V8 Vantage model year?
Discussion
I'm looking at coming to join the owners club of this great marque with a V8 Vantage.
It appears that a few of you guy's have a bit of knowledge surrounding performance and niggles etc.
I have my first test drive this Sat and if I like the 'drive' will be looking to come out of my XK in the next few months.
So here's some items for discussion, what in your opinions will I most notice about my first drive? and what, (if any) were the fundlemental changes (advantages/disadvantages) with an 07MY (56 plate?) with a 08MY (57 plate)? Or if there are too many changes to mention, maybe a summary? Would you say it's worth paying the extra bucks for an 08MY
Thanks in advance.....
It appears that a few of you guy's have a bit of knowledge surrounding performance and niggles etc.
I have my first test drive this Sat and if I like the 'drive' will be looking to come out of my XK in the next few months.
So here's some items for discussion, what in your opinions will I most notice about my first drive? and what, (if any) were the fundlemental changes (advantages/disadvantages) with an 07MY (56 plate?) with a 08MY (57 plate)? Or if there are too many changes to mention, maybe a summary? Would you say it's worth paying the extra bucks for an 08MY
Thanks in advance.....
I made this switch a couple of years ago, although ended up supplementing rather than switching as the trade in on the XKR was such that I decided to keep both. But now I get to drive both regularly and so am well aware of the contrast. Also test drove the earlier model and then took delivery of the new model in March 07.
Vs the XK, depending on what model and set up you have, the first thing you'll notice is the ride. In the AM it's much firmer, so you'll tend to aim to miss the new spate of potholes rather than cruising through them. but the feel is more positive; the car is wider and feels wider and this makes for more confident cornering. The fact that the car is shorter and better balanced also helps in this respect. After the initial feeling that you want to cosset the car, once you settle into it you'll find that you are far more comfortable 'chucking it around' than you are in the XK.
Noise is a good one. The later model XK's make quite a nice roar when you wind them up, but vs my 01 XKR it was a revolution. Daresay you'll have heard about fuse 22, which gives you the experience of the V8 rumble throughout the rev range; I put the fuse in, take it out, for variety. Currently in which means quiet cruising is possible and then you get the smile factor when you toe it through 4k.
In between order and delivery they switched seats to accommodate some of our american cousins' larger dimensions. Have to say I liked the original seats, which you'd likely get on the 56 plate. They are far more bucketed in style and you really feel hugged in them. But they ditched these and the newer ones are still comfortable once you get all the settings right. Memory seats might be an option worth looking for as when it comes back from service it takes me ages to find the original position I'm used to.
Not aware of other differences 56 vs 57 but others on here will be able to point them out.
Good luck, and don't expect to test drive and then go elsewhere. Once you drive it you're bitten.
Vs the XK, depending on what model and set up you have, the first thing you'll notice is the ride. In the AM it's much firmer, so you'll tend to aim to miss the new spate of potholes rather than cruising through them. but the feel is more positive; the car is wider and feels wider and this makes for more confident cornering. The fact that the car is shorter and better balanced also helps in this respect. After the initial feeling that you want to cosset the car, once you settle into it you'll find that you are far more comfortable 'chucking it around' than you are in the XK.
Noise is a good one. The later model XK's make quite a nice roar when you wind them up, but vs my 01 XKR it was a revolution. Daresay you'll have heard about fuse 22, which gives you the experience of the V8 rumble throughout the rev range; I put the fuse in, take it out, for variety. Currently in which means quiet cruising is possible and then you get the smile factor when you toe it through 4k.
In between order and delivery they switched seats to accommodate some of our american cousins' larger dimensions. Have to say I liked the original seats, which you'd likely get on the 56 plate. They are far more bucketed in style and you really feel hugged in them. But they ditched these and the newer ones are still comfortable once you get all the settings right. Memory seats might be an option worth looking for as when it comes back from service it takes me ages to find the original position I'm used to.
Not aware of other differences 56 vs 57 but others on here will be able to point them out.
Good luck, and don't expect to test drive and then go elsewhere. Once you drive it you're bitten.
Thanks for the valued info Griff1f. As you know the XK drives itself, especially on long distances, as the Vantage is also a GT what is the drive like on a 3 - 4 hour motorway stint? Can you get out the other end and still feel OK?
