1 year ownership report V8V!
Discussion
Hi all
So as of this week, its been 1 year into my AM ownership.
So I thought I’d write up a little story, including the financial costs of ownership so far for my 2006 V8 vantage manual, about my last year for people who might have had the same hesitations in taking the plunge.
As some might know, I’ve always been a biker and race bikes a lot. So much so, that I actually didn’t have a drivers license to drive a car until 1 year ago. This was starting to become embarrassing as my girlfriend had to chauffeur me around if a car was the only way of transport.
So in order to motivate myself to pass the exam I started the hunt for something that ticked all the right boxes; special feel, enough power to have some fun, yet practical so that it can carry 2 people with full luggage.
Long story short, I bought a Vantage from a dealer in Germany and imported to the Netherlands as to motivate myself to get my license. …plan worked like a charm!
After 1 year I can say the following things:
- The car has never let me down, not even once.
I drove a total 0f 12000 kms and it has not missed a single beat.
- Total cost for 12000 km: 2 rear tires 800 euros. I am installing new rear brake pads myself, 400 euro (eurocarparts has cheap pagid brake pads for AM!). Next week its getting a small service for oil etc, should cost around 1200 euros. Grand total 2400 euros maintenance for 12000 km, so that’s 0,20 euro per km. Not bad!
- Adding insurance full comp and roadtax, that’s another 2400 euros. Which brings the counter to 0,40 euro per km.
- Petrol: it’s a thirsty little b
d, especially for the amount of HP.
I have averaged 1l/7.1km , which is not bad. Which means 12000 km costs me 1690 liter of petrol. That’s around 2704 euros total., which is another 0,23 euro per km bringing the total to cost per km to 0,63 euro.
- I had a 2 year warranty done at purchase, but I consider that part of the cost of the car.
- Depreciation has been around 0 if I see what other cars sell for.
- The best thing I have done is to buy a car that was maintained EVERY year with invoices and stamps to prove at an official AM Dealer. There is really no substitute for proper yearly maintenance. That’s the reason the car’s maintenance for now has been little I believe, and also when I sell it it will be a lot easier than what other sellers have to offer.
- I worried a bit of putting miles on these cars, but it seems the car drives better when its driven regularly so really don’t be put off by miles, only make sure it has had proven proper maintenance. These engines are great (just not the f*cking clutch, more on that later)
- Hindsight: don’t buy a car and add Aston modifications….its really really expensive. I have added V12 sills from AM, custom built 200 cell race cats, N420 diffuser in carbon, clear rear lights, 6 slat grill in black. In hindsight, I should have bought a car that someone else already modified and I could do the final touches…..Maintenance was cheap, upgrades are not! Spent over 6k on total upgrades including paint, fitment etc. I will probably only get back 50% of what I spent on the upgrades, because at least they are AM original upgrades.
- After 1 year it still gives me a massive smile when I drive it….and that for a person like me that gets tired of things very quickly!
- The amount of attention is just right. Its not as loud as a Ferrari or Lambo, its more understated yet people notice you and definitely give you a thumbs up!
The best thing so far, is the sound. I still love to hear the mufflers roar at WOT going in tunnels! The best sound ever.
However there are some negative things I have experienced in the last year:
The clutch…..this must be the wimpiest clutch in existence for a sportscar( I have a manual). Its so under-developed…its by far the biggest weakness of the car, closely followed by its unwillingness to rev easily from end mid-range to high range revs.
I am not too bothered with the lack of real power, but having said that…there is always room for more power.
Weird enough reading back what I have just written, I have decided to Sell the V8V….. I have made a successful bid for a 550 Maranello with race seats in beautiful condition. Its time to try something else and see where my life as a driver instead of rider brings me.
Not to despair though! I already had funds made available for a 550, so the sale of the V8V might go back into the purchase of an Aston….Just not sure what to buy…… first I wanted to go down the MikeyK route and tune it with a 4.7l or even 5.0l gt4-spec engine, but my heart knows that the V12 Vantage is something really really special…basically what I have now but then times 10…(also probably in costs..)
We will see what the future will brings, for now picture of how the car looks now. She is at the painter to get some minor front bumper rash fixed and the wheels cleaned. I am still going to enjoy her till the time she sells, hopefully somewhere in Spring.
Greets
Brakke
So as of this week, its been 1 year into my AM ownership.
So I thought I’d write up a little story, including the financial costs of ownership so far for my 2006 V8 vantage manual, about my last year for people who might have had the same hesitations in taking the plunge.
As some might know, I’ve always been a biker and race bikes a lot. So much so, that I actually didn’t have a drivers license to drive a car until 1 year ago. This was starting to become embarrassing as my girlfriend had to chauffeur me around if a car was the only way of transport.
So in order to motivate myself to pass the exam I started the hunt for something that ticked all the right boxes; special feel, enough power to have some fun, yet practical so that it can carry 2 people with full luggage.
