Possible V8 Vantage Daily?
Discussion
So I’m 24 and currently have an Ecoboost Ford focus but I want something special.
Looking on insurance I’ve found out that the v8 vantage is mega cheap. I’m talking for 6 years no claims, 20k miles and buisness use with no other drivers on the policy…. For £1200 a year.
Am I crazy for wanting that as a daily? Have I gone mental?
What are the big issues? The big costs? I’ve heard about the clutch but other than that it’s the services and general wear and tear stuff along with mpg.
Thankyou for your time
Looking on insurance I’ve found out that the v8 vantage is mega cheap. I’m talking for 6 years no claims, 20k miles and buisness use with no other drivers on the policy…. For £1200 a year.
Am I crazy for wanting that as a daily? Have I gone mental?
What are the big issues? The big costs? I’ve heard about the clutch but other than that it’s the services and general wear and tear stuff along with mpg.
Thankyou for your time
Edited by Aw373 on Tuesday 11th February 11:29
I used to daily my V12 vantage (ssiii) and it never got old, however if your commute means being stuck in traffic frequently I'd shy away from the automated manual (that goes the same from any manufacturer) and go with the manual instead. They're a little awkward getting off the line under very light throttle so ideally you leave a big enough gap to the car in front of you to allow for the clutch to engage properly which isn't really convenient in jams.
CitySlicker said:
I used to daily my V12 vantage (ssiii) and it never got old, however if your commute means being stuck in traffic frequently I'd shy away from the automated manual (that goes the same from any manufacturer) and go with the manual instead. They're a little awkward getting off the line under very light throttle so ideally you leave a big enough gap to the car in front of you to allow for the clutch to engage properly which isn't really convenient in jams.
Thankyou for that info, I’m hoping the commute is gonna get way shorter but even if it didn’t I wouldn’t get stuck in too much traffic tbh. I’d be going manual anyway but I’ll keep that in mindI own a 2008 V8V, manual roadster. n400 (400hp rather than the standard 380). I’ll split into things to be aware of and costs to be aware of.
For a daily I would say Coupe 100%, especially if storing outside.
Things to be aware of.
Rear sub-frame is steel, need to check to make sure it’s sound and not corroded. Can be removed and blasted and re-powder coated but not a small job.
Check paint carefully. Look for road rash/ chips and scratches. Also look for any signs of bubbling or paint corrosion (it’s common) around any panel gaps, fuel filler cap, door handles and seals. Full respray is likely £10k+
Check wing mirror paint, it can fail here and need re powder coating (fairly cheap and easy).
I’d highly recommend a pre-purchase inspection with report from Aston Martin specialist to be sure. (£380-500 approx).
Headlights - look for condensation, but there is a retrofit to prevent it, well worth getting and installing. Replacing them is £1000+ per light.
Rear lights again look for water ingress or condensation, it’s more of a problem if it has it as they are sealed units. As before expensive to replace.
Costs to be aware of:
They’re thirsty, being a 4.3L, 4.7L or 4.0L V8. Fuel economy is not great so it costs a fair amount to run one in fuel. Oh and a full tank is def over £110 as fuel tank is big (my cost is based on premium higher octane fuel not standard petrol).
Service wise should budget for 1.5-3k a year and bank what you don’t spend for when the big costly service does hit. Mine had 4.5k service just completed before I bought it. Worth checking out if there are good and recognised Aston specialists near you (e.g. Bamford Rose for V8V) or if you are in free collection and delivery range of Aston Martin Works, they are reasonable for service costs and parts.
Main dealers tend to be more expensive.
Parts, we joke about of Aston Tax, but it’s really no joke - parts are expensive, especially if you buy from dealer or Aston, you need to get to know the alternative parts lists to cut down costs.
For a daily I would say Coupe 100%, especially if storing outside.
Things to be aware of.
Rear sub-frame is steel, need to check to make sure it’s sound and not corroded. Can be removed and blasted and re-powder coated but not a small job.
Check paint carefully. Look for road rash/ chips and scratches. Also look for any signs of bubbling or paint corrosion (it’s common) around any panel gaps, fuel filler cap, door handles and seals. Full respray is likely £10k+
Check wing mirror paint, it can fail here and need re powder coating (fairly cheap and easy).
I’d highly recommend a pre-purchase inspection with report from Aston Martin specialist to be sure. (£380-500 approx).
Headlights - look for condensation, but there is a retrofit to prevent it, well worth getting and installing. Replacing them is £1000+ per light.
Rear lights again look for water ingress or condensation, it’s more of a problem if it has it as they are sealed units. As before expensive to replace.
Costs to be aware of:
They’re thirsty, being a 4.3L, 4.7L or 4.0L V8. Fuel economy is not great so it costs a fair amount to run one in fuel. Oh and a full tank is def over £110 as fuel tank is big (my cost is based on premium higher octane fuel not standard petrol).
