Current Events > So I bought an Aston Martin. AMA

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've bought an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It's amazing.







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Gawt damn I'm jealous. Aston's have never been my favorite but I recall you mentioning for a long time you were looking for a used DB9. What made you pick the Vantage over it and other brands?
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Sexy
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Not bad. Guessing you paid around 30k for it? Doug Demuro had one for a while and it was a positive experience, albeit one filled with repairs.
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Nice, I congratulate you
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beautiful on the ouside

1998 on the inside

jk im jelly ur james bond now
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Why is the steering wheel on the wrong side?
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Damn what a sexy car. What country are you from?
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Niccceeee.

Also nice to see someone on CE saying they can afford an expensive car actually proving it.
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fuckin sick man
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If you ever need roadside/tows, I actually take Astons at work, haha.
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what was your previous car? I've lost track of your ownership record at this point

Definitely has that grand tourer look to it. Nice ride!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a35rNEBNiO4
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electricbugs2 posted...

Gawt damn I'm jealous. Aston's have never been my favorite but I recall you mentioning for a long time you were looking for a used DB9. What made you pick the Vantage over it and other brands?

I've always loved the DB9 and I test drove one alongside the V8 Vantage, as well as a Jaguar F-Type S. I ruled out the Jaguar to begin with as, to be honest, while they're simply fantastic cars, I still think they have some depreciation left to go. If I bought an F-Type now, I'd lose a lot more money on it than I would do with an Aston, the values of which tend to hold a lot stronger.

I picked the V8V over the DB9 purely because it felt more like a driver's car. The DB9, while incredible (that V12!), simply felt a bit too much of a cruiser. I like to take my cars for a shakedown on some small, fast country roads. My old C63 was akin to a DB9 - fast, comfortable, but not exactly thrilling around the corners. The V8V is enough of an occasion to drive hard, while not having to go to ridiculous speeds to get the thrills you want.

Fart_Tzar posted...

Not bad. Guessing you paid around 30k for it? Doug Demuro had one for a while and it was a positive experience, albeit one filled with repairs.

I paid £40k for mine, which I think is somewhere in the $50-55k region? You can get cheaper ones but I wanted a well-maintained example, particularly as it'll be crossing 4 countries in the summer.

I posted another thread on reddit and Doug popped in to wish me the best. Nice of him.

1NfamousACE_2 posted...

Why is the steering wheel on the wrong side?

I'm British.

GigaSPX posted...

Damn what a sexy car. What country are you from?

Thanks. I'm from London, in the United Kingdom.

Soggy_Burger posted...

Niccceeee.

Also nice to see someone on CE saying they can afford an expensive car actually proving it.

Thanks. I remember in the past people would ask me for sign pics and shoe on head and newspapers and other such proof. Nice to be believed for once!
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treewojima posted...

what was your previous car? I've lost track of your ownership record at this point

What was the last thing you saw me in? On my driveway is the Aston, an old Merc C180 wagon, and a Mk1 Mazda MX-5. The Vantage replaced a C63 AMG, which itself replaced a TVR T350C.
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OMG, Europeans are so freaking hardcore about not tipping that they actually will levy a fine to those caught doing it?... wtf
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How's the MX-5? I always liked Mazdas.
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Ah, I remember the C63 now. If I recall correctly, someone broke into your house looking for keys.

Luigi and Tails posted...

I've always loved the DB9 and I test drove one alongside the V8 Vantage, as well as a Jaguar F-Type S. I ruled out the Jaguar to begin with as, to be honest, while they're simply fantastic cars, I still think they have some depreciation left to go. If I bought an F-Type now, I'd lose a lot more money on it than I would do with an Aston, the values of which tend to hold a lot stronger.

I picked the V8V over the DB9 purely because it felt more like a driver's car. The DB9, while incredible (that V12!), simply felt a bit too much of a cruiser. I like to take my cars for a shakedown on some small, fast country roads. My old C63 was akin to a DB9 - fast, comfortable, but not exactly thrilling around the corners. The V8V is enough of an occasion to drive hard, while not having to go to ridiculous speeds to get the thrills you want.

Really good to know all this. Came into money recently and after I handle my first round of brutal income tax I'm looking into a grand tourer myself.

Been looking at DB9's but they hold their value really well in the Vancouver area simply because Asian university students change cars like the average Joe changes his underwear. Lowest I've seen is $72,000. Been leaning towards Gran Turismo's as a result but I'll keep my eyes peeled over the next while.