Fuse 22? I read a little about this but need to understand it further if, (or looks like when!) i buy......Looking forward to feeling the road handling of this pocket rocket.....
Fuse 22? I read a little about this but need to understand it further if, (or looks like when!) i buy......Looking forward to feeling the road handling of this pocket rocket.....
I've spent many days with more than 8 hours at the wheel (ok stopping for drinks, toilet, lunch, brakes to cool down, fill up with petrol etc) and every time I get out of the car fine, with a big smile on my face, just wanting more. I have done many europe trips and scotland trips with BIG miles covered in each day and she handles it as well as our diesel beemer....do it..you know you want to..
ps welcome to PH
ps welcome to PH
Edited by sadlerj on Thursday 19th February 16:12
Do a good search on here as the differences between 06 and 07 model years are well documented. As are the usual pitfalls of ownership etc etc.
In addition to the seats (I'm a larger athlete and prefer the new seats. Memory seats are a must IMO), you get LEDs that work in the door handles, different mechanisms to flip the seats (no big deal) and bluetooth etc as a phone option (think it was just phone prep on the 06).
Thinking about it, memory seats might not have been on the 06 list too, but haven't searched back in a while.
Great cars regardless of model year.
In addition to the seats (I'm a larger athlete and prefer the new seats. Memory seats are a must IMO), you get LEDs that work in the door handles, different mechanisms to flip the seats (no big deal) and bluetooth etc as a phone option (think it was just phone prep on the 06).
Thinking about it, memory seats might not have been on the 06 list too, but haven't searched back in a while.
Great cars regardless of model year.
Thanks for the info everyone, if all goes well Saturday I'll be looking for a black model between £45 - £50k or if something really special came up over budget, who knows?..........has anyone an opinion on Black exterior with Sandstorm interior (not sure what MY this was first offered)? Is this OK for an Aston or should it be black/black?
I think it depends on how the interior's trimmed.
Personally I don't think the standard options for lighter leather are done as well by Aston as Ferrari do them.
I believe Works Service do other options but these won't be common.
I certainly wouldn't rule one out, but it would need to be just so. Otherwise it'd be dark interior, contrasting stitching and light headlining on a black car.
Personally I don't think the standard options for lighter leather are done as well by Aston as Ferrari do them.
I believe Works Service do other options but these won't be common.
I certainly wouldn't rule one out, but it would need to be just so. Otherwise it'd be dark interior, contrasting stitching and light headlining on a black car.
I test drove a 08 V8V this week & actually felt a bit underwhelmed.
Its always been my dream car, beatiful inside & out but the gearbox/drivetrain on the manual I drove felt a bit agricultural.Very stiff gear changes especially from cold & a couple of times at slow speeds the transmission made some very wierd noises.Coupled with lots of wind noise from the drivers door & other rattles going on its not what I was expecting.
Maybe I was being too critical but it didnt feel as tight as an XK i drove recently.
Its always been my dream car, beatiful inside & out but the gearbox/drivetrain on the manual I drove felt a bit agricultural.Very stiff gear changes especially from cold & a couple of times at slow speeds the transmission made some very wierd noises.Coupled with lots of wind noise from the drivers door & other rattles going on its not what I was expecting.
Maybe I was being too critical but it didnt feel as tight as an XK i drove recently.
R8FUN said:
I test drove a 08 V8V this week & actually felt a bit underwhelmed.
Its always been my dream car, beatiful inside & out but the gearbox/drivetrain on the manual I drove felt a bit agricultural.Very stiff gear changes especially from cold & a couple of times at slow speeds the transmission made some very wierd noises.Coupled with lots of wind noise from the drivers door & other rattles going on its not what I was expecting.
Maybe I was being too critical but it didnt feel as tight as an XK i drove recently.
In agriculture we haven’t tolerated stiff gear changes, whether from cold or warm, weird transmission noises, any wind noise from doors or other rattles for many years now, we left all that behind in the days of David Browns! Its always been my dream car, beatiful inside & out but the gearbox/drivetrain on the manual I drove felt a bit agricultural.Very stiff gear changes especially from cold & a couple of times at slow speeds the transmission made some very wierd noises.Coupled with lots of wind noise from the drivers door & other rattles going on its not what I was expecting.
