Pros and cons of the V8 Vantage X Pack
Discussion
Camlet,
I think you are possibly talking to the wrong bunch here. Most of the members here will be (although not exclusivly) Gaydon Era car owners. I think the other site (AMOC) may be a better place to strike up a conversation about the topic.
My own personal feelings are that if anyone is planning to venture into older Astons (pre-Gaydon, Bloxham and to a degree the NP Vanquish Era), then I think they need to be prepared with a magnitude of up-keep uncoparable to the newer stuff. (Looking at your garage I suspect that might not be a problem). The cost of purchasing those 1980's Vantages can be quite cheap but the 550 and X-packs are commanding premiums. You will also see now that these models - once left in the shadow by the DB4&5 are now coming into their own and well-sorted to nut and bold restos are starting to be 6-digit propositions with the first digit being a 1, and the second not uncommon to be a 7.
Nicholas Mee has some nice stuff in but not sure if these are the xpackers or just well-rennovated Vantages.
I think you are possibly talking to the wrong bunch here. Most of the members here will be (although not exclusivly) Gaydon Era car owners. I think the other site (AMOC) may be a better place to strike up a conversation about the topic.
My own personal feelings are that if anyone is planning to venture into older Astons (pre-Gaydon, Bloxham and to a degree the NP Vanquish Era), then I think they need to be prepared with a magnitude of up-keep uncoparable to the newer stuff. (Looking at your garage I suspect that might not be a problem). The cost of purchasing those 1980's Vantages can be quite cheap but the 550 and X-packs are commanding premiums. You will also see now that these models - once left in the shadow by the DB4&5 are now coming into their own and well-sorted to nut and bold restos are starting to be 6-digit propositions with the first digit being a 1, and the second not uncommon to be a 7.
Nicholas Mee has some nice stuff in but not sure if these are the xpackers or just well-rennovated Vantages.
I've had a couple of x-packs (including a Zagato) a while back and a few of my mates still do, some of whom venture on here and probably better equipped to advise than myself, but as a starter for ten...
- They require much more patience, understanding and upkeep than a Gaydon era car. But I'm assuming you'd expect that.
- It's been a few years since my own experience so I can't comment on current running costs in pounds and pence, however:
- They are tremendous fun to drive and wickedly fast in a straight line. They are not, however, sports cars. Don't expect it to handle like a Porsche or a Gaydon car no matter what suspension/brake etc upgrades you can put on. They are heavy cars with a lot of mass to shift, with heavy gearchanges etc and it's a car which requires you to 'drive it by the scruff of its neck' to get the best out of it.
- Bodywork-wise they rot round the window frames and anywhere else where alloy meets steel. Immaculate bodywork can belie all sorts of horrors underneath, especially inner sills and wings.
- Engines are pretty unburstable. Ancillaries and electrics are not. Expect it to let you down once in a while and you won't be disappointed. Also, they need to be warmed-up properly before loading them.
- In my own experience they work far better and more reliably if used regularly. My 2k mile zagato was a nightmare. A standard X-pack which I used more or less daily for a few years (based in central London) was almost 100% reliable notwithstanding sensible regular on-going maintenance. That car has gone on to continue to be used regularly for many more years by its new owner who also ventures on to this forum sometimes, it is probably now the highest-mileage X-pack in existence - he may be able to elaborate his own experiences. PM me for his contact details if you want them.
- Speak to a reliable specialist before you buy and once you find one it's well worth paying a few hundred quid to get him to examine the car. Rikki Cann is the man in my experience, but there are others - eg Roger Bennington at Stratton Motor Company and Desmond Smail.
All in all though as a four-wheeled ownership experience they are about as good as it gets. Every trip is an event.
Good luck!
- They require much more patience, understanding and upkeep than a Gaydon era car. But I'm assuming you'd expect that.
- It's been a few years since my own experience so I can't comment on current running costs in pounds and pence, however:
- They are tremendous fun to drive and wickedly fast in a straight line. They are not, however, sports cars. Don't expect it to handle like a Porsche or a Gaydon car no matter what suspension/brake etc upgrades you can put on. They are heavy cars with a lot of mass to shift, with heavy gearchanges etc and it's a car which requires you to 'drive it by the scruff of its neck' to get the best out of it.
- Bodywork-wise they rot round the window frames and anywhere else where alloy meets steel. Immaculate bodywork can belie all sorts of horrors underneath, especially inner sills and wings.
- Engines are pretty unburstable. Ancillaries and electrics are not. Expect it to let you down once in a while and you won't be disappointed. Also, they need to be warmed-up properly before loading them.
- In my own experience they work far better and more reliably if used regularly. My 2k mile zagato was a nightmare. A standard X-pack which I used more or less daily for a few years (based in central London) was almost 100% reliable notwithstanding sensible regular on-going maintenance. That car has gone on to continue to be used regularly for many more years by its new owner who also ventures on to this forum sometimes, it is probably now the highest-mileage X-pack in existence - he may be able to elaborate his own experiences. PM me for his contact details if you want them.
- Speak to a reliable specialist before you buy and once you find one it's well worth paying a few hundred quid to get him to examine the car. Rikki Cann is the man in my experience, but there are others - eg Roger Bennington at Stratton Motor Company and Desmond Smail.
All in all though as a four-wheeled ownership experience they are about as good as it gets. Every trip is an event.
Good luck!
I've had my X pack for 5 yrs now and it's behaved itself extremely well.
It had 24000 miles when I bought it and its now covered 28k and in that time I've had head gaskets and brake M/C aside from usual servicing.
This car I will keep forever, its a magnificent beast which is very fast and will keep up with a modern M3 (in a straight line that is)
Rust in the sills etc will cost you dearly. With my car it was more luck than judgement as I bought the first car I looked at.....I'd wanted one as long as I could remember.
It was my poster pin up car as a nipper and sat next to Farah Fawcett Majors on my bedroom wall
It had 24000 miles when I bought it and its now covered 28k and in that time I've had head gaskets and brake M/C aside from usual servicing.
This car I will keep forever, its a magnificent beast which is very fast and will keep up with a modern M3 (in a straight line that is)
Rust in the sills etc will cost you dearly. With my car it was more luck than judgement as I bought the first car I looked at.....I'd wanted one as long as I could remember.
It was my poster pin up car as a nipper and sat next to Farah Fawcett Majors on my bedroom wall
vpr said:
I've had my X pack for 5 yrs now and it's behaved itself extremely well.
It had 24000 miles when I bought it and its now covered 28k and in that time I've had head gaskets and brake M/C aside from usual servicing.
This car I will keep forever, its a magnificent beast which is very fast and will keep up with a modern M3 (in a straight line that is)
Rust in the sills etc will cost you dearly. With my car it was more luck than judgement as I bought the first car I looked at.....I'd wanted one as long as I could remember.
It was my poster pin up car as a nipper and sat next to Farah Fawcett Majors on my bedroom wall
Love your photo's Leo, they explain why you dont get to drive it much.It had 24000 miles when I bought it and its now covered 28k and in that time I've had head gaskets and brake M/C aside from usual servicing.
This car I will keep forever, its a magnificent beast which is very fast and will keep up with a modern M3 (in a straight line that is)
Rust in the sills etc will cost you dearly. With my car it was more luck than judgement as I bought the first car I looked at.....I'd wanted one as long as I could remember.
It was my poster pin up car as a nipper and sat next to Farah Fawcett Majors on my bedroom wall
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