Want A Vantage - Unsure How Deep To Jump In!

[AMDBSVNick]

Phil74891 said:

If you go to option 2, maybe you could feed them on tins of beans with those little sausages in? Do they still make those?

My kids live on them.

OP. V12V is the only option regardless of huge finance.

Faint hearts never fked a pig

[james-witton]

Go get a lesson in man maths and then go get a V12.

Imagine how awful it would be to sit in what was once your dream car, but still to be wishing it was something else.

[AstonV]

GameofCars said:

David87 said:

Thank you for the replies so far, folks. I'll reply in more detail later when I have more time, but why does the V8 S manual seem held in higher regard than the N430? I assumed they were quite similar? Thanks.

Sure plenty on here with greater knowledge will answer this. Not sure the V8VS is necessarily held in higher regard to the N430 but possibly in equal regard - they both have v.similar power, LW seats in N430 make it very nice, but tighter steering rack in the V8VS makes it very nice & so on. I personally really don't like the bright colour lipstick on the front grille & colour accents for A pillars & wing mirrors so would definitely be a non starter for me.

The OP likes the N430 with certain accents, it's not about what you like. They don't have similar power, the both have the same power. Don't know where you get off saying the S has a tighter steering rack, never heard that one before? The N430 has standard sport suspension and exhaust, and many standard features that were options on the S and vice versa. There many many rave reviews on the N430 out there for anyone to read. The S is more luxury oriented and the N is more sporting oriented, both great cars.

I say drive all 3, buy what you want and fits your budget, don't be swayed by the personal tastes of others.

[Wayne95]

rovcallum said:

Try a 4.7 V8V 2009 onwards. Plenty of poke, more up to date interior, good value, less finance, less baked beans.

This.

The 4.7 with the revised interior is within the 40-45k range up to 2010/11, and from what you say you can probably pay cash for this and save the interest payments. Its a good drive and still has the (best) early shape without the addenda added to later cars. For a little more outlay you can fit a dual clutch upgrade ( AMR or independent ) and tweek the exhaust sound to suit.

The V12 is quick no doubt, but the 4.7 does hang around, and you can drive it harder without losing your license or sliding off the road.

[johnnyBv8]

AstonV said:

The OP likes the N430 with certain accents, it's not about what you like. They don't have similar power, the both have the same power. Don't know where you get off saying the S has a tighter steering rack, never heard that one before? The N430 has standard sport suspension and exhaust, and many standard features that were options on the S and vice versa. There many many rave reviews on the N430 out there for anyone to read. The S is more luxury oriented and the N is more sporting oriented, both great cars.

I say drive all 3, buy what you want and fits your budget, don't be swayed by the personal tastes of others.

Do you have anger issues and/or an N430?

Edited by johnnyBv8 on Wednesday 10th January 17:51

[james-witton]

I think if someone comes onto a forum asking for opinions, that’s what they want.

Of course the final decision will be theirs to make but I’m sure they’ll appreciate other people’s views.

[AstonV]

johnnyBv8 said:

Do you have anger issues and/or an N430?

Edited by johnnyBv8 on Wednesday 10th January 17:51

Do you not read and/or dislike the N430?

[monaro55]

If you can afford the 4.3 with no finance that would be my choice. If your ok with the finance then look at what the v12 may be worth later. It's all a question of money and how much you can afford to loose. Taking the prices you give buy 2x 4.3 for the price of 1x v12. Maybe start at the bottom and work up. The v12 will get cheaper. If buying the v12 now then you are paying for the money on top of the car which will put it above your price. Your price for the v12 if not including the finance is what i'd call man maths.

[wtdoom]

How deep to jump?

All the way mate , V12V all the way and you will never regret it . If you want an honest , analogue sports car , with beauty and the heart of a muscle car ; It will be a keeper for life .


Edited as phone automatically writes v12 as V12VS haha

Edited by wtdoom on Thursday 11th January 11:44

[AMDBSVNick]

monaro55 said:

The v12 will get cheaper.

Highly unlikely

[Jon39]

Wayne95 said:

The 4.7 with the revised interior is within the 40-45k range up to 2010/11, and from what you say you can probably pay cash for this and save the interest payments. Its a good drive and still has the (best) early shape without the addenda added to later cars. For a little more outlay you can fit a dual clutch upgrade ( AMR or independent ) and tweek the exhaust sound to suit.

The V12 is quick no doubt, but the 4.7 doesn't hang around, and you can drive it harder without losing your license or sliding off the road.

'without losing your license ... '

4.7 - With full throttle from standstill, after only about 10 seconds, three figures show on the digital speedo.
I back off immediately. The car is safe, but possibly not the license.

In practical reality, any Vantage must be quick enough for UK roads.

[bogie]

Id get the N430 and really enjoy driving it for a couple of years at least. Buy the cheapest you can find, or even find a 4.7 , something you can truly afford and enjoy

I made the mistake when i was in my twenties of buying toys I could just about "afford" then not affording to enjoy them fully, nor the rest of my life. If you are worrying about the next service or cant afford a few grand touring holiday to enjoy it, then its not the same.

So Id sooner have a 4 yr old mint 4.7 and do 20k fun miles a year in it, track days, whatever I wish without worry, than stretch myself to a £90K V12 then worry about the finance payments or £1100 tyres it needs every year.

Buy at least 4 years old and the depreciation is now worse than buying a family car.....

