Buying a v12v... Selling a v12v!
Discussion
As some of you already know, i am shopping for a v12v. Not found the right car yet as i need lightweight seats, low miles, dark colour... Anyone knows of one pls let me know... Happy to buy privately etc...
However, the aim of this post is to work out the following:
However, the aim of this post is to work out the following:
- When you bought a v12v, what do you wish you had known before? What is the most important advice you'd give a buyer to avoid the 'beginner's mistake'?
- Secondly, for those of you who had a v12v and sold it, what annoyed you with the car? What led you to sell it? what did you go for afterwards? Those with v12vR on order don't need to respond obviously...
erics said:
As some of you already know, i am shopping for a v12v. Not found the right car yet as i need lightweight seats, low miles, dark colour... Anyone knows of one pls let me know... Happy to buy privately etc...
However, the aim of this post is to work out the following:
Sorry Eric...I don't have a V12V though I would be tempted However, the aim of this post is to work out the following:
- When you bought a v12v, what do you wish you had known before? What is the most important advice you'd give a buyer to avoid the 'beginner's mistake'?
- Secondly, for those of you who had a v12v and sold it, what annoyed you with the car? What led you to sell it? what did you go for afterwards? Those with v12vR on order don't need to respond obviously...
I know the Corsa tyres need getting used to in the cold / wet. I also know that the b
ks about limiting it to a 1000 car production run annoyed a lot of people....when they dropped the limit 
Had mine for about a year bought used, sounds like the spec you are after - lightweight seats, Quantum Silver and still haven't got it to 6k miles yet despite trying at every opportunity to use it.
Other bits on mine were B&O, garage opener, bright finish grill, front parking sensors and a leather steering wheel (not sure there is a lot else you can spec).
I was pleased I went for the lightweight seats - only tried a normal seated car afterwards and it didn't feel nearly as comfortable to me or as connected with the car. Garmin nav is good, no idea what the older ones are like.
The car also came with the front Armourfend-ed which initially I wasn't sure about but there isn't a stone chip to be seen and it has saved the CF splitter a couple of times from harm so now very happy with that.
The most difficult bit is getting your head around the prices, I really struggled with the concept that the car could loose 50k in 3 months then have a very shallow depreciation after that. This was the big question for me but I went with it and so far it is looking OK, prices look about the same as they were twelve months ago.
The dealer I bought it from every so often reaches out to see if I'm looking to sell - this is probably to get me to upgrade though...
Cheers,
Phil
Other bits on mine were B&O, garage opener, bright finish grill, front parking sensors and a leather steering wheel (not sure there is a lot else you can spec).
I was pleased I went for the lightweight seats - only tried a normal seated car afterwards and it didn't feel nearly as comfortable to me or as connected with the car. Garmin nav is good, no idea what the older ones are like.
The car also came with the front Armourfend-ed which initially I wasn't sure about but there isn't a stone chip to be seen and it has saved the CF splitter a couple of times from harm so now very happy with that.
The most difficult bit is getting your head around the prices, I really struggled with the concept that the car could loose 50k in 3 months then have a very shallow depreciation after that. This was the big question for me but I went with it and so far it is looking OK, prices look about the same as they were twelve months ago.
The dealer I bought it from every so often reaches out to see if I'm looking to sell - this is probably to get me to upgrade though...
Cheers,
Phil
I went from 4.3 2007 vantage to 2009 v12.
For me the main thing was the choice of seats and colour these are probably the two most significant things.
I tried sports vs lightweight seats back to back and my initial impression was towards sports seats because they seemed more comfortable/padded and can be had with seat heating. In reality I then decided lightweight seats suited the car better and actually are very comfortable. My advice is don't try to decide on the seats based on back to back comparison, I am so pleased I went with lightweights. The alcantara means heated seats aren't needed. I've been driving mine in this cold weather and I've never regretted not having heated seats.
Colour is very subjective with many people liking unusual colours ( and I can see why), the most common colour seems to be black, just make sure both the interior and exterior are colours you can live with long term as if you do buy one then you're unlikely to want to sell it in a hurry as they really are such a great car.
