V8V tips

[X7LDA]

Hi guys,

New to this part of the forum - usually post in the Scotland or Lotus section.

Currently looking into selling my Exige and picking up a V8V. Budget will be around 42k tops.

Couple of questions;

Anything I should look out for when buying?
What is mpg like and what does a full tank run you at current prices?
Servicing options and costs around Edinburgh?
Heard rumours about poor build quality - anything to worry about?

Sure you get this a lot so apologies and thanks in advance.

Lewis

[mikey k]

X7LDA said:

Hi guys,

New to this part of the forum - usually post in the Scotland or Lotus section.

Currently looking into selling my Exige and picking up a V8V. Budget will be around 42k tops.

Couple of questions;

Anything I should look out for when buying?
What is mpg like and what does a full tank run you at current prices?
Servicing options and costs around Edinburgh?
Heard rumours about poor build quality - anything to worry about?

Sure you get this a lot so apologies and thanks in advance.

Lewis

42k should get you a good early coupe
EVO did a buying guide but it is a bit scant as there is not much to look for!
Have a look a the recently started FAQ on here.
Check it has the AM9 RE050 tyres, check ALL the electronics
They seem to average ~17mpg when driven my last fill up was over £80 and gets me ~250 miles
Build quality is fine it's no Porsche or Audi but then that is part of the "character"

[notax]

With that budget you should be able to pick up a good car. Plenty around so enjoy the hunt I average 19mpg in mine in mixed driving and about 23mpg on a motorway run. No need to use super unleaded which helps a bit!

Mine has been totally reliable so far. Unless resprayed you will find all suffer from stone chips, esp in front of rear wheels - always good to help negotiating

[SE24]

notax said:

No need to use super unleaded which helps a bit!

Really?

[mikey k]

+1 I've alway run mine on 95, I've tried 98 a few times and found no discernable difference.
I'm guessing the low end torque means you don't see the benefit.

[X7LDA]

Thanks guys, very helpful.

Exige is up for sale and soon as it's gone it will be happy V8 hunting!

Cheers
Lewis

[Neil1300R]

Quinny said:

SE24 said:

Really?

Sticker by the fuel filler says normal unleaded..

Well according to Mike at Bamford Rose (and he knows a little about the engine development of Astons) :-

The V8 does have knock control (thanks to great hardware from Jag and a fantastic cal job from someone on this forum..)
The base mapping was conducted on 97 Octane, meaning 380BHP for 4.3L and 420BHP for 4.7L is achieved using 97 Octane. If 95 Octane is used then the quoted performance levels will not be achieved. Using the same standard above; 372.5 BHP for 4.3L and 412.5 BHP for 4.7L will be returned. Furthermore, if 91 Octane fuel was used then the knock control system would re-adjust spark so that no damage to the engine would occur, causing the loss of over 10 BHP (yes, this number doesn't follow the same rule stated above re performance loss / retardation of spark, as it is not a linear relationship over the entire fuel octane range).

[mikey k]

Yep spot on but I cannot tell I'm losing 7.5 BHP but I can count £20 a tank of fuel!

Edited by mikey k on Saturday 30th April 19:24

[yeti]

That £20 a tank gets you a lot of additives and detergents though, not just a higher RON.

[mikey k]

Not if you always use Shell

[Neil1300R]

mikey k said:

Yep spot on but I cannot tell I'm losing 7.5 BHP but I can count £20 a tank of fuel!

Edited by mikey k on Saturday 30th April 19:24

Yeah, but as yours is bigger than mine (not to mention having a cropped top) I'll take all the advantages going.

[xraybloke]

X7LDA said:

Hi guys,

Currently looking into selling my Exige and picking up a V8V. Budget will be around 42k tops.

Lewis

Hi Lewis

You sound like you are in a similar situation now to me at the end of last year. I went from 16 years of Lotus ownership (last 6 in an Elise) to an Aston; I also had the same budget.

I've never looked back - the car is simply awesome. I've worked mine out to 25-26mpg on a long journey, dropping to about 17mpg around town; a bit shocking after my 42mpg Elise but actually a lot better than I expected. Nothing wrong with build quality, and if it's got its yearly stamp from Aston or a recognised independent then any niggles should have been sorted.

As mentioned elsewhere on here check all the electrics as there's a lot to go wrong. I spent a long time looking and I think my main piece of advice would be that if you see one you like the look of ring up immediately to go and see it! I got pipped to the post on 3 occasions (*cough* Quinny ) - I think there's a lot of people out there looking with that kind of budget.

In the end the one I bought was significantly cheaper than my budget, and I've kept £3k in an account as an "emergency clutch" fund just in case...my car is covered by a one year warranty but of course the clutch isn't included...

[yeti]

mikey k said:

Not if you always use Shell

Do you mean if you always use Shell 95? Because unless you're near a Shell refinery, you're using stock 95 RON fuel from the nearest refinery belonging to any oil company. You may as well fill up at ASDA.

Not until you start paying for Super are you getting the branded fuel.

However, filling up with Super every fifth tank will give you the benefits of the additives pretty much.

[Jockman]

yeti said:

Do you mean if you always use Shell 95? Because unless you're near a Shell refinery, you're using stock 95 RON fuel from the nearest refinery belonging to any oil company.

Lewis - I think you will find one of the biggest oil refineries - Stanlow - in 'cheapest' Cheshire

[yeti]

Indeed - didn't know the location of the poster! Didn't think he sounded like an Essex boy either...

[yeti]

Quinny said:

I personally don't believe the additives add anything...... Other than cost...

We're all entitled to our opinions

[X7LDA]

Thanks again guys; in particular xray as that's the kind of information I was looking for! Had three elises and one Exige now (six years total) so definitely sounds like we are in the same kind of position!! The funny part is I have seen a couple that are cheaper than budget and was thinking of doing exactly the same thing (i.e. tucking some money away), assuming it comes with a warranty.

I'm not going to look and settle on anything until the Exige is sold however - feels like forever waiting for it to go :'(

[glugcom]

Chap here says he is in the market for one;

http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=303157

Long time no posts Lewis?

[X7LDA]

Saw that earlier, thanks (I'm a stalker rather than a poster). He's not looking for anything modified however and mine is!

[xraybloke]

X7LDA said:

Thanks again guys; in particular xray as that's the kind of information I was looking for! Had three elises and one Exige now (six years total) so definitely sounds like we are in the same kind of position!! The funny part is I have seen a couple that are cheaper than budget and was thinking of doing exactly the same thing (i.e. tucking some money away), assuming it comes with a warranty.

I'm not going to look and settle on anything until the Exige is sold however - feels like forever waiting for it to go :'(

You're doing the right thing - got £2k more for my Elise by selling privately than the highest I was offered in part ex for an Aston.

I know you're in Edinburgh and I'm North Manchester (well...nearly West Yorkshire), but if you're in the area before you buy one let me know and we can meet up for a chat and a spin in the Aston