Thanks again and like I said damn fine car.
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Omfg the racing green is so perfect on it. Grats bro
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byron posted...

What year?

2006.

SiO4 posted...

OMG, Europeans are so freaking hardcore about not tipping that they actually will levy a fine to those caught doing it?... wtf

Absolutely.

In fairness, this "tipping" means "fly-tipping". The area I took that photo in is quite quiet and deserted. Although, if you want to believe that signs like that are why we don't tip, go right ahead.

Funny story time - the first time I went to the US with work (I'd just turned 21), I didn't realise you were supposed to tip the bar staff in a pub. We don't here. I met a lady a few days into my trip and we ended up becoming bed friends. We talked about the bar I went to and how one of her friends worked at the bar there. She then informed me about the tipping culture and asked, "did you stiff [barlady]?!" I went a bit quiet and mumbled yes, how did you find out, she came to my hotel very late and anonymously so nobody would see her going to my room.

It was only after a very awkward silence did I realise "stiffing" meant not tipping, and did not mean the activities two adults do in their own privacy. Needless to say, that bed friend didn't last.

CapnMuffin posted...

How's the MX-5? I always liked Mazdas.

The MX-5 is brilliant. I actually love it so much I've bought two. The first one was pretty cheap and the bodywork was past its best. This one (also a Mk1 1.8) is in better condition. You can get an absolute bargain on good MX-5s and they're so easy to drive, such fun, and cost pennies to run. Out of the three cars on my driveway the MX-5 tends to get default selection unless I'm driving long distance or I fancy some weekend fun.

treewojima posted...

Ah, I remember the C63 now. If I recall correctly, someone broke into your house looking for keys.

That's correct. The house is now fitted with a very sensitive alarm, CCTV all round and has been generally bolstered to prevent theft.

electricbugs2 posted...

Really good to know all this. Came into money recently and after I handle my first round of brutal income tax I'm looking into a grand tourer myself.

Been looking at DB9's but they hold their value really well in the Vancouver area simply because Asian university students change cars like the average Joe changes his underwear. Lowest I've seen is $72,000. Been leaning towards Gran Turismo's as a result but I'll keep my eyes peeled over the next while.

Thanks again and like I said damn fine car.

No worries. I was looking at a GranTurismo before I went towards the Astons, the only thing that put me off was the sheer size of the car. A buddy of mine lent me his GranSport for a few days previously and that was quite fun, but the GT is simply enormous. I also looked at GT-Rs - however I've already had one so I decided to go for something else.

Another suggestion would be a V10 M6 - they've hit the bottom of their depreciation curve and shouldn't be too expensive to buy, will cost about the same to run as a DB9 would, and will return most of their value when you're done with them. At the other end of the scale, S2 Elises/Exiges are pretty steady at the moment too.
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nice one, thought you had a tvr or summat
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Luigi and Tails posted...

No worries. I was looking at a GranTurismo before I went towards the Astons, the only thing that put me off was the sheer size of the car. A buddy of mine lent me his GranSport for a few days previously and that was quite fun, but the GT is simply enormous. I also looked at GT-Rs - however I've already had one so I decided to go for something else.

Another suggestion would be a V10 M6 - they've hit the bottom of their depreciation curve and shouldn't be too expensive to buy, will cost about the same to run as a DB9 would, and will return most of their value when you're done with them. At the other end of the scale, S2 Elises/Exiges are pretty steady at the moment too.

I like big cars so that's kinda perfect for me ha ha. GT-R's are really common around here too because of the aforementioned import students. Guy in town has one and he always floors it off the lights.

Never been a big BMW guy. I appreciate them for what they are but not my thing. I do like the M3 though. I love Lotus cars but unfortunately the Exige and Elise are no longer produced in Canada because of side airbag laws, and I can't afford an Evora so a Lotus is sadly unlikely. Just don't want to deal with what will likely become a big parts hassle down the line.
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Nice! Just don't wrap it around a telephone pole or whatever you brits call those big sticks in the ground holding the wires up.

Price?
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SpoiltTrouser posted...

nice one, thought you had a tvr or summat

I had a TVR T350C last year. I got rid of it for a Mercedes C63, which was then replaced by the Aston.

brandunh11 posted...

Price?

I paid £40k for mine, which I think is about $50-55k.
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electricbugs2 posted...

