Any Aston Martin V8 Vantage Owners?

I am going to be pulling the trigger on a couple new toys this summer, including a V8 Vantage coupe (2007-2009). While I have driven them quite a bit, including on a track so have a collection of short term impressions, I am wondering if any owners here can opine on long term issues with the car and things I should look for and also give me your overall long term impression of the car.

 

This thread goes into detail the differences of the current and past models of the V8 Vantage ('06-'10).

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259304

 

They are nice cars, but not cheap to maintain, and as a drivers car it was just okay, if it were me I'd buy a used 997, better car in every aspect except looks.

 

Thanks, but I am not a Porsche guy. Way to common a car for the cost. Plus, I think Astons are the most beautiful cars on the road just about and having spent time at their factories have always wanted to get back into the Aston fold.

When you say not cheap to maintain, do you mean more expensive than a Ferrari to maintain? In addition to my Ferrari, I also have a Bentley and owned an Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante for a number of years so know the cost to maintain those cars. From driving the Vantage, it seems it would be cheaper to maintain than that group. Do you feel the opposite is true? Why?

 

I looked at the Vantage and the DB9, and liked the DB9 way more than the Vantage, look at both before you settle on a Vantage!

 

I owned a 2007 speed yellow V8 Vantage coupe. Overall, it was a very impressive car. It looked fantastic! Performance was good but not great -- although, I had previously owned a Ferrari 360 Modena and a Lamborghini Gallardo. Never had any mechanical problems with it and it didn't seem expensive to maintain. Because of the relatively ho-hum performance, though, I finally went on to an Audi R8. I do miss the AM, though. I like the fact that you don't seem them around very much (where I lived at the time in So Cal, it seemed nearly everyone had a Porsche, Maserati, etc.). Bottom line: if you're after performance, there are better options. If you want a nice balance of a comfortable, beautiful and peppy car, it's a nice way to go.

 

I happen to love the look of an Aston, in fact I am looking at a DB9 right now, but I do not think they are sports cars, and I heard from a dealer it costs $650 to change the air filter in a vantage, they told me most of it is labor, you have to take a lot of things apart to do it. I have found I have a much different idea of what is a sports car and what it should do than most people, which is why I take all my cars apart a rebuild them to fit my needs, and I do not care if they are worhless to anyone other than me, since I would not want to own them the way they come from the factory. If the car moves you, then good luck, and enjoy

 

$650 for an air filter change?????

I just thought of a funny scenario...If the Vantage has a timing belt, wouldn't it be an odd deal to take your car in for an air filter service and you tell them: While you're got it apart, go on and replace the timing belt and the water pump".

Jimmy

 

I have driven the DB9 on the track the same day as the V8 Vantage. Great and beautiful car, but the DB9 is a GT car like my DB7 was and the V8V a more focused and sharper car and I like its lines better.

 

Thanks. I am actually also looking for an R8. I took the Audi R8 driving school in a V10 at Infineon raceway and it was awesome though I would want a V8 R8. I really want both cars. I know the AMV8 is not as fast as a lot of cars, but it is not slow either. I want it as an all around sports coupe with drop dead gorgeous looks (I feel that way about the R8 too). I agree with you on what is common. I live in San Diego and R8's and AMV8s are seen down here, but are probably the most rare high end cars. Neither my Bentley or Ferrari stand out much in my neck of the woods and Porsches are more common here than a Prius in San Francisco.

 

I have a 360 modena and love when I dont have to deal with an engine light or other mechanical issue the continues to crop up. I recently bought a 08 Vantage and love it. You get in the car and just drive the hell out of it with no worries. So far it been great

 

I've owned 2 V8 Vantages (1 coupe, 1 convert.) and I loved them as daily drivers. My only comment would be that I thought the F1 paddle shifter was too slow, I preferred the 6 speed stick.

John

 

I have only driven the stick version V8V's and have heard that the sportshift is clunky. Have you driven a 360 F1? I think it is clunky and from what I hear the V8V may be better. Either way, I am preferring a stick V8V.

Looks like one of your Vantages is Toro Red, which is one of the two colors (other is black) I am interested in. How do you like your R8? It is the other planned purchase of mine.

 

Here's my wife in her new 2009 Vantage Volare. Both beautiful!
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Bought my wife a '08 Vantage Convertible at what was close to the bottom about 13 months ago and it has been perfect. What my wife really likes is that I honestly prefer my C6 Z06 to the Vantage so I leave her car alone.

 

my partner has an 07 vant cab in lite green with dark green top and tan interior. its nice but claustrophobic with top up. its had multiple, long stays at dealer for warantee work on trans. would have been over $15k if out of warantee!

i know its an exclusive car but i would prefer a new jag xkr for same money as a used vantage.

 

So ... what did you / will you buy? I'm not in the market, but I think the V-8 coupe is stunning.

 

Nothing yet. It will either be an Audi R8 or Aston V8V or both. I am a patient man and tend to take forever to make a final selection. It took me 18 months of looking for 360's before I pulled the trigger on one, 24 months before I pulled the trigger of my M-Roadster. I have been looking at this pair for about a year, but am getting more serious about it now.

In the meantime, having a great time test driving and looking. The chase is half the fun.

 

Enjoy the ride!

 

I haven't driven the R8 but I do with the V8V and I love it the sound was amazing, that and the looks do it for me.
I'm thinking about changing my 997 c4s, for one of these or maybe a gallardo, or gt3, I'm not sure I want to do.
Any thougts?

 

while shopping for an amv8, many owners told me to avoid the 06/07 due to electrical issues and that some of these "issues" were corrected in the 08 along w/ a small refresh. As you know the 09 got a bump is engine size so it has a little more power.

 

From 07 up are fine. Avoid anything before that.

 

Had an 06 that I traded for my first 430. The seats were uncomfortable (improved 07 & up), and coming from a 997s I was disappointed in the power. I have not driven one with the new engine, but I still think it would be a disappointment. Now the V12 Vantage, that's I car I'd love to try........

 

Are you replacing your GT? I know you mentioned you'll keep that for at least 7/8 more years.

 

No way. A 2 seat AMV8 is no replacement for a 4 seat GT car. This is an addition not a replacement to any of my other cars. It will either be this or an R8, possibly, but not likely, both. I indicated I would keep the GT for 7-8 years total, not 7-8more years so it could be gone in 4 or so years. For a guy who has averaged 18-24 months of ownership for his 35+ cars in his adult life, THAT is an eternity. My prior record is 5 years ownership (shortest is 4 months).

DISCLAIMER: THE AUTHOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO COMPLETELY CONTRADICT THE ABOVE STATEMENT IF HE GETS A COPY OF HIS MONTLY CAR MAGAZINE AND SOMETHING AMAZING APPEARS IN THERE THAT COMPELS HIM TO REPLACE HIS GT WITH IT. STATEMENTS MADE REGARDING YEARS OF OWNERSHIP ARE MADE ON INFORMATION AND BELIEF AT THE TIME SUCH STATEMENTS ARE MADE AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE FUTURE STATE OF MIND OF AN OTHERWISE OCD FICKLE AUTO ENTHUSIAST.