V8 Vantage

[D_G]

Hi Guys,

Have been looking at a V8V, not driven one but trying to decide what to replace my Noble with. My main concern is the performance, obviously a step back from the Noble but I want a car that excites me on every trip.
I've had the Nob three years longer than any other car and am struggling to find a worthy replacement, the V8V is a stunning car so why should I change? Good and bad comments on the car are most welcome.

Cheers

Dave

[Mako V12V]

As always you will have a better idea once you've driven one.

[flyingjase]

Mako V12V said:

As always you will have a better idea once you've driven one.

This (above, can't do up arrow as technophobe)

I have gone from a Tuscan S which is Noble territory with a few cars inbetween but I would stick to the V8V all day long if I had to choose between the 2.

Being greedy I would like both, so that is the ambition, however the V8V wins for now, so that should tell you all you need to know.

[Murph7355]

In the last few days we've had Elise, Clio and now Noble, to add to the usual Porsche questions

This is such a subjective question that the only person that will truly know if the performance of the V8V is "good enough" compared to a <insert current car here> is you. Usually the people saying the V8V is slow are people who don't own one, and/or have an unusual concept of what "slow" actually is.

The V8V will simply be a completely different experience to the Noble. You'll either want that or you won't, and the only way to see is to get an *extended* test drive.

[LongLiveTazio]

Murph7355 said:

In the last few days we've had Elise, Clio and now Noble, to add to the usual Porsche questions

This is such a subjective question that the only person that will truly know if the performance of the V8V is "good enough" compared to a <insert current car here> is you. Usually the people saying the V8V is slow are people who don't own one, and/or have an unusual concept of what "slow" actually is.

The V8V will simply be a completely different experience to the Noble. You'll either want that or you won't, and the only way to see is to get an *extended* test drive.

It always bothers me when I hear it described as slow, especially the 4.7 litre. To me it's a car that is harmonious instead of being excessive in any one area. As an all-round sports car it's pretty hard to beat, surely.

[bogie]

I think daft car magazines area a lot to blame, in their choice of words...and nothing is better than a long test drive yourself

you read a review on a V8 M3 and its "awesome, mind blowing, can hold its own against supercars"

read this months Evo on 4.7 N420 Roadster and its "not as quick as you might think" and "only as quick as an M3"

so sub 5 to 60 and 10 or 11secs to a ton, is barely adequate these days I guess ? ..you can always go faster, cheaper

and of course a Beemer 335 diesel with a big fat turbo torque wack in the back at 2K revs is as fast a car as you will ever need....usually quoted as such on the next page in the magazine LOL

I would summarise the differences:

4.3 - 11secs to a ton (ish) car, you have to rev it, throttle response not as sharp as one would like, but still a fast car when you need it to be

4.7 - 10secs to a ton (ish), still likes revs, but extra 40bhp/40 lb/ft from low down helps with flexibility for the more lazy driver, throttle response sharper,

The proof is in the driving and ownership experience. Ive had Lotus, TVRs, big Audis with 500bhp etc and im still quite happy with my 4.3 Vantage 4 years later...wouldnt change it for anything ...well except maybe a V12V or DBS, or N420 Roadster

[Pugsey]

bogie said:

I think daft car magazines area a lot to blame, in their choice of words...and nothing is better than a long test drive yourself

Very very true. Other examples - the first version ( of the 'current' model) GTR was the most awesome car in the world when it came out. Now a slightly revised version is out the old car is pretty much rubbish according to the mags. Similarly the Gen1 GT3 was "the best Porsche ever" and "all the supercar you'll ever need" - now it's out of date and possibly even a little slow! Apparently my Scud feels 'old school' next to a 458!!! Yeah right, I must admit it felt a bit slow when I blew the cobwebs out yesterday...............

[moveover]

Well, I took my 4.3 V8V out this morning after it had spent three weeks in the garage snow-bound. Perhaps it was the withdrawal symptoms, but it felt pretty quick to me!

[LongLiveTazio]

It's just journalists and wannabe driving Gods. They set themselves up as 'purists' and then moan when they compare apples with oranges. It's bizarre. Road & Track clocked a 10.2s sprint to 100mph for the 4.7 Roadster, forgive me if I've lost the plot but since when was that anything other than fast?

[Pugsey]

LongLiveTazio said:

It's just journalists and wannabe driving Gods. They set themselves up as 'purists' and then moan when they compare apples with oranges. It's bizarre. Road & Track clocked a 10.2s sprint to 100mph for the 4.7 Roadster, forgive me if I've lost the plot but since when was that anything other than fast?

