Is a Vanquish Practical?

[Jappo]

I am currently thinking of getting a 2001/2002 Vanquish to run virtually as an everyday car and to replace my XKR Convertible. I will do 5-6K miles a Year. Can anyone share their experience of running such a car on a regular basis with me - for example, reliability, expected running costs, drievability (I've never driven one but used to have a V12 Vantage) particularly with regard to the flappy paddles.

Many, many thanks in advance - I'm usually on the TVR forum as wparslow so this is a new area for me.

[FUBAR]

Not much help other than I was loaned a Vanquish for 24 hours by a client when they first came out. One of the early flappy paddles ones. Bloomin awful gearbox for round town. OK when you're on the move. I believe the gearbox has been improved on later models?

[Jappo]

FUBAR said:

Not much help other than I was loaned a Vanquish for 24 hours by a client when they first came out. One of the early flappy paddles ones. Bloomin awful gearbox for round town. OK when you're on the move. I believe the gearbox has been improved on later models?

I had an early (March 2000) 360 F1 - is the box better/same/worse/much worse (obviously you'll have had to have a go in an early 360 F1 to know that - but I'm hoping.......)?

[nda]

Yes it's practical... I had a Vanquish for a couple of years. I wouldn't want to commute in heavy traffic every day in one, but it's completely reliable and easy to drive.

You need to remember that it's a manual gearbox (no torque converter) so won't creep in traffic - nor can you hold it on the clutch. So there are a few tips and tricks to protect the clutch. Other than that, it's straighforward and 6k a year won't trouble it or you in the slightest.

[FUBAR]

No idea, only Fezza Ive ever driven, was a white Testarossa, back when they first came out. Cant imagine it can be worse? (dont get me wrong, I LOVE Astons, just IMO that gearbox is/was a pig)

Edited by FUBAR on Wednesday 10th January 17:28

[Jappo]

nda said:

Yes it's practical... I had a Vanquish for a couple of years. I wouldn't want to commute in heavy traffic every day in one, but it's completely reliable and easy to drive.

You need to remember that it's a manual gearbox (no torque converter) so won't creep in traffic - nor can you hold it on the clutch. So there are a few tips and tricks to protect the clutch. Other than that, it's straighforward and 6k a year won't trouble it or you in the slightest.

Any tips on what to look for when buying? How long will a well treated clutch last - how much to replace one, annual servicing costs @ 6K/yr etc?

[southpaw]

I know someone who uses a Vanquish everyday, so its certainly possible

[nda]

I think I put 15,000 miles on mine of 'enthusiastic' driving with no clutch issues at all. It would impossible to predict average clutch life on a Vanquish - for all the usual reasons.

From memory servcing was in the £1500 range from Works Service (who are buttock-clenchingly expensive). I would suggest phoning a dealer and asking what they charge for a regular 10,000 service on a Vanquish.

In terms of what to look for - yikes! That's a tough one. Like most modern cars, there's nothing to see in the engine bay. The engine should be super clean looking, no oily parts. Underneath the bonnet should show no signs of any fluid having exploded. If the wheels are kerbed it'll show the owner didn't care... etc.

If you're offered a test drive.... Open drivers door and you should hear a faint whine (the air charging up the gearbox).

A cold engine should bark into life immediately. With right foot on brake, pull both paddles towards you (checking neutral), pull right one, should give a little clunk into first, gentle on the throttle and you should ease away. If you get judder or 'issues' (!), you might have a clutch problem.

As to the battery tender debate on a nearby thread - all my cars have tracker devices, they drain batteries. You'll probably find that all Vanqui (?) have trackers as they are fitted from new as an insurance company requirement.

Any help so far?

[southpaw]

nda said:

As to the battery tender debate on a nearby thread - all my cars have tracker devices, they drain batteries. You'll probably find that all Vanqui (?) have trackers as they are fitted from new as an insurance company requirement.

AFAIK all Vanquishes have a tracker fitted, I saw them being programmed at the factory while being built

[anonymous-user]

Wayne!

if you get a Vanquish, get works service to show you the "cheat mode" for the gearbox learing procedure. Effectively you pull and hold both paddles in a sequence with your foot on the brake and it will then spend 30secs re-learing the gearshift "gate" and the clutch bite point. Do this every few months or so and the gear box will be about 3x faster and smoother, and the clutch will be more durable.

Most Vanquishes that drive terribly have an old adaption in the transmision ecu that makes the car pretty poor in traffic.

(it won't be as quick as a tuned Viper though! lol)

[wparslow]

max_torque said:

Wayne!

if you get a Vanquish, get works service to show you the "cheat mode" for the gearbox learing procedure. Effectively you pull and hold both paddles in a sequence with your foot on the brake and it will then spend 30secs re-learing the gearshift "gate" and the clutch bite point. Do this every few months or so and the gear box will be about 3x faster and smoother, and the clutch will be more durable.

Most Vanquishes that drive terribly have an old adaption in the transmision ecu that makes the car pretty poor in traffic.

(it won't be as quick as a tuned Viper though! lol)

Obviously you know me well - who are you, you bugger?

[Jappo]

You're not going to identify yourself are you Mr max-torque?

[Jappo]

Aaah well, just been informed that my 500bhp XKR Convertible is worth diddly as a trade in, so I'll have to put the Vanq off until I get a bigger bonus later in the Year.

[aston67]

WS can fit now a normal gearbox at a price, of course

so if you hate the paddles you can go back to the "stick"