Something for everyone under 30K.

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
This is spot on but I would say Vantage steering and brakes the best I have driven. GS is not close but still has an allure of its own that you cannot put your finger on which is always part of what makes a great car. GS MC-V is special and the car the GS should always have been and runs the Vantage much closer. Aston is much less wallet damaging than a Maserati also. There is definitely a case for owning both a Vantage and a GTS though. I am very, very lucky with MC-V and Vanquish but would consider to add a Vantage again in a heartbeat as it brings something neither of those have. I would also definitely own a Stradale if I didn't have the Vanquish.
100% agreed on all counts. Great summary.

Of course I love my Maserati for many reasons. The powerplant is awesome and even the CC gearbox on full tilt is a joy IMHO.

There is something dirty about a V8 Vantage noise with valves open.

I'd agree there is a case a V8 Vantage and a GTS MC even MC Autoshift. If I didn't have the 4200 I might well have had a GTS MC by now.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
No way would I pick an AM V8 over a Maserati. I love the looks but it has a Jag engine, Volvo sourced interior and I have spoken to quite a few people who look after them and they are much more trouble than our GTs. I am sure there are exceptions but you need to consider a significant number - ask Carl at Prestigeworks which cars he spends more time fixing! Maseratis sound much better too!

I'm not sure I agree with running costs. I'd say they are no different to a Maserati.

The engine is not a Jaguar engine but merely a Jaguar block. The 4.3 V8 in the Vantage is unique to Aston Martin and hand built for the Vantage.

I have no need and never look at the Volvo sat nav screen a d have no issue with the interior at all.

Go and drive one.....you should be pleasantly surprised
 

nigw

Member
Messages
904
I've had 3 Vantages - they're great cars. The first was a 4.3 which didnt feel quick enough (though it's due to lower torque and linear power delivery - it's as quick a Gransport), and then a 4.7 coupe, and then a 4.7 roadster. I'd have another, but they've become too familiar to me now and until CV-19 situation eases I don't want to spend £90k+ on the new model Vantage.
 
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lozcb

Member
Messages
12,301
Here in MK ( Newport Pagnell ) we have the Aston Works garage still operating and although I've yet to own one , I speak reasonably often to a couple of the workshop techs , both are of the opinion that Aston lost that special something around the 2004/5 and that cars produced since have been particularly troublesome as against previous models , and just perhaps because of my location relative to the works, I tend to see more than most other marques on the back of transporters ,
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,039
No way would I pick an AM V8 over a Maserati. I love the looks but it has a Jag engine, Volvo sourced interior and I have spoken to quite a few people who look after them and they are much more trouble than our GTs. I am sure there are exceptions but you need to consider a significant number - ask Carl at Prestigeworks which cars he spends more time fixing! Maseratis sound much better too!

It's weird isn't it suppose you will get good and bad in all Marques. I know 4 owners of V8 Vantage and everyone has had a faultless experience. The experience with dealers also kept them with the marque. One had a GT S and said he wouldn't go back as it cost him a fortune in parts and service compared to the Vantage....His wife wanted him to keep the Maserati though. He also has a Lambo Aventador......Now that's on a different level with ownership cost.......
 

nigw

Member
Messages
904
Here in MK ( Newport Pagnell ) we have the Aston Works garage still operating and although I've yet to own one , I speak reasonably often to a couple of the workshop techs , both are of the opinion that Aston lost that special something around the 2004/5 and that cars produced since have been particularly troublesome as against previous models , and just perhaps because of my location relative to the works, I tend to see more than most other marques on the back of transporters ,

That's strange - the Vantage in particular is known to be pretty robust, and all of mine were really good. I'm now on my 5th Maserati (all 3200 and 4200) but the Astons were more reliable and cheaper to run. Perhaps my latest GS will set the record straight?!
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Here in MK ( Newport Pagnell ) we have the Aston Works garage still operating and although I've yet to own one , I speak reasonably often to a couple of the workshop techs , both are of the opinion that Aston lost that special something around the 2004/5 and that cars produced since have been particularly troublesome as against previous models , and just perhaps because of my location relative to the works, I tend to see more than most other marques on the back of transporters ,

Don't forget Works have a collection and delivery service for servicing. Usually covered though. For me I can say Maserati, if you service them by the book are way more expensive than Aston and if you need suspension bits etc. the gap widens further.
 

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,301
That's strange - the Vantage in particular is known to be pretty robust, and all of mine were really good. I'm now on my 5th Maserati (all 3200 and 4200) but the Astons were more reliable and cheaper to run. Perhaps my latest GS will set the record straight?!
Don't get me wrong ,I love the marque and it's heritage and the kudos of owning one , and have come very close to pulling the trigger on more than a couple , each time thwarted by these techs , I get them to check and print out the known history , got to the stage where I thought I was looking for too perfect an example my view is any new car having to return to the dealers more than 3 times in its first year usually ends up being a Monday morning or Friday afternoon car , shame because they look stunning
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,309
I'd agree a Maser in some guiese should be in there for sound alone.

