Selling my 4200 & Chimaera - 2 into 1 - Thoughts on replacement?

[rivarama]

Great list that Rivarama. Not had a Pagoda or a Mondial but had all the rest and they’re great cars.

What was/were your favourites and why? If it’s not asking like “who’s your favourite child” lol

 

[rockits]

Thanks all....very helpful. Current thinking is a 4.3 V8 Vantage manual.

I enjoyed you taking me round Llandow in one Andy....loved it. Would be even better to drive one

Don't think I need the extra power of the 4.7 and if I did anything the Bamford Rose upgrade for £5k for manifolds, exhaust, cats and map from 380 to 420 would seem ideal.

Going to have a look at one I think.

 

[allandwf]

I still think you need to decide what you want, keeper etc.

 

[Ewan]

The 4.3 Vantage feels slightly sluggish when compared with a GranSport. I think you’ll be disappointed after the initial James Bond glow dims.

 

[Wattie]

Thanks all....very helpful. Current thinking is a 4.3 V8 Vantage manual.

I enjoyed you taking me round Llandow in one Andy....loved it. Would be even better to drive one

Don't think I need the extra power of the 4.7 and if I did anything the Bamford Rose upgrade for £5k for manifolds, exhaust, cats and map from 380 to 420 would seem ideal.

Going to have a look at one I think.

I drove one at a track day once....the accompanying "expert" was keen for us not to change gear too much.
The torque was huge......it literally pulled in top gears at the lowest of speeds.
Very heavy clutch but dunno if they're all like that.

 

[rockits]

The 4.3 Vantage feels slightly sluggish when compared with a GranSport. I think you’ll be disappointed after the initial James Bond glow dims.

You might be right but in all honesty I find the 4200 and XJ-L SS are too fast in reality. Would have no problem with something slower.

I don't mind a heavy clutch or more of a workout or a car I need to work with. I have a TVR Chimaera and 4200 remember

It is very much a strong plus for me and bone of contention when looking and driving more modern cars. They have often got too good and too sterile for me. Possibly a bit like my character maybe.....I like the flawed genius kind of thing....or you need to work a little to find the inner beauty or the real person inside. I don't mind a bit of hard graft.

 

[rockits]

I drove one at a track day once....the accompanying "expert" was keen for us not to change gear too much.
The torque was huge......it literally pulled in top gears at the lowest of speeds.
Very heavy clutch but dunno if they're all like that.

I had that in a 360 on a track day once. In fact they had locked out 1st gear completely not to be used. Always a worry!

 

[rockits]

I can't stand all the James Bond tosh that comes with the AM brand/cars. It is not something that I care about or would play on.

For me as I kid I always loved Aston's. The noise for me is on a par with Maserati or possible dare I say it....better. I have just found I have Nicholas Mee round the corner from me and looked at their site then some videos. The older stuff sounds immense and makes your hairs stand on end.

It will be hard to find a manual 4.7 as there are less around due to reductions in production numbers at that time. Means prices are inflated more than the 4.3. also newer with revised mods. Money no object I would go 4.7 but would be more than happy with a 4.3. It is not about outright speed or power for me. It is why I have a Chimaera 400 and not anything more silly that TVR offered.

If I go manual 4.7 it costs a fair bit more to buy than an earlier 4.3 and all jump into higher rate car tax. If I could source a nice 4.3 for £25k-£30k hopefully £25k then I always have a £5k Bamford Rose upgrade to add at any time.

Manual sports cars at this level are less in options full stop and I don't want a 911 so this seems like the best and most obvious option.

I'd not get tired of that noise at any speed and again just staring at it in the garage would be enough for me! I'm a simple but complex man. Or maybe it should be a complex but simple man

 

[Ewan]

That’s sorted then. A nice AM V8 Vantage 4.3 in manual it is. Lovely car, and job done.

 

[rockits]

Thanks Ewan. Will see if I can find one and add one to the garage

 

[mjheathcote]

Yes tax band. Might not be an issue if you have one or a couple in the higher band, but you start getting a collection...

 

[rockits]

Yes tax band. Might not be an issue if you have one or a couple in the higher band, but you start getting a collection...

Yup, it is a consideration for my monthly back pocket. It does mount up and wish they would scrap it and put it on fuel. Would make my life much easier!

