Would appreciate some advice re: V8V purchase
Discussion
Hi all,
This is my first post on the forum (actually my first post on any forum!). I have however been lurking for some months and think I have read pretty much the whole thing :-) I have a pretty clear idea of what I'm looking for apart from being woefully undecided between coupe and roadster. Off to try them back to back this weekend.
The question which is really in my mind is this:
One hope I have for the car is to be able to use it for numerous European holidays (Scandinavia, Spain, the Alps, etc) - and in particular for exploring France. A huge part of the appeal of these trips is going to be finding great, open driving roads where the car can really breathe. But at the same time, I do enjoy just following my nose, popping into some dusty village to eat lunch, seeing a town in the distance and ending up staying there for the night & so forth.
What I'm really wondering is how well suited the car is for this kind of activity? I suppose I'm concerned that in my effort to mollycoddle the car I will end up just flitting from one underground hotel garage to another (admittedly the flitting part is going to be fabulous)..
You may surmise from this post that this will be the first car of this type I have owned (I'm coming from an S2000 and a succession of Alfas). I have had a powerful desire to own an Aston since childhood (clearly I am not alone in this!)and I'm hugely excited to be on the edge of making it happen.
I think the problem is that 90% of the time on these trips I need the Aston for the amazing roads, and the remaining 10% I need the 2CV with the removable back seat for picnics :-)
& just one further thought:
I do wonder how people cope with the boot space in the roadster on extended trips. At the same time, having the roof down on a winding road in the Pyrenees would surely compensate for a fortnight in the same clothes. Possibly my girlfriend may have a view on this.
Would love to hear from anyone who can advise on these points. I'm going to buy the car as soon as I find the right one, but just curious with regard to the experience people have had on their road trips.
Thanks!
This is my first post on the forum (actually my first post on any forum!). I have however been lurking for some months and think I have read pretty much the whole thing :-) I have a pretty clear idea of what I'm looking for apart from being woefully undecided between coupe and roadster. Off to try them back to back this weekend.
The question which is really in my mind is this:
One hope I have for the car is to be able to use it for numerous European holidays (Scandinavia, Spain, the Alps, etc) - and in particular for exploring France. A huge part of the appeal of these trips is going to be finding great, open driving roads where the car can really breathe. But at the same time, I do enjoy just following my nose, popping into some dusty village to eat lunch, seeing a town in the distance and ending up staying there for the night & so forth.
What I'm really wondering is how well suited the car is for this kind of activity? I suppose I'm concerned that in my effort to mollycoddle the car I will end up just flitting from one underground hotel garage to another (admittedly the flitting part is going to be fabulous)..
You may surmise from this post that this will be the first car of this type I have owned (I'm coming from an S2000 and a succession of Alfas). I have had a powerful desire to own an Aston since childhood (clearly I am not alone in this!)and I'm hugely excited to be on the edge of making it happen.
I think the problem is that 90% of the time on these trips I need the Aston for the amazing roads, and the remaining 10% I need the 2CV with the removable back seat for picnics :-)
& just one further thought:
I do wonder how people cope with the boot space in the roadster on extended trips. At the same time, having the roof down on a winding road in the Pyrenees would surely compensate for a fortnight in the same clothes. Possibly my girlfriend may have a view on this.
Would love to hear from anyone who can advise on these points. I'm going to buy the car as soon as I find the right one, but just curious with regard to the experience people have had on their road trips.
Thanks!
I have had both coupe and roadster and the latter wins for me hands down. Presumably your jaunts to France will be in the warmer months so packing will be less of an issue. My wife and I have done 7, 10 and 14 days away in the summer, and getting enough gear in the boot, in soft bags, was no problem (although my wife isn't into 'glam' and prefers shorts and t shirts - if your g/f is different, you may have a problem!).
As far as using the car is concerned, you learn to stop mollycoddling it and, surprise surprise, it doesn't get damaged! As others have observed, people in general seem to have a respect for Astons they don't have for other expensive sports cars, and the French are no different. My fear was the lack of care shown by many French drivers when parking and opening their doors, but I've found frequently that they park well clear of the Aston. Mine's certainly never been dinged in a car park in France.
Buy a V8V, buy a roadster, and use it. You won't regret it!
As far as using the car is concerned, you learn to stop mollycoddling it and, surprise surprise, it doesn't get damaged! As others have observed, people in general seem to have a respect for Astons they don't have for other expensive sports cars, and the French are no different. My fear was the lack of care shown by many French drivers when parking and opening their doors, but I've found frequently that they park well clear of the Aston. Mine's certainly never been dinged in a car park in France.
Buy a V8V, buy a roadster, and use it. You won't regret it!
First of all your girlfriend is not going to be bruised as she probably was in the Honda S2000.....I had one and boy o boy was the suspension hard.....buy your girlfriend a Louis Vuitton handbag and I promise she wont worry about how much space you have in the boot....she will be too busy looking lovingly into your eyes in gratitude for your gift.
get it bought (the Aston) and enjoy.....you will get lots of help on this website if you need it
get it bought (the Aston) and enjoy.....you will get lots of help on this website if you need it
Thanks all for the great responses - good to hear that the Roadster can be practical in that way. Realistically I think most trips are going to be 9 days or less so I think should be fine.
Leaning toward the Roadster + handbag solution at the moment - and trying sportshift and manual cars back to back on saturday so should have a clearer view of things.
