Looking for a V8 Vantage.....whats the thoughts?

[colin 82]

Hi Guys

Looking for a car for the fine weather.
Been looking at the 2006 or 2007 V8 Vantage.

Im looking for all good and bad points on these cars, reliability issues, service costing etc

Any help would be superb!!

Many thanks

[GlynMo]

Surf this forum - all will be revealed!

[colin 82]

Yeh been looking at some topics......They seem as reliable as my brothers TVR's!!!

[GlynMo]

I drove TVRs for many many years and had no more problems than with mass-produced cars. They need to be driven, and the same applies to V8Vs. I'm now on my 3rd and, other than a couple of minor niggles on the first one, they've been trouble-free. Buy one and use it I doubt you'll regret it.

[mikey k]

I agree
The niggles tend to come from two sources
1) New cars with teething trouble ALL manufacturers suffer from this and wrost stuff gets posted on the inteweb you never hear of the good cars
2) Used cars that don't get used enough, things dry and seize

[colin 82]

This V8 would be run as a daily car I would like to think.
yes it primarily Its a weekend toy for me, but would use it as much as I could.

If the issues occur due to not being used enough I doubt that will be an issue for me.
Any more things to look out for would be great.

Thanks

[GlynMo]

Buy a car with a colour scheme you like, not the next owner!

[bogie]

if you get one thats been used and actually made a 10K service, then it should have had most niggles sorted already

Ive run one daily for nearly 4 years now, just about 50k miles

last service was £265 at DMS

only things failed (rather than warranty fix niggles 3.5 years ago) are coolant sensor (£20) and thermostat (£170)

Its fine as a daily car...but nice to have a normal car so you dont take it for granted, it will feel more special if you drive something more mundane from time to time ...its easy to get accustomed to having an Aston as a runaround daily driver

[colin 82]

bogie said:

if you get one thats been used and actually made a 10K service, then it should have had most niggles sorted already

Ive run one daily for nearly 4 years now, just about 50k miles

last service was £265 at DMS

only things failed (rather than warranty fix niggles 3.5 years ago) are coolant sensor (£20) and thermostat (£170)

Its fine as a daily car...but nice to have a normal car so you dont take it for granted, it will feel more special if you drive something more mundane from time to time ...its easy to get accustomed to having an Aston as a runaround daily driver

Cheers dude

I will have my one series for the daily driver/ rainy days!!

[993Targa]

I've had my 06 V8V since end of Feb 2010, my annual mileage in my "toy" cars is between 4-5k however I have racked up 4000miles in 2.5 mths (was away on business for all of March).

I've done a 4 day Scottish Highlands road-trip (1650miles) and have just returned from Le Mans, these 2 trips totalling 2700miles.

I've had a couple of bits and pieces sorted (eg coolant stat) nothing major and is often the case with a new car you have the acclimatisation of its foibles and funny sounds but mechanically the car has run faultlessly, not missed a beat.

I just can't stop it and I don't intend to restrict my usage either.

John

Edited by 993Targa on Tuesday 15th June 13:55

[colin 82]

993Targa said:

I've had my 06 V8V since end of Feb 2010, my annual mileage in my "toy" cars is between 4-5k however since however I have racked up 4000miles in 2.5 mths (was away on business for all of March).

I've done a 4 day Scottish Highlands road-trip (1650miles) and have just returned from Le Mans, these 2 trips totalling 2700miles.

I've had a couple of bits and pieces sorted (eg coolant stat) nothing major and is often the case with a new car you have the acclimatisation of its foibles and funny sounds but mechanically the car has run faultlessly, not missed a beat.

I just can't stop it and I don't intend to restrict my usage either.

John

I Like this!!

[997GT3]

993Targa said:

I just can't stop it and I don't intend to restrict my usage either.

John

John - how does it compare performance and handling wise with your 993 Targa you had previously?

[GJOB]

4 1/2 years here and still loving it. Was initally a weekend car but now a daily driver.

It's just brilliant, I still love it, thought about changing it but changed my mind as there isn't anything else quite like it as a package.

20k miles now and no major issues, just the usual niggles as when it was new.

Hope that helps

S

[993Targa]

997GT3 said:

993Targa said:

I just can't stop it and I don't intend to restrict my usage either.

John

John - how does it compare performance and handling wise with your 993 Targa you had previously?

Phil,

Interesting question you ask as I've not driven a 911 for about 3years and the 993 was quite a bit different to the 996 I also had a play in. I suppose the biggest difference I noticed (outside of dash and engine noise) was the pedal arrangement with the 993 having floor mounted pedals rather than bulkhead hung ones.

The 993 was 285bhp but about 200kg lighter so in terms of performance they are quite similar with both engines needing to be worked but at least you are rewarded with a nice engine noise in both however the Aston wins hands down

As for handling I don't have any complaints with the Aston, it has great balance on sweeping corners, decent steering feel and can easily be hustled up A roads. It has taken me a little getting used to the additional weight compared to the VX220 Turbo I had after the 993 and before the Aston.

