Would buying this car be financial suicide?

[bob1179]

Following on from Garlicks Aston thread I thought I'd just have a peek at the classifieds and have a good old dream, I then came across this Virage:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/365182.htm

It seems awfully cheap for what it is. Is it a scam? Could this car really be so cheap? Would I be mental to even consider such a beast if it is genuine?

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[vpr]

http://www.djsargent.ik.com/

Don't think it's a scam....they're just not that desirable yet.

It's tehre on the companies main web site.

[anonymous-user]

Hate to say it but, in red it looks like an Opal Manta!

And I've always loved the Virage!

[Macboy]

Its cheap because it's rubbish. It was when it was new and it will still be now. It nearly broke the company in the USA and they were forced to pull out of the market for four years after the losses they incurred from buybacks. Truly the worst car you could buy new in the early 90s at a time the Lada Cossack was still for sale.

Mac

[cardigankid]

Its what you might describe as a contrarian investment, and there is a risk of being mistaken for a Vauxhall Calibra. Styling is a brave step into the unknown, unfortunately there was a cliff there.

In the good old days 330bhp and 350n/m was regarded as a lot, however, did the Aston V8 not turn out 375bhp when it came out in 71? Even the old six cylinder vantage was rated at 325. So what have Reeves Calloway of Connecticut USA achieved with all their significant bks?

Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 21st October 07:46

[bob1179]

Cheers for the feedback.

I've got to admit that I find it somewhat appealing, it just looks like a bit of a monster.

Just as an aside, what would the running costs be like? I've never been worried by fuel economy and I could afford to run a motor that would cost a few grand a yeat in servicing etc.

Are they pretty unreliable?

I'm sorry to keep asking, it's more out of curiosity more than anything else as I know very little about these particular cars.

[TheDetailDoctor]

I like the look of the Virage, friend has one of those, ans whatever the softop one was too.

[Soul Reaver]

Could 17 grand ever be financial suicide? If it's what you want then buy it. Who cares how much it costs when it's what you want?

[williamp]

A lot of nonsense posted here (as always when people seem to talk about Astons).
The six cylinder was never 325bhp. In the 60s all man ufacturers talked up their engine power (american V8s with 400bhp plus, Ferrari with 500bhp etc etc) and Aston were no different. The six cylidner, in Weber guide pruduced nearer to 282bhp.

when Astond eveloped the V8, they worked with Team Surtees who had a 7 litre racing ening. It produced nowhere near 400bhp- and this was in racing trim.

The first V8 road cars had between 310-330bhp (hand built, so each one is different). With carbs this dropped to about 305bhp. With the Virage, it produced 330bhp. With unleaded fuel and cats. its also a lot cheaper to work on then the earlier V8 engines. Its a lot better engine.

If you're interested, theres a book comming out in the near year all about the V8 range of road cars. Published by Crowood.

[bob1179]

Thanks for the information Williamp.

I am going to do some research and give the garage a call (their website doesn't seem to work). I've always wanted an Aston Martin (amongst others, my car 'wish' list is pretty huge...)

If anybody could offer some more information on the Virage I would be interested to read about it. I will also check out the book mentioned.

I'd like to find out more about the engine. Is it similar to the unit found in the earlier V8 Vantage? I am also not familiar with the Weber/Marelli injection system having only previously had experience with Rover MEMS, Bosch K/L/Mono and Motronic systems.

[koen]

Hi Bob,

there is a lot of information on the Aston Martin Owners Club website.
In the forum - Newport Pagnell V8 - are many interesting tips from owners.
This is the link :

http://www.amoc.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&a...

Good luck !

[bob1179]

koen said:

Hi Bob,

there is a lot of information on the Aston Martin Owners Club website.
In the forum - Newport Pagnell V8 - are many interesting tips from owners.
This is the link :

http://www.amoc.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&a...

Good luck !

Thanks for the link koen! It looks like that site may take up a lot of my day! I enjoy reading up on cars, and it looks like there is a lot of useful information there.

[williamp]

Yep, for specific info on the Virage, the AMOC site is good. They can and do rust, they can and do hve electrical problems, they can and do have engine problems. But all the faults and what-to-look-out-for are very well known, and if you arm yourself with this knowledge you can be confident of exactly what you are looking at, and what it will cost (if at all) to put right.

Oh, if you really like it, sopend a few hundred quid on a proper inspection. If they say walk away, you've just saved yourself thousends. If they say buy, you have a handy list of what needs doing.

[cardigankid]

William - all I said was that the old six cylinder Vantage engine was rated at 325bhp, which I think is correct, not bks. However your clarification of what the 330bhp represents was interesting.

[Pugsey]

williamp said:

A lot of nonsense posted here (as always when people seem to talk about Astons).

Anti pomposity device ON.


What do you mean? I thought we WERE talking about Astons - not seeming to. Are we really talking about the price of fish without knowing it then? Ah, I see - that was the nonsense you were refering to.

APD OFF.

[bob1179]

I've been reading a few of the Virage threads on the AMOC forum and it seems the car I like has been mentioned and looked at buy a potential purchaser (although not mentioned specifically the age and mileage are the same) and it seems that this car may need some more work to get it into shape.

I'd still like to have a closer look at it but I would definitely take someone to inspect it properly.

I'll keep looking and learning, again thanks for your input.

[Virage166]

I've got one (for four years now) and love it to bits. The price difference between the very best and the poor ones is currently very small IMO (at least in the UK, Europe is another matter) and they do cost a lot to bring up to / keep in good condition, so buy the best you can afford.

[bob1179]

That looks like a very nice car Virage166.

After having a sniff around the classifieds, it does seem that condition can vary greatly with only a few thousand pounds in cost.

I've found this car, which looks very nice and it isn't much dearer than the first one I looked at:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/575074.htm

[Virage166]

Thanks. Here are some better pics:





If I lived in the UK I would start by looking at these two first:
http://www.allastonmartin.co.uk/items/326?back=%2F...
http://www.allastonmartin.co.uk/items/178?back=%2F...

Check out the fabulous website www.astonmartins.com for more details about the Virage.

Edit: And pay a visit to www.aston-martin-virage.co.uk for pictures of the 2008 VIAGRA (Virage In All Guises Road Association) Event.

Edited by Virage166 on Tuesday 21st October 13:42

[bob1179]

Thanks for posting up more pictures of your car Virage166, it is absolutely stunning.

I have been looking at the links you have given me and I have fallen in love with this car:





Although it is an auto (I would really prefer a manual) it looks fabulous in Deep Jewel Green with the Special Tan Interior. I think these cars look wonderful in dark metallic colours.

To me it just oozes old fashioned British automotive muscle.

The silver car is also really very nice, especially with the uprated 7.0 engine, it also has the bonus of being a manual car.