ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE COUPE 4.3 MANUAL FOR SALE

Felonious Crud

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He said that the manual was 30/40k more than the SS and that's more about exclusivity. He said he didn't really bond with it even though it was a cool car as the clutch peddle was long, the bite point high and he spend the day stalling. The SS doesn't give you this problem. He said don't get hung up on the manual as the SS is just as good if not better......The salesman out the end said the Vantage V12 S was always made to have the SS3 box from the outset so the manual was really a novelty at the end of the life of the car.

Thanks, Andy. That sounds about right. I think the earlier V12 manuals might even be a better manual box but the manualised robotised ( :)) later box seems to have something of a snob value associated with it. Real men drive manual cars etc etc. Mike at Bamford Rose reckoned that 7-sp dogleg run-out manual was not additive to the driving experience. He is pretty opinionated, though, Also reckoned the GT12 was a bit pointless (he right be right!). He is quite keen to replace the headers on mine and uncork its 600hp, so his ideas are not entirely with merit. It's entirely unecessary, but it might be fun.

Anyway, I love my SSiii. It's smooth, plenty quick enough (not as fast as the 599 TCU I was running on my MC Shift in normal mode but faster in hypershift mode) and perfectly engaging without being intrusive. The change times on downshift are incredibly fast and smooth. I love it.

As was noted earlier, personal taste. One man's meat, and all that.
 

ofenomeno99

Member
Messages
354
I honestly think that single/ dual clutch F1 transmissions will always be better than manuals except on 2.0 litre and below hot hatches. The funny thing is everyone on PistonHeads would have been just about ready to buy the latest released Lamborghini/ Ferrari/McLaren but they unfortunately don’t do them in manuals anymore :rolleyes:
 

hashluck

Member
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1,515
I honestly think that single/ dual clutch F1 transmissions will always be better than manuals except on 2.0 litre and below hot hatches. The funny thing is everyone on PistonHeads would have been just about ready to buy the latest released Lamborghini/ Ferrari/McLaren but they unfortunately don’t do them in manuals anymore :rolleyes:

Do the vast majority of people who sit on these forums genuinely buy these cars that they wish manufacturers would build if they were to actually build them? Have they even driven the alternatives?
 

rossyl

Member
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3,312
He said that the manual was 30/40k more than the SS and that's more about exclusivity. He said he didn't really bond with it even though it was a cool car as the clutch peddle was long, the bite point high and he spend the day stalling. The SS doesn't give you this problem. He said don't get hung up on the manual as the SS is just as good if not better......The salesman out the end said the Vantage V12 S was always made to have the SS3 box from the outset so the manual was really a novelty at the end of the life of the car.
A friend at work had a manual v12 and sold it after a couple of months - he couldn’t get on with the clutch bite point and mechanism.

Well I feel very chuffed hearing of everyone's difficulties. :)

Having driven a V12 Vantage off the pavement outside the dealership, onto Park Lane, and then clutch-controlled my way around central London in stop-start traffic for an hour - I did not stall once.

Smug face :)

(it probably helped that I was used to the clutch on my V8 Vantage - I actually found the clutch on the V12 lighter)
 

Andyk

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61,038
Well I feel very chuffed hearing of everyone's difficulties. :)

Having driven a V12 Vantage off the pavement outside the dealership, onto Park Lane, and then clutch-controlled my way around central London in stop-start traffic for an hour - I did not stall once.

Smug face :)

(it probably helped that I was used to the clutch on my V8 Vantage - I actually found the clutch on the V12 lighter)

I drove a mark one manual V12 and it was fine for me also......Sounds like the S was a different box...….If I was having an early Vantage Manual everyday.....A V8 S either would do me......
 

RichardP

Junior Member
Messages
16
Quick update on the little Aston, I've had it for about a week - in that time it's driven about 500 miles and as expected there's a few little issues but overall I'm really happy with it.
It's had a fresh MOT - no advisories!
I've put it in today for a 4 wheel alignment and all wheel balancing as there's a wobble and pulls to the left a bit at motorway speeds.

