Vantage - Thinking of buying one - Running Costs?
Discussion
I'm very tempted to buy an 55 reg Vantage with all the toys. It's priced at around £55k and has 28k miles on the clock. I wanted to know the running costs for such a car. I'll be moving from a BMW M3 (E46). What are the following costs like?:
MPG (as I'll be using it as an everyday car)
Insurance (34 yr old no points)
Service costs over the year - how much have you spent last year?
How has the car been overall? It's either this or a 997 Carerra S but I'd rather have an Aston over a Porsche anyday
MPG (as I'll be using it as an everyday car)
Insurance (34 yr old no points)
Service costs over the year - how much have you spent last year?
How has the car been overall? It's either this or a 997 Carerra S but I'd rather have an Aston over a Porsche anyday
W4NTED said:
I'm very tempted to buy an 55 reg Vantage with all the toys. It's priced at around £55k and has 28k miles on the clock. I wanted to know the running costs for such a car. I'll be moving from a BMW M3 (E46). What are the following costs like?:
MPG (as I'll be using it as an everyday car)
Insurance (34 yr old no points)
Service costs over the year - how much have you spent last year?
How has the car been overall? It's either this or a 997 Carerra S but I'd rather have an Aston over a Porsche anyday
I Use mine daily and have done 25K in the last year in it, so it can be used as a daily "normal" car for sure MPG (as I'll be using it as an everyday car)
Insurance (34 yr old no points)
Service costs over the year - how much have you spent last year?
How has the car been overall? It's either this or a 997 Carerra S but I'd rather have an Aston over a Porsche anyday
MPG - ...a tricky one, I think the fuel computer shows I avg 18mpg overally, motorway and short trips...but i dont pay much attention to be honest as I have a fuel card from my employer
Insurance - well I pay £1100, but only have 3 yrs NCB on that policy, and we have a couple of claims between me and the GF, no points though, not garaged, DN postcode, 37yrs
Service costs - I bought mine with 5K on the clock and now just touch ing 30K. Its had a set of rears at 15K miles - £550 ish. Recently a set of fronts at 25K miles at £500, and 2 services, and a set of brake pads at 18K at £200. The services would have been about £800 each without the tyres.
Re the services - you really need to shop around the dealers as labour rates can vary from £95 ph +vat to £150+vat ph ...most of the service is the 5.5hr labour. I live in Notts now, but my car still goes to Grange in Brentwood (where I used to live) as they had a low labour rate and were not a rip-off on tyres. The prices they gave my on tyres were within a fiver of internet prices...whereas some dealers will have them marked up 40% or so and try to slip them onto a service to owners that dont know any better, so watch out for tyre prices. Also they are reasonable on the oil, in fact they charge less for Castrol R than I can buy it online, so no probs there
Other than that Ive had a couple of warranty fixes (any car you buy should have these done really by now) - stiff gearchange, and sqeaky brakes...oh and last service they fixed a minor oil leak under warranty too (I hadnt noticed it during my weekly checks, so it must have been minor)
I wouldnt hesistate to have another as a daily drive, that has style and can be driven when you feel like it ...Ive got another couple of years in this one first
That was me a month ago - looking half-heartedly at 997's but with my heart set on a Vantage as my everyday car. Moved from a TT to the Vantage so a bit of a leap but VERY satisfying so far.
I got mine last month just after it had just been serviced so I have no idea on the servicing cost front. The dealer has been good at taking the car back to tend to squeaky wipers and squeaky brakes - all under warranty as 07 plate (7000 miles).
MPG could be a bit worrying as I do a lot of town driving - the trip computer says I'm averaging 18mpg but I was getting mid twenties on the motorway and fast A roads last weekend. The low mpg was wholly expected and I am not stressing over it as it is not a car to be saving the pennies over. A Porsche would definitely be more economical but they are two-a-penny in my neighbourhood. The 997 would also offer better performance (not driving feel to my mind) and to my mind, it "feels" faster but I tried them and went with the Vantage for mellow driving pleasure - it's happily fast enough for me - any faster and my wife would wheel clamp it for my safety - the extra the 997 might offer for performance was not enough to sway my heart.
