An introduction of sorts. Many years ago when I was a young adult, I had a DB6 (parchment silver) that was a basket case when I bought it, rebuilt it (sans body work) and sold it on for what I thought was a killing. Ha! Lately, after many years of Porsche and Mercedes Benz AMG ownership (and a few other rubbish marques) I wanted to scratch the "Aston itch" and added a 2012 Virage (The thinking Mans Aston or so I'm told ) in Meteorite Silver over Obsidian Black (full spec below) to the stable. Other than a quick trip to the market and office I haven't driven it and currently sits in my garage/shop awaiting all of the prophylactic services I do to all my new to me cars. It's also middle of winter in Northern Vermont (where it resides) and I'm not going to abuse it as I have a number of other cars at my disposal.

Even though I adore "sports cars", lately I've been enjoying GT's quite a bit more for my many longer trips as I split my time between Northern Vermont and Northern New Jersey and it's much more convenient to drive (4-1/2 hours each way for approximately 300 miles) then to fly. While I keep some cars at each location, getting to the airport, TSA (even with precheck), sitting on the runway, flying (hour in the air) then getting to my other place is virtually a wash time wise and I'm subject to the air travel gods. No thanks.

Thankfully, the car was very nicely maintained and kept very tidy. The only service "needed" is replacing the CC brake pads as they're 2/3rds gone. While I'll get new pads, I'm going to shelve them and the rotors for the time I sell it on and install "traditional" pads/rotors. Some of my other cars came spec'd with them and I did the same. You go through them like wet kleenex on the track (this car will never see a track - I've got a few cars for that) where they are effective and for the street, they really aren't any better and could care less about brake dust. It also needs new front tires (Pilot Super Sports). I'll swap all four for PS4's come April. Otherwise, I'll do a full fluid flush and replace all the filters. The PO did the tranny but didn't replace the shift seals. They're cheap and why it wasn't done is beyond me. I had a BMW 760iL years ago with the same tranny and that service transforms the shifting. The BMW dealer said I needed a new mechatronic unit. Ha! Suffice it to say I do most of my own service. Not so much because I'm cheap (I can be) but because I do not trust most shops and it's a bit of a hobby. Recently, I was told I had to change out my struts on my 2008 Cayman S or it wouldn't pass inspection. Last winter/spring/summer I had both hips replaced (February and May) and got whacked by a car whilst out on a "training ride" (bicycle) in August which broke my pelvis and was in no condition to do the job. I went in to inspect the "old" struts and they were different than the ones I had on it and I had pictures from my documentation of the replacement I did. The shop manager had the same car and swapped mine (less than 18 months old) for his. I had a chat with the shop owner and local constabulary about that. While he didn't fire him on the spot I learned from the Snap-On guy he was no longer there as of the same afternoon. They bought me new ones that a friend helped me install in September. In the end, all good.The only fluid/flush I wont do is coolant as the PO did it 1,000 miles ago in May 2023. I'll also replace the coil packs (surefire units), plugs (NGK), MAF sensor and PVC valve (motorcraft as its identical to the AM one and $20~ versus $200~), air filters, cabin filter, belt (it's new but they didn't replace pulleys, again go figure) and all the pulleys, etc. Also and oil flush (LiquiMoly engine flush) with LiquiMoly 0/40 or 5/40 and their Ceratec additive too. Then when it's warmer I'll fully condition the leather and other interior bits and do a full paint restore (it's terrific already as the PO did a full clean/polish when he bought it 2021) so outside of a paint clean (Zymol HD Clense) superfine grit and polish (3M) and Zymol Carbon Wax, it wont need much. Yes' I'm still a wax guy. With Aston's paint I think it gives it far more depth. Thats likely a self affirming bias though.

Some of the photos are the photos from the dealership I bought it from, some from delivery before I took a quick spin (snow was gone by then) and tucked it away.

I look forward to interacting and learning from you all in the coming months and years. Oh yeah, I'm looking at a Rapide too! Yes, I have a problem.

