What are must-have options on a 4.3 V8 Vantage?
Discussion
Everyone is different, when buying mine nearly 4 years ago, I was more concerned about getting a well cared for car and having this confirmed by an inspection pre purchase. There are a lot of things underneath the car (the bits you dont see) that can cost a small fortune to put right which to me would have negated whether I had some well spec'd interior. Obviously, if you can find both then you are sitting pretty.
You have to remember you are buying into a car that is over 15 years old and presumably has seen several owners of which some may have overlooked some areas of the car that needed looking after but would rather have sold the problems on to an unsuspecting next owner.
I recall mine didn't come with an auto dimming rear view mirror but found while a nice have, the cars all come pre-wired for this option so buying a mirror and fitting yourself is very easy and economical.
What is your base list of must haves as you have to live with the car.
You have to remember you are buying into a car that is over 15 years old and presumably has seen several owners of which some may have overlooked some areas of the car that needed looking after but would rather have sold the problems on to an unsuspecting next owner.
I recall mine didn't come with an auto dimming rear view mirror but found while a nice have, the cars all come pre-wired for this option so buying a mirror and fitting yourself is very easy and economical.
What is your base list of must haves as you have to live with the car.
Edited by BiggaJ on Thursday 29th February 09:38
bluetooth phone is a must have for most
premium audio nice to have but if the car is otherwise perfect in every way then wouldn't be a show stopper for me
heated seats, memory seats, cruise all nice to have but not necessity
Over the years many options became standard, at 2008 with the 4.7, then again at 2012 with most of the "S" spec becoming standard apart from "S" trim.
Good guide here to all the model years etc
https://astonmartins.com/car-category/vh-architect...
premium audio nice to have but if the car is otherwise perfect in every way then wouldn't be a show stopper for me
heated seats, memory seats, cruise all nice to have but not necessity
Over the years many options became standard, at 2008 with the 4.7, then again at 2012 with most of the "S" spec becoming standard apart from "S" trim.
Good guide here to all the model years etc
https://astonmartins.com/car-category/vh-architect...
wilddriver said:
I am getting very close on purchasing a beautiful, blue 2007 V8V. Are there any important spec options I should look out for? For example premium sound system etc.
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks and best,
Wilddriver
Perhaps it’s a little late for you to be asking about options - It seems you have already identified and fixed upon your particular car, in which case if you go ahead you will simply get what it comes with.Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks and best,
Wilddriver
As mentioned above, the biggest upgrade package came in late 2008 (4.7 / glass key) and the second biggest in 2012 (‘S’ brakes, rack, SS2), but you will likely already know that, it’s where the most visible lifts in prices occur.
With each year more options became standard.
If it has to be the 4.3 you have in mind, then the options that many buyers may have prioritised in period are the Premium audio, piano black waterfall, heated/memory seats, powerfold mirrors, bluetooth, Ipod connectivity, garage door opener, and maybe one of the better leather packs. On some early cars I understand that even the Xenon lights were optional.
Aftermarket upgrades to look out for (or even just checking if what’s there is in good condition) are sports suspension (often Bilstein), upgraded/lighter/twin plate clutch and high flow exhaust manifolds. While not everyones cup of tea, these were/are very expensive upgrades for the early Euro IV cars.
While it may be a little late in terms of your research, buying an online copy of Grants book (see the sticky) will be invaluable in helping you to get to know your new car if you go ahead, and about the specifications and options by year in general if you don’t.
Best of luck
Edited by Calinours on Thursday 29th February 11:20
Find one with a good rear subframe and possibly replacement shocks. Also one with a clutch replacement in the last few years would be desirable. If you buy a car needing all three of these and you don’t want to / CBA to do the work yourself, you could be looking at 50% of the value of the car needing to be spent.
I only needed two of the three big jobs (clutch is still OK) and it still hit me for five figures. I knew that subframe and suspension were iffy when I bought the car and the funds were ready, so it’s not like it was a shock (not to me, anyway - SWMBO was less than impressed…)
As for options:
Heated front screen is useful
I hardly listen to music, so premium audio didn’t bother me. If you like your tunes, I’ve heard it’s an excellent upgrade.
