C63 to Vanquish

[96spec76]

New to AM having been firmly in the MB camp for a number of years and sold my C63 a good few months ago I have been trying to figure out what next and quite guilty of dismissing Aston Martin and now setting my mind on a 13 or 14 Vanquish.

I have neither seen or test driven one yet however I am not expecting the idea to change! Has to be one of the most beautiful Astons and I am obsessed with the engineering details, that CF body and V12 lump. Servicing also seems surprisingly reasonable like MB.

I have read most threads and almost all videos on YT and bar the seats - am hooked.

I'd appreciate any pointers to determining the conditions of the CF brakes and if anyone has had corrosion issues underneath. One expired advert had very detailed photos and what looked to be some random surface corrosion underneath and including from a leak above however it was difficult to see for certain.

Looking for a colour as have had 3 black cars now. Having spotted one car that upon digging deeper might have attended a certain rally - would this put you off? - I fear I'll probably have to restrict myself to AM approved.

Any tips, help appreciated. Really love that a lot of people seem to stick with or come back to AM.

[AMVSVNick]

96spec76 said:

Having spotted one car that upon digging deeper might have attended a certain rally - would this put you off?

My Vanquish at a certain rally, didn't put me off. Awesome cars. Good luck in the search.

[Finding Neutral]

You look like Gordon Shedden

[AMVSVNick]

Finding Neutral said:

You look like Gordon Shedden

I believe it is Gordon Sheddon, in my car when it was a press car.

[Djit]

A late 2014 car (2015MY) has uprated suspension, gearbox and slight power increase.

Suggest you drive a 14 and a 15 and then decide what’s best for you.

Only mention this as you are on the cusp of the updated MY.

[N7GTX]

OP, pity you couldn't have waited just 4 more months for your first post. A lurker for 20 years. That must be a record.

[e600]

Perhaps if it’s not to be a daily driver look at the later Gen 1 Vanquish and watch it appreciate rather than depreciate.

[Astontony]

E600
Contrary to what you say the Gen 2 Vanquish have appreciated in Australia by about 8% over the last 6 months. I think that such a great looking car and a wonderful handling car with a great v12 and full carbon body plus huge CC brakes should appreciate.

In my mind there is not much out there that compares.

[AMVSVNick]

e600 said:

Perhaps if it’s not to be a daily driver look at the later Gen 1 Vanquish and watch it appreciate rather than depreciate.

Very very different cars!

[nickv12]

Lovely cars and you can’t really go wrong.

Many common themes with other Aston’s of that era:

• No major known issues if maintained (nearly all are)
• You need to get the secondary cats replaced with a straight-through pipe to uncork the full noise (MD and independent options to get this done, with no MOT issues in the UK)
• Trust in the Timeless MD warranty - even if niggles are not spotted before sale (not uncommon), they will honour fixes. Can be extended, or negotiate an extra year or two at the time of purchase
• Get it on PS4S tyres at the next opportunity
• Infotainment system is a bit aged (2017 and 2018 models did receive CarPlay which is a vast improvement), so get it down to Aston Installations to get an integrated upgrade
• CF seats were a very rare options the Vanquish (losing the back seats), but are actually more comfy. But you lose the side airbags.

Specific to the Vanquish and DB9; don’t think the back seats are of much use.

The later 8 speed model gives better fuel economy.

Get your test drives booked. But also try a V12 Vantage S with a SportShift. Related yet quite different in nature.

Good luck!

Edited by nickv12 on Friday 14th January 07:29

[AlexT]

I have been looking for a silver (pref. Lightning Silver) Vanquish S in Oz for well over a year...no luck...

[hashluck]

nickv12 said:

Lovely cars and you can’t really go wrong.

Many common themes with other Aston’s of that era:

• No major known issues if maintained (nearly all are)
• You need to get the secondary cats replaced with a straight-through pipe to uncork the full noise (MD and independent options to get this done, with no MOT issues in the UK)
• Trust in the Timeless MD warranty - even if niggles are not spotted before sale (not uncommon), they will honour fixes. Can be extended, or negotiate an extra year or two at the time of purchase
• Get it on PS4S tyres at the next opportunity
• Infotainment system is a bit aged (2017 and 2018 models did receive CarPlay which is a vast improvement), so get it down to Aston Installations to get an integrated upgrade
• CF seats were a very rare options the Vanquish (losing the back seats), but are actually more comfy. But you lose the side airbags.

Specific to the Vanquish and DB9; don’t think the back seats are of much use.

The later 8 speed model gives better fuel economy.

Get your test drives booked. But also try a V12 Vantage S with a SportShift. Related yet quite different in nature.

Good luck!

Edited by nickv12 on Friday 14th January 07:29

All good advice, especially the carbon seats (but as you say, they are super rare). Regarding CarPlay and Android Auto, Aston Installations can indeed help out but do get a quote for the specific Aston AMi III upgrade available as a dealer fit. Expensive but wortn it. If buying from a dealer I would suggest part of the negotiation would be for secondary cats and AMi III fitted prior to delivery.

[96spec76]

Thanks so much for this help. I'll keep scanning timeless but they dont have much at the moment and only dark colours except a white one in Reading. Leeds is my nearest dealer. Would love to get into a MY 15 but would be too much a stretch.

There is a silver one close to me which I may go look at. Hesitant to waste a non MD dealers time if thats not the way I am going. MD prices dont seem to command much of a premium. Watched a Bamford YT vid that mentioned this too. He also mentions removing the primary cats.

QQ. Not all cars seem to have CF roof. Is it an option and for those non CF roof are they steel or just CF painted? Also lightweight seats aside the seat designs seem to vary with some part quilt pattern. Was that an option?

I love the colour combo of the orange one currently up but not quite sure on that car and some of the photos in the expired auction.

Re. Lurker. Yes have never found suitable opportunity to post here! Think I originally registered when looking for a Honda forum and then used HondaTech for a long time. Mbclub is good but a bit too varied. Ph seems the best for AM.

[Finding Neutral]

Will likely see more on the market in a few months I’d have thought

[Coalboy68]

Yes I believe the roof panel is CF just not naked CF, like my volante has a CF hood stowage but you need to spend 11K to get the one finished in naked CF though if money was no object I would get one.

[hashluck]

The whole bodyshell if carbon fibre - amazing how this is so little known. The bootlid required the most complicated piece of tooling known at the time as I understand it. To have the roof as exposed carbon fibre as opposed to pianted was an option.