The ULTIMATE BUYERS GUIDE for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage 

By far my most ambitious video... I've got sooo much more respect for Evan's editing skills for my Unzipped videos now that I've had to do a complex video like this on my own. A couple notes: - Instead of doing a ton of links in the description, I'll be putting them in my Buyers Guide article. A link to that article is in the description and is being updated with those links, and fleshed out in general. - I didn't discuss things covered by a PPI, which are generally all the mechanical things like the engine, brakes, clutch, tires, and so on. - Every car is different and it's impossible to cover everything in one video, so I'm sure some things are missing - this one was well over 20 minutes as it is!

This is perfect for the Aston I don’t have. Yet I had to watch the whole thing lol.

(Can't afford an Aston) watches the whole video.

Great video, Richard. Thanks for your continued support of our Aston community! 👍🏼

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for making this video and the subsequent video. it has not received enough appreciation. thank you.

A great video. I've been considering a V8 Vantage and my competency has increased a few levels after watching this.

Very well done Richard. I didn't think I was going to sit through the whole video but you had me the whole time. Thanks

Fantastically useful guide, not just for Astons but buying ANYTHING vaguely exotic, so thanks for that. Also enjoyed watching your drinks glass change level and color.

Richard knows his V8 Vantages like nobody else! I live in the UK and if I need to do anything to my 2006 V8 Vantage with 20k miles I look to Richard before anyone else.His videos are clear and precise to follow and when I had a query not covered a videos he replied same day to my email.He makes owning an Aston a pleasure rather than a worry! Thank you Richard! Kevin Lofting.Hangs UK

Great video Richard! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

A superb and thorough video. Very informative, thanks!

Great video with owner’s insights. I especially learned about the sport shift not being an automatic. I live in a very hilly and narrow street part of England and considered the “automatic” for the torque converter, but now I’m not so sure. As you stated, I probably need to drive them both to make up my mind.

Great info! My first Aston arrives tomorrow at 5pm. 2015 Vantage GT Roadster SptShift 🔥🔥

Brilliant. Rarely seen a buyer's guide of this quality.

Best AM buyers guide!! Thank you

This is gold!!! Thank you for your help. I will make sure to purchase from your website.

A truly great video, I'm a little torn between a DB9 and a Vantage as my first Aston. Watching this has really sold the Vantage to me further! Thank you

amazing stuff and very useful can't wait for the followup keep it up

Nicely done, Richard. Looking forward to seeing you back here in Victoria, British Columbia for our next AMOC event!

I’ve just bought one. Very informative video. Garage rot! Love it.:)

Great video Richard My 06 has 116k miles on it but it did have a 4.7 installed at 111k You sat in the back of it when you were at Aston installations in the UK.

Good video. I’m starting my search and research on AM’s. Subscribed.

Very good advise regarding buying all Aston Martin

LOVED this video 🔥🔥 thx for the channel!

Sportshift with sports pack suspension all the way. It is a fantastic setup for those who know how to drive a manual but want something faster.

Great content as usual Richard

This is a fantastically thorough overview of maintenance issues of this car. YOU should have written the book!

Very good video ! Very informative ! And yes, you are so right concerning the sportshift: lift your toes when shifting, it’ll be so much smoother ! And don’t ride the clutch on a hill. Press the brake when standing still.

Im 31 and I just drive a 2005 WRX STI, but now I want more and more to own one of these, they are beautiful cars.. And actually not as bad priced as I thought. Yeah one of these.. its the dream. Thanks for this video, it was great.

Looking to get a vantage later this year, I will defo be getting paint protection

Best aston review by far

Awesome content brotha 👍🏽

I can’t thank you enough for taking the time on making this video. Weather someone is looking for an Aston or other same level cars.

Love it! Great video as I start down the money pit of Aston Martin! I do love your line that they are reliable because they use parts from cars like Jaguar and Land Rover!! I guess when those two makers put their parts together they don’t break? LOL. Thanks again!

Can you please do these type of videos for Porsche please. Really enjoy your videos on the Aston, keep up the good work. Mick 👍🍻

Brilliant stuff Richard, especially your comments on SS; said perfectly!

New subscriber here. Probably seen you around when you where in Northern VA. Great content btw.

