Most affordable way into Aston ownership?
Discussion
Largely a matter of curiosity, but what is the most affordable route into Aston ownership? A DB7? A Virage? Original DBS, perhaps?
Could someone give me an idea of running costs? Are there such things as independent marque specialists?
I'm due to be coming into some money shortly and I probably should (and almost certainly will) spend it on sensible things like a house deposit and a pension, but the thought ocurred that if I could get most of the purchase cost back a year or two down the line it might not be entirely unrealistic to invest in an interesting car for a while. I'd love to own an Aston one day and the way fuel costs and taxation are going it may be my only chance to do so!
Could someone give me an idea of running costs? Are there such things as independent marque specialists?
I'm due to be coming into some money shortly and I probably should (and almost certainly will) spend it on sensible things like a house deposit and a pension, but the thought ocurred that if I could get most of the purchase cost back a year or two down the line it might not be entirely unrealistic to invest in an interesting car for a while. I'd love to own an Aston one day and the way fuel costs and taxation are going it may be my only chance to do so!
the early cars are not that useable IMO ...certainly not without a big pot of cash handy !...but they are depreciation proof I guess.
DB7 - im sure an owner will be along, probably the least expensive way to get into a modern car, again could be expensive.
I reckon the newer V8 Vantage (that I have) will be below £50K soon for a 3 year old car with hardly any miles...maybe even still under an extended warranty...so if its a choice between a real nice DB7 Vantage for £35-40K or spend a bit more for a barely used car....depends entirely on budget
DB7 - im sure an owner will be along, probably the least expensive way to get into a modern car, again could be expensive.
I reckon the newer V8 Vantage (that I have) will be below £50K soon for a 3 year old car with hardly any miles...maybe even still under an extended warranty...so if its a choice between a real nice DB7 Vantage for £35-40K or spend a bit more for a barely used car....depends entirely on budget
A DB7 is probably the most sensible way into Aston Martin ownership as the near-term costs are the easiest to predict. A DBS can be a bottomless pit (if you find one that isn't bottomless already). A Virage may not lose you much money, but are more expensive to run and more expensive to fix.
Chiltern Aston (www.db7centre.co.uk) are a well-respected independent specialists - talk to Dominic.
Chiltern Aston (www.db7centre.co.uk) are a well-respected independent specialists - talk to Dominic.
bogie said:
the early cars are not that useable IMO ...certainly not without a big pot of cash handy !...but they are depreciation proof I guess.
DB7 - im sure an owner will be along, probably the least expensive way to get into a modern car, again could be expensive.
I reckon the newer V8 Vantage (that I have) will be below £50K soon for a 3 year old car with hardly any miles...maybe even still under an extended warranty...so if its a choice between a real nice DB7 Vantage for £35-40K or spend a bit more for a barely used car....depends entirely on budget
I don't know how much I'll have to spend just yet (it's part of an inheritance), but the purchase price of the car - within reason - is potentially less important. I may have new Vantage money to spend, but only if I can retain a reasonable amount of it for when I want something sensible like a house deposit or a pension!DB7 - im sure an owner will be along, probably the least expensive way to get into a modern car, again could be expensive.
I reckon the newer V8 Vantage (that I have) will be below £50K soon for a 3 year old car with hardly any miles...maybe even still under an extended warranty...so if its a choice between a real nice DB7 Vantage for £35-40K or spend a bit more for a barely used car....depends entirely on budget
Can you suggest figures for the various cars' real world servicing costs and fuel economy? Is 20+ mpg realistic with the more recent cars? Can you get independent servicing for (comparitively) sensible money?
If one of the more recent cars was frugal enough to use every day (I have quite a lengthy motorway comute) I might consider doing so. Otherwise it would replace my TVR as an evenings and weekends car and then maybe something like a Virage would be a possibility.
I hasten to add this is just a vague look into the feasibility of it - I don't know how much money is coming my way yet and I'm certainly not in the usual AML salary bracket, but with no financial comitments (and other people being hit by the credit crunch) I did wonder if this would be my only chance to own one before Comrade Brown makes it illegal. I'm normally extremely subjectively about cars, but anything with an Aston Martin badge makes me go weak at the knees!
"I don't know how much I'll have to spend just yet (it's part of an inheritance), but the purchase price of the car - within reason - is potentially less important. I may have new Vantage money to spend, but only if I can retain a reasonable amount of it for when I want something sensible like a house deposit or a pension!"