It's been a long time since I've really wanted to take a car out just for a 'drive' or missed a car when I've been working away but I can honestly say the v12 has this effect. I find myself regularly just going out in it for an hour because its even better to drive than to look at
.
For me the main thing was the choice of seats and colour these are probably the two most significant things.
I tried sports vs lightweight seats back to back and my initial impression was towards sports seats because they seemed more comfortable/padded and can be had with seat heating. In reality I then decided lightweight seats suited the car better and actually are very comfortable. My advice is don't try to decide on the seats based on back to back comparison, I am so pleased I went with lightweights. The alcantara means heated seats aren't needed. I've been driving mine in this cold weather and I've never regretted not having heated seats.
Colour is very subjective with many people liking unusual colours ( and I can see why), the most common colour seems to be black, just make sure both the interior and exterior are colours you can live with long term as if you do buy one then you're unlikely to want to sell it in a hurry as they really are such a great car.
It's been a long time since I've really wanted to take a car out just for a 'drive' or missed a car when I've been working away but I can honestly say the v12 has this effect. I find myself regularly just going out in it for an hour because its even better to drive than to look at
. Hi Erics
I have a 2009 V12V bought as new and now with 14k miles on the clock. I love the V12V. It is a very very good car, which is extremely well balanced, has superior brakes to most super cars and still 3 years in puts a smile on my face every time i use it.
The lightweight (carbon backed) seats are a must as they pretty much define the car. In the beginning you need to get used to them but after a while they get very conformable even on very long European trips. I would "pass" on the alcantara seat inserts as they look at bit worn over time but would keep the steering wheel in alcantara. I would not go for the B & O but definitely the premium sound system. The B & O has a subwoofer in the back which takes up unnecessary space and it does not sound that much better anyway.
I would definitely get some winter tyres for the colder months.
Enjoy.
I have a 2009 V12V bought as new and now with 14k miles on the clock. I love the V12V. It is a very very good car, which is extremely well balanced, has superior brakes to most super cars and still 3 years in puts a smile on my face every time i use it.
The lightweight (carbon backed) seats are a must as they pretty much define the car. In the beginning you need to get used to them but after a while they get very conformable even on very long European trips. I would "pass" on the alcantara seat inserts as they look at bit worn over time but would keep the steering wheel in alcantara. I would not go for the B & O but definitely the premium sound system. The B & O has a subwoofer in the back which takes up unnecessary space and it does not sound that much better anyway.
I would definitely get some winter tyres for the colder months.
Enjoy.
Hi Erics
I'm on my 2'nd V12V Coupe! The first was the best car I have ever owned, and the reason I sold it was that it was so good that I was happy to buy another, but 2nd time around I was bolder and went for Morning Frost with 1/2 red interior. The current car is quite honestly automovtive perfection and I have no regrets about the change.
The first time I bought a Meteorite / black-black and played it safe, but I think dark colours dont in all honesty make the most of what the V12V is - its the AM badboy and needs to stand out a little. It was a really great car, but I am only 100% happy 2nd time around. MF White, Mako Blue, Flame Orange, Cobalt Blue etc... these are the colours a hard core V12 "GT3" Aston should be in! My advice is just go for what you really really want, dont hold back or compromise on anything - these cars are too rare and special! If you like dark colours then fair enough but they dont make the most of the CF features of the V12V to me - but each to their own and everybody has their own preference.
For me, must have's are :
No1) Lightweight seats - amazing they are a perfect synergy with the V12V and creatinly help with the connected feeling with the tarmac quite significantly. The sports seats are suited to all the rest of the range, the CF buckets are IMHO the only seats that should be fitted to V12V.
No2) Premium Audio - B/O looks great and sounds great, but premium delivers all the sound and at 20% of the cost. 2nd hand I would have either, but my preference would be for Premium by a small edge. Std Audio is just dreadful - anybody that tells you otherwise just isnt into audio - ignore the "just listen to the exhaust/engine" people, a car at this level should be able to do both and the std audio system just doesnt cut the mustard on £100k+ car!