Seat Belt Reminder Function Seat Belt - 2 door - FED VIRTUAL CENTRE STACK Sat Nav Virtual Stack Facia Embroidery With Facia Embroidery Welt Stitching Galena Silver (N1992) - 20M Antennas Fitted Rear antenna only fitted Sill Plaques Standard Sill Plaques Seat Type Sports Seat - Fed OCS (tether - Non VH3) Tyre Pressure Monitoring TPMS - 433Mhz (do not fit bracket) Regional Codes for Cars 2 Codes For USA FORWARD HARNESS Forward Harness - Adaptive Damping Paint Technology Paint Technology - Standard Regional Codes for Cars 1 Codes For USA Alarm System Low Specification Alarm Rear Badge Fit Virage Badge Interior Rear View Mirror Garage Door Opener + Auto Dim Mirror-US Bluetooth Phone Module Bluetooth with B&O Audio Front Header Non GSM Telephone Seat config and Inserts 2+2 SEATS / PLAIN SEAT INSERTS Engine Mounts Engine Mounts - Cyan Side Strake Meshes Side Strake Mesh - Titanium Rear Subframe Rear Subframe - Sports Frame Facia Type and Nav Screen Foil Facia with Sat Nav Screen Memory Seats Memory Seats Brake Cooling & Vac Hose Brake Cooling & Vac Hose - Sports Centre Console Stowage Non Smokers Kit Differential Differential - Sports Diff Power Steering Module Power Steering Module - Standard Headlamps Headlights LHD - Federal Transmission Mounts Transmission Mount - Purple Fuel Tank Fuel Tank - Others Tow Eye Cover Tow Eye Cover Trinket Tray No Trinket Tray Watermark Model Description Virage Radiator Radiator Performance Satellite Navigation Satellite Navigation Car type config change control MY90 onwards Coupe codes Audio System B & O BeoSound Audio Tracker Non Tracker CRUISE CONTROL Cruise Control Occupancy Classification System Fit OCS Centre Stack Centre Stack - Sil / Graph - Act damp Door Pull Iridium Door Pull (Flat Pad) MIRROR GLASS Mirror Glass - Federal Fuel Advise Label Fuel Advise Label - Fed Parking Cameras No Parking Cameras Fitted Dynamic Stability Control - Operation Track Mode - 3 Stage Operation INSTRUMENT PACK Instrument Panel - UK/USA Steering Wheel Std Steering Wheel with Bluetooth/Cruise IPOD / USB Conectivity IPOD / USB Connection Tail Lamp Finishers Tail Lamp Finisher - Std Body Colour Air Registers Air Register - Iridium Bumper Meshes Bumper Mesh - Titanium Brake Calipers Brake Calipers - Red Seating Arrangement 2 + 2 Seating Arrangement Strg Wheel Colour Obsidian Black Leather (LX5LX57 Strg Wheel Stitching Standard Roof Inner Colour Tailors Grey Alcantara Facia Trim (Trim Inlay) Double Apex Alloy + Sat Nav Embroidery(Driver) Falcon Grey - 0132C Cabin Carpet Sill & Tunnel Carpet B&O / 720gsm Front Grille Bright Finish Grille Tyre Data Label Tyre Data Label - USA - 2+2 Welt Galena Silver Leather (LX127) Tread Plates Treadplate Finish - Platinum Embroidery(Passenger) Falcon Grey - 0132C Embroidery(Rear) Falcon Grey - 0132C HVAC Unit Fit HVAC Unit V12 - Cold Trim Colour Upper Obsidian Black Leather (LX57), Trim Colour: Lower Obsidian Black Leather (LX57) Rear Lamp Config Rear Lamp - Clear V2 (Rapide VH112) Performance P Mass Movement Sensor No Mass Movement Sensor Vehicle Program VH11

Here's my current vehicles to give ya'll an idea of my automotive sensibilities (If you care). I'm not a fan of "look at me" type cars although one could quite correctly argue that's precisely what I have, So no Ferrari's, Bentley's or Lamborghini's although I'd love a Miura SV:

1975 911S
1995 993RS (clone)
1997 Carrera 2S
1999 Miata NB
2006 Cayenne S
2007 MB E63 AMG
2007 GT3
2008 MB CL63 AMG - Black series uprated
2009 MB E63 AMG Wagon
2008 Cayman S
2008 MB S600
2008 MB S65AMG
2012 Panamera S
2012 Aston Martin Virage
2018 GT3 RS
2021 Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo
2024 911 S/T Allocation confirmed

Next? AM Rapide, GT4 RS, 992 Turbo S

 

Love the Virage. Always nice to see another one in the group. Welcome, from north of the border (Ottawa, Ontario)!

 

Very nice, both of them. There's something just a bit special about a Virage.

 

Thank you. Very nice Virage! Is yours meteorite silver as well? With all the different shades of silver with only slight variation, it's difficult to tell from photos. We're in your neck of the woods somewhat often. Our daughter goes to undergrad in Canton NY and sometimes visit Ottawa for a bit more than North Country of New York and Amish culture.

 

Nice car (and collection)! When I started looking for my first Aston a few months ago I also started with the Virage as my initial target, but ended up with a 2015 DB9. Here in Houston I can drive it all year long - pic below is this morning at my workplace parking garage. I have a (much smaller) yet similar collection as yours - 2nd pic is my other “daily driver” - 2017 911 Turbo S a few weeks ago in the same parking spot, lol.

And I also work on my cars myself for the enjoyment of it!

 

 

Beatiful Car! Amazing.

 

It’s Quantum Silver, so it tends toward bronze in the right light. I am envious of those who get to drive their cars all year round. I also picked mine up in mid-winter a few years ago and had to wait until spring to get it on the road.

 

Looks terrific.

 

I’m a bit envious as well. All of our snow in the valley is gone for now and I’m tempted to drive but the road is still strewn with all manner of detritus. I’ve bought all of my cars either end of season through mid winter. Go figure…My biggest reservation this time of year is that summer only tires have virtually no grip below 45F. When I had to rearrange the cars in my garage/shop when I acquired the Virage I took all the cars out for a drive to fully heat the lump up before returning them to hibernation. I made the mistake of downshifting in my Cayman S to accelerate and lit the tires up at 50mph (with only a little over 300 horsepowers) and the rear started coming around. Talk about a sphincter clenching moment.

 

Both my Jag and my Virage have summer tyres on them (Michelin Pilot Sport 4s's) and they share daily driving duties all year round. Winter here can go below 32 deg F on my morning commute but I don't have issues.

The nearly new P Zeros that were originally on the Virage were a different matter. They were hopeless until they got some warmth in them, or if the road was wet.