Good friend is a well known motoring journo. Great bloke bless him but the other day after he heard I'd spent a day ON ROAD ONLY in a 458 he said (I kid you not) "it's more 'malleable' than your Scud at the absolute limit isn't it"!!!! Dear oh pray. We were in an M3 at the time and my reply was "I'll pull over in the next layby and if you can drive this mere non supercar at the 'absolute limit' on road your last comment MIGHT make sense but you are also a complete idiot" lol

Edited by Pugsey on Thursday 30th December 19:41

[m12kop]

I've come from a noble GTO3R and have to say my v8v is fantastic, thing is the to cars are not similar in any way so if your looking for a change you wont regret it but its not a noble replacement.Funny thing is i sold the noble cos i thought i would end up loosing my licence, but seem to drive quicker in the aston due to being quite and smoother.Where in the south west are you?

Edited by m12kop on Thursday 30th December 19:51

[johng39]

D_G said:

Hi Guys,

Have been looking at a V8V, not driven one but trying to decide what to replace my Noble with. My main concern is the performance, obviously a step back from the Noble but I want a car that excites me on every trip.
I've had the Nob three years longer than any other car and am struggling to find a worthy replacement, the V8V is a stunning car so why should I change? Good and bad comments on the car are most welcome.

Cheers

Dave

I came from a 540BHP EVO 8 and have a 'slow' 4.3 V8V now. I would not swap back EVER. The ride, the comfort, the smiles and the overall package is just no comparison. Yes the EVO would completely kill it for speed, but that is not what it is about for me. Personal opinion obviously, but the V8V is a quick car, certainly quick enough for some fun on the track or a nice drive around the country lanes. It is arguably the most beautiful car in the world, so it has it all.

Every time I start it and drive it I smile, every time I open the garage and look at it I smile. In fact just writing about it and I am smiling. Do it, you will not regret it.

I drove 2,500 miles around Europe and stopped for a couple of laps of the Nordschleife en route to Brugge from Switzerland; How many cars can do that?

John

[blokie]

V8V without a doubt they have there issues, but the grin factor EVERY time you go out is worth everything.

[ripley500]

I've just bought a V8V 4.3 and it replaced an Elise (with 260bhp Audi engine) - naturally the Elise was quicker but as an all round package the V8V is fantastic. On paper the 4.3 is a quick car but it perhaps doesn't feel insanely fast, however so far I've found myself finding it fine on the performance front - it effortlessly overtakes and before you know it its doing 100mph with no fuss and very refined.

As other posters have said, there is something intangible about an Aston that somehow makes it feel special - the looks, the noise, the interior all make it more than the sum of its parts.

I'm sure I'd love a 4.7 but so far I have no complaints over choosing a 4.3

[bogie]

I think another reason is the perception of speed (or lack of) is due to the engine mapping

AM tend to map their engines completely smooth n linear, theres no steps, changes or real surges like you get in many cars these days that have "variocam", "VTEC", "VVTI" or even a good old turbo to wack you in the back at 2K revs

nope, all you get is a nice smooth power curve that builds as it goes up ...I reckon if AM mapped a step change in at 4.5 or 5K revs, so that it jumped a bit, car magazine reviewers would be raving on about it more...instead, its one of the few 10 secs to a ton V8 cars thats referred to as "slow" or "not as quick as you think" ...ummm...yeah...ok

[Ballistic Banana]

I traded my Griffith 500 in for a V8V 6 months ago. There is no comparison. Completely different experiences and will be to any other car. The only comparison they have are they both turn heads and get smiles from nearly everyone, and not many people want to race you, they just nod and smile :-). Both fast capable cars but one much rawer than the other.
I imagine that coming from a majority of cars to a V8V or any Aston in fact the whole experience package will be a more enjoyable one.

HNY

BB

[3rtt]

I feel very privileged and fortunate enough to own this:



as well as this:



Two completely different driving experiences.

The Noble is very raw drivers car (with 460 bhp) and needs a track to really explore the handling and performance.

The Aston is pure driving pleasure that touches every sense of your mind body and soul.

Cheers,
Ian

[LongLiveTazio]

Two cracking cars. The angle that second photo is taken from is great, shows how well proportioned the car is. As time goes by the DB9 is succumbing to the DB7 effect, i.e. still gorgeous but not trimmed of fat. The Vantage is all sinewy and taut and grrrrrr.

Pugsey: I'm available for sensible, contextual car reviews!

[bje]

ripley500 said:

I've just bought a V8V 4.3 and it replaced an Elise (with 260bhp Audi engine) - naturally the Elise was quicker but as an all round package the V8V is fantastic. On paper the 4.3 is a quick car but it perhaps doesn't feel insanely fast, however so far I've found myself finding it fine on the performance front - it effortlessly overtakes and before you know it its doing 100mph with no fuss and very refined.

As other posters have said, there is something intangible about an Aston that somehow makes it feel special - the looks, the noise, the interior all make it more than the sum of its parts.

I'm sure I'd love a 4.7 but so far I have no complaints over choosing a 4.3

Out of interest did you purchase your V8V from Exeter?
bje