Insurance - I was paying £800 for the TT and moved to £1050 for the Vantage. 40 yrs, driveway (makes a TINY difference) Full NCB. I thought I would be punished for not garaging it, but no. I was delighted with the "smaller than I anticipated" extra cost. I went through A-Plan - ask for their Private Clients section. I was probably paying over the odds on the TT as I didn't shop around for that one. I got a limited mileage policy with a business mileage allowance but I don't think my clients would be too chuffed to see me turning up in an Aston so I don't use it for business!
All in all, I'm loving it. I read an interesting thread on this site where people were discussing what to get after you've had an AMV8 - what do you move to? Now I'm going to have to leave work early to go for a drive... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/4.gif
I got mine last month just after it had just been serviced so I have no idea on the servicing cost front. The dealer has been good at taking the car back to tend to squeaky wipers and squeaky brakes - all under warranty as 07 plate (7000 miles).
MPG could be a bit worrying as I do a lot of town driving - the trip computer says I'm averaging 18mpg but I was getting mid twenties on the motorway and fast A roads last weekend. The low mpg was wholly expected and I am not stressing over it as it is not a car to be saving the pennies over. A Porsche would definitely be more economical but they are two-a-penny in my neighbourhood. The 997 would also offer better performance (not driving feel to my mind) and to my mind, it "feels" faster but I tried them and went with the Vantage for mellow driving pleasure - it's happily fast enough for me - any faster and my wife would wheel clamp it for my safety - the extra the 997 might offer for performance was not enough to sway my heart.
Insurance - I was paying £800 for the TT and moved to £1050 for the Vantage. 40 yrs, driveway (makes a TINY difference) Full NCB. I thought I would be punished for not garaging it, but no. I was delighted with the "smaller than I anticipated" extra cost. I went through A-Plan - ask for their Private Clients section. I was probably paying over the odds on the TT as I didn't shop around for that one. I got a limited mileage policy with a business mileage allowance but I don't think my clients would be too chuffed to see me turning up in an Aston so I don't use it for business!
All in all, I'm loving it. I read an interesting thread on this site where people were discussing what to get after you've had an AMV8 - what do you move to? Now I'm going to have to leave work early to go for a drive... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/4.gif
Cool.
So what are the must have options on a Vantage then?
This one's got Sat Nav, 19" Alloys, folding mirrors, alcantara headlining, 6CD changer, heated screens, Xenons, Heated Seats.
I'm not too sure what is standard but this is what it's got - is it missing anything major??
Cheers again.
So what are the must have options on a Vantage then?
This one's got Sat Nav, 19" Alloys, folding mirrors, alcantara headlining, 6CD changer, heated screens, Xenons, Heated Seats.
I'm not too sure what is standard but this is what it's got - is it missing anything major??
Cheers again.
W4NTED said:
Cool.
So what are the must have options on a Vantage then?
This one's got Sat Nav, 19" Alloys, folding mirrors, alcantara headlining, 6CD changer, heated screens, Xenons, Heated Seats.
Looks like you have listed all of the above. Good luck if you go ahead. Please anybody dive in to correct me about the options, i am interested as to what else should be on the car. So what are the must have options on a Vantage then?
This one's got Sat Nav, 19" Alloys, folding mirrors, alcantara headlining, 6CD changer, heated screens, Xenons, Heated Seats.
This thread is doing me NO good what so-ever! Recently sold my 997Turbo, and been looking for a cheaper alternative - had Pork for the last 14 or so years.
Just been sat in a 08 Vantage with all (well most of ) the right bits! My god am i tempted! Joked with the Sales guy that i didn't have enough grey hair for a DB9 - at which point he steered me to their LeMans special. Nice but didn't achieve the object of selling the Turbo - ie Too much tied up in a car.
