Register of cars with lightweight seats?

[m.barnes]

Typical budget creep example here but I started off lusting after a v8 vantage and being pleased you could get one for £30k

Then started to do some reading, drive one etc and have crept up to looking for a 4.7 manual.

Then I saw one for sale with the lightweight seats and would love to get one with these.

Anyone know how many lightweight seat equipped 4.7s were produced each year? I can probably go for 2010 / 2011 so those are the ages im most intrigued by.

I know the N420 was one of the first models optional for lightweight seats but haven’t seen a register of them.

Thanks

[QuantumV8]

I've been of the impression that around 10% of V8 Vantages from 2009 onwards have the lightweight seats. I forget where i heard that. My experience with used cars coming up for sale in Australia over the last few years is probably around 5% have lightweight seats.

I have a 2010 V8 with the lightweights in all leather. I think not too long after then, leather with alcantara centres started becoming more common

[QuantumV8]

PS. I absolutely love them, I think they make the car look a little bit more like a toy. And i think they give me an extra 1" of head room. But I haven't spent a lot of time in standard seats.

[Birdbrain]

QuantumV8 said:

I've been of the impression that around 10% of V8 Vantages from 2009 onwards have the lightweight seats. I forget where i heard that. My experience with used cars coming up for sale in Australia over the last few years is probably around 5% have lightweight seats.

I have a 2010 V8 with the lightweights in all leather. I think not too long after then, leather with alcantara centres started becoming more common

My 2010 V8V roadster has all leather lightweight seats along with the full 'sports pack'. I've driven several hundred miles at a time and have no problems with them at all. Theyre really comfortable which seems to fly in the face of the term 'lightweight'

[yellow_tang]

V8 Vantage lightweight seat fitment from 2010 is about 7.5% of total if that helps, excluding GT8’s that were all lightweight seats. Lightweight seat option unavailable in US.

Edited by yellow_tang on Tuesday 28th May 13:24

[Andyt25]

m.barnes said:

Typical budget creep example here but I started off lusting after a v8 vantage and being pleased you could get one for £30k

Then started to do some reading, drive one etc and have crept up to looking for a 4.7 manual.

Then I saw one for sale with the lightweight seats and would love to get one with these.

Anyone know how many lightweight seat equipped 4.7s were produced each year? I can probably go for 2010 / 2011 so those are the ages im most intrigued by.

I know the N420 was one of the first models optional for lightweight seats but haven’t seen a register of them.

Thanks

I believe the lightweight seats was standard in the N420 Coupe. Or at least that’s what it says in the brochure I have. You could opt for the standard seat which lots seemed to do. Never understood that as the seats are all part of what made the N420 that hit more special.

Now this on the face of it looks like a cheap 2010 car with the lightweight seats. It looks like an N420 with the black window surround added but surely it can’t be an N420 at that money......Bloody cheap for a 2010 car anyway....?....Thought it may be a cat car of some description but doesn’t say in the advert.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[yellow_tang]

Andyt25 said:

Now this on the face of it looks like a cheap 2010 car with the lightweight seats. It looks like an N420 with the black window surround added but surely it can’t be an N420 at that money......Bloody cheap for a 2010 car anyway....?....Thought it may be a cat car of some description but doesn’t say in the advert.

This could be an ex press/development car that was a carbon black edition as there weren’t many UK 10MY SportShift coupes in black with lightweight seats first registered in May 2010 and then not reaching the dealer until November...

Edited by yellow_tang on Tuesday 28th May 16:12

Edited by yellow_tang on Tuesday 28th May 16:22

[Andyt25]

yellow_tang said:

This could be an ex press/development car that was a carbon black edition as there weren’t many UK 10MY SportShift coupes in black with lightweight seats first registered in May 2010 and then not reaching the dealer until November...

Edited by yellow_tang on Tuesday 28th May 16:12

Edited by yellow_tang on Tuesday 28th May 16:22

Didn’t realise there was a Carbon Black Edition V8 Vantage.

[yellow_tang]

Andyt25 said:

Didn’t realise there was a Carbon Black Edition V8 Vantage.

There wasn’t in the end, which is why this was likely a development car, but a Carbon edition was available in 2012/13.

Edited by yellow_tang on Wednesday 29th May 09:09

[Andyt25]

yellow_tang said:

Andyt25 said:

Didn’t realise there was a Carbon Black Edition V8 Vantage.

There wasn’t in the end.