Seat belt guide loops are quite simple to 'repair'... demagnetise them by stroking a strong magnet across the metal buttons

15:55 "...it's very common for people to hit curbs or parking posts or ... *small children...*" :O

Very informative video and some good pragmatic tips re the ubiquitous sports shift transmissions - so many clutch burnouts by poor driving techniques. I would have liked a bit more info on the Roadster version- including the folding roof and any potential issues around servo motors.

AWESOME VIDEO THANKS SO MUCH 😎🙌🏼💯 ASTON MARTIN ALLDAY

Very informative Richard. Willl go relook at somethings on ours.

Just bought a 2009 Vantage ... this is good info.

Great video bud thank you

Great video👏🏽

Beautiful car and video,thanks a lot. Can you tell me the name of both wheels? As i saw,you've changed them,but both are beautiful..

Very good the book link

funny your content is relevant to me. I have a 2008 roadster i have torn apart completely. not so bad. looks like a mess but it will all go back together. I'm tearing out all the volvo fiber optics. putting an android . I changed all the brakes clutch transmission . changed lots of sensors . everything is sorted out now. everything on car works now. I changed gear oil motor oil brake fluid hydraulic fluid. filters etc. they are well built cars.

Thanks a lot! Very helpful!!!

Well done. Hope you will do one for the DB9!

Having a very difficult time finding the right 2021 Aston Martin Vantage in a manual(this is a must) fun shopping around but hard to find the right one in California

Great video. I took the manual 4.7 out when I was looking and didn't like it. The dealer never mentioned the sportshift so I dismissed the model and bought a DB9 instead. Talking of which, are you going to do a similar episode for the DB9 ? One thing that I totally agree with is the book, I tell so many prospective owners to get it and never buy a Gaydon model without first buying a copy. Rob

thank you for this video very helpful.... thinking of buying one ive owned multiple porsches and currently still drives a very reliable 115k mile tuned 996 turbo. I recently sold my 981S and looking to get a Vantage..... i love the Alloro green on the 15 GT but not sure about the yellow highlights but that can be wrapped easily... lol i think i would be sticking with 2011 and above cause i might buy a sportshift since wifey would want to drive it... even though i owned an e60 m5 before with smg i would follow your advice and drive both the manual and sportshift... i see a lot of Vantage S and regret not buying a GTS that i saw last year never knew there were only 100? so will definitely look for S, N420 and a GT...

Well done! I have a question for you. Do you think the Aston Martin v8 vantage 4.3, would become a car of hystorical interest? Thanks, bye

3 M P G flat-out on track !!!!! And I still want one.....

My roadster is 5 years old and only has 8000 miles with a full history. I love it.😍 in addition it does average 20.1 per uk gallon.

4:48 - "80085" Nice! 😂

“Or small children” I spilled my beer 😂😂😂🙌🔥🙌

As always, an informative and fun video. Probably not politically correct, but I thought the ‘bumping into small children” was funny. Even though I’ve had my manual 2015 Vantage V8 for almost three years now the video is still helpful for things to check on periodically. Thank you for the great material!

Excellent!

Great video, looking for the link for the book?

The only thing I'd add is that Aston seat cushions have a tendency to flatten, causing loose leather on the seats. The majority of cars I look at have this issue.

Thank you for this. You're awesome!! Thanks, Durban, South Africa

Good Work Rich! only one question about clutch "problem": is possible to put in 4.3 ASM the clutch of the 4.7 ASM ? thank you very much

What about air bags, don't they need change or maintenance as well?

I’m looking to buy a 07 with a 30K miles on it. Thank you for the info

Ok Richard now do the DB9 same generation, also include the 90% off discount for "the Book" cause the price tag I saw scared the crap of out me... :)

I have 16 plate V12 and on Motorway long distance trips easily get 28MPG

The auto mode of the last v8 vantage (SportShift II - 2017) it is really bad ?

