Your first Aston Martin

[kevin_cambs_uk]

soofsayer said:

Rule number 1. Keep it honest. I.e. dont put a v12 bonnet on a v8 ever.

Rule number 2. Repeat rule 1.

Good luck with your search and look forward to some pics when you take the plunge.

Message received and understood!
Thanks for the advice it’s probably saved me 10k too!!

I can always upgrade lol!

[Chopdogs]

My first and current Aston. A V8S. A one owner example bought this year.

I nearly bought a ‘70s Vantage back in the mid ‘90s (having been a huge Aston fan for years) but the paint was bubbling slightly and a respray was about half the price of the car......

Since then houses and other things have taken priority.

Very happy but already plotting an upgrade to a V12 (probably).

Edited by Chopdogs on Saturday 30th November 19:24

[Jon39]

kevin_cambs_uk said:

I feel a bit of a fraud on here , as I don't even have an Aston but I am still working towards getting an Aston Martin. The stories on here give me encouragement to keep saving! I saw the Vantage on Top Gear, the famous one of the V12 in Wales, I believe, and just thought it was stunning. Never thought I might be able to get one, but me and the wife sorted ourselves out financially, and are on the road to be mortgage free in under 2 years, and then its going to be Aston Martin time!

I don't even want the V12, just a V8 will suffice, and then I can get the V12 bonnet put on it.

So they say its all preparation, and so I have 2 years to prepare, sort the garage, read 'The book' on the Vantage and work out what I want and not want, visit the dealerships, etc etc.

Kev

There has been a Vantage - V12 look-alike on here, but in addition to the bonnet, you need to change the wheels and tailgate. It cost a considerable amount, and fitting the tailgate was I believe a long and difficult process.

If you want a 4.7, your purchase plan has good timing. A while ago the dealer prices stayed above £50,000 for about 5 years, but are now quite a bit below that. Not so many early 4.7 cars seem to appear in main dealers these days.

Think the Top Gear V12 with music The Ending, might have been filmed in Scotland. Could be wrong though.

Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 30th November 19:38

[pdbollinger]

My first Aston Martin was a 2002 DB7 Vantage I bought for my 46th birthday, and had it for almost 4 years (totaled, not by me...)

On my second Aston Martin, now a 2011 Rapide, since my wife and I have a combined DNA product that is a little bit bigger now!

I really am a fan of the original DBS from On Her Majesty's Secret Service & The Persuaders, and eventually look to obtain one of these types. Also love the V8 from The Living Daylights.
As for kids around Aston Martins, my local dealership let my son climb all over the interior of the DB11 when it released, and last month, all over the interior of the DBX. I also let my son's friends all over the inside of the DB7 as well.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

1 2006 DB9 Volante (to replace an 07 Z06, the interior of which I could no longer stand)
2 2009 DBS coupe (px'd the 06 for it)
3 2003 DB7 Vantage Volante
4 2002 Vanquish
5 2007 DB9 Volante (px'd the DB7 for it)
6. 2014 Vanquish Volante (px'd the DB9 for it)

Still have 2, 4 and 6. No intention of selling any of those three; they are keepers.

Edited by DB9VolanteDriver on Sunday 1st December 15:54

[Speedraser]

Speedraser said:

I wanted an Aston since I was about 5 years old. I saw them in the car magazines that came to my house, and at some local car shows. I absolutely loved the DB4 and DB5 (007 was not the reason, but I loved that his car was an Aston), and was a big fan of the NP V8s. My first is the MY09 V8 Vantage that I bought new, still have and still love. My second is the MY05 Vanquish S, which I bought in '15 -- epic car. The new cars don't do a lot for me, sadly. I still lust after a DB4...

A picture to go with my post. Wonderful, wonderful car.

Edited by Speedraser on Sunday 1st December 06:06

[V8V Pete]

soofsayer said:

kevin_cambs_uk said:

I feel a bit of a fraud on here , as I don't even have an Aston but I am still working towards getting an Aston Martin. The stories on here give me encouragement to keep saving! I saw the Vantage on Top Gear, the famous one of the V12 in Wales, I believe, and just thought it was stunning. Never thought I might be able to get one, but me and the wife sorted ourselves out financially, and are on the road to be mortgage free in under 2 years, and then its going to be Aston Martin time!

I don't even want the V12, just a V8 will suffice, and then I can get the V12 bonnet put on it.

So they say its all preparation, and so I have 2 years to prepare, sort the garage, read 'The book' on the Vantage and work out what I want and not want, visit the dealerships, etc etc.

Kev

Rule number 1. Keep it honest. I.e. dont put a v12 bonnet on a v8 ever.

Rule number 2. Repeat rule 1.

Good luck with your search and look forward to some pics when you take the plunge.

Rule number 3. Do what you want with it as it'll be your car

Personally, I also wouldn't put a V12 bonnet on my V8S but I put V12 wheels on it (in summer) because I just really like the design rather than I'm trying to pretend that it's a V12V. I love it for what it is - faster round corners than a V12 even if it's a little slower in a straight line. Both are fantastic cars and there's quite a variety available within the Vantage range to suit a variety of tastes.

Enjoy your Aston journey Kevin ........

[phumy]

Mt first Aston, bought it in August this year.