Everything is relative and if you have never had the pleasure of owning any of them, an early 4.3 will be a very nice car to enjoy. After that its just down to power and more modern gadgets

Edited by bogie on Wednesday 10th January 21:02

[macdeb]

Hmmm, nice position to be in. 'If' you afford it then go V12. It's what I aspire to. However, when I first seriously started to look at Aston ownership I was looking at 4.3 around mid-30's. Then the Devil crept in, blew the budget clean out of the water and I went for the best I could afford with no finance (why pay some nobody for,,,, nothing?) So got the best 4.7 lowest mileage possible and WOW, it's mine. (there is another tale to this however) But as it stands I have the best V8V I could've ever hoped for and specced to the hilt. Of course I will always need a V12, but maybe later when I can afford it.
As far as we know, we pass this way once,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 11th January 09:11

[kbooker]

After many years of driving only Porsche I dipped my toe into the Aston world with a very well looked after V8V, 3 months later it was replaced with a V12V...go all in would be my advice, the V8 isn't all that...

[Cold]

The V8 cars are all the same aside from a few detail differences which really do not justify the extra expenditure. Just buy the cheapest and best condition one of those. You'll still have an Aston and the neighbours won't know you've only spent £30k.
Money in the bank, nice car on the drive.

[V8V Pete]

There's obviously no right answer to this just a whole bunch of opinions, so here's mine. I have a manual V8VS with lightweight seats (and numerous BR enhancements) and it is perfect for me.

The details in the 3 options you give point towards what I suspect would be the ideal car for you. Clearly you want manual. You say you would only get a V12V with Lightweight seats so these obviously appeal to you (and you are right) so don't compromise in a V8 either. You like the N430 styling. A significant proportion of N430s have Lightweight seats so your answer is a manual N430 with Lightweights in a colour scheme you love.

I wouldn't worry about depreciation too much either. I bought my 2014MY V8S for £72.5K over 2.5 years ago when it was 18 months old and expected to take a hit. The cheapest manual V8S in the dealer network is currently £68K, so mine's cost me about £4.5K over 2.5 years in a car that still had 1.5 years of manufacturers warranty to run. That's pretty good in my book.

Enjoy your search. I'd always yearned for a Vantage too and owning one is not a disappointment

[vernierMike]

rovcallum said:

Try a 4.7 V8V 2009 onwards. Plenty of poke, more up to date interior, good value, less finance, less baked beans.

I did this for these reasons and you can pay a lot less than £50k from an excellent main dealer. It is personal preference, of course, and everyone’s right to say ‘try them all’. My family and I like the odd steak and chips. It is my first AM and having sorted the Aston thing can take my time and can maybe move up without losing too much. Not fixated on cylinder numbers (although having counted up all the vehicles, the vernier family has 32!) but acknowledging the V12 is different and also special.

For me (and the wife who enjoys driving it too) the 2009 balances the performance, great handling, sensory and elegance factors for a low-depreciating price of a decent new SUV. You pays your money..

I have to say the AMR or equivalent clutch is a good upgrade, you don’t need a V12 to have one.

[chesby]

Jon39 said:

'without losing your license ... '

4.7 - With full throttle from standstill, after only about 10 seconds, three figures show on the digital speedo.
I back off immediately. The car is safe, but possibly not the license.

In practical reality, any Vantage must be quick enough for UK roads.

I agree, any Vantage is quick enough for UK roads, I was thinking that last year when I was tempted to trade in my 2009 4.7 Vantage for a V12 Vantage S.

The 4.7 Vantage is quicker than you need 90% of the time. So is a BMW 320d.

I traded in the 4.7 V8 for the V12S in May. Haven’t regretted that decision once.

[macdeb]

kbooker said:

.go all in would be my advice, the V8 isn't all that...

Let me be the first V8V owner to thank you for your valuable input

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 11th January 09:53

[Big Ry]

Everyone else has had a say so I thought I would too.

From what the OP has said, if I were him I'd rule out a V12. It sounds like he's going to need significant finance to stretch to a V12, and for me at least that can seriously take the enjoyment out of anything, be it an Aston or a house. There's no fun in dreading payment date every month. Couple the finance with the not insignificant running costs of an Aston and I would bet that it would be a short love affair before he would be looking to get out of it.

I've got no knowledge of the N430 at all so can't comment on that, but for me the sweet spot of the range is probably the V8S. Having owned a V8, V8S and V12, I think that the V8S is the better everyday usable option. The V12 is epic and very very special, but all other Aston options are equally as special, just in different ways.

In short, my advice would be not to hock yourself up into stupid amounts of debt that you're uncomfortable with for a car, it's just not worth it, regardless what car it might be. Borrowing for a car is one thing (I have finance on my V12), but it needs to be at a level that it doesn't impact any other aspect of your life. Whenever I've taken finance for a car I always ask myself "does this mean there are now other things I can't do.......holidays etc). If the answer is yes, then I'll forget about it. A car is supposed to be something fun to enjoy, don't let it become a millstone around your neck.

Go for something you can comfortably afford and run that for a while, if you're then are in a position to move on to something else and feel the need then great, if not or you don't want to then that's equally OK. Loads of people will tell you V12 V12 V12 as it's the biggest and baddest, but remember they're not the ones having to pay for it each month..!

I know we can all get carried away at times, but the last thing you want is buyers regret, especially on a car as it'll cost you dear to get out of it.

Go and drive the 4.3 and 4.7 back to back, however DON'T drive a V12 unless you are genuinely serious, as you'll end getting mugged by the V12 monkey I promise you..........many others on here have suffered the same fate, me included

Whatever you choose to do just enjoy the journey, that's the most important thing

That's my two cents worth anyway.