If you had new Vantage money, id buy a new Vantage, but the earliest/cheapest you can...Im sure in a few months, a 3 yr old car will be £50K ...as long as you dont put 50K miles on it, it shouldnt drop below £40K for quite a few years....is £10K depreciation ok to you?
"Can you suggest figures for the various cars' real world servicing costs and fuel economy? Is 20+ mpg realistic with the more recent cars? Can you get independent servicing for (comparitively) sensible money?"
20mpg on a run yes, but with town driving, and avg of 18mpg is what I get. Servicing at my dealer is £600 ish + extras.
"If one of the more recent cars was frugal enough to use every day (I have quite a lengthy motorway comute) I might consider doing so. Otherwise it would replace my TVR as an evenings and weekends car and then maybe something like a Virage would be a possibility. "
Mine does about 15K miles a year of commuting and 10K miles on business right now...so yeah, if you can afford the fuel, its useable
good luck !
If you had new Vantage money, id buy a new Vantage, but the earliest/cheapest you can...Im sure in a few months, a 3 yr old car will be £50K ...as long as you dont put 50K miles on it, it shouldnt drop below £40K for quite a few years....is £10K depreciation ok to you?
"Can you suggest figures for the various cars' real world servicing costs and fuel economy? Is 20+ mpg realistic with the more recent cars? Can you get independent servicing for (comparitively) sensible money?"
20mpg on a run yes, but with town driving, and avg of 18mpg is what I get. Servicing at my dealer is £600 ish + extras.
"If one of the more recent cars was frugal enough to use every day (I have quite a lengthy motorway comute) I might consider doing so. Otherwise it would replace my TVR as an evenings and weekends car and then maybe something like a Virage would be a possibility. "
Mine does about 15K miles a year of commuting and 10K miles on business right now...so yeah, if you can afford the fuel, its useable
good luck !
I think the (current model) Vantage would be the main contender if I could afford it. I was just a little worried about depreciation and the effects of mileage on resale value.
We'll see - there's a certain amount of family politics and a fiddle to bipass death duties involved so the amount I recieve could vary hugely depending on what's sorted out. However it's been an ambition of mine to own as Aston for as long as I can remember and I think if I found myself with the money (even if it was only temporarily before things like houses and kids came into the equation) I'd find it hard to resist. I even know which fuse to remove already.
It seems that running costs for a £60k Vantage needn't be that much higher than my sub-£10k TVR.
That said - are there any young-ish drivers around here? I'm 25 so insurance could be a real issue under the magic 30.
We'll see - there's a certain amount of family politics and a fiddle to bipass death duties involved so the amount I recieve could vary hugely depending on what's sorted out. However it's been an ambition of mine to own as Aston for as long as I can remember and I think if I found myself with the money (even if it was only temporarily before things like houses and kids came into the equation) I'd find it hard to resist. I even know which fuse to remove already.
It seems that running costs for a £60k Vantage needn't be that much higher than my sub-£10k TVR.
That said - are there any young-ish drivers around here? I'm 25 so insurance could be a real issue under the magic 30.
Chris, if you were looking into the older cars, then when I was 25 I could get classic car insurance, so almost any car over 10 years old was witiin reach insurance-wise, and I woudl expect any 10 year old Aston would be a simmilar amount, insurance wise. So that depends on your preference- on older car, like the V8, a Virage, a DB7? If you find you can afford a modern V8 Vantage, then you can afford a lot of Aston: maybe an 80s V8 Vantage or Volante? maybe the twin blower Vantage from the 90s? Maybe a DB7 Volante, or Vantage. Maybe a Virage 6.3, or a car with the 7 litre engine in.
Lots os exciting possabilities there. Of course, I think you should buy a DBS V8. Bst car ever made. I'm going to ge selling mine, in fact...
Lots os exciting possabilities there. Of course, I think you should buy a DBS V8. Bst car ever made. I'm going to ge selling mine, in fact...
williamp said:
Chris, if you were looking into the older cars, then when I was 25 I could get classic car insurance, so almost any car over 10 years old was witiin reach insurance-wise, and I woudl expect any 10 year old Aston would be a simmilar amount, insurance wise. So that depends on your preference- on older car, like the V8, a Virage, a DB7? If you find you can afford a modern V8 Vantage, then you can afford a lot of Aston: maybe an 80s V8 Vantage or Volante? maybe the twin blower Vantage from the 90s? Maybe a DB7 Volante, or Vantage. Maybe a Virage 6.3, or a car with the 7 litre engine in.
