Opinions on a V8 Vantage please
Discussion
Morning all,
I'm about to make the move from Porsche to Aston Martin - lots of reasons, all too boring to go into.
I've been reading around this forum a lot over the last few days and have picked up some useful info. However, without the search working on PH I've struggled to find a thread with buying advice for 4.3l Vantages.
So, if anyone has a spare minute I'd appreciate it if you could have a look at this car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1312437.htm
And let me know your thoughts. Having talked to the dealer this car is pretty much what I want, I had a test drive in a similar car a few months back so know what to expect. I just wanted some Aston owners to say "go for it", or "I wouldn't touch that car" before I hand over the cash.
Thanks
I'm about to make the move from Porsche to Aston Martin - lots of reasons, all too boring to go into.
I've been reading around this forum a lot over the last few days and have picked up some useful info. However, without the search working on PH I've struggled to find a thread with buying advice for 4.3l Vantages.
So, if anyone has a spare minute I'd appreciate it if you could have a look at this car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1312437.htm
And let me know your thoughts. Having talked to the dealer this car is pretty much what I want, I had a test drive in a similar car a few months back so know what to expect. I just wanted some Aston owners to say "go for it", or "I wouldn't touch that car" before I hand over the cash.
Thanks
bananarob said:
Buy a 4.7....!! Its the way forward! Drive them both back to back then decide for yourself!
I don't tend to buy newer cars as I don't like to see my cash dissappear that quickly! The cheapest 4.7s are about 15k more than I'm prepared to spend on a toy.
How much closer to the 4.7 is the 4.3 with the power upgrade?
a bit closer, but still not the same ...its 20bhp on a 380bp 1.5 ton car ...unless your ass is an engine dyno, pretty hard to tell much difference IMO LOL 
..you can do other stuff in addition and get it much closer...still defeats a lot of the object of saving cash though, if you are going to immediately throw £5-7K at it trying to get the performance up ..as you dont get much of the mod money back at resale
they are nice cars, if you drive both the you will prefer a later 4.7 no doubt ....if you dont im sure you will be happy with a 4.3
..you can do other stuff in addition and get it much closer...still defeats a lot of the object of saving cash though, if you are going to immediately throw £5-7K at it trying to get the performance up ..as you dont get much of the mod money back at resale
they are nice cars, if you drive both the you will prefer a later 4.7 no doubt ....if you dont im sure you will be happy with a 4.3
Thanks for that.
To be honest I'm pretty much done with chasing bhp figures and straight line speed, I'm after something a bit different now, hence why I'm selling a 480bhp GT2! I just thought the power upgrade might be a relatively inexpensive way to get a bit more from the 4.3, I'll happily live without it though.
Any opinions on the car I've linked to? Is the spec/mileage about right at that price? From what I can tell it looks good, just after a bit a reassurance I guess before buying it.
To be honest I'm pretty much done with chasing bhp figures and straight line speed, I'm after something a bit different now, hence why I'm selling a 480bhp GT2! I just thought the power upgrade might be a relatively inexpensive way to get a bit more from the 4.3, I'll happily live without it though.
Any opinions on the car I've linked to? Is the spec/mileage about right at that price? From what I can tell it looks good, just after a bit a reassurance I guess before buying it.
hi there
I came from a 996 c2 to a 4.3l v8v. i didnt drive a 4.7l as i didnt want to spend that much. in terms of performance, initially the aston didnt feel quite as quick and nimble which i put down to the extra weight. however, with experience (& a great road trip around the black mountains), it is not hard to drive it enthusiastically and get a LOT of enjoyment from.
In terms of the car you've linked to, have you actually seen it? I saw about 5 cars in total and i cannot tell you how different each car can be in terms of condition. some can be truly peppered on the nose and flanks, some have terrible panel alignment, some have ommissions in the service history. in addition, the car you've chosen is a 2006 car which does not have the newer style seats or upgraded alarm. this is not a big deal, but i preferred the newer ones. you could argue the mileage is higher than desired for an aston but it wouldn't be an issue for me. it has all the right options for resale, only thing i dont see listed is the powerfold mirrors, which may not be an issue for you. also check the tyres and when it needs its next service - perhaps you can work that into negotiations with the dealer. imho, FAMSH and pristine paintwork are the two key essentials.
best of luck and if you have any more questions, feel free to pm me.
