From TVR to Aston Vantage....good idea?

[markd51]

Hi everyone

About 3 years ago I sold my T350C & regretted it the day after! Been looking around & decided to fulfil a boyhood dream and get an Aston.

Found this one at Grange Aston Martin, Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. Looking for a bit of advice on

- any views on spec, price, mileage. Anything specifically to look out for?
- has anyone bought a car from Grange or gets servicing there. Seem like good bunch, just wanted to know if anyone knows them

Thanks everyone, Mark


http://www.grange.co.uk/used-car-details/aston-mar...

[Jon39]

Grange have received complimentary comments in the past on this forum.

I cannot see much really to comment upon about the car.

It appears to have Sportspack, therefore harder suspension than standard, which is not for everyone now we have such awful road surfaces.

Looking quickly at the photographs, it seems to have a special James Bond option. The number plates have mysteriously changed in some of the photos.

I notice Grange have a Grigio 4.7 which is a rare car. Fewer miles, slightly older and therefore lower price.

Good luck. The Vantage is a wonderful car to own.

[Simon T]

Got my first Aston from Grange. top dealer

I went from a TVR to Aston (via a 997, boring) apart from the Porsche it was a good move

Simon

[avinalarf]

Purchased my DB9V from them ,quite satisfied.

[markd51]

Thanks all. I did notice bubbles on paint on lower door (Grange said would get sorted) and misted front lights. Are these common problems....seem to be reading through the threads?

[Ikebaddog]

Can't go wrong, Vantage V8, Manual gearbox........Best of all worlds, get it!

[MichaelV8V]

I went from 15 years with TVR, to a 2010 Vantage V8 from Welwyn just over three years ago. No regrets at all.

[PiloteAM]

Manual V8Vs are fantastic cars.

If you haven't got it already, get the book that's mentioned in the sticky thread. Something like Guide to gay don era Astons. Helps with what all the options are, and which ones matter.

Mechanically they're very reliable, and the dealer warranty is really pretty good.

[justin220]

Mark, I'm one step ahead of you..

Sold my T350 a good few years ago. Very well sorted one, JP exhaust, Coilovers, no issues at all. I still regret selling it to this day. I've since moved through a heap of different marques.

I've recently just bought a Vantage, and as much as I had hoped it would be a modern TVR, it isn't. Its a very different car. It sounds great, looks great, interior is wonderful, but its very safe, its not scary like the TVR's are. Not sure thats a good thing or not!

[Jon39]

PiloteAM said:

Manual V8Vs are fantastic cars.


... gay don

When he ordered his Vantage Roadster, what colour did he choose?

[slippery]

justin220 said:

I've recently just bought a Vantage, and as much as I had hoped it would be a modern TVR, it isn't. Its a very different car. It sounds great, looks great, interior is wonderful, but its very safe, its not scary like the TVR's are. Not sure thats a good thing or not!

I suppose you'd need a V12V to stand a chance of scaring yourself.

[justin220]

Hmm, not sure tbh.

I am warming to the Vantage slowly, but it's not an exciting car, like the T350's

[slippery]

justin220 said:

Hmm, not sure tbh.

I am warming to the Vantage slowly, but it's not an exciting car, like the T350's

I know what you mean. Most stuff feels pretty sanitised after a TVR. I won't part with mine until I can afford a full on supercar, which a V8V isn't, stunning though it is.

[Ikebaddog]

Difficult to compare a Trevor with an Aston, totally different types of car, would be more appropriate to compare the Trevor with something like a Caterham surely?

[RichB]

slippery said:

justin220 said:

Hmm, not sure tbh. I am warming to the Vantage slowly, but it's not an exciting car, like the T350's

I know what you mean. Most stuff feels pretty sanitised after a TVR. I won't part with mine until I can afford a full on supercar, which a V8V isn't, stunning though it is.

Funnily back in 2005/6 I had a deposit on a then brand new, V8 Vantage. I was invited to Millbrook to sample the newly released demo cars and one test was to gun it along a 1.5 mile straight to demonstrate the acceleration and braking capability. Half way along the chap looked at me strangely as I said "Yeah, it's ok." I think he'd got more of a reaction from other people on the event. I did go on to explain that I had a reasonably tuned Griff 500 so in fact it didn't feel that exciting. It was a lovely car though but in the end I cancelled the order and went for a classic DB, rather glad I did although it would be nice to have both.

[simonpa]

I've come from TVRs (latest was a Griff 500) and Caterhams (10 of them since 1996) to a Vantage.
It doesn't handle like a 7 or is as sprightly as a TVR, but is well screwed together.

I bought my 07 V8V just before Christmas, from a chap who bought it from Grange in July.

It had had a full respray by Grange - not bad, but the masking tape was still on the numberplate lights when I got it (so much for the 140-point check).
Also the tyres are 4 different ages (going back to 2009), the exhaust downpipe clamps are loose and the power steering fluid was low, making a noise when cold.

I got a great deal when I bought it privately, so have no complaints though!

Edited by simonpa on Saturday 25th January 18:57

[waremark]

Well, having recently bought a V12V, I was thinking that it was quite similar to a TVR - but much more beautiful, beautifully finished, with good quality electronics and accessories which work well, no silly features like unmarked instruments and door openers which you cannot find, safety engineering to keep you out of the graveyard if it all goes wrong, and nanny electronics to make sure that it doesn't. What's so similar then? - well, sounds to stir the soul, stunning acceleration, and you need to be quite wide awake to drive it well.

I have never owned a TVR so I may have got this all wrong.

Back to Grange Welwyn: I bought my Jag from them (separate showroom, same site) - I found them nice to deal with and the price was good, and they continue to be very helpful and pleasant now I own it. Have not had the Aston serviced yet, but I think my son was pleased with them when he had a V8V.

[slippery]

Ikebaddog said:

Difficult to compare a Trevor with an Aston, totally different types of car, would be more appropriate to compare the Trevor with something like a Caterham surely?

Fair point, a less hardcore and focussed alternative, where the Aston is a great GT. When you can only have one toy, comparisons are inevitable, even when they are totally different.

[slippery]

waremark said:

I have never owned a TVR so I may have got this all wrong.

I think you're probably spot on.

[RichB]

slippery said:

waremark said:

I have never owned a TVR so I may have got this all wrong.

I think you're probably spot on.