 

[BuckRog64]

Dean, just be aware that as well as more torque the 4.7 had a raft of quality improvements including better paintwork. Look out for bubbling around door handles etc. with 4.3.

Vantage would be my choice in your position.

 

[rockits]

Dean, just be aware that as well as more torque the 4.7 had a raft of quality improvements including better paintwork. Look out for bubbling around door handles etc. with 4.3.

Vantage would be my choice in your position.

Thanks for that...much appreciated. I'll take a look.

 

[rivarama]

Thanks all....very helpful. Current thinking is a 4.3 V8 Vantage manual.

I enjoyed you taking me round Llandow in one Andy....loved it. Would be even better to drive one

Don't think I need the extra power of the 4.7 and if I did anything the Bamford Rose upgrade for £5k for manifolds, exhaust, cats and map from 380 to 420 would seem ideal.

Going to have a look at one I think.

I think the 4.3 sounds better than the 4.7 when the fuse is removed anyway!

 

[rivarama]

Ignoring the fact that you can get a mondeo for a lot less money I just don’t think there’s a lot wrong w a £25k sorted 4.3. They look good, sound good and you don’t have to drive them fast to enjoy the experience.

I also believe that if you find the clutch heavy, you can replace it when it needs to with an after market one that lighter and sturdier (can’t remember who from though but well documented on forums)

Corrosion and build quality aren’t the best on those cars, but having owned a TVR that should bother you that much.

If you do buy one, do keep in mind that I will guarantee a buy back at £20k

 

[Wack61]

I've got a lot of old magazines I sell on ebay

Just have a read of CAR from 2007 , affordable ferraris , if only they were still that affordable

 

[BuckRog64]

Thanks for that...much appreciated. I'll take a look.

I recommend buying the Gayden era Astons book via pistonheads, which certainly helped me determine what I wanted when I bought my Aston back in the spring.

 

[rivarama]

I can't stand all the James Bond tosh that comes with the AM brand/cars. It is not something that I care about or would play on.

For me as I kid I always loved Aston's. The noise for me is on a par with Maserati or possible dare I say it....better. I have just found I have Nicholas Mee round the corner from me and looked at their site then some videos. The older stuff sounds immense and makes your hairs stand on end.

It will be hard to find a manual 4.7 as there are less around due to reductions in production numbers at that time. Means prices are inflated more than the 4.3. also newer with revised mods. Money no object I would go 4.7 but would be more than happy with a 4.3. It is not about outright speed or power for me. It is why I have a Chimaera 400 and not anything more silly that TVR offered.

If I go manual 4.7 it costs a fair bit more to buy than an earlier 4.3 and all jump into higher rate car tax. If I could source a nice 4.3 for £25k-£30k hopefully £25k then I always have a £5k Bamford Rose upgrade to add at any time.

Manual sports cars at this level are less in options full stop and I don't want a 911 so this seems like the best and most obvious option.

I'd not get tired of that noise at any speed and again just staring at it in the garage would be enough for me! I'm a simple but complex man. Or maybe it should be a complex but simple man

The only downside of Aston Martin is the expensive annual maintenance. Although it can be justified on more expensive cars, it would pain me to have to spend £600-700 a year on oil and filter on a £25k car... and that’s if nothing goes wrong which never happens on those cars.
At least most Maserati’s go 2 years between services.
I would assume that even with a low annual mileage, the potential AM buyer would really frown upon a car that was serviced every other year

 

[Needamaser]

The only downside of Aston Martin is the expensive annual maintenance. Although it can be justified on more expensive cars, it would pain me to have to spend £600-700 a year on oil and filter on a £25k car... and that’s if nothing goes wrong which never happens on those cars.
At least most Maserati’s go 2 years between services.
I would assume that even with a low annual mileage, the potential AM buyer would really frown upon a car that was serviced every other year

I have had mine for over 2 years now and apart from fixed price servicing (which has been a fraction of what I was paying every year to an Indie on the 4200) car has been faultless. I bought from main dealer and cars have to be almost as good as new or they cant sell them with the AM warranty. When I bought my car dealer was selling an early V8 Vantage with 83k on the clock. I asked him if it would take time to sell and he said he could sell at least one a week like that because he was selling with full warranty and when you are driving down the road people dont know if it has 80k or 8k on the clock. Car was sold the next day.