No3) Colour - go for what you REALLY want!
No4) Fuse 22/15 - just do it!!! This is a "must" - the V12 sounds amazing and doesn't deserve to be muzzled from the factory. De-cork on day1 and you will be a happy bunny forever
Here is my first V12V:
Here is my current V12V:
I'm on my 2'nd V12V Coupe! The first was the best car I have ever owned, and the reason I sold it was that it was so good that I was happy to buy another, but 2nd time around I was bolder and went for Morning Frost with 1/2 red interior. The current car is quite honestly automovtive perfection and I have no regrets about the change.
The first time I bought a Meteorite / black-black and played it safe, but I think dark colours dont in all honesty make the most of what the V12V is - its the AM badboy and needs to stand out a little. It was a really great car, but I am only 100% happy 2nd time around. MF White, Mako Blue, Flame Orange, Cobalt Blue etc... these are the colours a hard core V12 "GT3" Aston should be in! My advice is just go for what you really really want, dont hold back or compromise on anything - these cars are too rare and special! If you like dark colours then fair enough but they dont make the most of the CF features of the V12V to me - but each to their own and everybody has their own preference.
For me, must have's are :
No1) Lightweight seats - amazing they are a perfect synergy with the V12V and creatinly help with the connected feeling with the tarmac quite significantly. The sports seats are suited to all the rest of the range, the CF buckets are IMHO the only seats that should be fitted to V12V.
No2) Premium Audio - B/O looks great and sounds great, but premium delivers all the sound and at 20% of the cost. 2nd hand I would have either, but my preference would be for Premium by a small edge. Std Audio is just dreadful - anybody that tells you otherwise just isnt into audio - ignore the "just listen to the exhaust/engine" people, a car at this level should be able to do both and the std audio system just doesnt cut the mustard on £100k+ car!
No3) Colour - go for what you REALLY want!
No4) Fuse 22/15 - just do it!!! This is a "must" - the V12 sounds amazing and doesn't deserve to be muzzled from the factory. De-cork on day1 and you will be a happy bunny forever
Here is my first V12V:
Here is my current V12V:
Edited by AdamV12V on Sunday 13th January 20:38
Hi Erics, since Adam mentioned Mako Blue as his second choice colour it would be rude not to post a couple of pictures up which should also give you some perspective that the paler cars do look cracking too!
You really do need to identify your perfect colour/spec car and then try and find it....patiently! As said above, the lightweight seats and alcantara steering wheel match the V12V's credentials perfectly and coming from a 997GT3 couldn't have anything else. Mine is stored Dec - Feb so winter tyres are not needed for me and getting the car back in March feels like buying it all over over again but without the cost,
You really do need to identify your perfect colour/spec car and then try and find it....patiently! As said above, the lightweight seats and alcantara steering wheel match the V12V's credentials perfectly and coming from a 997GT3 couldn't have anything else. Mine is stored Dec - Feb so winter tyres are not needed for me and getting the car back in March feels like buying it all over over again but without the cost,
Very nice indeed. It is true that the lighter colours lift up the carbon details. Which I personally like a lot. I know some people do not like the carbon vents on the bonnet for example but I do like to see them. They define the car.
Like you I have had a gt3 in the past but a 996 mk2 (no 997). I would love the lightweight buckets but certainly do not wish to have the same ultra stiff ride combined to the headache inducing road noise generated by the wide tyres.
Like you I have had a gt3 in the past but a 996 mk2 (no 997). I would love the lightweight buckets but certainly do not wish to have the same ultra stiff ride combined to the headache inducing road noise generated by the wide tyres.
Mako V12V said:
Hi Erics, since Adam mentioned Mako Blue as his second choice colour it would be rude not to post a couple of pictures up which should also give you some perspective that the paler cars do look cracking too!