Service wise should budget for 1.5-3k a year and bank what you don’t spend for when the big costly service does hit. Mine had 4.5k service just completed before I bought it. Worth checking out if there are good and recognised Aston specialists near you (e.g. Bamford Rose for V8V) or if you are in free collection and delivery range of Aston Martin Works, they are reasonable for service costs and parts.
Main dealers tend to be more expensive.
Parts, we joke about of Aston Tax, but it’s really no joke - parts are expensive, especially if you buy from dealer or Aston, you need to get to know the alternative parts lists to cut down costs.
Edited by Apollya on Tuesday 11th February 21:18
It's a ballsy move but why not, when I was 25 I was dailying a TVR Chimaera and it makes life a lot more interesting than the 'normal' cars, it also gets you out of doing any ferrying about of more than one person and trips to Ikea. 
Getting some use usually does cars more good than harm, but you are going to get very friendly with the staff of your local SuperUnleaded dealer, I'm guessing the Ecoboost gets about 50mpg....you'll be lucky to see 20.
Obviously the budget for the car itself will dictate to a degree whether you'll be seeing any big service bills shortly, are we talking a leggy 2005 4.3 for sub £20k or a mint Timeless Approved 2016 4.7, but buy the best you can afford and other than the usual consumables of tyres, brakes, etc what's the worst that can happen.
Getting some use usually does cars more good than harm, but you are going to get very friendly with the staff of your local SuperUnleaded dealer, I'm guessing the Ecoboost gets about 50mpg....you'll be lucky to see 20.
Obviously the budget for the car itself will dictate to a degree whether you'll be seeing any big service bills shortly, are we talking a leggy 2005 4.3 for sub £20k or a mint Timeless Approved 2016 4.7, but buy the best you can afford and other than the usual consumables of tyres, brakes, etc what's the worst that can happen.
My first crazy daily car when I was 25 was a Lotus Esprit V8 Gt. I had it 2 years and I loved it. At about 30 I went for a 2007 4.3 V8 Vantage and again I loved it. The car was surprisingly reliable. The clutch is heavy but not terrible. The mpg is about 18 to 20, so it’s thirsty. My car had done about 25k when I bought it and was about 4 years old. So I can honestly say it was fine then, but it may not be the same now, unless it’s a car that’s been truly looked after.
I don’t know your finances but if you’re looking at the bottom of the pool, I would suggest you don’t buy one as a daily car. If you looking to spend 30k plus you should be able to find a nice cared for example. But don’t just assume a car has been cared for based on its advertised price. Be thorough with servicing checks and even call up the garages to ask about the car and check. Once you’re happy, get it inspected. Bamford Rose are awesome.
Please don’t see a pretty one and fall in love and just buy it. It’s easily done as they are stunning.
I now have a 2013 4.7 V8 Vantage S and again I love it. I currently do 8k a year and she loves the miles and definitely is a better car for it. Currently she is on 56k miles.
I think all were given the big brake upgrade after 2012 which is great but the cost of pads and discs is huge compared to the earlier models.
Again, it all depends on your budget but I would say a 2009 to 2011 is the sweet spot for a great car with nice improvements, that’s a bit less to run. But I’ll take any conflicting views on that.
Please just make every effort to buy a good example and don’t rush in to it. Otherwise it’ll be griefy, a let down and expensive and you’ll have a sour taste in your mouth. It won’t be the fault of the brand or the actual car, it’ll be the fault of previous owners not maintaining it properly.
If you’re not maxed out financially at the end of every month, and have an incidental slush fund, you should be fine. I’d hate to see a 25 year old feeling the pinch every month and then need to defer servicing when it’s due or risk debt by throwing it all on a credit card. I don’t say that to insult you and you might be a tech genius on far more money than me. But I’ve seen young men get in to real financial trouble with cars in their 20’s and no car is worth that!
Just my view but I hope you’re in a position to buy one and if so, I’ve no doubt you’ll love it. 😊
I don’t know your finances but if you’re looking at the bottom of the pool, I would suggest you don’t buy one as a daily car. If you looking to spend 30k plus you should be able to find a nice cared for example. But don’t just assume a car has been cared for based on its advertised price. Be thorough with servicing checks and even call up the garages to ask about the car and check. Once you’re happy, get it inspected. Bamford Rose are awesome.
Please don’t see a pretty one and fall in love and just buy it. It’s easily done as they are stunning.
I now have a 2013 4.7 V8 Vantage S and again I love it. I currently do 8k a year and she loves the miles and definitely is a better car for it. Currently she is on 56k miles.
I think all were given the big brake upgrade after 2012 which is great but the cost of pads and discs is huge compared to the earlier models.
Again, it all depends on your budget but I would say a 2009 to 2011 is the sweet spot for a great car with nice improvements, that’s a bit less to run. But I’ll take any conflicting views on that.
Please just make every effort to buy a good example and don’t rush in to it. Otherwise it’ll be griefy, a let down and expensive and you’ll have a sour taste in your mouth. It won’t be the fault of the brand or the actual car, it’ll be the fault of previous owners not maintaining it properly.