Maybe I was being too critical but it didnt feel as tight as an XK i drove recently.
DW
R8FUN said:
I test drove a 08 V8V this week & actually felt a bit underwhelmed...
Try a couple of different ones.The transmission shouldn't be too bad, but is "robust". Personally I love the feel of it, and the weight of the other controls (though the throttle isn't perfect). Much better than the overassisted nature of most modern fayre.
There is potential for the odd squeak, but the dealer should be able to remedy one or two. If there are more than that, again try another car.
David W. said:
R8FUN said:
I test drove a 08 V8V this week & actually felt a bit underwhelmed.
Its always been my dream car, beatiful inside & out but the gearbox/drivetrain on the manual I drove felt a bit agricultural.Very stiff gear changes especially from cold & a couple of times at slow speeds the transmission made some very wierd noises.Coupled with lots of wind noise from the drivers door & other rattles going on its not what I was expecting.
Maybe I was being too critical but it didnt feel as tight as an XK i drove recently.
In agriculture we haven’t tolerated stiff gear changes, whether from cold or warm, weird transmission noises, any wind noise from doors or other rattles for many years now, we left all that behind in the days of David Browns! Its always been my dream car, beatiful inside & out but the gearbox/drivetrain on the manual I drove felt a bit agricultural.Very stiff gear changes especially from cold & a couple of times at slow speeds the transmission made some very wierd noises.Coupled with lots of wind noise from the drivers door & other rattles going on its not what I was expecting.
Maybe I was being too critical but it didnt feel as tight as an XK i drove recently.
DW
Ok, so today was the day, the first test drive in the V8V. Well, the demonstrator was sold so they took me in a an pre-registered roaster, 08MY. NOT the start I expected, squealing pulley on start up and that was from the showroom! So I was driven for a few miles with roof down squeal an all, and after a few miles I was given the drive. Very diffrent from my XK but also expected. Seat surrounded by chrome and class so I started to drive, after 15 mins started to get a sore left elbow but found that the non-moveable cup holders were the cause! was informed that these were not in earlier models. I have read various problems with 1st & 2nd gear and this one was no different. At a roundabout took 3 attempts for 1st gear so not great, but I understand that the warrenty work will sort this out as with the pulley. In town (apart from 1st & 2nd) no problems, on an A road, opened her up and at 4K OMG! awesome, torqe, handling and all that goes with it. This car will take some getting use to, so I have asked for a test in a coupe with a slicker gearbox and a non-squealing pulley. I will keep this thread up to date with events, but after today's drive I am 'on the fence'.
Glad you enjoyed it once you got going Cipo. The pulley will just be belt adjustment, easily remedied and not a recurring problem that I have heard of on this forum - bad show from the dealer taking you out with that issue though, not exactly great sales technique but I'm guesssing it was at short notice due to the other coupe being sold.
Anyway, the gear change problem is one we've all experienced at some stage. When cold 1st and 2nd can be an art and a frustration. Was particularly a problem on the earlier coupes but most have been fixed by swapping the transmission oil to a thinner type which is better from start-up, and a mod to the selector. Pretty much everyone finds this works well and you should make sure whichever car you buy has had it done. I will say that the only residual issue I have is, still when warming up, the change from 1st to 2nd I sometmes feel a little resistance when going into 2, but have developed a slower change until the car warms up which prevents it.
Go for the second drive and experience the coupe. Don't know what your daily driving conditions are but when I went back for my second drive I insisted on sitting in some traffic - big difference vs the XK.
Anyway, the gear change problem is one we've all experienced at some stage. When cold 1st and 2nd can be an art and a frustration. Was particularly a problem on the earlier coupes but most have been fixed by swapping the transmission oil to a thinner type which is better from start-up, and a mod to the selector. Pretty much everyone finds this works well and you should make sure whichever car you buy has had it done. I will say that the only residual issue I have is, still when warming up, the change from 1st to 2nd I sometmes feel a little resistance when going into 2, but have developed a slower change until the car warms up which prevents it.
Go for the second drive and experience the coupe. Don't know what your daily driving conditions are but when I went back for my second drive I insisted on sitting in some traffic - big difference vs the XK.
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