Lots os exciting possabilities there. Of course, I think you should buy a DBS V8. Bst car ever made. I'm going to ge selling mine, in fact...
Although I've never had anything especially valuable before I've always driven relatively 'high risk' cars for my age thanks to classic or kit car insurance. As it happens the 1980s V8 Vantage was about my favourite car as a kid... I blame 'The Living Daylights'. Lots os exciting possabilities there. Of course, I think you should buy a DBS V8. Bst car ever made. I'm going to ge selling mine, in fact...
What are the older V8s/Virages like to drive? I'd always got the impression they were quite big, heavy cars. The appeal of a (21st century) Vantage is the idea that a mere mortal such as myself could actually drive it quite enthusiastically as well as enjoying the ownership experience. I also assumed I could put more miles on a somewhat more numerous car like the (current) Vantage without effecting its value too much.
Chris71 said:
williamp said:
Chris, if you were looking into the older cars, then when I was 25 I could get classic car insurance, so almost any car over 10 years old was witiin reach insurance-wise, and I woudl expect any 10 year old Aston would be a simmilar amount, insurance wise. So that depends on your preference- on older car, like the V8, a Virage, a DB7? If you find you can afford a modern V8 Vantage, then you can afford a lot of Aston: maybe an 80s V8 Vantage or Volante? maybe the twin blower Vantage from the 90s? Maybe a DB7 Volante, or Vantage. Maybe a Virage 6.3, or a car with the 7 litre engine in.
Lots os exciting possabilities there. Of course, I think you should buy a DBS V8. Bst car ever made. I'm going to ge selling mine, in fact...
Although I've never had anything especially valuable before I've always driven relatively 'high risk' cars for my age thanks to classic or kit car insurance. As it happens the 1980s V8 Vantage was about my favourite car as a kid... I blame 'The Living Daylights'. Lots os exciting possabilities there. Of course, I think you should buy a DBS V8. Bst car ever made. I'm going to ge selling mine, in fact...
What are the older V8s/Virages like to drive? I'd always got the impression they were quite big, heavy cars. The appeal of a (21st century) Vantage is the idea that a mere mortal such as myself could actually drive it quite enthusiastically as well as enjoying the ownership experience. I also assumed I could put more miles on a somewhat more numerous car like the (current) Vantage without effecting its value too much.
If the cheque comes through, rest assured I'll be speaking to the AMOC and the nearest dealership as a matter of priority!
My niggling doubt about the older cars is that a current (compact, light weight) Vantage would offer 90% of the ownership experience while also being a more focused driving experience than the older, more GT-biased cars?
My niggling doubt about the older cars is that a current (compact, light weight) Vantage would offer 90% of the ownership experience while also being a more focused driving experience than the older, more GT-biased cars?
Chris,
I sold my 2007 AMV8 Vantage, and replaced it by a V8 Vantage 1989 with the full RSW 7.0 litres conversion,
including suspension and brakes. This car has a full service history and is perfect condition, although not
cheap.
The 2007 V8 was just not special enough. It's still one of the most beautiful cars ever made, but when you drive
the car there is something missing. Before, I had a Chimaera and a Tuscan 4.0, and with these cars every journey
was something special.
The 1989 V8 makes every drive special again. This car is a proper Aston, with massive performance and
great presence. This car is so fast in a straight line, and the handling is not too bad as well.
Another plus is the resale value of the 1989 car : this will probably not drop any more, while on the
2007 V8 I lost nearly 20000 GBP in one year...
If you go for the classic V8 : buy the best you can get (mine had a 1-year warranty from RSW !), and look at
as much cars as possible. Also ask advice from a specialist before you purchase, because if these cars
go wrong, it will be very expensive to fix !
I sold my 2007 AMV8 Vantage, and replaced it by a V8 Vantage 1989 with the full RSW 7.0 litres conversion,
including suspension and brakes. This car has a full service history and is perfect condition, although not
cheap.
The 2007 V8 was just not special enough. It's still one of the most beautiful cars ever made, but when you drive
the car there is something missing. Before, I had a Chimaera and a Tuscan 4.0, and with these cars every journey
was something special.
The 1989 V8 makes every drive special again. This car is a proper Aston, with massive performance and
great presence. This car is so fast in a straight line, and the handling is not too bad as well.