You really do need to identify your perfect colour/spec car and then try and find it....patiently! As said above, the lightweight seats and alcantara steering wheel match the V12V's credentials perfectly and coming from a 997GT3 couldn't have anything else. Mine is stored Dec - Feb so winter tyres are not needed for me and getting the car back in March feels like buying it all over over again but without the cost,
You really do need to identify your perfect colour/spec car and then try and find it....patiently! As said above, the lightweight seats and alcantara steering wheel match the V12V's credentials perfectly and coming from a 997GT3 couldn't have anything else. Mine is stored Dec - Feb so winter tyres are not needed for me and getting the car back in March feels like buying it all over over again but without the cost,
erics said:
As some of you already know, i am shopping for a v12v. Not found the right car yet as i need lightweight seats, low miles, dark colour... Anyone knows of one pls let me know... Happy to buy privately etc...
However, the aim of this post is to work out the following:
I have a Quantum Silver V12V with lightweight seats, but no way am I selling However, the aim of this post is to work out the following:
- When you bought a v12v, what do you wish you had known before? What is the most important advice you'd give a buyer to avoid the 'beginner's mistake'?
The biggest mistake you can make is driving one and not having the money to buy it. I wish I had the money to buy one sooner and oh yes a bigger mistake is leaving it in the garage to have a low mileage example when you come to sell it. Drive it and you will smile EVERY time you do, I expect to see not many low mileage ones in the future due to the pure driving pleasure you get from them
Make sure you get the premium stereo, but seriously just get the colour combination that you want and enjoy it. Look for the normal items, like has it been abused (i.e. does it say Cockernee on the logbook) and are the tyres in good condition (they are £400 each). Other than that, I can't honestly say that there is anything to look out for that you would not when purchasing a 2nd hand car.
[quote=AdamV12V]
No1) Lightweight seats - amazing they are a perfect synergy with the V12V and creatinly help with the connected feeling with the tarmac quite significantly. The sports seats are suited to all the rest of the range, the CF buckets are IMHO the only seats that should be fitted to V12V.
No2) Premium Audio - B/O looks great and sounds great, but premium delivers all the sound and at 20% of the cost. 2nd hand I would have either, but my preference would be for Premium by a small edge. Std Audio is just dreadful - anybody that tells you otherwise just isnt into audio - ignore the "just listen to the exhaust/engine" people, a car at this level should be able to do both and the std audio system just doesnt cut the mustard on £100k+ car!
quote]
the issue above are the only areas of spec of any kind of importance as the car is pretty well loaded and there are few options of significance, outside those of colour, than lightweights and stereo
Lightweights are marmite but most of those who've tried them, myself incldued, won't have anything else. Mikey however does not like the combination of lightweights and manual whilst some dislike the lack of seat airbags (which is why they can't be sold in the States) or heating
stereo wise, B&O adds a bit of weight, a bump in the boot, a bit of complexity, reflections off the tweeters onto the windscreen and IMO, v little if any sound improvement. It is also a little more 'synthetic' as a result of more DSP and such like. It's main advantage is looks - I'd avoid but some love it. Costs new are 1k for premium (very very few cars don't have premium) and 5.5k for B&O. BUt there is the odd person who will only be looking for a car with B&O so it helps resale (arguably)
The beauty of colours is that there are plenty of people that want teh traditional silvers/greys/blacks and also plenty, especially on this car, that want the more unusual colours - reds, greens, oranges, white, etc so whilst neither are for everyone, there are very few cars indeed that I've seen that would be a struggle to sell
Having said that, obviously karussell orange, which some including me think is great, may take a while but shouldn't actually affect the price. The result of which is, go for the colour you love and don't worry too much about effects on value/price !
No1) Lightweight seats - amazing they are a perfect synergy with the V12V and creatinly help with the connected feeling with the tarmac quite significantly. The sports seats are suited to all the rest of the range, the CF buckets are IMHO the only seats that should be fitted to V12V.