Memory seats will be useful if anyone else other than you will be driving it, otherwise they are of limited value.
Bluetooth phone connection could be useful if you talk to people when you’re driving. I’m an old git and have no friends, so it’s exceptionally rare for me to take a call while I’m in it.
Aftermarket addons:
Watertight rear lights (they all need fixing at some point)
Headlamp vents
Any carbon bits (if you’re into that sort of thing)
Good tyres (my Bridgestone fronts were 11 years old and felt awful on the road)
EDIT - and if a previous owner has had the truly awful satnav replaced with the Aston Installations CarPlay kit, I’d guess that’s worth a few bonus points
I only needed two of the three big jobs (clutch is still OK) and it still hit me for five figures. I knew that subframe and suspension were iffy when I bought the car and the funds were ready, so it’s not like it was a shock (not to me, anyway - SWMBO was less than impressed…)
As for options:
Heated front screen is useful
I hardly listen to music, so premium audio didn’t bother me. If you like your tunes, I’ve heard it’s an excellent upgrade.
Memory seats will be useful if anyone else other than you will be driving it, otherwise they are of limited value.
Bluetooth phone connection could be useful if you talk to people when you’re driving. I’m an old git and have no friends, so it’s exceptionally rare for me to take a call while I’m in it.
Aftermarket addons:
Watertight rear lights (they all need fixing at some point)
Headlamp vents
Any carbon bits (if you’re into that sort of thing)
Good tyres (my Bridgestone fronts were 11 years old and felt awful on the road)
EDIT - and if a previous owner has had the truly awful satnav replaced with the Aston Installations CarPlay kit, I’d guess that’s worth a few bonus points
Edited by Nigel_O on Thursday 29th February 17:05
Nigel_O said:
Find one with a good rear subframe and possibly replacement shocks. Also one with a clutch replacement in the last few years would be desirable. If you buy a car needing all three of these and you don’t want to / CBA to do the work yourself, you could be looking at 50% of the value of the car needing to be spent.
I only needed two of the three big jobs (clutch is still OK) and it still hit me for five figures. I knew that subframe and suspension were iffy when I bought the car and the funds were ready, so it’s not like it was a shock (not to me, anyway - SWMBO was less than impressed…)
As for options:
Heated front screen is useful
I hardly listen to music, so premium audio didn’t bother me. If you like your tunes, I’ve heard it’s an excellent upgrade.
Memory seats will be useful if anyone else other than you will be driving it, otherwise they are of limited value.
Bluetooth phone connection could be useful if you talk to people when you’re driving. I’m an old git and have no friends, so it’s exceptionally rare for me to take a call while I’m in it.
Aftermarket addons:
Watertight rear lights (they all need fixing at some point)
Headlamp vents
Any carbon bits (if you’re into that sort of thing)
Good tyres (my Bridgestone fronts were 11 years old and felt awful on the road)
EDIT - and if a previous owner has had the truly awful satnav replaced with the Aston Installations CarPlay kit, I’d guess that’s worth a few bonus points
I agree with all this and mine is as above and for sale.I only needed two of the three big jobs (clutch is still OK) and it still hit me for five figures. I knew that subframe and suspension were iffy when I bought the car and the funds were ready, so it’s not like it was a shock (not to me, anyway - SWMBO was less than impressed…)
As for options:
Heated front screen is useful
I hardly listen to music, so premium audio didn’t bother me. If you like your tunes, I’ve heard it’s an excellent upgrade.
Memory seats will be useful if anyone else other than you will be driving it, otherwise they are of limited value.
Bluetooth phone connection could be useful if you talk to people when you’re driving. I’m an old git and have no friends, so it’s exceptionally rare for me to take a call while I’m in it.
