Vantage V8 at last !
Discussion
Well, having been a Pistonheads forum member from very early on and having had many, many cars I have finally brought my first Aston: a 2007 Vantage V8 4.3.
Onyx black metallic with Obsidian black interior with silver stitching.
I brought it from ASM Performance in Bletchley.
Never dealt with them before, I saw the ad on Autotrader and went to view and drive.
Steve there was very helpful indeed and the Aston was one of their cheaper cars: they had a few Lambos, Ferraris etc in stock.
It had the airbag light on so they booked it into Works Service and whilst it took Works two weeks to get to the solution now all seems good.
Something to do with a newer airbag module needing a factory software patch they told me. I also got the serpentine belt upgraded whilst it was there.
ASM have been great and delivered it on Friday evening down to my house in Christchurch in a covered trailer, (towed by a new Cayenne!).
So Saturday morning was the first time to really look at it and drive.
What a great car; not perfect but lots of potential to tinker, (fuse 22 was already out).
Options include Satnav, Bluetooth, cruise control, the new seats and armrest, Zenons and white rear lights.
Mileage is 64,500 with 18 Aston stamps in the book.
The tracker "pucks", or whatever you call them, were in the boot in a folder with the original satnav disc box.
What do I need to do to re-register the Tracker?
The car was very nicely valeted and very clean with a set of OEM Aston mats.
I took out a 12 month AA Gold warranty, (for what its worth?).
The deal included new from AM9 BRidgestones and new O2 sensors as it had the occasional emissions light.
I have lots of bills and old MOTs too.
8 Owners which was initially a concern until you look into it; the first looks to have been a demo for less than 3 months, then several each for 2 years or so and the last was a lady who only had it two months as she couldn't cope with the clutch.
So pretty pleased and hoping to own for a long time: a bit of a forced savings plan !
Onyx black metallic with Obsidian black interior with silver stitching.
I brought it from ASM Performance in Bletchley.
Never dealt with them before, I saw the ad on Autotrader and went to view and drive.
Steve there was very helpful indeed and the Aston was one of their cheaper cars: they had a few Lambos, Ferraris etc in stock.
It had the airbag light on so they booked it into Works Service and whilst it took Works two weeks to get to the solution now all seems good.
Something to do with a newer airbag module needing a factory software patch they told me. I also got the serpentine belt upgraded whilst it was there.
ASM have been great and delivered it on Friday evening down to my house in Christchurch in a covered trailer, (towed by a new Cayenne!).
So Saturday morning was the first time to really look at it and drive.
What a great car; not perfect but lots of potential to tinker, (fuse 22 was already out).
Options include Satnav, Bluetooth, cruise control, the new seats and armrest, Zenons and white rear lights.
Mileage is 64,500 with 18 Aston stamps in the book.
The tracker "pucks", or whatever you call them, were in the boot in a folder with the original satnav disc box.
What do I need to do to re-register the Tracker?
The car was very nicely valeted and very clean with a set of OEM Aston mats.
I took out a 12 month AA Gold warranty, (for what its worth?).
The deal included new from AM9 BRidgestones and new O2 sensors as it had the occasional emissions light.
I have lots of bills and old MOTs too.
8 Owners which was initially a concern until you look into it; the first looks to have been a demo for less than 3 months, then several each for 2 years or so and the last was a lady who only had it two months as she couldn't cope with the clutch.
So pretty pleased and hoping to own for a long time: a bit of a forced savings plan !
Thank you for your replies.
Very pleased with it overall but finding some interesting niggles/ questions :
The emissions light came on when out driving it last night. I then stopped, turned it off and restarted: it was gone.
Is this normal, I recall reading about it in some earlier posts ?
It had just had new O2 sensors as a precaution when I bought it.
I have also discovered that my clear rear lights seem to have a couple of leds blown in the offside, (which has some condensation in it).
Are they easily repairable, I am pretty handy with a soldering iron ?
Carpets also seem to be moving around a fair bit as they don't seem to be very well fixed ?