Considerably better than a V8 Vantage? Have you been drinking Dicky?
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No, just driven lots of them. They look gorgeous and they sound lovely and that’s where their positive attributes end.
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,309
Quite surprised to not see a Maserati in the line up aswell , also I think there should be a GTR in there aswell ,performance and depreciation wise ,the GTR beats most if not all , I think what Dicky is intermating is for some guys to get on and add to the posting, so he can come along and provide the necessary , excellent forward thinking marketing

Good call @lozcb but not concerned about that. No one can be convinced to buy a Gransport, you either know what they’re all about, or you don’t.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
No, just driven lots of them. They look gorgeous and they sound lovely and that’s where their positive attributes end.
Of course each to their own. Maybe your getting too old for sports cars

I found the steering, drive, balance, brakes and all the attributes to make a good sports/drivers car were all pretty spot on with the V8 Vantage. Never had a car.that cost.more than £25k though so never driven/owned anything next level up. No need to IMHO.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,748
When I purchased my first 4200 (2004 MY) car my friend Amy bought a V8 Vantage.

She came along to a couple of our Forum trips to Le Touquet.

I drove her Vantage a couple of time and never once felt it was worth 4x what I paid for the 4200 (£23K). It was slower 0-60 and top end and MD services were daft compared to Emblem (back in 2008/9).

However It did look and sound far better that the Maser.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I don't think anyone is saying or suggesting a V8 Vantage is 4x better than a GS. Clearly it isn't. Merely it is the better sports car @ £25k.

They were the same price new pretty much and similar price used now. They are different cars. The GS and GT are GT cars and the Vantage biased more as a 2 seater sports car.

Depends what you want and need in a car I guess. If I had to choose between my 4200 or GS against the Vantage.....that would be tough but for my use the Vantage just edges it. I am happy and lucky to keep both though
 

rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
AM Works also provides something that I felt I missed when I owned my 4200 (which I sold 5 years ago), a quality dealership servicing, trustworthy, on-time, quick, and...very well priced.

It cost me less to service my Vantage at AM Works than it did at well known Maserati independents.

It took a day.

It was done when it said it would be done by.

And...they did the work and advised on other issues, rather than "finding" a laundry list of issues.

It made ownership much more enjoyable.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,039
AM Works also provides something that I felt I missed when I owned my 4200 (which I sold 5 years ago), a quality dealership servicing, trustworthy, on-time, quick, and...very well priced.

It cost me less to service my Vantage at AM Works than it did at well known Maserati independents.

It took a day.

It was done when it said it would be done by.

And...they did the work and advised on other issues, rather than "finding" a laundry list of issues.

It made ownership much more enjoyable.

This is something Aston Martin do much better than most. The dealer network do seem to go out of their way for you and it's a wonderful experience just visiting let alone buying. When ever I go into DL in Bristol with Alex they cannot do enough for us even though we aren't buying. Can't say the same for other high end dealers.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,039
Of course each to their own. Maybe your getting too old for sports cars

I found the steering, drive, balance, brakes and all the attributes to make a good sports/drivers car were all pretty spot on with the V8 Vantage. Never had a car.that cost.more than £25k though so never driven/owned anything next level up. No need to IMHO.

And this is exactly what made me sit up a take notice after I first drove one. The balance of any Vantage is just sublime ....... That is just all the parts working perfectly together. Track or road everytime I have been lucky enough to get behind the wheel of one it never disappoints. That is why I will have one before I die. Never yearned so much for a car to be honest and very happy they are getting closer to 20k. Don't get me wrong I love the GT S but it just wouldn't suit the type of car I would be looking for. The roads around by me a Vantage would be so much more fun.....
 
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Lavazza

Member
Messages
1,060
I bought my first Aston, partly because I was staying near Cardiff on holiday and popped in to the AM dealers. I turned up in a Mini Cooper, wearing shorts and T Shirt, and they didn't judge.
A really good move because I was a cash buyer and already owned a Porsche GT3 Club Sport (they had no idea, I just turned up off the street).
About a year later, I bought a Vantage from them in meteorite grey.
It pays to treat people decently...
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,119
I bought my first Aston, partly because I was staying near Cardiff on holiday and popped in to the AM dealers. I turned up in a Mini Cooper, wearing shorts and T Shirt, and they didn't judge.
A really good move because I was a cash buyer and already owned a Porsche GT3 Club Sport (they had no idea, I just turned up off the street).
About a year later, I bought a Vantage from them in meteorite grey.
It pays to treat people decently...
Totally agree I'm a jeans and tee shirt bloke.
When my 360 Modena broke down on me with a failed engine ECU the dealer collected it from my home very nice indeed.
When I went down there to prove my ownership and with ID in jeans and tee shirt I was totally ignored when I walked in.
After I had seen the service manager it was Capaccinos and Danish pastries.
More than happy to see me when I picked the car up and paid the bill.
When I did some work at Gaydon on the Signet for Toyota AM showed me the whole facility museum and all :)
 

Lavazza

Member
Messages
1,060
Totally agree I'm a jeans and tee shirt bloke.
When my 360 Modena broke down on me with a failed engine ECU the dealer collected it from my home very nice indeed.
When I went down there to prove my ownership and with ID in jeans and tee shirt I was totally ignored when I walked in.
After I had seen the service manager it was Capaccinos and Danish pastries.
More than happy to see me when I picked the car up and paid the bill.
When I did some work at Gaydon on the Signet for Toyota AM showed me the whole facility museum and all :)
Phil, do you still have your 360?