Aftermarket addons:
Watertight rear lights (they all need fixing at some point)
Headlamp vents
Any carbon bits (if you’re into that sort of thing)
Good tyres (my Bridgestone fronts were 11 years old and felt awful on the road)
EDIT - and if a previous owner has had the truly awful satnav replaced with the Aston Installations CarPlay kit, I’d guess that’s worth a few bonus points
Edited by Nigel_O on Thursday 29th February 17:05
Calinours said:
Perhaps it’s a little late for you to be asking about options - It seems you have already identified and fixed upon your particular car, in which case if you go ahead you will simply get what it comes with.
As mentioned above, the biggest upgrade package came in late 2008 (4.7 / glass key) and the second biggest in 2012 (‘S’ brakes, rack, SS2), but you will likely already know that, it’s where the most visible lifts in prices occur.
With each year more options became standard.
If it has to be the 4.3 you have in mind, then the options that many buyers may have prioritised in period are the Premium audio, piano black waterfall, heated/memory seats, powerfold mirrors, bluetooth, Ipod connectivity, garage door opener, and maybe one of the better leather packs. On some early cars I understand that even the Xenon lights were optional.
Aftermarket upgrades to look out for (or even just checking if what’s there is in good condition) are sports suspension (often Bilstein), upgraded/lighter/twin plate clutch and high flow exhaust manifolds. While not everyones cup of tea, these were/are very expensive upgrades for the early Euro IV cars.
While it may be a little late in terms of your research, buying an online copy of Grants book (see the sticky) will be invaluable in helping you to get to know your new car if you go ahead, and about the specifications and options by year in general if you don’t.
Best of luck
That is very good help, thank you Calinours!As mentioned above, the biggest upgrade package came in late 2008 (4.7 / glass key) and the second biggest in 2012 (‘S’ brakes, rack, SS2), but you will likely already know that, it’s where the most visible lifts in prices occur.
With each year more options became standard.
If it has to be the 4.3 you have in mind, then the options that many buyers may have prioritised in period are the Premium audio, piano black waterfall, heated/memory seats, powerfold mirrors, bluetooth, Ipod connectivity, garage door opener, and maybe one of the better leather packs. On some early cars I understand that even the Xenon lights were optional.
Aftermarket upgrades to look out for (or even just checking if what’s there is in good condition) are sports suspension (often Bilstein), upgraded/lighter/twin plate clutch and high flow exhaust manifolds. While not everyones cup of tea, these were/are very expensive upgrades for the early Euro IV cars.
While it may be a little late in terms of your research, buying an online copy of Grants book (see the sticky) will be invaluable in helping you to get to know your new car if you go ahead, and about the specifications and options by year in general if you don’t.
Best of luck
Edited by Calinours on Thursday 29th February 11:20
I am a bit late to this thread but I have just been through buying a 2008 4.3 V8V. There really are some lovely cars out there that I think are fantastic value. Buy on condition and service history / frequency.
If you are after an early 4.3 there were plenty of optional extras that were not included as standard. I would start with buying The Definitive Guide which is very useful for specs / models / history..
I looked at many cars and came up with a rough list of options that I would like;
- HID lights. This was an option on early cars and the standard halogen headlights are not very good (even with replaced bulbs)
- Premium Audio. It does sound good.
- Bluetooth phone and iPod connectivity. This allows connection of a Bovee device which means you can connect iPhone etc. (I had to get an updated version from Aston Installations to provide power to charge the phone for my 2008)
- Cruise Control.
- Heated / memory seats.
- Sat Nav. I did look at one car that didn't have any sat nav. It might be 1990's Volvo but without it, it cannot be updated to CarPlay etc
- Powerfold mirrors
- Smokers pack (this I think gives the power socket just behind the gear stick)
The other things I had to sort out were a squeaky roller on startup and the thermostat failing which I gather afflict many V8V's. I put Michelin Sport Pilot 5s on it which made a big ride/handling difference.
A Foxwell NT530 for AM (from Gendan UK) is also very handy because you can see what your car is up to in both terms of OBDII and all the other control modules.
I absolutely love the V8V I bought.
RJ5560
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