I like big cars so that's kinda perfect for me ha ha. GT-R's are really common around here too because of the aforementioned import students. Guy in town has one and he always floors it off the lights.

Never been a big BMW guy. I appreciate them for what they are but not my thing. I do like the M3 though. I love Lotus cars but unfortunately the Exige and Elise are no longer produced in Canada because of side airbag laws, and I can't afford an Evora so a Lotus is sadly unlikely. Just don't want to deal with what will likely become a big parts hassle down the line.

How are you on Mercs? You might be the perfect buyer for a C63! Great fun and also quite large/practical. What kind of stuff do you get in Canada? I'll be honest, last time I visited I was blown away by the amount of stunners. You guys have gorgeous girls.

eggcorn posted...

Nice! Just don't wrap it around a telephone pole or whatever you brits call those big sticks in the ground holding the wires up.

We also call them telephone poles and I will try not to crash into one :)
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Nice man,

Inside looks a little dated b/c of the vents mostly but that's awesome
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What do you do for a living that you can afford all these fancy cars
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That's dope as hell
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TaZa92 posted...

What do you do for a living that you can afford all these fancy cars

I work in aerospace engineering. Started at an early age - it'll be 10 years this year and I'm 26! - and a lot of hard work really pays off.
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Luigi and Tails posted...

How are you on Mercs? You might be the perfect buyer for a C63! Great fun and also quite large/practical. What kind of stuff do you get in Canada? I'll be honest, last time I visited I was blown away by the amount of stunners. You guys have gorgeous girls.

I live on Vancouver Island so the area is stacked with super cars. Mercedes I've always been hit and miss on.

Love AMG's, think everything else is hit or miss. There's a SLK55 AMG locally right now that's tempting but it's had a claim so I'm pretty iffy on it. And plus Mercedes has always been mom's dream car and I hope to get her an e-class convertible eventually.

I do like the look of the C63. Have you ever tracked it? There's a sick new race track that opened three hours away and I'm seriously considering membership.
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electricbugs2 posted...

Love AMG's, think everything else is hit or miss. There's a SLK55 AMG locally right now that's tempting but it's had a claim so I'm pretty iffy on it. And plus Mercedes has always been mom's dream car and I hope to get her an e-class convertible eventually.

I do like the look of the C63. Have you ever tracked it? There's a sick new race track that opened three hours away and I'm seriously considering membership.

Agreed. I have a bottom-of-the-range C180 wagon as a daily driver. It's great as a humdrum everyday car but certainly not something I'd want to own exclusively.

I've never been a big fan of the SLKs - they just seem like a watered-down version of the SLs. A buddy of mine has an SL55 AMG and that is a very lovely piece of kit. I had my TVR when I went for a drive with him and being able to hear the low-frequency, aeroplane-esque growl from his engine over the evisceral shriek of my T350C was very respectable.

I never tracked my old C63 but I did take it for many runs on fast country roads. The UK is full of fantastic roads to drive on, I actually took the Mazda out on a drive last weekend. We covered about 260 miles of 60-70mph twisty roads. I've done these kinds of roads a few times in the C63, but the MX-5 was far better suited for these kinds of drives. The Merc works well on large tracks, but for small twisty roads, my buddies and I had two Toyota MR2s, a modified S1 Elise, a Caterham C7, and my MX-5 to hoon around in.
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Lol expensive cars

Sweet congratulations
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SiO4 posted...

OMG, Europeans are so freaking hardcore about not tipping that they actually will levy a fine to those caught doing it?... wtf

Absolutely.

In fairness, this "tipping" means "fly-tipping". The area I took that photo in is quite quiet and deserted. Although, if you want to believe that signs like that are why we don't tip, go right ahead.

Funny story time - the first time I went to the US with work (I'd just turned 21), I didn't realise you were supposed to tip the bar staff in a pub. We don't here. I met a lady a few days into my trip and we ended up becoming bed friends. We talked about the bar I went to and how one of her friends worked at the bar there. She then informed me about the tipping culture and asked, "did you stiff [barlady]?!" I went a bit quiet and mumbled yes, how did you find out, she came to my hotel very late and anonymously so nobody would see her going to my room.

It was only after a very awkward silence did I realise "stiffing" meant not tipping, and did not mean the activities two adults do in their own privacy. Needless to say, that bed friend didn't last.

Heh, I know I was joking with you. I couldn't pass up that old CE debate, with a sign like that!!
And lol @ the story... Good times...
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