New 2 me V8 Vantage
Discussion
More than happy to report a new purchase !
After looking for what seemed an age, I found a potential match and after spending some time viewing and a test drive duly had my offer accepted.
I'm now a rather chuffed owner of an 06 V8 Vantage. it needs a little love and kindness to bring it back but i'm sooo happy.
Took it to caffeine and machine for a little run and got my first wave from another Vantage as we headed there !
pics to follow !
After looking for what seemed an age, I found a potential match and after spending some time viewing and a test drive duly had my offer accepted.
I'm now a rather chuffed owner of an 06 V8 Vantage. it needs a little love and kindness to bring it back but i'm sooo happy.
Took it to caffeine and machine for a little run and got my first wave from another Vantage as we headed there !
pics to follow !
Definitely special cars, had my V8V N400 Roadster for 14 months now, went along to the AMOC Vantage celebration at British motor museum weekend before last, I was one of 3 N400’s there and only two roadsters.
Bought an F-Pace SVR (Supercharged 5.0L V8) as my new daily 2months ago and the vantage still feels special in comparison.
Astons are understated, refined and generally just well regarded, so can fly under the radar or many people and not attract unwanted attention from everyone, but at other times car folks recognise it and stop to chat or pass on nice comments.
Bought an F-Pace SVR (Supercharged 5.0L V8) as my new daily 2months ago and the vantage still feels special in comparison.
Astons are understated, refined and generally just well regarded, so can fly under the radar or many people and not attract unwanted attention from everyone, but at other times car folks recognise it and stop to chat or pass on nice comments.
As BiggaJ rightly states - the bubble very often never bursts when you finally acquire your first Aston.
Yes they've never really been brilliant as cars in comparison to the best of the competition. Flawed and flakey they so often were and are. You will quickly adjust to how much you have to spend to keep it as well as you can.
But every time you get in and smell the leather and press the glass start button, every time you hear the engine fire, every time you look under the bonnet at all that aluminium, and that impossibly low rear slung V8 which you know is connected to a graziano transaxle box at the rear via a carbon fibre shaft spinning at full engine speed... every time you pull that heavy machined stainless steel dipstick out of the dry sump stainless oil tank, or even when you screw off that aluminium fuel cap... every time you glance backwards at probably the most beautiful design of the 21st century, you know you own something very special.
Enjoy. Yes it's going to cost you a few quid. What price the way it makes you feel...
When set up well with good suspension and tyres these things handle and steer absolutely wonderfully - as good or better than anything of the time in the weight class.
Yes they've never really been brilliant as cars in comparison to the best of the competition. Flawed and flakey they so often were and are. You will quickly adjust to how much you have to spend to keep it as well as you can.
But every time you get in and smell the leather and press the glass start button, every time you hear the engine fire, every time you look under the bonnet at all that aluminium, and that impossibly low rear slung V8 which you know is connected to a graziano transaxle box at the rear via a carbon fibre shaft spinning at full engine speed... every time you pull that heavy machined stainless steel dipstick out of the dry sump stainless oil tank, or even when you screw off that aluminium fuel cap... every time you glance backwards at probably the most beautiful design of the 21st century, you know you own something very special.
Enjoy. Yes it's going to cost you a few quid. What price the way it makes you feel...
When set up well with good suspension and tyres these things handle and steer absolutely wonderfully - as good or better than anything of the time in the weight class.
What a lovely welcome .. and yes I get all those comments, it's a wonderful car, and here it is ....
Logbook says it's Titanium with Chancellery interior (Red).
first question (of Many), is it possible to get the hand Built plaques redone ? Mine are very very abraded with time, and seeing those names make it super special to me.
Logbook says it's Titanium with Chancellery interior (Red).
first question (of Many), is it possible to get the hand Built plaques redone ? Mine are very very abraded with time, and seeing those names make it super special to me.
oldskoolgent said:
What a lovely welcome .. and yes I get all those comments, it's a wonderful car, and here it is ....
Logbook says it's Titanium with Chancellery interior (Red).
first question (of Many), is it possible to get the hand Built plaques redone ? Mine are very very abraded with time, and seeing those names make it super special to me.
Nice looking car - I bet that colour really "pops" in the sun. I assume a previous owner had the wheels done? Because I wasn't aware of them being offered in black back in the dayLogbook says it's Titanium with Chancellery interior (Red).
first question (of Many), is it possible to get the hand Built plaques redone ? Mine are very very abraded with time, and seeing those names make it super special to me.
If you're referring to the "Final Inspection by...." plaque you can buy new ones, but they're not cheap. Never heard of anyone restencilling them. And I agree - if someone is too enthusiastic cleaning under the bonnet the ink does wear off, as mine below shows.
This was the effort of the previous (and first) owner
oldskoolgent said:
Logbook says it's Titanium with Chancellery interior (Red).
Probably Chancellor Red. That's a great colour combination, just like my old Griffith 500.As Calinours says, the first time you break into the premier league it's quite a milestone. At first you have to concentrate on where all the controls/buttons are and (if auto) having to wave your hand around like a conductor to change gear. I found it used quite a bit of headspace at first. But then you can enjoy being a king of the road, because not much beats an Aston. Phase 3 is that you get used to it
This also shows the importance, IMHO, of why premium brands should have an entry level model. You're on the ladder, for an affordable sum, and a fairly limitless upgrade route lies ahead...
The plaque on the engine cover, these can be bought from various outlets, one of these is Aston Bits. They claim the name of the person on the plaque wasn't recorded by AM so you could buy a new one with a different name without upsetting the originality or you can ask them to find a plaque with the name you have on yours.
Emilio Largo said:
I often found it odd that names would not be kept of who inspected a car before final hand over but .....https://astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-VANTAGE-2-...
The wording states:
THE NAMES ON THESE BADGES VARY AND THERE IS NO RECORD KEPT OF WHO INSPECTED WHICH CAR,
IF YOU KNOW WHO INSPECTED YOUR CAR PLEASE LET US KNOW BY EMAIL AFTER ORDERING, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE A RANDOM NAME
Click on the link for further details ... this may also help the OP as he now knows where to buy a new inspection badge.
I've tried many searches to establish if names of inspectors are kept alongside the VIN of the car and can only bring the following up:
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+the+name+plaque...
Edited by BiggaJ on Friday 5th September 15:29
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