'97 v8 coupe & virage
Discussion
Found this for sale
http://www.runnymedemotorcompany.com/MoreDetails.p...
Not much discussion on here about the Virage/ V8 Coupe. Not sure if the styling really worked or whether they are the last of hand built era waiting to become loved and brought back into the fold.
seems a lot of old school Aston for 80k and given the DB cars can be 300-500k is it an investment to sit alongside my Gaydon era Vantage ?
http://www.runnymedemotorcompany.com/MoreDetails.p...
Not much discussion on here about the Virage/ V8 Coupe. Not sure if the styling really worked or whether they are the last of hand built era waiting to become loved and brought back into the fold.
seems a lot of old school Aston for 80k and given the DB cars can be 300-500k is it an investment to sit alongside my Gaydon era Vantage ?
Wayne95 said:
Found this for sale
http://www.runnymedemotorcompany.com/MoreDetails.p...
Not much discussion on here about the Virage/ V8 Coupe. Not sure if the styling really worked or whether they are the last of hand built era waiting to become loved and brought back into the fold.
seems a lot of old school Aston for 80k and given the DB cars can be 300-500k is it an investment to sit alongside my Gaydon era Vantage ?
Very nice cars, bit gutless compared to the Gaydon models - probably down to their heft.http://www.runnymedemotorcompany.com/MoreDetails.p...
Not much discussion on here about the Virage/ V8 Coupe. Not sure if the styling really worked or whether they are the last of hand built era waiting to become loved and brought back into the fold.
seems a lot of old school Aston for 80k and given the DB cars can be 300-500k is it an investment to sit alongside my Gaydon era Vantage ?
Great value, great comfort cruisers..........just be prepared for service, repair and restoration costs in a different league to the early DB cars.
Absolutely stunning, I think it's definitely a future classic (especially so with a manual since anything with that seems to fetch an over the odds price for some bizarre reason, personally to drive it I'd rather have an auto). I believe the running costs can be a bit eye watering though.
Guycord said:
Very nice cars, bit gutless compared to the Gaydon models - probably down to their heft.
Great value, great comfort cruisers..........just be prepared for service, repair and restoration costs in a different league to the early DB cars.
What makes any restoration so expensive compared to the older DB?Great value, great comfort cruisers..........just be prepared for service, repair and restoration costs in a different league to the early DB cars.
That would certainly at the current values restoring would be financially painful.
Wayne95 said:
What makes any restoration so expensive compared to the older DB?
That would certainly at the current values restoring would be financially painful.
Hard one for me to comment on by experience. I know first hand that a DB4 windscreen is approx £1900 plus VAT. I also know that a my Virage Volante windscreen was £4800 plus VAT (insurance bagged that fortunately). That would certainly at the current values restoring would be financially painful.
However, underpinnings need a lot of attention (rust - some have had their Vantages stripped and zinc coated) and that's only done I'm guessing when the car is worth it.
As Guycord said, great cars. The biggest problem with the V8 is the Vantage. Think "Rolls Royce with attitude" but without the attitude. There is a generation between these later V8 and Gaydon cars though. If you want a car you can jump into, expect faultless performance, modern (any) creature comforts, technology, etc. then think again. If you want an Aston Martin that holds the spirit of the craftsmen and craftswomen who created it then keep reading.
There is a significant difference between the V8 Coupe and the Virage.
Few finer GT cars. Running costs needn't be great, but the problem is if things go wrong. V8 cylinder liners, particularly of this era, can leak. Seeping oil from them is not too much of an issue, but I've seen oil raining out of them. When bad obviously it's an engine-out job and rebuild, but some garages have been known to 'cure' the problem by using 'liquid metal' gunk to block them up. These cars were made when ECUs were in their infancy. Unlike the Vantage, the V8 used an Alpha ECU. Arguably better then the Ford EEC IV in the Vantage, but far less common. If things go wrong, then fixing is much more problematic. This said, most of the things that go wrong in the Vantage are due to the fact that it was at the top of what was possible at the time - twisting and failing half shafts, blown differentials, etc. are not problems which affect the V8.
If you do consider, then get an independent inspection. My recommendation is Rikki Cann.
Some good advice would be to wait a little while and then post on the AMOC forum (assuming those in charge finally get round to giving the new and workable forum the go-ahead).
There is a significant difference between the V8 Coupe and the Virage.
