V8 ground clearance

[geoff]

Hi folks - thinking of moving from a TVR to a 2007 Vantage. Had lots of test drives - so far so good and am now looking for a car. The TVR is quite low at the front but does clear our drive, but I'm quite anoyed with myself for not checking the height of the leading edge of the front bumper.

Does anyone know the height (will check this weekend with the dealer) but just thought someone on here would know.

Also - in late 2007 (I think) the centre armrest/console changed - does anyone know if anything else changed ?

Any help appreciated,

Geoff

[Mike82]

Hi Geoff, what TVR did you have? I'm in the same boat, sold my Sag :'( and getting either a DB9 (wallet depending) or the V8. From the test drives I had clearance is quite a bit more than was on my Sag. The dealership I went too had no problem taking a car round to make sure it went on to the drive and into garage without leaving the front end in the road!

Best of luck with your search!!

Mike

[geoff]

Hi Mike have a T350, had from new (july 04) Found it drives better than the Aston but time to move on and i really do like the Aston ! Tvr is "as new" and has been a difficult decission.

dealer has been great - let me nad the wife have the car for the afternoon, just forget to take it home and check !

[bogie]

approach angle is way better than any TVR

[robgt]

All I would say is go and drive the Aston. When You return walk around it alone . Look at it and admit they are truly beautifull. You will have plenty of ground clearance by the way.

It is pretty cold here at the moment, I have just returned from my garage why I could not say. I walk around My V8 clutching a duster! I am 19 days into ownership!!!

Rob

[MichaelV8V]

I'm another ex-TVR guy. After 15 years with my Chimaera it was time to change.

There is a crest at the top of my drive and the Chimaera used to just skim it if there were two people in the car, but the Aston hit it pretty hard with a metal peg that sticks down under the car. Didn't seem to do any damage, but felt sickening. Some re-engineering of the drive fixed that.

The front of the Aston just touches some amateurish speed bumps at work, whereas the chimaera went over them no problem. A touch of accelerator on the approach gets over them without contact, so it must be very close.

I have sports suspension, does that make the car any lower?

[Zod]

MichaelV8V said:

I'm another ex-TVR guy. After 15 years with my Chimaera it was time to change.

There is a crest at the top of my drive and the Chimaera used to just skim it if there were two people in the car, but the Aston hit it pretty hard with a metal peg that sticks down under the car. Didn't seem to do any damage, but felt sickening. Some re-engineering of the drive fixed that.

The front of the Aston just touches some amateurish speed bumps at work, whereas the chimaera went over them no problem. A touch of accelerator on the approach gets over them without contact, so it must be very close.

I have sports suspension, does that make the car any lower?

My DB9 has the sports pack and it is lower than a normal DB9. There are several speed bumps around North London that I have to take at walking pace to avoid grounding out. I've also caught the front on a couple of steep car park ramps.

[sadlerj]

robgt said:

It is pretty cold here at the moment, I have just returned from my garage why I could not say. I walk around My V8 clutching a duster! I am 19 days into ownership!!!

Rob

Things dont change, I am 1788 days into ownership and I often walk around my V8 in the garage clutching a duster, for not apparent reason.

I have never struggled with ground clearance, they dont tend to dive too much.

[Tonto]

Had a Chimeara, then a Tamora, now V8 Vantage. The Vantage has better clearance than either Tiv.

[mikey k]

MichaelV8V said:

I have sports suspension, does that make the car any lower?

Not on a V8 they are all the same height.
Mine often grounds on the plastic aero disruptors in front of the wheels.
I use then as early warning detectors!

[geoff]

Thanks Guys for all replies, I am sure the vantage will be slightly better than the TVR and so clear the ramp into our drive.

I was going to ask if anyone regrets moving from a TVR to a vantage - but I think I know the answer !

Thanks
Geoff

[Tonto]

geoff said:

Thanks Guys for all replies, I am sure the vantage will be slightly better than the TVR and so clear the ramp into our drive.

I was going to ask if anyone regrets moving from a TVR to a vantage - but I think I know the answer !

Thanks
Geoff

There is a large number of PH'rs that have gone from a TVR to an Aston. It appears to be a natural progresion, even though the cars are different animals in many respects.

[bogie]

Aston is like a posh TVR in many respects ...Id still go back to having both though

[Tonto]

bogie said:

Aston is like a posh TVR in many respects ...Id still go back to having both though

Oh

[mikey k]

I skipped the TVR but keep finding myself looking at T350's & Tuscans are "project cars"