Thoughts on a Aston Martin Vantage?

Rented one for a while, as an effort to convince myself that there is more than the James Bond(ish) feeling to it.
Two times had battery issues (some electric window relay was draining the power) and one time I had to tow the car to the garage due to some unexpected and undefined "limp mode".
The car had 45.000 kms and although the leathers and ceiling were in good condition, buttons and door handles seemed as if at the end of their life cycle.
Heavy steering, nice sound (grawl) and decent track performance with lots and lots of brake overheating and some oil consumption.
The stereo system is c-r-a-p (although they claim that it is a top of the line one).

Compared to a P996 turbo and a 997C4 the Aston has more class, will take you wherever you want to go, but keep in mind it has more GT dna than "sports spirit" in it.
Maintenance was dead cheap and there seemed no extra care was needed.
But again had this for just three months.

But this is just my opinion. As they say in my country, it's all about the taste, said the monkey and ate the soap.

Sorry if I offended Aston owners.
Drive one before you decide.

 

I've owned 2 Astons....the first was an 08 V8V Nurburgring Edition N400 in Lightning Silver. Almost felt like Bond. No issues.
Sold it in 3 mos for a 430 Spider.

I decided to try again with a DBS in Casino Royale. Really felt like Bond. Daily drove it with very little issue, sold it in 10 months for a Lotus.

The thing about Astons IMO is they underperform and there really isn't much "Power" or "Soul" underneath the bonnet.
They look great and sound great.
As a GT cruiser they are great.
Ill probably come back to an Aston some day when they catch up in the power plant area.

 

I have an 07 Vantage V8. Zero issues whatsoever.

It is not a rocket ship, but it *is* wonderful on the highway, makes a glorious noise, and looks wonderful. Just like any Ferrari, it'll easily exceed the legal speed limits in all 50 states.

 

V8 vantage, especially early 4.2 models were a bit down on power

 

I've always loved the look of the Aston'. Very classy. I'm constantly considering one but have to drive one to see how they ride.

 

V8 Vantage, one of the top 3 sexiest cars on the road... In my opinion of course! There's a guy in Vegas having no luck selling his loaded '08 convertible, silver/black, silver stitching, gorgeous HRE wheels, mint condition, really low miles. I think he wants like $59k for it (worth every penny), I keep trying to get him to trade me straight for my 348, but he just wont bite!

 

Can not help you with the Vantage....but I love the avatar change!

Classic.

 

You're right about trying to sell them. It seems like its very difficult to unload them, unless you are willing to take a big hit. They are so nice to look at, saw one today again and told myself I should get one. I just don't want to trade in my 348 spider to do it.

 

I was after a Vantage hard and heavy about a year ago. Read the book, did all the research, etc. Literally had purchased a plane ticket for the upcoming weekend to Atlanta to go buy a silver/tan 07 I found there. Three days before I was to leave, I got a lead on a pristine 1995 F355 that had just come in to FOA, and just couldn't let myself pass that one up. The 355 has been THE dream car for me from the day they first came out, and I knew at some point I would buy one for keeps. I figured no-issues, mint condition 355's are much harder to come by than similar condition Vantages, so I went with the 355.

Now, several months later, I am enjoying the 355 immensely. It gets better every time I drive it. It is all I could ever want in a Ferrari.

But....

My 355 is raw. It has the very firm carbon sports seats, test pipes, very loud aftermarket exhaust, negligible stereo, so-so air conditioner, etc. It is the antithesis of a GT car. So I find myself again wanting to maybe add a Vantage or perhaps a 911 to the fleet. It helps that my wife loves the Vantage, so it would make a great "hers" car that I maybe got to borrow occasionally.

Anyway, I love the Vantage. I will have to have one at some point. I would be curious to see what they are actually changing hands for these days, given the stories above. Seems there is always a decent selection available on line, and there does seem to be some turnover in the cars on eBay and such, so I assume some are selling. Anyone have any recent Manheim sales figures by chance or first hand knowledge of actual transaction prices?

