As Heaven 17 said "Tempppppppppppppp - tation"

[mikey k]

V12 Vantage Roadster Flame Orange S21264 023 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr


V12 Vantage Roadster Flame Orange S21264 012 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr


V12 Vantage Roadster Flame Orange S21264 006 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr


V12 Vantage Roadster Flame Orange S21264 003 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Finished in AML Flame Orange with Obsidian Black Hide & kestrel Tan Stitching
Factory Options:
Reversing Camera
Lightweight Seats
Bang & Olufsen 1000w BeoSound
Carbon Fibre & Piano Black Interior
Black Vaned Grille
Black Mesh Pack
Black Tail Pipes
Garage Door Opener
Front Park Sensors
Second Glass Key
Wind Deflector

Should I or shouldn't I?

[mikey k]

So Mrs K is to blame for this one
She saw the other thread and gave Lloyd a call with out my knowledge
Earlier today she asked me for £85 neglected to mention the 3 0's at the end
Then explained what she wanted it for

It transpires it was a build slot the factory speced with what looks like standard options (not a cancelled order) and offered to Grange to sell due to their success with other V12R's, so no discounts or deposit off sets

It is pretty close to my ideal spec, always fancied a metallic orange roadster (looked at an N400 roadster in a similar colour)
I wouldn't have chosen the B&O, but most the other stuff is good. The dead ahead wheel stitching isn't ideal and I suspect they went for Tan contrast stitching as Orange would have put it in to Q spec.
I'm not too keen on the wheels, piano black trim, black exhausts or the rear light infills

AdamV8V puts it very well, I am a convert to ASM2 and struggled with the V12/light weigh seats combination last time I tried.

The cost to changes is £82k, Grange have been keen on my V8VS but as Jonby says then there is transport, detailing, venture shield etc
I can see them holding value slight better but it will still depreciate but that is not high on my agenda.
The S is probably better suited for our Eurotours especially with the BR 5.0L conversion.
It's a real conundrum and a difficult decision modded V8 or V12

[mikey k]

jonby said:

I suspect it would be one of the cheapest specced Rs out there because of the lack of Q, interior colour premiums, etc despite having all the options ticked so it's not missing anything anyone might want

One final thought - would you really do nothing BR wise if you bought a V12VR mikey ? I'm starting with cats pretty much straight away and not overly worrying about anything else until at least next summer but I'd be surprised if I can afford it, if in 2-3 yrs time I haven't done more on the manifold/exhaust side of things......

I suspect it was spec that way intentionally to fill a build slot with an eye catcher with out any Q additions
Good point on the BR mods

[mikey k]

Jockman said:

Correctamundo.

Just think how many swan pens you could build !!!

You could even construct a moat around your new chateau

AND....invest in gates that don't close on other people's cars

82k would make a spectacular "project" car
We nearly had gategate you were just not quiet far enough in to break the "safety" beam as they closed
As you are renowned for being so slow I will lock then open for you next time.

Mrs K keeps waving the V12VR pictures at me

Edited by mikey k on Thursday 3rd January 12:35

[mikey k]

yeti said:

Mikey, did you get my reply the other day?

Yes Lewis thanks for the info. I'm still in discussion with BR.
Kay blindsided me with the V12VR and it has had a little tug on the old heart strings.
I think I will sleep on it and maybe speak with Lloyd tomorrow.

[mikey k]

Neil1300R said:

The lyrics are very apt to the opinions in this thread:-

All I desire
Temptation
Keep climbing higher and higher
Temptation
Adorable creatures
Temptation
With unacceptable features
Temptation
Trouble is coming
Temptation
It's just the high cost of loving
Temptation
You can take it or leave it
Temptation
But you'd better believe it

One of my fav songs and some very apt lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWwtMrDX2o8

[mikey k]

AMDBSNick said:

Sorry George. Did that 20 years ago and survived to tell the tale. I wish you the same good fortune. I was thinking more like this

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Only just seen that
that really is nice!
I've promised Lloyd a decision for Monday

[mikey k]

Hillbilly168 said:

Mikey, did you make a decision?

