It's been an ambition to own an Aston Martin for many years, but I'm only just at the "right age" for one. I've heard several people say the current V8 Vantage is a well sorted car and I suspect the market for a 1-2 year old model is dead given the current economic climate.
I know the thing is going to depreciate by the hundreds each month, but ownership is still cheaper than renting one a couple of days a month and I wonder just how flexible the dealers are going to be on price. Autotrader shows plenty clogging up the forecourts and I'm confident enough to go in and make a silly offer knowing there's always another, identical spec, just up the road.
Is this a completely barking idea? Any pointers or "things to look out for"?
Perhaps the more economical BR members could persuade me to just bank the money to weather the current financial storms, but I smell a buying opportunity that could soften the depreciation a little over say 2-3 years ownership.
Edited by Mutton Geoff on 22/08/2008 at 19:30
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get an insurance quote 1st
figure out where youre gonna park it at home and at work where it wouldnt get nicked within a week
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Buy an Xk8 and just squint a bit when you look at it. It'll feel pretty much as nice to drive and costa lotta less.
;-)
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If you've got the money, and are prepared for the depreciation and servicing why not? It wouldn't be my choice, but I'm glad we are all different.
Go for it, have fun, and smile nicely at the BMW drivers who look on in envy.
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Insurance is approx £500 and got locked garage at home, secure parking at work, but most likely not use it for the commute, just weekends away and a bit of UK/near Euro touring.
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All joking aside, if I could afford one I'd have one in a heartbeat. You only live once, go for it.
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cars like this will probably be extinct in a few years time, so go for it whilst you can and savour every moment of that gorgeous V8 grunt.
If you do go ahead, maybe do a regular post and let us know what owning a car like this is like in the real world?
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Go for an 80's or 90's vantage. They're more of a 'real' Aston, and they'll hold their value a hell of a lot better.
They're not as beautiful, but I think they have more presence.
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Dealers seem to be playing bluff and double-bluff at the moment on prices - take them on.
You only regret your economies...
Go for it and good luck!
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If you have an itch for one and you have the spare cash, not borrowed, then do it. You are an awful long time in that box 6ft under so enjoy it. I've done a similar thing (though much cheaper!) and bought an 07 Impreza RB320.
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The original 5.3 litre Vantage: Total rubbish. I owned 3 and lived in hope I could find a good one. I never did. Despite keeping to all the rules and buying from marque specialists with low owners and good history.
Remember, they are almost a 40 year old design.
Main rubbish bits I remember were
a)t The windscreen seals being awful and making the first few miles of an early morning start a misery. Used to carry a chamois at all times.
b) The specialist dealers who used to consider and price working on the car as akin to working on the secrets of alchemy.
c) The constant nagging doubt that the optomistic 400 horses could not overcome the real 2 tons in weight.
d) The Lucas bits.
e) Lifting up a sodden carpet to find the sound deadening was a foam lead sandwich. Superb. You know the car leaks like a sieve and weighs loads, so what sound deadening would you choose?
f) The sills rusting and costing an arm and a leg to sort. Managed to avoid this nightmare, by buying cars where this problem had just been sorted.
Re the new Vantage. Wait till winter. If you must buy one now, pick your ideal fantasy spec and offer it to a number of dealers to see the price offered in cold blood. I reckon £35K for an early medium mileage car, if not less.
WP
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This time of the month, a test drive makes sense.
Stop near a branch of your bank, and say: "You want 35? I'll give you 32. Now. Straight transfer to your account. let's step inside..."
... and see if he bites your arm off.
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Sorry ,,, you are far too eager.
I'd wait till next febrauary.
By then most dealers will be absolutely desperate, the economy will be in recession, the weather is cold, no-one in their right minds buys a car in February,
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