In fact one of my friends in a Ariel Atom was very surprised at the cross country performance of the Aston. The thing that appeals so much with the Aston is that when you want to *really* drive it is very rewarding but equally enjoyable to drive normally and it is a truly fabulous mile muncher.

For me the performance of the Aston is perfectly acceptable, it is slower than the VX220 Turbo I had (250bhp and 260lbft in 900kg) but in no way does the Aston disappoint.
I also considered buying a Lambo Gallardo, Ferrari 360, TVR Sagaris (Aston was a better bet financially), 996 GT3 or Turbo but I've always fancied an Aston because they appeal to me at so many different levels.

Not for a minute have I regretted buying the Aston, I just love the noise , the design, the response from the general public, the way the cars drives etc etc.

The Aston does everything I want and more and I blooming well hope one day I can afford to buy a V12 Vantage

The Aston is often compared to the 911 which is also truly great car but there is something about an Aston which is difficult to put your finger on. I wouldn't say one is better than the other, they are just different.

John

[tonyhall38]

2 dirty but great cars.........told you i'd post em John....How did your mate get on with his radiator?

[GPM3D]

993Targa said:

997GT3 said:

993Targa said:

I just can't stop it and I don't intend to restrict my usage either.

John

John - how does it compare performance and handling wise with your 993 Targa you had previously?

The 993 was 285bhp but about 200kg lighter so in terms of performance they are quite similar with both engines needing to be worked but at least you are rewarded with a nice engine noise in both however the Aston wins hands down

Not for a minute have I regretted buying the Aston, I just love the noise , the design, the response from the general public, the way the cars drives etc etc.

The Aston is often compared to the 911 which is also truly great car but there is something about an Aston which is difficult to put your finger on. I wouldn't say one is better than the other, they are just different.

John

As someone who currently owns both a 993 & V8 Vantage, the driving experience is pretty different! The Porsche does feel its age (even after a full rebuild!) compared with the Aston which is so much more pokey! Mine also differ in being open 'v' coupe. So chalk n cheese!
I feel like I could easily cross a continent in the AM, whereas the Porsche may just be the choice once you're there!
Graham

[997GT3]

John - thanks for a great detailed response. Looks like you've played the field there

GPM3D - you lucky man owning both an AM & 993. Looks like i'll have to put up with my GT3 and GTI for now

[Speedraser]

I also am fortunate to own both a 993 and a V8V. My 993 is a (late) MY95 (non-Varioram), my V8V a MY09 with Sports Pack. Both are coupes, both are manual, i.e., gear lever and clutch pedal. I've owned the 993 more than 10 years, the Aston since November. As said above, they are very different to drive, but they're both wonderful.

The 993 feels much lighter, and it is (3064 lbs vs. 3595 lbs). The controls are lighter, the visibility is phenomenal (slim pillars), and it feels like the much older design that it is (which is part of its appeal). Interestingly, not until I got the V8V did the 993 feel like its chassis was anything but very rigid, but the Aston shows how far torsional rigidity has come.

The V8V is very neutral and extremely well-balanced. The 993 understeers more and oversteers (trailing throttle) more than the V8V, though the Aston is more willing to do power oversteer. None of this is surprising. The 993 has great steering feel, and so does the Aston. In fact, I think the V8V has better steering than many people give it credit for.

The 993 still feels quick, but certainly not as quick as it felt prior to the arrival in my garage of the V8V . When the V8V was introduced and I drove a 4.3, it felt quicker than the 993, but not by a large margin. The difference in performance between the 993 and the 4.7 V8V is pretty drastic -- the Aston is a LOT faster, in a different league.

The 993 has 66,000 miles now, and feels fantastic -- still very solid, no squeaks or rattles. I LOVE that. I hope the Aston stays tight like that over the years and miles.

[993Targa]

[quote=tonyhall38]2 dirty but great cars.........told you i'd post em John....How did your mate get on with his radiator? [quote]

Thanks for the pics Tony, I never doubted that you wouldn't upload the picture, any opportunity eh?

My friend managed to make it back to the Midlandsafter one our group returned with a bottle of Rad-Weld and a pair of pliers to pinch the damaged water channel.

John

[LeoSayer]

Speedraser said:

The 993 feels much lighter, and it is (3064 lbs vs. 3595 lbs). The controls are lighter, the visibility is phenomenal (slim pillars), and it feels like the much older design that it is (which is part of its appeal).

I stepped out of my 993 into a V8V at an AM showroom this weekend. I was shocked at the size of the a-pillars and the shallow windscreen and side windows. It's like looking our of a pillar box. The clutch is also quite a bit stiffer than the 993. The interior however, is a fantastic place to be. I laughed out loud when I got back into my 993, it's just so old-fashioned and basic in comparison.