Another plus is the resale value of the 1989 car : this will probably not drop any more, while on the
2007 V8 I lost nearly 20000 GBP in one year...
If you go for the classic V8 : buy the best you can get (mine had a 1-year warranty from RSW !), and look at
as much cars as possible. Also ask advice from a specialist before you purchase, because if these cars
go wrong, it will be very expensive to fix !
If you want to have anything left for the house in a few years,DONT buy new.
Id buy a mid 1990s Vantage.I think theyve done their depreciation, and will only cost you to run it and have some fun.
If you are worried about the cost of running it, Dont buy an Aston!
If you want it for a daily, buy a 2000 + car.
I brought a Virage in haste and it could be a money pit if I let it.
Id buy a mid 1990s Vantage.I think theyve done their depreciation, and will only cost you to run it and have some fun.
If you are worried about the cost of running it, Dont buy an Aston!
If you want it for a daily, buy a 2000 + car.
I brought a Virage in haste and it could be a money pit if I let it.
Chris71 said:
If the cheque comes through, rest assured I'll be speaking to the AMOC and the nearest dealership as a matter of priority!
My niggling doubt about the older cars is that a current (compact, light weight) Vantage would offer 90% of the ownership experience while also being a more focused driving experience than the older, more GT-biased cars?
Have you been on to www.AMOC.org? There's a cars for sale section and the chat forum is open to guests. My niggling doubt about the older cars is that a current (compact, light weight) Vantage would offer 90% of the ownership experience while also being a more focused driving experience than the older, more GT-biased cars?
Rich...Edited by RichB on Sunday 6th July 16:16
I ran a Virage as a second car for a while. Insurance was dirt cheap on 5000 miles a year (though I am in my 40s). Fuel consumption is horrendous, motorway cruising will get you up to 18mpg, around town expect 7-9mpg. Overall I averaged 12.2 mpg. Sound great, not particularly quick, not the prettiest (by a long way). I would recommend a DB7 or 2005 V8 Vantage. I will be going for a V8 Vantage as soon as circumstances allow.
I'm afraid this has all been put on the back burner for a while. Someone wrote off my daily driver a few days ago and I'm now back to square one on NCB and have what the insurance company is very questionably deeming a 'fault' accident on my record. That would probably make a more recent car (i.e without classic insurane) uneconomical for the time being.
There's also some confusion over the money (a lot of family politics involved...) so I'll make a note of the AMOC forum and possibly lurk for a while until I know I'm ready to move things on.
This didn't stop me flicking through the back of Classic & Sportscar the other day tough and some of the (80s) Vantage prices are scary. I guess it's the variation between those in need of TLC at one end and those which have been heavily re-worked by the factory at the other. Presumably an original-spec car lies somewhere in between.
There's also some confusion over the money (a lot of family politics involved...) so I'll make a note of the AMOC forum and possibly lurk for a while until I know I'm ready to move things on.
This didn't stop me flicking through the back of Classic & Sportscar the other day tough and some of the (80s) Vantage prices are scary. I guess it's the variation between those in need of TLC at one end and those which have been heavily re-worked by the factory at the other. Presumably an original-spec car lies somewhere in between.
Chris71 said:
I'm afraid this has all been put on the back burner for a while. Someone wrote off my daily driver a few days ago and I'm now back to square one on NCB and have what the insurance company is very questionably deeming a 'fault' accident on my record. That would probably make a more recent car (i.e without classic insurane) uneconomical for the time being.
There's also some confusion over the money (a lot of family politics involved...) so I'll make a note of the AMOC forum and possibly lurk for a while until I know I'm ready to move things on.
This didn't stop me flicking through the back of Classic & Sportscar the other day tough and some of the (80s) Vantage prices are scary. I guess it's the variation between those in need of TLC at one end and those which have been heavily re-worked by the factory at the other. Presumably an original-spec car lies somewhere in between.
Sorry to hear that. I hope you are OK. There's also some confusion over the money (a lot of family politics involved...) so I'll make a note of the AMOC forum and possibly lurk for a while until I know I'm ready to move things on.
This didn't stop me flicking through the back of Classic & Sportscar the other day tough and some of the (80s) Vantage prices are scary. I guess it's the variation between those in need of TLC at one end and those which have been heavily re-worked by the factory at the other. Presumably an original-spec car lies somewhere in between.
Regarding prices, top cars will always fetch top money. So buy the best you can afford.
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