Ah right....If that was this model then they use most of it for the N430 then .....

[yellow_tang]

Andyt25 said:

Ah right....If that was this model then they use most of it for the N430 then .....

Yes, this car pre dates any N420, and was the second V8 Vantage (first UK) in AML Carbon Black paint.

Edited by yellow_tang on Wednesday 29th May 11:13

[m.barnes]

Cheers guys

I was looking at that car, but the MOT history with engine warning light and the quite shocking reviews of the dealer (and the fact I do not really want a sports shift) put me off it.

Mileage on it I would be happy with but this looked dodgy. Look at the amount of advisories on the first inspection, and then next day a pass with no advisories.

Date tested
14 December 2018
PASS
View test certificate
Mileage
48,548 miles
MOT test number
6549 4809 6331
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
13 December 2019


Date tested
13 December 2018
FAIL
View test certificate
Mileage
48,540 miles
MOT test number
7688 9669 2012
Test location
View test location

Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

Repair immediately (major defects):
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 1.6mm tread left (5.2.3 (e))
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
What are defects and advisories?

[m.barnes]

yellow_tang said:

Yes, this car pre dates any N420, and was the second V8 Vantage (first UK) in AML Carbon Black paint.

Edited by yellow_tang on Wednesday 29th May 11:13

Tang, how do you know all that about the car? How do you know it was the second Vantage in AML Carbon black paint? Would love to get that sort of info to hand for any future purchase.

[Jon39]

m.barnes said:

Tang, how do you know all that about the car? How do you know it was the second Vantage in AML Carbon black paint? Would love to get that sort of info to hand for any future purchase.

Yellow Tang is very kind and helpful to forum participants, but probably best not to ask any more.

[yellow_tang]

m.barnes said:

Tang, how do you know all that about the car? How do you know it was the second Vantage in AML Carbon black paint? Would love to get that sort of info to hand for any future purchase.

Just trying to help out where I can

[m.barnes]

Very appreciative!

[EVR]

Andyt25 said:

I believe the lightweight seats was standard in the N420 Coupe. Or at least that’s what it says in the brochure I have. You could opt for the standard seat which lots seemed to do. Never understood that as the seats are all part of what made the N420 that hit more special.

Now this on the face of it looks like a cheap 2010 car with the lightweight seats. It looks like an N420 with the black window surround added but surely it can’t be an N420 at that money......Bloody cheap for a 2010 car anyway....?....Thought it may be a cat car of some description but doesn’t say in the advert.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I do have a N420 with normal seats and not really complaining from a comfort perspective.

I am almost 2 meters tall and lightweights lose the ability to incline independently the back from the actual seating area. Then you also lose heating, but this is arguable.

[m.barnes]

Cheers guys.

So a manual with lightweight seats in my price range and ideally not black should be an easy job to find then basically

[BigMig]

m.barnes said:

Cheers guys.

So a manual with lightweight seats in my price range and ideally not black should be an easy job to find then basically

Few and far between I would think. To give you an idea of the 57, 4.7 manual coupes listed on the "NEW - Aston Martin Owners: Roll Call!" part of this forum, only two are shown as having Lightweight seats, that's not to say some of the others might have them and the owner chose not to list here.

Keyword search on Autotrader or Pistonheads isn't always helpful as wheels can also be listed as lightweight. I found a good way to eliminate cars on a search, without having to click through the photo's, is to rule out ones with heated seats as this is not available with the lightweights.

Happy hunting.

[Andyt25]

EVR said:

Andyt25 said:

I believe the lightweight seats was standard in the N420 Coupe. Or at least that’s what it says in the brochure I have. You could opt for the standard seat which lots seemed to do. Never understood that as the seats are all part of what made the N420 that hit more special.

Now this on the face of it looks like a cheap 2010 car with the lightweight seats. It looks like an N420 with the black window surround added but surely it can’t be an N420 at that money......Bloody cheap for a 2010 car anyway....?....Thought it may be a cat car of some description but doesn’t say in the advert.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I do have a N420 with normal seats and not really complaining from a comfort perspective.

I am almost 2 meters tall and lightweights lose the ability to incline independently the back from the actual seating area. Then you also lose heating, but this is arguable.

I love the carbon seats but I would probably have to go the same route as you as my wife has a bad back and I would imagine she wouldn’t get on with them and as I would use the car for weekend breaks and holidays abroad it would need to suit her as well.