I've got an intermittent issue with the front indicator LED - which being an Aston is obviously a job that requires it to go on to a lift, take the wheel and wheel liners off and then possibly replace the entire unit for a brand new one at 1.5k - anyway there are companies out there that specialise in fixing the units for about 300 - 400 quid.

I'm getting quotes for detailing the paint as where the silver accent wrap came off it damaged the paint or clear coat (moral of story, don't wrap a car) but literally every shop I've spoken to has a different opinion alongside a wildy different price point lolz!

I'm heading out on that Euro trip on Friday, booked on to the chunnel - straight up into Germany to see some friends then a near 15 hour drive towards Venice to catch a ferry to Greece. Work is virtually non existent these days so I'm sure I'll be making stops and detours along the way.

Once again thanks to this great forum for allowing me to find a nice car!
 

Hurricane52

Member
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1,211
Have a great road trip. Lucky chap.

Is there reciprocal love shown for Maseratis on the Aston forums/fora? Id like to think it’s a two way affair...
 

RichardP

Junior Member
Messages
16
Weirdly I'm not on any Aston forum but I can only imagine that they'd look as kindly at people with a Maserati as an Aston.
Kinda similar brands aren't they? Interesting cars that don't have the broad market appeal of a Porsche and aren't up there with the Ferraris / Lamborghinis.
I was completely sold on a 3200 gt or a V8 Vantage but hardly considered a 911 - don't get me wrong I did test drive a 997 but it just wasn't for me.
 

RichardP

Junior Member
Messages
16
Hello all,
Hope you are very well.

My partner decided to become pregnant (no idea how that happened ) so sadly the time has come to sell the Aston and put myself into an SUV/ estate of some description. A 2017 Jag F Pace seems to offer the best value I reckon.

Anyway the Aston will have to go!
So in the past few months since buying it, I've driven it to Greece and back via Germany (165mph) and pretty much all of Italy - best trip of my life! Car performed flawlessly.
I've had the paint corrected, full polish (so now it's all black) and a ceramic coating applied. And also as the clutch was pretty much gone in the end I had pugsley and lewis fit the Aston Martin twin clutch package (3,600 pounds - ouch) and give the car a very thorough service

Overall I can say hand on heart that this car is good to go for 10,000's of miles. Pugsley and Lewis called it a very good car. It went through the MOT without a single advisory.

In good tradition I'm hoping to sell an Aston on a Maserati forum!
I'm looking for 26k, 57,500 miles (in daily use so will go up).

I've also attached the Pugsley and Lewis invoices.

Best regards,
Richard
 

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RichardP

Junior Member
Messages
16
Hi Phil,

I couldn't take a picture to save my life sadly.
These are the two latest pictures I have of the car. Second one is on the ferry from Corfu to Brindisi.
God I'm going miss it.
 

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RichardP

Junior Member
Messages
16
Forgot to say that I also got the top of the instrument panel fixed as the leather peeled away. This is a common issue with the Vantages.
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Nice looking car - better without the lipstick and hair grips (in my opinion). Hopefully there will be another quick and painless transaction. Would have 4.3 manual of all the modern Aston, but not in buying mode these days. Good Luck.

Amazed to see front splitter was only £154.
The clutch kit about par with DuoSelect.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
Looks lovely. I know Dean would have looked after it and you must be one of the few Aston owners to put that many miles on a car in a short time. Good on you......Still my favourite shape on the road and if I had the readies I would be taking look. Good luck with the sale as it's such a pretty car for 26k.
 

RichardP

Junior Member
Messages
16
Nice looking car - better without the lipstick and hair grips (in my opinion). Hopefully there will be another quick and painless transaction. Would have 4.3 manual of all the modern Aston, but not in buying mode these days. Good Luck.

Amazed to see front splitter was only £154.
The clutch kit about par with DuoSelect.

Many thanks sir! Yep the 4.3 and gearbox combo is virtually indestructible. It's really surprising to see how reliable they are and the more you use them the better they are for it.
There's literally nothing on my car that doesn't work. If I could I'd jump into it tomorrow morning drive to Cape Town have a glass of wine and drive back. Nothing will have gone wrong with it.
As an ownership experience it's incredible.