 

I test drove a 2013 V12 Vantage during Concours Week last year in Carmel Valley. The Vantage is THE most beautiful GT out there. The power and Torque of the V12 was similar to my AMG. the manual transmission was cleaner and more precise than the almost 20 year old F355. The suspension and handling was phenomenal, much more grip, stiffer and flatter than my AMG in the turns, but with similar power. The sound was awesome, much more grunt than the F355 at low RPM, though the F355 scream at full throttle is aruably better. The. vantage was much closer in feel to an F430, likely due to it being a contemporary of the F430. F355 feels a lot older and Raw. Though this may be due to me running Test pipes, Tubi headers and a Latino exhaust on my F355. They are both amongst the most beautiful cars on the streets today.

 

We have such a one since a couple of years. It is a V12 with 420 hp and a torque you can´t imagine. Automatic with touchtronic buttons.
The difference between the 348 and the AM is rather big. The 348 loves "active driving" however the AM is more of a cruising kind......in 150 mph (240 km).
Testdriving is required......or you might be disappointed.
Good Luck !!!

//B//

 

Nope.......but we somestimes still do....ha ha ha.

//B//

 

British - FerrariChat.com

 

You need to go drive the V12 vantage. Not sure what someone else was saying about a 400hp one, maybe that is the V8...the V12 vantage is a full 500+hp. Their biggest engine in their smallest car. What you need to realize here is that...this isn't the greatest car ever. No it doesn't lap the 'ring the fastest, no not 0-60 the fastest...but what you need to do is drive it and tell me that it isn't the 'funnest'. It is such a great package, the noise, the looks, the handling. Way better than the numbers would suggest. As the salesman said to me, and great salesman talk..the V8 is a toy...the V8 is a supercar. Go drive and report back. I'll be shocked if you don't love it.

 

Without any doubt the power of the V12 is beyond dispute, but unless my mind tricks me, there was no V12 on 07 models such as the one the op is after.
Or there is? I am not sure....

 

Bengt was referring to a:

DB 7

With the v12...

Vantage V12 came to US in 2010 MY I believe.

Robb

 

Oh! I see. Youre right.

 

How about the Maserati Gran Turismo S, Ferrari engine, beautiful body, decent audio, back seat you can use if need, sounds amazing when driving. Just a thought.

 

I sold an F430 and bought a AM V8 Vantage Roadster -- https://www.kumari.net/gallery/var/albums/Cars/Aston-Martin/IMG_0441.jpg?m=1357579985

I added a QuickSilver SuperSport exhaust, which made a *huge* difference.
Anyway, sold it after around 4 months -- it was fun drive, and sounded awesome, but was simply too "grown up" a car for me. If I could pull off being James Bond (or was in any way elegant (I'm a jeans an a t-shirt type)) it would have been a keeper, but I needed more pantomime (and so I got a Murcielago Roadster )

All comes down to what you are looking for -- very different feel to a Ferrari or Lambo, but a fun drive.

 

Apparently like a Jaguar, I've got one I have been trying to sell for six months. Seems I can't give it away.
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When I was car shopping a few years back, I was really smitten by the lines of the V8Vantage. Truly beautiful. However, when I got inside and looked out, it was a dealbreaker for me. I didn't want to waste the salesman's time by driving it. The blind spot over the front hood almost went to infinity. (Yeah, I'm only 5'8" but I had the seat all the way up ), the side windows seemed narrow and rear visibility was dismal. Living in the cloudy PNW, I like cars to have a light, airy interior and the Aston was the opposite. Anyone else come away with that impression?

 

Nice looking Jag! I love this generation of XK's. How have you liked yours? Any problems or issues? I drove an XKR-S once and was hugely impressed.

Most importantly, how much are you trying to give it away for? I like give away cars! PM me.