A 2006 manual coupe with <50K miles can be found for under £35k, that gives you £10k to spend on upgrades at BR that will deliver more than the Prodrive kitted cars did.

Or save up a bit more for a 4.7...

[Murph7355]

dopsonj said:

Only 4.7 with a manual box I could find is the following:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

I plan to likely do 4,000 or less miles PA, so the mindset is to get something a little unique that'll hold it's value (That said I suspect the 4.7 may well do). I think the Prodrive aspect will also appeal to those who know it's a bit more special.

Unlike gibbon (but like bogie) I do disagree with the logic. I don't see the Prodrive versions being worth any more than a std car. And certainly not that scale of difference.

An N400 (etc) maybe, but I'm even doubtful there.

Definitely try both.

That said, I've never been a fan of the 2008 onwards wing mirrors, dash and sill flares...so to me the sweet spot quite possibly wouldn't be one of those either