£30k V8 Vantage

[cjm]

Has anyone bought one? I've noticed a few cars around and below £30k. What are the issues with an older or higher mileage Vantage? Apart from fuel what are the big expenses when running one?

Thanks
Colin

[outofstepuk]

I bought a one owner Toro Red, 07 model V8V for £28k almost 4 years ago.

Reason it was cheap... Private sale, 75k miles, one careful lady owner. Apart from parking... then unfortunately she did manage to curb all the wheels (pretty much all the way round), and clip the front corners with nice yellow multistory car park paint. Perfect AM history though, and new AM warranty.

After a the tatty bits were sorted I did some comestic upgrades over the time I had it - clear lights, S wheels, carbon pack.

Had Bamford Rose do the cats and manifolds.

Second clutch fitted before I had it at 62k.

Sold it last year on 93 or 94k miles due to a V12V.

Didn't miss a beat, mechanically it was perfect.

If the history is good etc, I'd not be scared of some miles. Great entry into the Vantage range IMHO.

[cjm]

Apart from the upgrades what were the running cost like over the 4 years and 18k?

[outofstepuk]

cjm said:

Apart from the upgrades what were the running cost like over the 4 years and 18k?

Set of tyres, I went for Michelin PSS.

Couple of annual services with BR - just serviced before I got it and due one when I sold it. Can't remember the costs, but outside of tyres and servicing I spent nothing.

[steveatesh]

cjm said:

Apart from the upgrades what were the running cost like over the 4 years and 18k?

My advice, if you are considering one, is to set aside a repairs budget for the unforeseen expensive repair. For example, if your car has LED lights, and one goes, it's £1500 or thereabouts. Or the odd module etc can run into hundreds.

Good luck if you go down this route they are a fabulous car.

[bogie]

Ive got an 06 car, owned since 07. Now on 73k miles. In the last 2 or 3 years/services its just been £650 a time at Bridge Mill (independant) and the rest depends when other consumables become due. So maybe rear discs n pads will be £600 fitted, or a pair of tyres £400, or whole set £900.

Out of routine servicing in recent years its had a wheel bearing pack for a few hundred quid

Its not had a clutch yet, it will need one sooner or later, but so far, so good

If the car you are looking at has done some miles, check the history, likely its had all of the common issues; aux drive belt, thermostat, wheel bearing etc

The biggest service ive had is when consumables become due at the same time, I think a pair of tyres, discs n pads all round and a service gave a £2500 bill once

On a good year its a 10K mile/12 month service at £600 and costs no more to run than a big engined exec saloon ......

[cjm]

outofstepuk said:

Set of tyres, I went for Michelin PSS.

Couple of annual services with BR - just serviced before I got it and due one when I sold it. Can't remember the costs, but outside of tyres and servicing I spent nothing.

Can I be cheeky and ask how much you sold the car for with 93k on it?

They don't sound too bad and no worse than a amg merc, M3, etc, plus they don't seem to have any big mechanical issues.

Maybe I need to go and have a drive in one and see what I think!

[outofstepuk]

cjm said:

Can I be cheeky and ask how much you sold the car for with 93k on it?

They don't sound too bad and no worse than a amg merc, M3, etc, plus they don't seem to have any big mechanical issues.

Maybe I need to go and have a drive in one and see what I think!

Well, I remember at the time someone asked that question. My answer was, that's between me and the buyer, it would be up to him if it is disclosed.

Unfortunately the next owner passed away, by all accounts happy he got to have his dream car. (to make it clear, I will point out his passing was not car related).

I guess the info therefore isn't important now, so I will share I sold for £30k. It was in lovely shape at this point.

I put about £10k into it in total, as I thought it was a long term keeper, then I caught the V12 bug. As we all know though, clear light conversions, new alloys, carbon pack and engine work are bought with the heart not the head, so all in all I'm really happy with the couple of years I drove it and the way the numbers worked out.