There is a tiny crack in the offside front wing just below the headlight and the front has protection film applied up to the top of the front bumper/ valance.
The front numberplate has had the plinth removed and the plate was screwed on with countersunk pozidrive chipboard screws ...
What do people think about pressed metal plates on Vantages, I have always quite liked them ?
What is the best way to brighten up the alloy grille ?
But what a car !
Very pleased with it overall but finding some interesting niggles/ questions :
The emissions light came on when out driving it last night. I then stopped, turned it off and restarted: it was gone.
Is this normal, I recall reading about it in some earlier posts ?
It had just had new O2 sensors as a precaution when I bought it.
I have also discovered that my clear rear lights seem to have a couple of leds blown in the offside, (which has some condensation in it).
Are they easily repairable, I am pretty handy with a soldering iron ?
Carpets also seem to be moving around a fair bit as they don't seem to be very well fixed ?
There is a tiny crack in the offside front wing just below the headlight and the front has protection film applied up to the top of the front bumper/ valance.
The front numberplate has had the plinth removed and the plate was screwed on with countersunk pozidrive chipboard screws ...
What do people think about pressed metal plates on Vantages, I have always quite liked them ?
What is the best way to brighten up the alloy grille ?
But what a car !
Charlie san said:
Well done finding your new love!
Re tracker "tag", I was given two non-working ones when bought mine, not knowing I will actually need a working one (would have pushed for a new one, they are arond £80 each). As it turned out my insurance company would only insure me if the tracker is active. Luckily there is a brilliant thread (I think on this forum) how to replace the battery in the tag for £10 and then you can call the Tracker company and register your car. I pay £250 a year so incorporate this into your insurance premium
Enjoy the car!
Charlie, as I have just turned 55 I went on Confused.com and the cheapest insurance ended up being with Saga !Re tracker "tag", I was given two non-working ones when bought mine, not knowing I will actually need a working one (would have pushed for a new one, they are arond £80 each). As it turned out my insurance company would only insure me if the tracker is active. Luckily there is a brilliant thread (I think on this forum) how to replace the battery in the tag for £10 and then you can call the Tracker company and register your car. I pay £250 a year so incorporate this into your insurance premium
Enjoy the car!
They didn't ask for the Tracker to be active so I may just leave it as is.
I think £320 fully comprehensive for myself and my wife, 6,000 miles a year, garaged seems pretty fair.
Probably the only benefit of getting older ...
A couple more photos.
So I have done a bit of instrument cover stretching, not too successfully I might add. I think its a bit far gone and may have to get my upholsterer chum to have a look at it.
Driven the car a few times and have odd error messages that all seem to clear themselves: DSC Service and Emissions.
Usually a quick turn off and restart clears them but a pain ll the same as the car was meant to be perfect.
Also managed to finally pair my phone, what a hit and miss job that is, and couldn't resist saving my wife as "M" so "call M" is a favourite with the kids, and me !
So I have done a bit of instrument cover stretching, not too successfully I might add. I think its a bit far gone and may have to get my upholsterer chum to have a look at it.
Driven the car a few times and have odd error messages that all seem to clear themselves: DSC Service and Emissions.
Usually a quick turn off and restart clears them but a pain ll the same as the car was meant to be perfect.
Also managed to finally pair my phone, what a hit and miss job that is, and couldn't resist saving my wife as "M" so "call M" is a favourite with the kids, and me !
Just changed the antenna for a smaller "besting" and thinking about wheels now.
I managed to pick up a pretty much perfect set of standard 19 wheels from Ebay and thinking about a graphite grey?
Also a genuine Aston Car Cover on its way; again an Ebay find.
How do I see if the tyre pressure monitoring is working ?
I managed to pick up a pretty much perfect set of standard 19 wheels from Ebay and thinking about a graphite grey?
Also a genuine Aston Car Cover on its way; again an Ebay find.
How do I see if the tyre pressure monitoring is working ?
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