Calling Virage and calssic V8 owners, experiences please...
Discussion
Hi,
Looking at buying an Aston Martin, and had assumed I'd be looking at DB7's, but I have found myself more and more drawn to the Virage and carbed V8 cars.
I know the basics of the construction, and the sills issues, but wondered if there were any real world experiences from running these stunning cars.
I do about 6k miles a year, in all reasonable conditions as I do have another car. I am quite capable of routine maintenance and fettling and access to a good classic car garage.
Cheers.
Looking at buying an Aston Martin, and had assumed I'd be looking at DB7's, but I have found myself more and more drawn to the Virage and carbed V8 cars.
I know the basics of the construction, and the sills issues, but wondered if there were any real world experiences from running these stunning cars.
I do about 6k miles a year, in all reasonable conditions as I do have another car. I am quite capable of routine maintenance and fettling and access to a good classic car garage.
Cheers.
Alot of people have heard about the sills on the earlier V8 but have not heard of the rest of the rust that is hidden er... every where....
Virages are alot newer and have alot more electronics that most fettlers will have to leave in to a specialist if a problem occures.
If I were not an early DBS freak I would probably have a DB7 for an easy life and the fact of course I like them
Virages are alot newer and have alot more electronics that most fettlers will have to leave in to a specialist if a problem occures.
If I were not an early DBS freak I would probably have a DB7 for an easy life and the fact of course I like them
I've run a 77 v8 for about 12 years. Lot's of fun, great reliability if well maintained and very versatile as they are proper four-seaters and have a decent boot.
They can, however, be sickeningly expensive to fix and as a previous poster has pointed out, they rust, well, everywhere. Almost any car that hasn't been significantly rebuilt below knee level will need some MiG surgery.
Parts are quite expensive but you can shop around and there are a lot of non Aston parts (Jag, MG, etc)in the build. I don't use the marque specialists because they live in an alternate universe to me - I was recently quoted 19.5k for an engine rebuild (after 105k miles) provided that the heads and block were all fine, add another 3 per head and 6 for block corrosion if found. A friend had a PARTIAL repaint on his 80s V8 that cost him 14k. I think this is indefensible, but I have absolutely excellent independents looking after mine and all is well.
Usual rules apply - buy the very best one you can afford and DO have it independently inspected with a full report from someone like Rikki Cann, Trinity or Pugsley & Lewis. It is surprisingly easy to buy a car with problems more expensive than the purchase price.
Good luck.
They can, however, be sickeningly expensive to fix and as a previous poster has pointed out, they rust, well, everywhere. Almost any car that hasn't been significantly rebuilt below knee level will need some MiG surgery.
Parts are quite expensive but you can shop around and there are a lot of non Aston parts (Jag, MG, etc)in the build. I don't use the marque specialists because they live in an alternate universe to me - I was recently quoted 19.5k for an engine rebuild (after 105k miles) provided that the heads and block were all fine, add another 3 per head and 6 for block corrosion if found. A friend had a PARTIAL repaint on his 80s V8 that cost him 14k. I think this is indefensible, but I have absolutely excellent independents looking after mine and all is well.
Usual rules apply - buy the very best one you can afford and DO have it independently inspected with a full report from someone like Rikki Cann, Trinity or Pugsley & Lewis. It is surprisingly easy to buy a car with problems more expensive than the purchase price.
Good luck.
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