For some reason when I had my s2000 I found myself driving it alone much of the time :-)
Cheers,
Nathan
Leaning toward the Roadster + handbag solution at the moment - and trying sportshift and manual cars back to back on saturday so should have a clearer view of things.
For some reason when I had my s2000 I found myself driving it alone much of the time :-)
Cheers,
Nathan
Always great to see someone getting caught up with the Aston bug. I know, I've been there.
My roadster goes next week and I still have restless nights wondering if I am doing the right thing. As you are in the south, which dealer are you using? Are you looking at 4.3 or 4.7?
Re the space, in all honesty it isn't great. Two choices, pack light or get your valet to forward luggage to preferred destination
Really don't think the fact you can get more in a coupe should be the defining reason behind choice. If you like the open top option, go for it. I would be more inclined to go with whichever car you test gives you the biggest wow factor.
Good luck.
Di
My roadster goes next week and I still have restless nights wondering if I am doing the right thing. As you are in the south, which dealer are you using? Are you looking at 4.3 or 4.7?
Re the space, in all honesty it isn't great. Two choices, pack light or get your valet to forward luggage to preferred destination
Really don't think the fact you can get more in a coupe should be the defining reason behind choice. If you like the open top option, go for it. I would be more inclined to go with whichever car you test gives you the biggest wow factor.
Good luck.
Di
Great photos Mikey - those look like wonderful trips.
418 BHP. In an S2000. In the snow. Good heavens.
With my budget I'm looking at a 4.3.
I'm going to talk to Stratstone Amersham (I'm in St Albans) on Saturday - but have also spoken to Grange in Welwyn.
Had also previously spent time with Dominic at Chiltern Aston (but trying out DB7Vs) who seems to have the odd V8V in stock these days. And naturally I have been hitting the refresh button on the pistonheads classifieds about every 30 seconds for the last month or two!
I'd really like to find a 2007 or 2008 with between 10k and 20k miles. The one that Siy on this forum has just bought ticks all the boxes for me.
Ideally would like to find one of the lighter colours (or any of the silvers) with a black interior but I'm keeping an open mind.
Definitely have the Aston bug. Sleepless nights, nausea, inability to concentrate on work, & strange rashes (not sure about the last one). I actually have to buy the car just to make these symptoms go away.
Girlfriend likes the look of Morgans - so my argument is that the Roadster has "even more storage".
Thanks all for the great welcome to the forum & for all the helpful responses.
418 BHP. In an S2000. In the snow. Good heavens.
With my budget I'm looking at a 4.3.
I'm going to talk to Stratstone Amersham (I'm in St Albans) on Saturday - but have also spoken to Grange in Welwyn.
Had also previously spent time with Dominic at Chiltern Aston (but trying out DB7Vs) who seems to have the odd V8V in stock these days. And naturally I have been hitting the refresh button on the pistonheads classifieds about every 30 seconds for the last month or two!
I'd really like to find a 2007 or 2008 with between 10k and 20k miles. The one that Siy on this forum has just bought ticks all the boxes for me.
Ideally would like to find one of the lighter colours (or any of the silvers) with a black interior but I'm keeping an open mind.
Definitely have the Aston bug. Sleepless nights, nausea, inability to concentrate on work, & strange rashes (not sure about the last one). I actually have to buy the car just to make these symptoms go away.
Girlfriend likes the look of Morgans - so my argument is that the Roadster has "even more storage".
Thanks all for the great welcome to the forum & for all the helpful responses.
I can reccommend Martin Ross at Grange Welwyn, I bought a new N420 Roadster from him & he was excellent...
By the way the car is great & I agree with the advice above, go test drive a roadster/coupe in manual/sportshift form, then decide...
Have fun & insist on a loooooong test drive!!!!
By the way the car is great & I agree with the advice above, go test drive a roadster/coupe in manual/sportshift form, then decide...
Have fun & insist on a loooooong test drive!!!!
good choice whicheve you make! I've had my V8V for 11 months now and I still get a massive buzz starting it up and setting off. I look for reasons to drive somewhere, anywhere really. For me the choice of tops off or on was easy becasue I personally prefer the looks of the coupe and my wife has a Z4 and she lets the roof down about twice a year if the temperature goes over about 30 degrees Whichever you get you will love it - I didn't anticipate the stares, double takes and regular comments about the car from passing members of the public. Besides, you might as well before the Fun Police stop us enjoying things altogther!
Whichever you get you will love it - I didn't anticipate the stares, double takes and regular comments about the car from passing members of the public. Besides, you might as well before the Fun Police stop us enjoying things altogther!natester said:
& just one further thought:
I do wonder how people cope with the boot space in the roadster on extended trips. At the same time, having the roof down on a winding road in the Pyrenees would surely compensate for a fortnight in the same clothes. Possibly my girlfriend may have a view on this.
Would love to hear from anyone who can advise on these points. I'm going to buy the car as soon as I find the right one, but just curious with regard to the experience people have had on their road trips.
Thanks!
Tow hitch and trailer?;)I do wonder how people cope with the boot space in the roadster on extended trips. At the same time, having the roof down on a winding road in the Pyrenees would surely compensate for a fortnight in the same clothes. Possibly my girlfriend may have a view on this.
Would love to hear from anyone who can advise on these points. I'm going to buy the car as soon as I find the right one, but just curious with regard to the experience people have had on their road trips.
Thanks!
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