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Jon39 said:

There has been a Vantage - V12 look-alike on here, but in addition to the bonnet, you need to change the wheels and tailgate. It cost a considerable amount, and fitting the tailgate was I believe a long and difficult process.

If you want a 4.7, your purchase plan has good timing. A while ago the dealer prices stayed above £50,000 for about 5 years, but are now quite a bit below that. Not so many early 4.7 cars seem to appear in main dealers these days.

Think the Top Gear V12 with music The Ending, might have been filmed in Scotland. Could be wrong though.

Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 30th November 19:38

I think the 4.7 is the way to go, as much as I adore the bonnet vents, I think I will be satisfied, by just being able to say "shall we take the Aston" !!!

[kevin_cambs_uk]

V8V Pete said:

Rule number 3. Do what you want with it as it'll be your car

Personally, I also wouldn't put a V12 bonnet on my V8S but I put V12 wheels on it (in summer) because I just really like the design rather than I'm trying to pretend that it's a V12V. I love it for what it is - faster round corners than a V12 even if it's a little slower in a straight line. Both are fantastic cars and there's quite a variety available within the Vantage range to suit a variety of tastes.

Enjoy your Aston journey Kevin ........

Thanks for the advice, I must admit the V12 bonnet vents are just lovely! but I think just getting an Aston will be good enough. I do like how you're number plate plinth on the front sits below the grill, its something that I have been aware of and mindful of when coming to select a car hopefully!

[V8V Pete]

kevin_cambs_uk said:

I do like how you're number plate plinth on the front sits below the grill, its something that I have been aware of and mindful of when coming to select a car hopefully!

Don't discount cars because of this as you can do it to any Vantage. Just remove the plinth and mount the plate directly on the bumper. Job done.

[kevin_cambs_uk]

V8V Pete said:

kevin_cambs_uk said:

I do like how you're number plate plinth on the front sits below the grill, its something that I have been aware of and mindful of when coming to select a car hopefully!

Don't discount cars because of this as you can do it to any Vantage. Just remove the plinth and mount the plate directly on the bumper. Job done.

That is good to know thank you
I want to get the right one first time!
Thanks
Kev

[dmatin]

Originally drawn to the brand through a DB7 and then seeing the Vanquish in early 2000's but didnt pull the trigger back then , 20 years later I finally bought the DB11.

[bogie]

Always dreamed of an Aston as a kid and finally got an ex demo Vantage in 2007. Served me well for 83k miles then changed it for a Roadster in 2015 Next time around I fancy a V12V Roadster, if I can find one of the 6 speed manual versions.

[Buster73]

My N430 on the day I collected it in 2016 , before anyone mentions it , it’s been at the back of many a NE run out.

[ilikeAstons]

At age 7 I became a member of the Aston Martin Young Supporters Club. This was in the '70's and I have loved them ever since.

Marriage, kids, dogs, horses, goldfish et all meant I'd have to wait a few years, but then I went to the south of France on a lads weekend with my pal who had (and still has) a lovely DB9.

I was smitten. The sense of occasion, the effortless cruising, continent eating beast really got under my skin and I ordered one for myself - a mint, FSH 2008 DB9.



We emigrated to Canada last year, and it had to go - I looked into shipping it as it was just so good, but the government in Canada make it relatively difficult to do this.

10 months on, and the itch was back.

So I set about looking for another Aston. It would be a third car, and winters in Canada, well, let's just say sadly that she has to reside in a warm, salt free environment for around 5 months a year.

I found a V8V (fancied a change), so it has been purchased. And is in the garage awaiting warmer, less salty days.



... roll on spring.

[kfmcmahon]

[Buzz Killington]

It all started with a car covered in an outhouse when I was growing up. My dad had a db5, but it was a relic from a more prosperous time. It was never reliable, and life events had meant he couldn't keep it in a state fit to be driven. To be honest my brother and I hardly paid any attention to the car covered in the red sheet.

Some years later my dad swapped the car for a 5 inch guage steam engine, some Canadian beast. The guy he swapped it with restored her to her former glory. This guy was a close family friend so naturally we went to go and see the db5 my mum and dad had courted in. Oh my. The 10 year old me was in awe. This thing was a machine with a soul. My brother and I were both really affected by that day.

Skip the clock forward some 25 years and as a perk from work I get a long weekend with a super car of my choice and a couple of hotel rooms in Scotland thrown in. The vantage is now very high up on my dream car list so naturally I chose a metallic grey V8. My then girlfriend and I take a tour up to the Highlands and I propose in front of it. I can still remember having to hand that work of art back. My Hyundai coupe felt so mundane. Like it was a completely different object. It was a thing to get from a to b, the vantage a life experience. I vowed driving home, that one day ...

6 years and some good luck later I am driving out of Bristol AM in a 9 year old V12 vantage with my brother in the passenger seat. It was an emotional day. One I am unlikely to forget.

[pschlute]

Buzz Killington said:

6 years and some good luck later I am driving out of Bristol AM in a 9 year old V12 vantage with my brother in the passenger seat. It was an emotional day. One I am unlikely to forget.

Nice story.

[Speedraser]

pschlute said:

Buzz Killington said:

6 years and some good luck later I am driving out of Bristol AM in a 9 year old V12 vantage with my brother in the passenger seat. It was an emotional day. One I am unlikely to forget.

Nice story.

Sure is.