Long story short, I bought a Vantage from a dealer in Germany and imported to the Netherlands as to motivate myself to get my license. …plan worked like a charm!
After 1 year I can say the following things:
- The car has never let me down, not even once.
I drove a total 0f 12000 kms and it has not missed a single beat.
- Total cost for 12000 km: 2 rear tires 800 euros. I am installing new rear brake pads myself, 400 euro (eurocarparts has cheap pagid brake pads for AM!). Next week its getting a small service for oil etc, should cost around 1200 euros. Grand total 2400 euros maintenance for 12000 km, so that’s 0,20 euro per km. Not bad!
- Adding insurance full comp and roadtax, that’s another 2400 euros. Which brings the counter to 0,40 euro per km.
- Petrol: it’s a thirsty little b
d, especially for the amount of HP.I have averaged 1l/7.1km , which is not bad. Which means 12000 km costs me 1690 liter of petrol. That’s around 2704 euros total., which is another 0,23 euro per km bringing the total to cost per km to 0,63 euro.
- I had a 2 year warranty done at purchase, but I consider that part of the cost of the car.
- Depreciation has been around 0 if I see what other cars sell for.
- The best thing I have done is to buy a car that was maintained EVERY year with invoices and stamps to prove at an official AM Dealer. There is really no substitute for proper yearly maintenance. That’s the reason the car’s maintenance for now has been little I believe, and also when I sell it it will be a lot easier than what other sellers have to offer.
- I worried a bit of putting miles on these cars, but it seems the car drives better when its driven regularly so really don’t be put off by miles, only make sure it has had proven proper maintenance. These engines are great (just not the f*cking clutch, more on that later)
- Hindsight: don’t buy a car and add Aston modifications….its really really expensive. I have added V12 sills from AM, custom built 200 cell race cats, N420 diffuser in carbon, clear rear lights, 6 slat grill in black. In hindsight, I should have bought a car that someone else already modified and I could do the final touches…..Maintenance was cheap, upgrades are not! Spent over 6k on total upgrades including paint, fitment etc. I will probably only get back 50% of what I spent on the upgrades, because at least they are AM original upgrades.
- After 1 year it still gives me a massive smile when I drive it….and that for a person like me that gets tired of things very quickly!
- The amount of attention is just right. Its not as loud as a Ferrari or Lambo, its more understated yet people notice you and definitely give you a thumbs up!
The best thing so far, is the sound. I still love to hear the mufflers roar at WOT going in tunnels! The best sound ever.
However there are some negative things I have experienced in the last year:
The clutch…..this must be the wimpiest clutch in existence for a sportscar( I have a manual). Its so under-developed…its by far the biggest weakness of the car, closely followed by its unwillingness to rev easily from end mid-range to high range revs.
I am not too bothered with the lack of real power, but having said that…there is always room for more power.
Weird enough reading back what I have just written, I have decided to Sell the V8V….. I have made a successful bid for a 550 Maranello with race seats in beautiful condition. Its time to try something else and see where my life as a driver instead of rider brings me.
Not to despair though! I already had funds made available for a 550, so the sale of the V8V might go back into the purchase of an Aston….Just not sure what to buy…… first I wanted to go down the MikeyK route and tune it with a 4.7l or even 5.0l gt4-spec engine, but my heart knows that the V12 Vantage is something really really special…basically what I have now but then times 10…(also probably in costs..)
We will see what the future will brings, for now picture of how the car looks now. She is at the painter to get some minor front bumper rash fixed and the wheels cleaned. I am still going to enjoy her till the time she sells, hopefully somewhere in Spring.
Greets
Brakke
Edited by Brakke on Thursday 5th February 14:31
Edited by Brakke on Thursday 5th February 14:33
Edited by Brakke on Thursday 5th February 14:35
I know BR has a great solution.
But then i would have to wait until the clutch goes out (which I can do on purpose if I really wanted haha)....
Also, Im trying to not only use my heart but also my head:
At the moment it still has 1 year warranty, which makes it a hell of a lot easier to sell privately.
Extending the warranties is not possible for some weird reason, cause im in NL...
V12V would be great....just doesnt fit the budget yet....but on the other hand, i can not complain with a V12 5.5 liter 6-speed manual Maranello with tubi's.
Ofcourse in black, because once you go black....you're gonna need a wheelchair!
Below some pics, its getting its PPI done coming Tuesday...fingers crossed...
But then i would have to wait until the clutch goes out (which I can do on purpose if I really wanted haha)....
Also, Im trying to not only use my heart but also my head:
At the moment it still has 1 year warranty, which makes it a hell of a lot easier to sell privately.
Extending the warranties is not possible for some weird reason, cause im in NL...
V12V would be great....just doesnt fit the budget yet....but on the other hand, i can not complain with a V12 5.5 liter 6-speed manual Maranello with tubi's.
Ofcourse in black, because once you go black....you're gonna need a wheelchair!
Below some pics, its getting its PPI done coming Tuesday...fingers crossed...
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