I came from a 996 c2 to a 4.3l v8v. i didnt drive a 4.7l as i didnt want to spend that much. in terms of performance, initially the aston didnt feel quite as quick and nimble which i put down to the extra weight. however, with experience (& a great road trip around the black mountains), it is not hard to drive it enthusiastically and get a LOT of enjoyment from.
In terms of the car you've linked to, have you actually seen it? I saw about 5 cars in total and i cannot tell you how different each car can be in terms of condition. some can be truly peppered on the nose and flanks, some have terrible panel alignment, some have ommissions in the service history. in addition, the car you've chosen is a 2006 car which does not have the newer style seats or upgraded alarm. this is not a big deal, but i preferred the newer ones. you could argue the mileage is higher than desired for an aston but it wouldn't be an issue for me. it has all the right options for resale, only thing i dont see listed is the powerfold mirrors, which may not be an issue for you. also check the tyres and when it needs its next service - perhaps you can work that into negotiations with the dealer. imho, FAMSH and pristine paintwork are the two key essentials.
best of luck and if you have any more questions, feel free to pm me.
seems like the right spec and price from a dealer ....although you want to see a few for the reasons mentioned above ..
however if buying from a dealer, I would expect it prepped accordingly - they usually wont let a sale go, if all you insist on is the arches and bonnet respraying, for example...I didnt get a discount when I bought mine, but I did get paint, wheels painted, windows etc - probably a couple of grands worth if I paid for it later, but of course, not that much to a dealer if they have their own bodyshop
if the rear arches are clean, get extra film on them up to the swage line - mines done 40K miles now and they are peppered ...I do do the odd track day in it too, but its road use that seems to mess them up, wish Id gone the whole hog with the armoufend
the front mudguards are worth having (£70 option LOL) to stop some of the chips
other than that you will be getting £1300 worth of warranty from a dealer (what it would cost you to extend) and hopefully a well prepared car, so the savings difference with private/even independant sales dont look that appealing to me right now
Dont forget pre April 06 cars have cheaper road tax ...not a biggie, but £200 a year is worth it if you are looking at a Apr 06 vs a Mar 06 for example ...for the sake of a month older identical car its worth condidering
As with most cars, each model year had minor revisions, you will have to decide whats important and if its worth the extra £££
happy hunting
however if buying from a dealer, I would expect it prepped accordingly - they usually wont let a sale go, if all you insist on is the arches and bonnet respraying, for example...I didnt get a discount when I bought mine, but I did get paint, wheels painted, windows etc - probably a couple of grands worth if I paid for it later, but of course, not that much to a dealer if they have their own bodyshop
if the rear arches are clean, get extra film on them up to the swage line - mines done 40K miles now and they are peppered ...I do do the odd track day in it too, but its road use that seems to mess them up, wish Id gone the whole hog with the armoufend
the front mudguards are worth having (£70 option LOL) to stop some of the chips
other than that you will be getting £1300 worth of warranty from a dealer (what it would cost you to extend) and hopefully a well prepared car, so the savings difference with private/even independant sales dont look that appealing to me right now
Dont forget pre April 06 cars have cheaper road tax ...not a biggie, but £200 a year is worth it if you are looking at a Apr 06 vs a Mar 06 for example ...for the sake of a month older identical car its worth condidering
As with most cars, each model year had minor revisions, you will have to decide whats important and if its worth the extra £££
happy hunting
I have a 56 plate MY07 4.3 with half as many miles as the one advertised and would probably struggle to get 47k. The only options I don't have are memory seats and the fancy rear view mirror. My paint work is almost perfect (protection film is the way to go) So I think the car you're looking at is high end price wise.
As to the difference between the 4.3 and 4.7. I'd say it was marginal. I spent a day in a 4.7 at Millbrook recently, admittedly the car has more torque and is a little quicker.. but whether its 15k quicker is debatable
I've only had my car for just over a year. But have had numerous things fixed under warranty. The original owner didn't have any of the 'known issues' fixed. So I would check whether these have been done. If not, then these could be quite costly to put right yourself. But I guess you’ll get a 12 month dealer warranty, so you should be ok..