James

I have actually made two
But I wanted to talk to both parties before making it known
I've explained to Lloyd I cannot justify the £82k cost to change as it is not exactly my spec, I still have some concerns with light weight seats/manual gearboxes and it is simply not twice the car my S is. It is a great car though
Bizarrely it seems the factory reprimanded them for publicly marketing a limited edition car, not sure how they are supposed to make people more aware of its availability
On the second decision I have agreed a deal with Bamford Rose for a 5.0 litre "Pinnacle" conversion with a few "special additions"

Thank you all for your input and comments on this one
Lloyd good luck with sale I'm sure some one will find it special enough very soon

Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 8th January 08:33

[mikey k]

IanV12VR said:

mikey k said:

Bizarrely it seems the factory reprimanded them for publicly marketing a limited edition car, not sure how they are supposed to make people more aware of its availability

Lloyd good luck with sale I'm sure some one will find it special enough very soon

Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 8th January 08:33

They didn't publicly market the car - it was my thread :roll eyes: Lloyd had contacted me to let me know they would have the Orange V12VR in the showroom for sale because he knew that I thought cars were only being built to customer spec and didn't want me to find out about this one from other sources - which I appreciated. I then went in to see the car and decided to start a thread. I do share Mikey's view on making people aware it is available though- very bizarre.

Yep - I believe they became aware of it from this thread (hopefully they will read some of the others )

New thread to follow on BR conversion

[mikey k]

jonby said:

As for Works & prodrive, the reality is in Aston's case, I suspect it would be counter-productive for sales of new cars - why upgrade from DB9 to DBS, new Vanquish to new Vanquish S (assuming that happens) or V8 to V8S if there is a an upgrade at works / prodrive (the key being it wouldn't affect warranty) which achieves something similar ?

I suspect one of the biggest turn-offs for potential customers of Mikey's project, particularly once it's 'proven', is not many people would like to take their one yr old (ish?) car for such a big engineering change ?

Yep AML will always be looking for max margin from min change and eek out the changes for max ROI, simplistically they need to move product not increase the life of what they have already sold.

The "unnamed project" could be applied to any age V8 Vantage, the age of mine (14 months) is immaterial I'm just trying to turn it in to a V12 roadster with ASM2

[mikey k]

Never had a problem with any of my modded cars, some do add a premium others don't care as long as you declare it.

[mikey k]

George29 said:

I'm in the I would only buy OEM camp too.

You don't actually know who's done the modifications... how much care and attention to detail they put in etc. If I was going to modify a car, I'd have it done myself (although I still can't bring myself to modify a car!).

But George you've done plenty of modding with out too much effort - mould green roof, white corroded effect to brolly, window stuck down mos, rust coloured rotors, flat spotted tyres

On the modding thing I've often found returning the car to standard is easy enough if it doesn't sell as is, though its not like BR have the reputation to put a buyer off.

[mikey k]

Just had a call from Lloyd at Grange to say this car is coming back on the market with 4-5k miles on it

[mikey k]

IanV12VR said:

mikey k said:

Just had a call from Lloyd at Grange to say this car is coming back on the market with 4-5k miles on it

Surely he wasn't hoping to persuade you to buy it Mikey - not with your monster coming along!

I think he had a faint hope

[mikey k]

sukh_m said:

Is that a no then??

It is for 2 reasons

1) Driving Johnny over Xmas confirmed I can't get on with light weight seats and a manual
2) Why would I when Johnny is nearly finished and will have more power/torque and less weight?

Now a V12VSR

[mikey k]

Excellent news
Glad to see further temptation removed from my internet viewing

[mikey k]

Brital said:

Have to admit, Mikey, when I first saw this thread last year, I had to smile and admire the fortitude with which you were resisting the pressure from your Chair of the Finance Committee to actually BUY the car!! Very refreshing compared to the more normal harsh application of the Domestic Handbrake!

I came close to that one twice, nicest of the V12VR's that came up IMHO, enjoy and look forward to some pics of it "in the wild"

[mikey k]

SFO said:

is it confirmed by AM that they will only build 101 V12Rs?

has production ceased? V12R is still a "Limited Edition" model on the Vantage page: http://www.astonmartin.com/cars/the-vantage-range/...

all built and all sold