No2) Premium Audio - B/O looks great and sounds great, but premium delivers all the sound and at 20% of the cost. 2nd hand I would have either, but my preference would be for Premium by a small edge. Std Audio is just dreadful - anybody that tells you otherwise just isnt into audio - ignore the "just listen to the exhaust/engine" people, a car at this level should be able to do both and the std audio system just doesnt cut the mustard on £100k+ car!
quote]
the issue above are the only areas of spec of any kind of importance as the car is pretty well loaded and there are few options of significance, outside those of colour, than lightweights and stereo
Lightweights are marmite but most of those who've tried them, myself incldued, won't have anything else. Mikey however does not like the combination of lightweights and manual whilst some dislike the lack of seat airbags (which is why they can't be sold in the States) or heating
stereo wise, B&O adds a bit of weight, a bump in the boot, a bit of complexity, reflections off the tweeters onto the windscreen and IMO, v little if any sound improvement. It is also a little more 'synthetic' as a result of more DSP and such like. It's main advantage is looks - I'd avoid but some love it. Costs new are 1k for premium (very very few cars don't have premium) and 5.5k for B&O. BUt there is the odd person who will only be looking for a car with B&O so it helps resale (arguably)
The beauty of colours is that there are plenty of people that want teh traditional silvers/greys/blacks and also plenty, especially on this car, that want the more unusual colours - reds, greens, oranges, white, etc so whilst neither are for everyone, there are very few cars indeed that I've seen that would be a struggle to sell
Having said that, obviously karussell orange, which some including me think is great, may take a while but shouldn't actually affect the price. The result of which is, go for the colour you love and don't worry too much about effects on value/price !
kent_phil said:
The most difficult bit is getting your head around the prices, I really struggled with the concept that the car could loose 50k in 3 months then have a very shallow depreciation after that. This was the big question for me but I went with it and so far it is looking OK, prices look about the same as they were twelve months ago.
Phil
I agree but the situation now is that unless you are looking to spec the car yourself (which I'm not sure is possible anymore as the car may be coming to the end of it's life, at which stage one assumes values may astart to rise if there is no manual replacement) you can buy a brand new un-registered V12 Coupe from a dealer with a very substantial discont, perhaps paying very approx 120k +/- 5k comapared to list price of a typical car (allowing for a few extras) of c. 140k. The cheapest used vehicles are say c. 85k unless with 'proper' miles so all the cars inbetween occupy a fairly narrow price band - as some stage, one assumes that will widenPhil
There are supposedly four points where value takes the biggest hit:
(i)The day you drive it out from the dealer
(ii) The day the warranty expires
(iii) The day a model face lift is announced
(iv) The day a replacement model arrives.
In the V12Vs case it is widely known that it takes a hit on (i) but then pretty much flattens out thereafter. This has to do with the fact that you can get a pretty good AML warranty extension, there have not been any face lifts or major changes, no replacement model has yet to emerge and reliability (even at higher mileage) is impeccable. So a good MY09 car should not be that different to a MY11-12 car.
(i)The day you drive it out from the dealer
(ii) The day the warranty expires
(iii) The day a model face lift is announced
(iv) The day a replacement model arrives.
In the V12Vs case it is widely known that it takes a hit on (i) but then pretty much flattens out thereafter. This has to do with the fact that you can get a pretty good AML warranty extension, there have not been any face lifts or major changes, no replacement model has yet to emerge and reliability (even at higher mileage) is impeccable. So a good MY09 car should not be that different to a MY11-12 car.
Cockernee said:
The biggest mistake you can make is driving one and not having the money to buy it. I wish I had the money to buy one sooner
I resolved this problem by ensuring i conducted a worthwhile blag every week 
Cockernee said:
...and oh yes a bigger mistake is leaving it in the garage to have a low mileage example when you come to sell it. Drive it and you will smile EVERY time you do,
Blagging ensures double satisfaction, miles on the mota and money in my sky rocket, job done 
Cockernee said:
I expect to see not many low mileage ones in the future due to the pure driving pleasure you get from them
Not if you're blagging, those T5 V70's can chase you for quite a few miles, i've found that the BR conversion has helped me to reduce my "business" mileage, much easier to get away from the Rozzers more quickly. I keep my "hand and eye in" by increasing my Pleasure miles Sorry John, couldn't resist
John
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