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Hi All, I am new to the forum and enjoyed reading many of the really positive posts. I am a car & sportscar enthusiast and ready to take the plunge on a V8 Vantage. I have narrowed the field to a 2009+ 4.7L Sportshift coupe. (Not interested in a manual - already have 2 manual sportscars & a convertible). After test driving a few the sportshift does concern me a little with all owners basically warning about the slow and clunky shifts in drive and making excuses for it before I even drove the car. While it isn't as bad as they warned it has its issues. I quite like the downshifts programming. I would have bought an immaculate 2010 Tungsten Silver V8V w N400 Sills & split 5 spoke alloys but timing was wrong. Available cars in Aust are limited so finding the perfect spec, color etc will be difficult but I can wait.
My 1st question is whether it is worth going to the upper end of my budget range and looking for a later SS II? From what I have read there is only a marginal improvement.
The 2nd is whether again a stretch to a Vantage S is worth the grief with the wife. The spec differences aren't huge but I would hope for a more aggressive change pattern. I like the brakes, body mods - sills, splitter etc
There are a few available interstate which leads to my last query on color. While color is subjective & personal one of the cars available is an uncommon color - Marron Black. It looks black in the shade however in bright sunlight has brown/bronze metallic undertones. The owner aptly describes it as Coffee Bean. I have not seen it in the flesh as yet and it will be a week or so before I can organize it. One man's unique is another man's quirky and sometime in the future I will need to find a buyer.
I was in your position about 5 months ago and I made up my mind that I would purchase the S version. Buy Grant's book to see the differences. The SSII gearbox is a nice gearbox when used in manual mode (I have this in mine). These cars don't work well with the D mode.
I had a 2009 non-S with factory extended warranty - too quiet!!! To keep warranty I'd have to go with factory S set-up - decided to update to the 15 GT. Not all Vantages have that wonderful sound you are assured with the S or GT.
I had a 2009 non-S with factory extended warranty - too quiet!!! To keep warranty I'd have to go with factory S set-up - decided to update to the 15 GT. Not all Vantages have that wonderful sound you are assured with the S or GT.
Just the opposite here.
Passed up on a '15 Skyfall Silver (full leather and no lipstick) GT with SSII and went with a '14 Tungsten Silver "regular" V8V with manual gearbox instead. Simply wanted a more relaxed, elegant and understated exhaust note and ride quality (it's my DD). Testdrove the SSII and the shifts were really not that bad as long as you keep it in manual mode and learn how to drive it properly.
Not saying which car is better or worse. But it goes to show we're all different and loving different cars for different reasons. After all, these Vantages are all beautiful in their own rights.
I like the extra spec & body styling of the S as it gives a slightly more modern appearance. Not so sure about the higher rear spoiler or stiffer suspension but will find out first hand in about a week if all goes to plan. I have only driven 4 cars as I am not tyre kicking, I just want to find the right car for me and make a decision - everyone I have driven sounds great but there were just a thing or 2 not quite there. I am also hoping the hill start feature and slightly faster changes settle my nagging issues with the auto. I want a prestige car and for me that's an auto! (I am driving a black VW Scirocco at the moment with DSG that is lighting fast on the shifts).
The Tungsten Silver car I was close to buying was beautiful and really suited the car - for me Skyfall is a little too light. I have a love/hate relationship with black. Looks great when clean but I hate washing cars and driving a car like this looking like a pig isn't the vision I am looking for. The Marron Black car I am looking at is interesting - is metallic but not really black. I doubt too many people will have seen one as they seem rare. I have uploaded a photo kindly provided by the owner and as he says AM are hardly likely to promote colors that do not suit the car. I don't quite know what to expect - I am hoping it is more bronze than brown but only one way to find out.
My journey in search of a V8V has continued but as yet without success. The Marron Black V8VS I posted a photo of has sold which is great for the owner and even though I would liked to have seen it in the flesh I did have doubts about an unusual color. There have also been some likely cars on market but with really odd trim colors and/or 2 tone options. I have however had the opportunity to drive a V8VS with SSII in Tungsten Silver (my No1 choice). Apart from finding the right combination of color, trim and options at the right price I am still trying to resolve the ongoing doubts about the Auto. It seems if you want an auto you've just got to suck it up and live with slow, lazy changes in "D". I have driven an 08, 10 and now a 13 V8VS SSII. Despite the SSII being talked up as a big improvement my personal experience was the step from 08 to 10 was more significant. The SSII 7 spd just adds one more painful change however on the plus side the hillhold feature is useful. The V8VS is very cool, sounds great, has a lot of great spec but in "D" I found it no faster on the changes then the 2010. I get that 90% of drivers say they use the paddles most if not all of the time but there are times I will just want to switch off and cruise along in traffic. If the SSII 7 speed is as good as gets then the 2009-11 seems better value for money with the right condition and mileage to me. One thing they do get right with the S is the sound, it is glorious and while every V8V sounds great the S takes it to another level.
With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight there is no doubt I should have bought the 2010 Tungsten Silver V8V I drove. It was immaculate low mileage and had the N400 sills but the timing just wasn't quite right. The 2013 MY14 V8VS I have now driven is just a little outside my comfort zone price wise. It is a magnificent car but I would not sure my wife would agree. For me there isn't a huge difference between the V8V and that V8VS that I find justifies the extra cash. If dollars were not a consideration then it would be a no brainer.
The photos below show there isn't much obvious difference. Even though Tungsten Silver is my color (some say boring) I could see me in a straight black. I am sure the right car will hit the net soon.
I like the extra spec & body styling of the S as it gives a slightly more modern appearance. Not so sure about the higher rear spoiler or stiffer suspension but will find out first hand in about a week if all goes to plan. I have only driven 4 cars as I am not tyre kicking, I just want to find the right car for me and make a decision - everyone I have driven sounds great but there were just a thing or 2 not quite there. I am also hoping the hill start feature and slightly faster changes settle my nagging issues with the auto. I want a prestige car and for me that's an auto! (I am driving a black VW Scirocco at the moment with DSG that is lighting fast on the shifts).
The Tungsten Silver car I was close to buying was beautiful and really suited the car - for me Skyfall is a little too light. I have a love/hate relationship with black. Looks great when clean but I hate washing cars and driving a car like this looking like a pig isn't the vision I am looking for. The Marron Black car I am looking at is interesting - is metallic but not really black. I doubt too many people will have seen one as they seem rare. I have uploaded a photo kindly provided by the owner and as he says AM are hardly likely to promote colors that do not suit the car. I don't quite know what to expect - I am hoping it is more bronze than brown but only one way to find out.
V8 Vantage S - Marron Black
This car is absolutely beautiful. Very close to the bronze on my Bentley.
