Hey all,

I've been lurking on this site for quite a while now reading everything I can about these magnificent works of art. I do have a large worry though. I'm looking to buy a 2006-08 V8 vantage (it's my budget hence the 4.3). What's stopping me from pulling the trigger is that I feel I'll be married to it once I own it.

I love this car. I've test driven a few and each time it's like xmas morning. I was looking at 911's originally as I thought a v8 vantage was just too far out of my range. The 911 is easy to sell. I sell my cars privately so I don't lose out on trading it in. The Vantage scares me though if you were to sell it privately. Am I worrying over nothing? Has anyone gone through this process without losing too much money selling privately if you have taken great care of the vehicle?

This is my only worry. I used to own a porsche or two and a lotus elise (love that car). Life changes as we all know, so for me it's good to know that you can still buy a car and not have a stressful time trying to sell the car and losing a fortune. Thanks all for your help/advice! Love this forum for all the help!

 

buying a car that works for your emotions is like falling in love? no one goes into a relationship and at entry considers the aftermath, think of the joy it will bring you to you, AM unlike other exotics dont get old IMO they age like Helen Mirren or Debbie Harry both over 60 and both still desirable again IMO (both still very ****-able see survey on you tube of the most desirable women over 60.. they fill the two top spots they are also best of British

The 06 vantage will hold its own in the beautiful stakes against the latest one and it will require a very discerning eye to point out the changes over the years.

I for one am not crazy about the new enlarged rear lip spoiler and clear tail lights on the new offering, and the grill has gone from 8 slats to 6, again both are great. The new one does not have the cheap ford roof antenna, small details really and easy to change if your image is bruised, but in saying that no other AM owner will point out your shortcomings because we are gentleman rouges

you will be the one who pays the right price with the first owners having to absorb the biggest depreciation, yes the 4.7 is nicer from the torque but the 4.3's sound better (fuse 22 out)
The big thing is it must be immaculate inside and out then you can live with it, selling it second hand out of hand no issue in SA provided your price is realistic and you have maintained it
In SA a imaculate V8Vantage with say 25000Km will set you back around 780 ZAR (+- 70000USD) for an 06 4.3


you know you want it! you know the Porsche is faster better and possibly more reliable....but is it ever going to be as desirable.

Besides if its pure performance the new new Golf and small Ford ST even push the 911's on acceleration so one has to tread carefully with weekend warriors nowadays, behind the wheel of a vantage you can just ignore them and they will forever wonder if the rice rocket was / is faster AM for me is about the Brand the exclusiveness and not seeing one every day...even the rev counter goes the other way making it special - every time

Good luck

 

I haven't sold mine yet so I can't speak from experience, but you have to understand that the market is much smaller and more niche than Porsches. It's another reason I like driving and owning one.

That said, I believe there are things you can do to improve marketability.
- Lots of excellent photos
- Long, well written descriptions that summarize how well it has been cared for and how stubborn you are to keep it immaculate
- Complete and fully stamped service history
- Price competitively, but not super low (for the reasons stated below)

Look at the low end of the market ($45-55k and note that most of those cars are high mileage, or weird color combos, or lacking critical options that put buyers off). Then note that even if you bought one and sold it for $20k less a couple years later, which I think would be hard to imagine happening, you only paid $10k/yr for an Aston Martin.

My 2c at least.

 

I lost a fortune on my 07 but that was because it was a piece of trash. Now I'm trying to sell my very nice single owner one and people are still low balling, whenever a rare reply shows up

 

There is a buyer for every car. We've all been on both side of the transaction. Seller see buyers as cheap, predatory low-ballers and buyers see sellers as unrealistic dreamers hoping against hope. It's always the same!

 

I have owned a 07 AMV8 and 14 AMV8. Both occasions I tried selling privately. But eventually went with dealer consignments. They sell faster by a AM dealer.

The thing I feel with private sale is the lack of a credibility that an AM dealer brings. When the dealer listed my 07 car, they have to make sure the car is decent, well taken care of and approved for extended warranty. I paid for PPI. They listed and they vouched for it. Sold within 7 days. My private sale...listed for fking 35 days. Nothing.

Plus there's the financing piece when selling privately. Most pple need financing for a ~$55k car. Dealers have financing readily available.

 

LOL. This is like worrying about how much the divorce is going to cost you before proposing.

FWIW: I sold my 07MY V8V for almost the same amount I bought it for 3 years before; although I do recognize that was an anomaly.

 

People who bought used luxury cars between 2009-2011 and kept them nice did very well on depreciation. The market was depressed then and then picked up again in 2012-13.