And now for something completely different...

[Wicker Man]

I've been looking for a new toy for while and considered all sorts, even Japanese. But my preference is for British, two seats and preferably a V8. Fortunately, we still have a splendid choice within that remit.

Decision and payment made. Delivery expected tomorrow lunchtime. Starting to get a bit excited

[slippery]

[iluvmercs]

This "Smiley" seems appropriate:


Darren

[LowiePete]

Patience, Darren, patience!

Regards,
Steve

[sayerbloke]

Intriguing!

[S6 ROR]

Come on Steve, spill the beans

[Wicker Man]

Well my new car is now tucked up at home, and I'm very pleased with it.

This was my short list:

3rd place
Lotus Esprit V8 (or maybe a GT3) - love the styling and handling - but the roof is too low.

2nd place
TVR Cerbera - Fantastic interior and very tempted by a Rolex blue 4.5 with a portland grey leather and headlight conversion - but the doors are too long.

So the winner is:
Aston Martin V8 Vantage



I did dilly and dally about the colour but after being shown the 'fifty shades of grey' available, settled on Tungsten Silver. The red calipers have grown on me too. Not sure what all the knobs and switches do - I might have to read the manual!

One very minor downside is that my TVR Chimeara now looks less special with the Vantage parked along side.


shame photobucket doesn't have a 'tidy garage button'

I'll post some better pics if the sun comes out.

[slippery]

Most agreeable.

[crisp500]

Oh yes. Yes yes yes!

[Cliftonite]

Don't be too hard on the TVR Cerbera. I reckon that if the doors were any shorter they wouldn't fit.

[S6 ROR]

Very very nice
So, the sun is now out, so some more pics, pics, pics please.
Was it a private purchase or from a dealer?
Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh, enjoy

[Wicker Man]

Thanks all.

crisp500 said:

Oh yes. Yes yes yes!

That's what Sue said.

Yes, very true about the Cerb doors.

The car came from Stratstone, the Aston Martin dealer in Cardiff. So not cheap, but it comes with a new clutch, tyres, discs and pads all round, plus a 12 month 'premium warranty' whatever that means.

[Biggriff]

Another Vantage owner. That's four ex tvr owners moved across (although you kept your old one).

Love my new toy, but it's currently in its onesie as my wife calls it. Roll on spring.

[Paul_M3]

That's lovely. Congratulations.

I did briefly look at these last year when I bought my Cayman, but the Vantage was just stretching the budget a little to far.

[iluvmercs]

Good choice and great to see another Aston in the mix

Darren

[slippery]

I think that keeping the TVR is a wise move. When I eventually move on to something'better', I know that whatever I get, I'll miss the TVR if I don't keep hold of it. There really is nothing else like them and they have a rawness to their chatacter that you just don't get from the more contemporary cars, no matter how great they are.

[fast eddys]

Very nice, I worked on one a few years ago. Sound great. You know you can mod the exhaust to have the flap open all the time I presume, but in my opinion it does not need it really?

Eddy

[iluvmercs]

fast eddys said:

You know you can mod the exhaust to have the flap open all the time

That'll be removing fuse 22 from the boot mounted fuse box. Did it on Dad's old DB9.
Must be the easiest and cheapest mod in history to make more low down noise - no need to wait to reach the 3-4k rpm threshold

Darren

[Wicker Man]

I've promised myself that I will not modify this car....

Although fuse 22 has been in the (crystal?) ashtray since yesterday afternoon.

Now sounds great without having to press the throttle pedal too far. (So the kittens get to live another day!)

[slippery]

Now you've just got to stay away from Bamford Rose, or your hopes of keeping it standard might end up getting expensively dashed!