As to the difference between the 4.3 and 4.7. I'd say it was marginal. I spent a day in a 4.7 at Millbrook recently, admittedly the car has more torque and is a little quicker.. but whether its 15k quicker is debatable
I've only had my car for just over a year. But have had numerous things fixed under warranty. The original owner didn't have any of the 'known issues' fixed. So I would check whether these have been done. If not, then these could be quite costly to put right yourself. But I guess you’ll get a 12 month dealer warranty, so you should be ok..
996GT2 said:
Morning all,
I'm about to make the move from Porsche to Aston Martin - lots of reasons, all too boring to go into.
I've been reading around this forum a lot over the last few days and have picked up some useful info. However, without the search working on PH I've struggled to find a thread with buying advice for 4.3l Vantages.
So, if anyone has a spare minute I'd appreciate it if you could have a look at this car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1312437.htm
And let me know your thoughts. Having talked to the dealer this car is pretty much what I want, I had a test drive in a similar car a few months back so know what to expect. I just wanted some Aston owners to say "go for it", or "I wouldn't touch that car" before I hand over the cash.
Thanks
Tungsten Silver with an Obsidian Black interior and Piano Black Veneer dash.I'm about to make the move from Porsche to Aston Martin - lots of reasons, all too boring to go into.
I've been reading around this forum a lot over the last few days and have picked up some useful info. However, without the search working on PH I've struggled to find a thread with buying advice for 4.3l Vantages.
So, if anyone has a spare minute I'd appreciate it if you could have a look at this car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1312437.htm
And let me know your thoughts. Having talked to the dealer this car is pretty much what I want, I had a test drive in a similar car a few months back so know what to expect. I just wanted some Aston owners to say "go for it", or "I wouldn't touch that car" before I hand over the cash.
Thanks
All alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 32 valve, 4.3 litre V8, Manual.
Trip computer, Alarm and immobiliser, 6 CD autochanger,
Dual stage driver and passenger front airbags,
Electrically adjustable front seats,
18" alloy wheels - 10-spoke design,
LED Rear Lamps,
Aston Martin 160 W audio system,
Full leather interior,
Emergency brake assist (EBA),
Dynamic stability control (DSC),
Side Airbags,
Ventilated, grooved disc brakes with ABS,
Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD),
19 alloy wheels - 7 spoke design,
Aston Martin 700W Premium Audio System,
Bright finish grille,
Cruise control,
Heated seats,
Satellite navigation system,
Right hand drive.
==>What's the spec on this?
Does it have 7 spoke wheels or 10? 18" or 19"
Does it have 160W stereo or 700W
I'd ask for a proper spec sheet from the dealer - not this!!
Hi there,
I went from a 996 Turbo to a 4.3 V8 earlier this year.
From my experience, I do miss the power and speed of the Porsche, but this is more than made up for by the sound, looks and feel of the Aston. (and the fact that I no longer seem to be viewed as the root of all evil on the road). I had the power upgrade work done at Aston, and personally thought it was worth it, with the throttle being more responsive now and some extra torque at low revs. In summary I have no regrets about the swap.
I can't comment on the 4.7 as I haven't driven it, but have driven the V12 and if you have deeper pockets it's a great car!
I went from a 996 Turbo to a 4.3 V8 earlier this year.
From my experience, I do miss the power and speed of the Porsche, but this is more than made up for by the sound, looks and feel of the Aston. (and the fact that I no longer seem to be viewed as the root of all evil on the road
). I had the power upgrade work done at Aston, and personally thought it was worth it, with the throttle being more responsive now and some extra torque at low revs. In summary I have no regrets about the swap.I can't comment on the 4.7 as I haven't driven it, but have driven the V12 and if you have deeper pockets it's a great car!
Plenty written elsewhere on this thread about spec variances etc., IMHO drive it and you'll love it. If as you say you've done the BHP thing then hopefully you won't want for more than the sense of occasion that is Driving an Aston, looking at an Aston and of course listening to an Aston.
Trust me, I had a 16 year love affair with Porsche which included two Turbos along the way and I don't for one minute regret replacing my 911 with a V8 Vantage also April 06 car with nearly the same spec as the one you are looking at. I bought from my local AM dealer who have been exemplary when I've needed anything to be done.
Only other area is servicing and frankly given the age of the car I took mine for its first service to http://www.derbymotorservices.com/ where Rick the owner will provide a top level of service for nearly half of the AM main dealer.