If you’re not maxed out financially at the end of every month, and have an incidental slush fund, you should be fine. I’d hate to see a 25 year old feeling the pinch every month and then need to defer servicing when it’s due or risk debt by throwing it all on a credit card. I don’t say that to insult you and you might be a tech genius on far more money than me. But I’ve seen young men get in to real financial trouble with cars in their 20’s and no car is worth that!
Just my view but I hope you’re in a position to buy one and if so, I’ve no doubt you’ll love it. 😊
krisdelta said:
Ran a Vantage as my only car for 3.5 years. Would absolutely repeat, cheap as chips total costs including depreciation, proper servicing and maintenance throughout. Long time dead, if you can, do. I’ll see if I can dig out the thread I created at the time.
'Proper servicing and maintenance throughout' cheap as chips - are you doing it yourself? paulrog1 said:
I'm amazed you think £1200 is mega cheap insurance??!!
Age 24 with an Aston, I'd say so.The real problem is - if he's got an Aston by 24, what can he aspire to for the rest of his life?!
Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 11th February 21:26
I'd say go for it! As long as you can afford it, I honestly don't see how you'd ever regret it.
I bought a Porsche 928 S4 when I was 27. It was actually my first ever car. And I used it daily, including driving into the office at the Isle of Dogs from my home in leafy Hertfordshire 2-3 times a week for a couple of years. Fantastic memories in that car and I'm so glad I did it.
I bought a Porsche 928 S4 when I was 27. It was actually my first ever car. And I used it daily, including driving into the office at the Isle of Dogs from my home in leafy Hertfordshire 2-3 times a week for a couple of years. Fantastic memories in that car and I'm so glad I did it.
I've had a 2006 Aston v8 Coupe for about a month. I use it every day for home / work and it's like having any car.
Mine is manual, I didn't want to take the automatic because of the well-known problems of the Sportshift I.
It consumes a lot but not excessively, in short, if you buy an Aston you know that petrol is the least problem. I come from 19 years of used lotus elise s1 every day so aston for me is like traveling first class
Buy it you won't regret it!
Mine is manual, I didn't want to take the automatic because of the well-known problems of the Sportshift I.
It consumes a lot but not excessively, in short, if you buy an Aston you know that petrol is the least problem. I come from 19 years of used lotus elise s1 every day so aston for me is like traveling first class
Buy it you won't regret it!
paulrog1 said:
I'm amazed you think £1200 is mega cheap insurance??!!
Defo get one and enjoy
This ^^^Defo get one and enjoy
However, if you have the finances to support such a purchase and longer term running costs then do it.
The cars are very special, you never get tired of looking back at it and smiling to yourself because you won't see many others on the road, they look and sound fantastic.
Some good advice above re potential pitfalls and big bills. Getting a pre purchase inspection is key, knowing what your getting into and how much might be needed up front to get the car in a condition that will allow reliable daily driving. These things do cost but kept on top of they can be very reliable.
If you will be sitting in traffic and you live in the UK, make sure you get the lighter pedal feel of a twin plate clutch, it really does make a difference, otherwise your left leg suddenly looks as though you've only been working out on one leg
Edited by BiggaJ on Wednesday 12th February 07:14
Edited by BiggaJ on Wednesday 12th February 07:15
Simpo Two said:
paulrog1 said:
I'm amazed you think £1200 is mega cheap insurance??!!
Age 24 with an Aston, I'd say so.
The real problem is - if he's got an Aston by 24, what can he aspire to for the rest of his life?!
Koenigsegg as a daily, perhaps. -
Andy Palmer; "We want new younger customers".
It was as if, he appeared to think that older buyers would cease to exist.
He Is probably thinking now (in between constantly writing on social media, about how marvellous EVs are) that he is becoming older and so is everybody else.
Older buyers are good customers, because they are on average, less price resistant.
Hate to pee on the chips but whilst I agree its a usable daily, if you are doing 20k PA in one come rain or shine I would imagine the running costs will be fairly chunky - both in terms of servicing and mpg (unavoidable) and then add on anything that needs maintaining in excess. I did about a quarter of that mileage and was spending £3k PA on average using specialists for any work rather than main dealer.
Simpo Two said:
krisdelta said:
Ran a Vantage as my only car for 3.5 years. Would absolutely repeat, cheap as chips total costs including depreciation, proper servicing and maintenance throughout. Long time dead, if you can, do. I’ll see if I can dig out the thread I created at the time.
'Proper servicing and maintenance throughout' cheap as chips - are you doing it yourself? I’ve written pretty much the same comment in another thread. A colleague of mine bought a V8 Vantage as a daily and it was 100% reliable. He took advice from a specialist who said using the car regularly as the best way to keep it running well and reliable. He’s mechanically sympathetic but not mechanically adapt, plus he wanted to drive the car not repair it. He didn’t regret it for a second during the three years he used it as a daily.
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