Few finer GT cars. Running costs needn't be great, but the problem is if things go wrong. V8 cylinder liners, particularly of this era, can leak. Seeping oil from them is not too much of an issue, but I've seen oil raining out of them. When bad obviously it's an engine-out job and rebuild, but some garages have been known to 'cure' the problem by using 'liquid metal' gunk to block them up. These cars were made when ECUs were in their infancy. Unlike the Vantage, the V8 used an Alpha ECU. Arguably better then the Ford EEC IV in the Vantage, but far less common. If things go wrong, then fixing is much more problematic. This said, most of the things that go wrong in the Vantage are due to the fact that it was at the top of what was possible at the time - twisting and failing half shafts, blown differentials, etc. are not problems which affect the V8.
If you do consider, then get an independent inspection. My recommendation is Rikki Cann.
Some good advice would be to wait a little while and then post on the AMOC forum (assuming those in charge finally get round to giving the new and workable forum the go-ahead).
Edited by V8LM on Sunday 25th June 21:02
V8LM said:
As Guycord said, great cars. The biggest problem with the V8 is the Vantage. Think "Rolls Royce with attitude" but without the attitude. There is a generation between these later V8 and Gaydon cars though. If you want a car you can jump into, expect faultless performance, modern (any) creature comforts, technology, etc. then think again. If you want an Aston Martin that holds the spirit of the craftsmen and craftswomen who created it then keep reading.
There is a significant difference between the V8 Coupe and the Virage.
Few finer GT cars. Running costs needn't be great, but the problem is if things go wrong. V8 cylinder liners, particularly of this era, can leak. Seeping oil from them is not too much of an issue, but I've seen oil raining out of them. When bad obviously it's an engine-out job and rebuild, but some garages have been known to 'cure' the problem by using 'liquid metal' gunk to block them up. These cars were made when ECUs were in their infancy. Unlike the Vantage, the V8 used an Alpha ECU. Arguably better then the Ford EEC IV in the Vantage, but far less common. If things go wrong, then fixing is much more problematic. This said, most of the things that go wrong in the Vantage are due to the fact that it was at the top of what was possible at the time - twisting and failing half shafts, blown differentials, etc. are not problems which affect the V8.
If you do consider, then get an independent inspection. My recommendation is Rikki Cann.
Some good advice would be to wait a little while and then post on the AMOC forum (assuming those in charge finally get round to giving the new and workable forum the go-ahead).
Excellent comments from this chap and little more to add.There is a significant difference between the V8 Coupe and the Virage.
Few finer GT cars. Running costs needn't be great, but the problem is if things go wrong. V8 cylinder liners, particularly of this era, can leak. Seeping oil from them is not too much of an issue, but I've seen oil raining out of them. When bad obviously it's an engine-out job and rebuild, but some garages have been known to 'cure' the problem by using 'liquid metal' gunk to block them up. These cars were made when ECUs were in their infancy. Unlike the Vantage, the V8 used an Alpha ECU. Arguably better then the Ford EEC IV in the Vantage, but far less common. If things go wrong, then fixing is much more problematic. This said, most of the things that go wrong in the Vantage are due to the fact that it was at the top of what was possible at the time - twisting and failing half shafts, blown differentials, etc. are not problems which affect the V8.
If you do consider, then get an independent inspection. My recommendation is Rikki Cann.
Some good advice would be to wait a little while and then post on the AMOC forum (assuming those in charge finally get round to giving the new and workable forum the go-ahead).
Edited by V8LM on Sunday 25th June 21:02
I run a 1991 Virage for 3 years which I sold 4 years ago.
It had 52K miles when I bought it and cost £18K and was in fair cosmetic condition.
It has great road presence but then was very much the Cinderella of the AM range however those days it was exceptionally good value.
Needless to say it took ages to sell and I just got my money back.
During that time I met a couple of AMOC members who also run a Virage.
One guy who had a Volante spent nearly £30K with Rikki Cann getting it up to scratch,a lot of dosh,but it looked the b
ks.My car started to leak oil,only slightly,but this concerned me and what with that and the cosmetic details that needed attention I decided to bail out and sell as at that time it didn't make financial sense to spend a lot of money knowing that at any time more expensive problems might arise.
Needless to say a couple of years after I sold it the prices started rising.
As with most older Astons condition and providence play a big part in the price you pay.
The car you have shown looks very nice and as has been said is more refined than my Virage but it might still be a moneypit.
Best advise is to have it looked over by Rikki Cann who,I understand, is almost unique in having experience and knowledge of cars of this era.
Whether it's worth that money,well only you can make that decision as Astons are often bought from the heart not the pocket.
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