Enjoy :-)
Trust me, I had a 16 year love affair with Porsche which included two Turbos along the way and I don't for one minute regret replacing my 911 with a V8 Vantage also April 06 car with nearly the same spec as the one you are looking at. I bought from my local AM dealer who have been exemplary when I've needed anything to be done.
Only other area is servicing and frankly given the age of the car I took mine for its first service to http://www.derbymotorservices.com/ where Rick the owner will provide a top level of service for nearly half of the AM main dealer.
Enjoy :-)
As previously said, doesn't mention powerfold mirrors. may not be a big thing to you but I definately need them on mine to get in and out of my garage.
doesn't mention rear parking sensors - can be tricky to judge the rear without when parking.
Doesn't list memory electric seats, only electric. Now wish mine had them as Aston Annie is shorter than me and keeps moving my seat when I've got it setup perfectly.
A personal thing for me is the lack of coarse silver stiching on the interior. Mine is Obsedian black but the contrasting stitching really lifts the whole look of the interior.
As others have said, ensure you get the Aston Warranty included, paintwork perfect etc.
I couldn't afford a 4.7 either, have made sure I've never driven one so I stay happy with mine.
doesn't mention rear parking sensors - can be tricky to judge the rear without when parking.
Doesn't list memory electric seats, only electric. Now wish mine had them as Aston Annie is shorter than me and keeps moving my seat when I've got it setup perfectly.
A personal thing for me is the lack of coarse silver stiching on the interior. Mine is Obsedian black but the contrasting stitching really lifts the whole look of the interior.
As others have said, ensure you get the Aston Warranty included, paintwork perfect etc.
I couldn't afford a 4.7 either, have made sure I've never driven one so I stay happy with mine.
Thanks all, this is exactly the information I need to get the best car/deal - really appreciate it.
I've got a few different pages of info on the car from different sources, the spec lists don't quite match up but it apparantly has everything on the most comprehensive version of the list! It has the premium audio system, is that any good? Coming from a car with a very poor standard stereo and a few speakers this is something I'm looking forward to.
I've been told that the power upgrade is just over £3000 all in, something I'll think about later on.
Anyway, thanks again, the GT2 was sold this afternoon so this car could very well be in my garage early next week
I've got a few different pages of info on the car from different sources, the spec lists don't quite match up but it apparantly has everything on the most comprehensive version of the list! It has the premium audio system, is that any good? Coming from a car with a very poor standard stereo and a few speakers this is something I'm looking forward to.
I've been told that the power upgrade is just over £3000 all in, something I'll think about later on.
Anyway, thanks again, the GT2 was sold this afternoon so this car could very well be in my garage early next week
yeah the premium audio is as good as any other "high end" factory fitted system Ive heard
£3K for the official power upgrade is the going rate ...for another £4K you could have a sports exhaust and hi-flow cats which will help release more too ...the factory kit is new airboxes and a remap
£3K for the official power upgrade is the going rate ...for another £4K you could have a sports exhaust and hi-flow cats which will help release more too ...the factory kit is new airboxes and a remap
as said above, I just did a day at Millbrook in a 4.7 (and a V12 
) I'd quite like a vantage and asked the instructors what they thought of the diff between 4.3 & 4.7 and they all agreed that on the road there isnt a huge amount of difference.
That V12 though OMG!!
Vantage on the whole, fantastic car I thought.
) I'd quite like a vantage and asked the instructors what they thought of the diff between 4.3 & 4.7 and they all agreed that on the road there isnt a huge amount of difference. That V12 though OMG!!
Vantage on the whole, fantastic car I thought.
CatalystV8V said:
So I think the car you're looking at is high end price wise.
Looking around at other cars I thought it looked about 1-2k overpriced given the mileage but then the warranty and goodwill you get from buying from the official network are worth at least this in my experience with Porsche. That sound right to everyone else? What would you expect to pay for the car? I don't intend to pay the advertised price - how did they come up with the £593 I wonder!CatalystV8V said:
The original owner didn't have any of the 'known issues' fixed. So I would check whether these have been done. If not, then these could be quite costly to put right yourself. But I guess you’ll get a 12 month dealer warranty, so you should be ok..
Where can I find a list of the known issues so I can ask about them?Thanks
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