Got an invite arranged for an Aston 'Arrive & Drive' do next weekend - now wheres my cheque book!!!
G
Just been sat in a 08 Vantage with all (well most of ) the right bits! My god am i tempted! Joked with the Sales guy that i didn't have enough grey hair for a DB9 - at which point he steered me to their LeMans special. Nice but didn't achieve the object of selling the Turbo - ie Too much tied up in a car.
Got an invite arranged for an Aston 'Arrive & Drive' do next weekend - now wheres my cheque book!!!
G
I am hopefully about two months away from buying a second hand V8 Vantage. What are the thoughts on residuals for these considering the imminent new version? I was worried about a nose dive but an existing owner made a fair point that in light of the price hike, the "old" version should still have healthy demand
Edited by limpsfield on Saturday 10th May 19:37
I have had a Vantage Roadster for 8 months now so running costs have been minimal, 18 MPG appears to be the norm. Insurance costs aren't too bad, mine is garaged with full no claims in a low risk area. I have mine on a multi-car type policy with the GF's diesel Peugeot and it costs £1066 for both.
One thing you will notice with the AM is the reaction from other road users.
I had mine out a short while ago (the Roadster that is
)and noticed a spotty teenager take his headphones out to listen to the car go by (fuse 22 removed) I gave it a little blip for him and he gave me a thumbs up. On the same outing I met an older guy in an e-type convertible who flashed his lights and gave me a wave. I'm sure none of this would have happened had I been in a porker.
Other AM drivers will substantiate this.
My advice is get the AM and as long as it has been properly looked after then all should be OK.
One thing you will notice with the AM is the reaction from other road users.
I had mine out a short while ago (the Roadster that is
)and noticed a spotty teenager take his headphones out to listen to the car go by (fuse 22 removed) I gave it a little blip for him and he gave me a thumbs up. On the same outing I met an older guy in an e-type convertible who flashed his lights and gave me a wave. I'm sure none of this would have happened had I been in a porker.Other AM drivers will substantiate this.
My advice is get the AM and as long as it has been properly looked after then all should be OK.
Black! 
was supposed to test drive it on Saturday afternoon but got a call at 5pm on Friday to say that I am welcome to come down for a test drive BUT that specific model I was after has been sold
The search continues...
£55k is the max I would spend and there are a few around at this price
was supposed to test drive it on Saturday afternoon but got a call at 5pm on Friday to say that I am welcome to come down for a test drive BUT that specific model I was after has been sold The search continues...
£55k is the max I would spend and there are a few around at this price
W4NTED said:
Black! was supposed to test drive it on Saturday afternoon but got a call at 5pm on Friday to say that I am welcome to come down for a test drive BUT that specific model I was after has been sold
The search continues...
£55k is the max I would spend and there are a few around at this price
Might be able to point you in the right direction. Send me a mail on my profile. was supposed to test drive it on Saturday afternoon but got a call at 5pm on Friday to say that I am welcome to come down for a test drive BUT that specific model I was after has been sold The search continues...
£55k is the max I would spend and there are a few around at this price
Similar experiences to above. 12k miles or so in 12mths. Averaging under 18mpg at the moment (though my driving has tended to be at either end of the throttle spectrum ).
Had one service so far, 630 quid. Tyres have plenty left. I'm suspecting the clutch may not see another year out though.
Insurance would be around the 1,100GBP mark I suspect (mine's on a multi-car policy).
Depreciation? I reckon if you buy at the right price and don;t go straight in and out of it, you are probably going to be looking at 1k per mth (maybe a bit more) if you slap on ~10k miles p.a.
).Had one service so far, 630 quid. Tyres have plenty left. I'm suspecting the clutch may not see another year out though.
Insurance would be around the 1,100GBP mark I suspect (mine's on a multi-car policy).
Depreciation? I reckon if you buy at the right price and don;t go straight in and out of it, you are probably going to be looking at 1k per mth (maybe a bit more) if you slap on ~10k miles p.a.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff