Going to look at a V8 Vantage - Any advice?
Discussion
Good morning,
I’m looking at an Aston Martin Vantage this weekend with a view to putting down a deposit, if all is ok.
It’s a 2006 car, standard 4.3.
I’ve read the buyers guide on here and I note the water ingress issue and the clutch being a weak point. Is there anything else I should be looking out for? Any other weak points, or common failures?
It’s recently had brakes, clutch and a service, so hopefully it should be all ok.
With regards to onward ownership, I see they require a 10k annual service, are there any other ongoing running costs that I should be aware of?
I’ve found fixed price which looks reasonable, but I guess it may be available a little cheaper at a smaller independent.
Many thanks,
Daniel
I’m looking at an Aston Martin Vantage this weekend with a view to putting down a deposit, if all is ok.
It’s a 2006 car, standard 4.3.
I’ve read the buyers guide on here and I note the water ingress issue and the clutch being a weak point. Is there anything else I should be looking out for? Any other weak points, or common failures?
It’s recently had brakes, clutch and a service, so hopefully it should be all ok.
With regards to onward ownership, I see they require a 10k annual service, are there any other ongoing running costs that I should be aware of?
I’ve found fixed price which looks reasonable, but I guess it may be available a little cheaper at a smaller independent.
Many thanks,
Daniel
Is the car through a dealer or private?
I would check the paintwork for pickling and micro bubbles very carefully, particularly around the door handles.
Leaking dampers can be an issue on early cars.
The fixed price servicing schedule doesnt apply to a 2006 car.
Other than that they are just cars really, usual rules apply.
I would check the paintwork for pickling and micro bubbles very carefully, particularly around the door handles.
Leaking dampers can be an issue on early cars.
The fixed price servicing schedule doesnt apply to a 2006 car.
Other than that they are just cars really, usual rules apply.
When I was looking a few weeks ago now, I found stone chips and minor blemishes on a few cars and whilst they are certainly prone to this, the car looks so nice that I had to factor in cost of rectifying the same. Ditto for the alloys,who would want an Aston that looked a bit rough round the edges ? (unless of course it was your use that gradually acquired them ! )
I test drove one from a dealer a few weeks ago.
He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
blueg33 said:
I test drove one from a dealer a few weeks ago.
He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
This has been done to death, but i'd say your comments are a little dismissive and unfair to the cars. Make sure you rev them out, and keep an eye on the speedo, its very refined, but they do crack on and cover ground extremely well, you will be going quicker than you think, but yes, you do have to rev them, they dont feel like a turbo diesel!He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
gibbon said:
blueg33 said:
I test drove one from a dealer a few weeks ago.
He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
This has been done to death, but i'd say your comments are a little dismissive and unfair to the cars. Make sure you rev them out, and keep an eye on the speedo, its very refined, but they do crack on and cover ground extremely well, you will be going quicker than you think, but yes, you do have to rev them, they dont feel like a turbo diesel!He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
blueg33 said:
gibbon said:
blueg33 said:
I test drove one from a dealer a few weeks ago.
He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
This has been done to death, but i'd say your comments are a little dismissive and unfair to the cars. Make sure you rev them out, and keep an eye on the speedo, its very refined, but they do crack on and cover ground extremely well, you will be going quicker than you think, but yes, you do have to rev them, they dont feel like a turbo diesel!He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
HBradley said:
blueg33 said:
gibbon said:
blueg33 said:
I test drove one from a dealer a few weeks ago.
He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
This has been done to death, but i'd say your comments are a little dismissive and unfair to the cars. Make sure you rev them out, and keep an eye on the speedo, its very refined, but they do crack on and cover ground extremely well, you will be going quicker than you think, but yes, you do have to rev them, they dont feel like a turbo diesel!He had replaced the clutch and brakes and sorted stone chips even though the car had only done 30k miles.
Nice enough car, but I was very disappointed with the way it drove, it is definitely not a sports car despite being Astons sports car (have done 2 other since and they are the same).
I hope you like it, they look great
blueg33 said:
Not intended to be dismissive. But not right for me. I was looking to replace the Evora and it just didn't drive as well for a range of reasons from throttle response to steering feedback. I think I just like my cars a bit more raw and rough around the edges
If you can find a car with Sportpack suspension, that's also had the Bamford Rose treatment, you'll find it a very different animal indeed. (A more aggressive geo also helps). Lots more mid-range torque, far more responsive to the throttle, vastly improved turn-in, mid-corner adjustability and body control. Then there's the sound..... (better you hear it, than I fail miserably to properly describe it)! Ian_UK1 said:
blueg33 said:
Not intended to be dismissive. But not right for me. I was looking to replace the Evora and it just didn't drive as well for a range of reasons from throttle response to steering feedback. I think I just like my cars a bit more raw and rough around the edges
If you can find a car with Sportpack suspension, that's also had the Bamford Rose treatment, you'll find it a very different animal indeed. (A more aggressive geo also helps). Lots more mid-range torque, far more responsive to the throttle, vastly improved turn-in, mid-corner adjustability and body control. Then there's the sound..... (better you hear it, than I fail miserably to properly describe it)! My original point was that there are cars out there with dealers where they have dealt with clutch, brakes, stone chips and give a dealer warranty. The car I looked at was at a competitive price, and the dealer was very helpful although in a somewhat vomit inducing way!
Same boat as blueG33 but I think I'm too heavily in love with those aesthetics. Yes, it might not be so wonderful in the bedroom but its good enough when you can just stare for a few hours.
To be fair I was looking at an R8 or a V8V. Nature of my journeys means I ideally wanted a GT so that deft touch isn't so much of a consideration.
To be fair I was looking at an R8 or a V8V. Nature of my journeys means I ideally wanted a GT so that deft touch isn't so much of a consideration.
Shnozz said:
Same boat as blueG33 but I think I'm too heavily in love with those aesthetics. Yes, it might not be so wonderful in the bedroom but its good enough when you can just stare for a few hours.
To be fair I was looking at an R8 or a V8V. Nature of my journeys means I ideally wanted a GT so that deft touch isn't so much of a consideration.
If you're into R8 budget you're probably at or nearly at 4.7 Vantage territory, which addreses a lot of the perceived shortcomings on performance. I say perceived, as I had the 4.3 before the 4.7 and loved it - it was quicker than it seemed! However, the extra power and torque of the 4.7 does notably improve driving experience.To be fair I was looking at an R8 or a V8V. Nature of my journeys means I ideally wanted a GT so that deft touch isn't so much of a consideration.
To the OP - if clutch and other consumables have been done, then as others have said it's really onto bodywork condition - look carefully for paint bubbling around door handles in particular. In terms of servicing, check that they've been serviced annually irrespective of mileage....plenty of cars for sale claiming FSH but actually going several years between services due to low mileage. To claim FSH it should be serviced annually even for very low mileage, galling as it can feel!
Edited by johnnyBv8 on Thursday 17th November 09:35
Try a few and a very good one becomes obvious. Clutch, wheel bearings, brakes etc.....
As for speed i have had some very fast cars and although it couldn't touch my old Porsche 993 Turbo (500 bhp Mtm chip) if you rev it it really is very quick and the steering and suspension sublime....
As for speed i have had some very fast cars and although it couldn't touch my old Porsche 993 Turbo (500 bhp Mtm chip) if you rev it it really is very quick and the steering and suspension sublime....
I can understand the points are raised against the 4.3s power output and feel, but the truth is that you cannot exploit it properly on normal roads.
If torque and power were kept at the same level but were lower down the rev range, the criticisms wouldn't exist. The car thrives on being revved and kept on the boil. Like the BMW E30 M3.
If torque and power were kept at the same level but were lower down the rev range, the criticisms wouldn't exist. The car thrives on being revved and kept on the boil. Like the BMW E30 M3.
For me, the 4.3 is absolutely perfect.
It totally depends how you like to drive. If you're lazy and want something that goes as quick as you dare at low revs then it isn't for you. I was so drawn to the 4.3 specifically because you have to rev it to get the most of it. The way people talk about them is like they're really slow or something. It will still effortlessly outpace a 'normal' car short-shifting at low revs.
I bought it because I wanted something I could ride the revs and experience a fantastic soundtrack without losing traction all the time and instantly crashing into a tree. These cars sound so brilliant at the higher rev ranges, the fact you have to rev it works in its favor.
For the record, my last car was a supercharged VX220, which is both faster accelerating and has more steering feel but I can drive the Aston a lot quicker on the road because it isn't always trying to spin a wheel or dive for every little bit of imperfection in the road.
It totally depends how you like to drive. If you're lazy and want something that goes as quick as you dare at low revs then it isn't for you. I was so drawn to the 4.3 specifically because you have to rev it to get the most of it. The way people talk about them is like they're really slow or something. It will still effortlessly outpace a 'normal' car short-shifting at low revs.
I bought it because I wanted something I could ride the revs and experience a fantastic soundtrack without losing traction all the time and instantly crashing into a tree. These cars sound so brilliant at the higher rev ranges, the fact you have to rev it works in its favor.
For the record, my last car was a supercharged VX220, which is both faster accelerating and has more steering feel but I can drive the Aston a lot quicker on the road because it isn't always trying to spin a wheel or dive for every little bit of imperfection in the road.
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