Is a Aston Martin Vantage 2007 manual a reliable Era compared to the 2017

Very informative video. I'm looking for a replacement for my manual e92 m3 and thought the V8 vantage might be a good choice. I'm not looking for something faster/more powerful than the m3 but more involving driving experience. The Vantage might fit the bill. The only problem is that I can't afford newer ones right now (e.g., 2017) but a bit scared of buying used cars that are 9-10 years old, even if they only have 30,000 to 60,000 miles on it. A lot of things age despite the car not being driven. Another concern is the maintenance cost. I was told maintaining an Aston is about three times as expensive as a Porsche. Right now I have a Porsche 991 C2S and the maintenance bill is already on the slightly uncomfortable side. If what I've been told was true then I might simply not be able to afford an Aston right now. But I really lust its sound and look. I'm being torn inside....

Wow…what a great vid

Have heard on RU-vid you are one of the best of the best in the Aston Martin Community for advice and coaching. Looking to purchase an Aston Martin Vantage, minimum year 2012. However, desire the interior quality to be as close to the V12 as possible. Do you know the last year the Vantage 2012-2016 interior was updated, and do you have to purchase the Vantage S in those years to get those quality seats? Thank you in advance. Best, Logan Stark.

Thanks it certainly is overwhelming

Are you planning on making videos on the 2019/2020 new generation Vantage manual and automatic?

Great Video... my question is subjective but your input would be great. What year do you think the best Overall V8 Vantage model was released?

So it's very common for people to hit curbs or parking posts or small children with the front lip of the car.

Thank you for this advice! I'm in the market but can either go with a manual 2012+ V8 or an automated manual V12. Any thoughts on which would be more reliable? Thanks in advance!

Great video as always Rich! Wealth of information. Looks like COVID as claimed yet another normally "tight haircut guy" victim. I apologize if you're intentionally going for that 70's drifter look, if that's the case, please disregard my comment. Me? I've just completed my third "COVID Do It Yourself" haircut and if Lu's reaction is any indication, third time is NOT a charm.

Hi, have you had a ‘ Driver Door Open’ warning with the drivers window opening slightly a few times before settling down and the warning going out? Thanks

I liked it before I watch it to save for later! I have the same shirt!

Great video...Is sad to say that I havent been able to drive my car much due to traveling, but just recently I started to use the pale shifters and I do like it. Rich please get back at me when you can about the TPMS email I sent you. Thanks for the great videos.

I am trying to understand if the v8 vantage N430 and the GT models are the same or are they different? Hopefully, I can make a decision and get one this year.

Lol.. I loved the ending of the front bumper description.

Do you have any resources covering the GTS? I have found a 2016 for sale, listed as an S, and the little information that is out there is rather confusing. Trying to do homework as it looks to be a great opportunity.

15:50… check the front for damages because its common to hit small children… 😂 Anyway, great video!

I like the ACR vantage wallpapers

I pay $800 USD per year to insure my 2008 V8 Vantage Roadster. It is not my daily driver so low annual mileage (approximately 3,500 miles per year).

did you or anyone try to install a carplay into the car? or how do you play your musics?

Hi mate, have you sold many supercharger kits? If so any dyno results

Trying to find the book in physical version (I hate e-books) and the only one I’m seeing is 500$...

Hi, is taht possible to make a quick tutorial how to remove isolation on trunk, caus I have no ideo how to do it. I´m scarde to damage it, need to have acces to the third stop light.

Hi Richard - you've made a great RU-vid & web site for Vantage info - love it, but wondered if you have come across DSC issues when changing my rear tyres from Pirelli P zero's to bridgestones, on the slights corner the DSC light goes on & the car feels like it wants to leave the road .... Any ideas anybody ?

Can you get the car in Slovenia

My canal got banned Now I have a new one help me to expand them to you and I hope you have a great day My dream car ❤❤❤aston martin 4.3 v8.. It's same engine in jaguar??

Hi Richard, love all your videos. This is one of your best. I have a question...I am a tall driver (6 foot 6 inches) who would love to get in a V8 Vantage. I have sat in a 2007 model year and it was a bit too small for me to get comfortable. Lack of headroom was the big issue as I am tall in the torso. Do you know if later model years had slightly different seats or set-ups that would buy me an extra inch of headroom ? As I understand the sport seats would help, but they were not available in the US. The legroom in the Vantage is more than adequate. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

How easy is it to find parts stateside?

V8 Vantage Guru! Looking to sell my 08 after many years of enjoyment. Any platforms you recommend listing?

I learned a lot about a car I’ll never be able to afford

Its too bad "the book" is only available as an ebook now