congrats on your new Vantage. looks great!

 

I do like the Orient Blue. I'm not much of a fan of the black 07 with the red interior, I just don't like red interior.

Your car looks great! Congrats on the buy!

 

My 2008 Vantage is nearly identical--my Midnight Blue is a little Darker, but Interior, which I really like a lot, is the same. Tan Door insert, tan seats, tan headliner, blue dashboard. Beautiful combination, me thinks.

 

I went from a 997 X51 c4s to a V12V....and I can say without a doubt the driving experience is more exciting...not that the Porsche is bad in any way...but when I take out the Aston...I am more engaged than I tended to be on afternoon rides in the 911

 

Welcome!

 

Congrats - car looks great!

I'm also in the NOVA area and have stopped by the new dealer to drool. Would love to get into an Aston in the next few years. If you're ever free I'd love to meet up and see the car in person.

 

Sweet. Go for the "cats" first though as it may be enough for you. Love thoses red calipers. BTW, I too had a Boxster, 911 and an Audi R8 before I pulled the trigger on the V8 Vantage.

 

That is a beautiful Aston. As the pricing comes down on these pre-owned Vantages it makes them very attractive. So who owns the Aston dealer now in Tysons? When it was located where Porsche is now I thought it was part of the Penske franchise, but it’s my understanding it was sold. In any event, great car and congrats!

 

Its owned by a couple of private investors now, it was a Penske dealership back when it was across the street where the Porsche store is now. They flip a lot of cars is seems, though they have an Audi R8 that's nearly new they tell me has been sitting on the lot of nearly a year now and they can't figure out why it hasn't sold.

AXARUNNER: Tell me about the 'cats' on the Vantage? Restrictive? What's the hot licks for more sound and performance these days. I know there is the 'power kit' from AM that adds about 20 HP for $ 5K, and then the Quicksilver exhausts and I see Capristo makes a system as well. Of course B&B Triflow does too, but my experience with their product is that it booms/drones at steady state cruising speeds which is hugely annoying.

 

Beautiful car, congrats. BTW, my folks live 2 blocks away from that dealership. I've passed it numerous times when I've been up there visiting them, but never stopped in.

I too, am in the market for an 07-08 Coupe. Maybe I should extend my search area a bit.

BTW, are you able to buy an extended warranty on a car like that purchased from an AM dealer?

 

Oh yes, they will sell you one! I think it was $ 4,600 for 1 year, and $ 8,200 for two years. They couldn't understand why I was laughing when they told me that I'm a pretty good wrench and don't buy warranties. In my spare time I like to restore motorcycles so I have a fairly extensive Snap-On toolbox at home so I'm not inclined to pay for things not yet broken. Granted I don't have the capability to fuss with the ECU computer management system in the cars but most regular mechanical things like a new clutch or shock replacements or a water pump I'll tackle easily enough.

 

BTW, I was out in the Aston last night at the Giant Supermarket - parked in the far corner of the lot and an attractive blond was walking by as I was getting in the car.

She was staring at the Vantage and said 'I have dreams about owning a car like that'.

In all my years of owning Porsches, I never had that occur before. And no, I did not tell my wife that story when I got home.

 

I hear you, that is absurd. I don't think I'll be buying that mafia connected warranty. I too, am a big do it yourselfer. Have done frame off restorations on several cars, (Corvette's), built a Factory Five Racing Cobra Replica, and am currently doing a frame off restoration on a 65 Buick Riviera. I've worked on all my cars my entire life, so I plan on doing as much myself on what ever Aston I purchase. At the end of the day, it's still a car, and the basics should be the same. I too, have a fully outfitted garage with almost every tool imaginable, including a lift.

 

Congrats. She's a beaut.

Funny, my first Aston was also a blue Vantage, I traded my Boxster S in on it too!!!
I fell hard for the Aston experience. Like porsche (pre 991) it offers a real mechanical connection to the car. But the Aston is a broader ownership experience. Washing the car is a dream and the materials used are top notch.

Enjoy!!!

 

drcollie-Beautiful car, congrats on becoming an owner. It's still a special event every time I get in mine 3 years on.

With regards to the Cats-do a couple of searches. I and one or two others have posted before and after dynos and you will find the gains are almost on par with the power pack for less than half the price. They are also much lighter and give the car a great soundtrack with lots of pops and crackles. I also noticed an improvement in throttle response.
I installed them myself on my 4 post lift and posted a thread on how to do it.

The stock cats are very restrictive. The 200 cell sport cats are much less so and also leaned out my AFR nicely. Mine are RSC and have never thrown a code. Very pleased and I get compliments on my cars sound every time I am at a car meet.