Looking At My First Aston - Need An Opinion

[DSLiverpool]

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_popup.js...

Sorry cant do the mini url thing !

Im starting to sniff around for a car and a starting point is £40k with a finishing point about £55k for a coupe 4.3 (the way things are going I may get a 4.7 roadster for my £55k soon)

From 06 MY to 07 MY whats the diff ? is it worth getting a later model ? ideally I want a dark grey with grey wheels (dont know Aston colour names yet) but bot seen many of these

Any little pointers much appreciated plus an idea of when the big services come and the £ my local dealer is Stratstone Manchester

[Lucozade]

In August I picked up an 06 plate for £45K with 12,000 miles on the clock. Spec was Onyx black, folding mirrors, heated seats and windscreen, climate, cruise, sports seats, rear parking sensors and red calipers. To give you some idea. The sports seats are much more comfortable than the standard ones.

[bromers2]

Interior on that one is minging.

[whoami]

Lucozade said:

In August I picked up an 06 plate for £45K with 12,000 miles on the clock. Spec was Onyx black, folding mirrors, heated seats and windscreen, climate, cruise, sports seats, rear parking sensors and red calipers. To give you some idea. The sports seats are much more comfortable than the standard ones.

What are sports seats?

Edited by whoami on Friday 27th February 10:36

[Lucozade]

whoami said:

Lucozade said:

In August I picked up an 06 plate for £45K with 12,000 miles on the clock. Spec was Onyx black, folding mirrors, heated seats and windscreen, climate, cruise, sports seats, rear parking sensors and red calipers. To give you some idea. The sports seats are much more comfortable than the standard ones.

What are sports seats?

Edited by whoami on Friday 27th February 10:36

Well I test drove 2 cars. One with what I was told were standard seats and one with sports seats. The sports seats are a lot more comfortable in my opinion. The first one I drove was an 05 plate so I'm presuming that the design of seat was changed and the dealers wording of sports seat refers to the newer design. But I could be wrong!

[RichB]

bromers2 said:

Interior on that one is minging.

What, the Burgundy leather? I like it

[SLacKer]

I have a couple seat shots one of a 2006 and one of a 2007




Is there a 3rd seat style known as a sport seat or is it the 2nd one here which is a revised seat?

[whoami]

Lucozade said:

whoami said:

Lucozade said:

In August I picked up an 06 plate for £45K with 12,000 miles on the clock. Spec was Onyx black, folding mirrors, heated seats and windscreen, climate, cruise, sports seats, rear parking sensors and red calipers. To give you some idea. The sports seats are much more comfortable than the standard ones.

What are sports seats?

Edited by whoami on Friday 27th February 10:36

Well I test drove 2 cars. One with what I was told were standard seats and one with sports seats. The sports seats are a lot more comfortable in my opinion. The first one I drove was an 05 plate so I'm presuming that the design of seat was changed and the dealers wording of sports seat refers to the newer design. But I could be wrong!

Ah, it's just the change in style from the older ones to the newer style.

I thought that there was an optional alternative I hadn't seen before.

[DSLiverpool]

Thanks for the seat info - I was more interested in essential upgrades inc bluetooth etc, even on a new one the list of options is poor for such a pricey car (as in there is loads to buy that shoul;d be std)

[tuscaneer]

ayup mate, i would say the premium stereo upgrade is a must have.also the painted brake calipers really set the car off.i`ve got onyx black with red calipers coupled with red inserts on the seats and door panels.i think it looks the dog`s bks ,but then i would say that wouldn`t i?

[russdunkin]

When did the newer seat design come in? Was it 2007? And what else changed on the car?

[burriana]

bromers2 said:

Interior on that one is minging.

Didn't you go for the "tan' option once

I think the cherry interior on the V8 is stunning

[heaven]

russdunkin said:

When did the newer seat design come in? Was it 2007? And what else changed on the car?

Mines a Late 06 car ( Aug )and has the new seats

[bromers2]

burriana said:

bromers2 said:

Interior on that one is minging.

Didn't you go for the "tan' option once

I think the cherry interior on the V8 is stunning

Hey what are you doing hanging around here .... Yes hands up to a tan interior.

[XXXAngelXXX]

tan any day

[russdunkin]

heaven said:

russdunkin said:

When did the newer seat design come in? Was it 2007? And what else changed on the car?

Mines a Late 06 car ( Aug )and has the new seats

Cheers Heaven - those seats look great. What other changes did Aston make to the car in 2006? I've searched and can find lots of great info about to N400 and 4.7, but nothing about the 4.3 in 2006.

[Lucozade]

The red seats are the same style as the ones I've got in my April 06 car.

[DSLiverpool]

Ive decided on a F355 or an F360 for now, may go Aston after my Fezza itch. I was astounded at the finance deals on them (separate thread)

[Murph7355]

The Ferraris are very different cars to the Aston. Much, much more extrovert.

In the real world, point to point, they're not that much quicker (355 is no quicker). But they feel a lot quicker in the way they deliver the goods.

They will also cost you a good chunk more to look after (though all things are relative).

I'd suggest a good 355 (but then I'm biased) over a 360 - looks much nicer IMO, and sounds much better. To me, it also handles more nicely too. Much more benign at "the limit" (which means you can really drive it) and less "assisted" than the 360 feels. 355 is one of the all time greats of all cars made IMNSHO.

Your biggest challenge will be finding a good one. If you're even remotely picky about model and colour, you will have a handful to look at max.

Only 360 variant that looks even remotely as good as the Aston is the Challenge Stradale. Which are much more expensive and much more hardcore.

The Aston is as good as either in outright terms (except the CS, which dynamically is better). Just depends what you want from a car. But I very much doubt you'll be disappointed with any of them.

Good luck in your search