[davek_964]

I bought my 56 plate car in May. 35k miles, full history (last serviced in March), recent brakes, immaculate etc. I paid a bit over £30k - think it was roughly £32k.

Hasn't had a clutch and doesn't "need" one, but it is a bit heavy so I might get one at the next service anyway.
Mine feels like a decent solid car and think it was well worth the money.

[JS1500]

I bought my one-owner 2007 car for slightly over £30k in October last year, included in that was a 12 month warranty.

So far I have spent £115 on it - a pair of Michelin Stealth wiper blades and an hour's labour to recondition the battery.

There's no Aston dealer or independent specialist for miles (I'm in Aberdeen) so I got a quote from the local Jaguar main dealer for when the next service is due, they quoted £360.

It'll need new tyres and front discs and pads soon but these aren't any more expensive than most performance or luxury cars. Actually, front discs for the Vantage are a quarter of the price as for my last car!

Mine was bought with 52k on the clock and now has 56k. I don't think the clutch has been done but seems fine for now. Budget £3 - 3.5k for a replacement.

[Moonhawk]

steveatesh said:

For example, if your car has LED lights, and one goes, it's £1500 or thereabouts.

Yep - definitely check these. I bought a 2009 4.7 roadster that only had 8500 miles on it a couple of years back and both sides went at the same time around 18 months after purchase. Most expensive side light bulb replacement in history.

I can't believe Aston don't consider this a design flaw considering how many people seem to report it.

[bogie]

Moonhawk said:

steveatesh said:

For example, if your car has LED lights, and one goes, it's £1500 or thereabouts.

Yep - definitely check these. I bought a 2009 4.7 roadster that only had 8500 miles on it a couple of years back and both sides went at the same time around 18 months after purchase. Most expensive side light bulb replacement in history.

I can't believe Aston don't consider this a design flaw considering how many people seem to report it.

Just about every car and motorbike on the market these days is using LED lights

Might be something to do with the recall due to fake parts supplied in the LEDs ;

http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/how-counterfeit-p...

[cjm]

Do all the V8s have LED lights?

[bogie]

cjm said:

Do all the V8s have LED lights?

yes...all Astons have for many years now

[Moonhawk]

bogie said:

Moonhawk said:

steveatesh said:

For example, if your car has LED lights, and one goes, it's £1500 or thereabouts.

Yep - definitely check these. I bought a 2009 4.7 roadster that only had 8500 miles on it a couple of years back and both sides went at the same time around 18 months after purchase. Most expensive side light bulb replacement in history.

I can't believe Aston don't consider this a design flaw considering how many people seem to report it.

Just about every car and motorbike on the market these days is using LED lights

Might be something to do with the recall due to fake parts supplied in the LEDs ;

http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/how-counterfeit-p...

Can't see anything in that article about headlights being affected.

[Jockman]

bogie said:

cjm said:

Do all the V8s have LED lights?

yes...all Astons have for many years now

Indeed. Who do you think Audi copied with their front LEDs?

[bogie]

Moonhawk said:

bogie said:

Moonhawk said:

steveatesh said:

For example, if your car has LED lights, and one goes, it's £1500 or thereabouts.

Yep - definitely check these. I bought a 2009 4.7 roadster that only had 8500 miles on it a couple of years back and both sides went at the same time around 18 months after purchase. Most expensive side light bulb replacement in history.

I can't believe Aston don't consider this a design flaw considering how many people seem to report it.

Just about every car and motorbike on the market these days is using LED lights

Might be something to do with the recall due to fake parts supplied in the LEDs ;

http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/how-counterfeit-p...

Can't see anything in that article about headlights being affected.

none of them have LED headlights, they are halogen or HID

the LEDs are in sidelights and rears

but the LED sidelight is part of the larger headlight assembly...hence some small 10pence LED fails and you have to replace the whole thing at much expense...well about £1k per side

http://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantage...

Edited by bogie on Wednesday 12th August 13:31

[cjm]

It looks like you can repair the sidelights with a bit of work.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...