Standard Features

Body

Two-seat, two-door Coupe body style
Extruded and bonded aluminium VH body structure
Aluminium, magnesium alloy, composite and steel body
Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
Halogen projector headlamps (main beam)
LED front indicator lamps
LED rear tail lamps

Engine

All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 32-valve 4.3 Litre (4280 cc) V8
Sequential multi-port fuel injection
Front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Fully catalyzed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
Compression ratio 11.3:1
Max power: 380 bhp (283KW) at 7,300 rpm
Max torque: 302 lb ft (410 Nm) at 5,000 rpm
Acceleration: 0-62 mph (100 kph) in 4.7 seconds
Max speed: 180 mph (290 km/h)

Transmission

Six-speed manual transmission with leather gearshift lever
Alloy torque tube with carbon-fibre propeller shaft
Limited-slip differential
Final-drive ratio 3.909:1
Positive Torque Control (PTC) traction system
Switchable Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)

Wheels, Tires and Brakes

Front: 8.5J x 19“ 235/40 ZR19
Rear: 10J x 19” 275/35 ZR19
Front: 355mm ventilated grooved discs
Rear: 330mm ventilated grooved discs
Front & rear radial-mounted 4-piston monobloc brake calipers
Independent rear radial-mounted parking brake calipers
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Safety

Restraint Control Module (RCM) w/ seatbelt pre-tensioners
Occupant-sensing dual-stage driver & passenger airbags
Front head & thorax side airbags
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)

Comfort and Convenience

Organic Electro-Luminescent (OEL) driver information display
Tilt/rake adjustable leather steering wheel
AM/FM/6 CD auto-changer
Remote central locking w/ key fobs
Remote hatch release
10-way adjustable electric sport seats w/ 2-way lumbar adjust
LED illuminated door handles
One-touch power windows
Anti-theft system w/ engine immobilizer
Trip computer
Automatic climate control
Rear window defrost
Reversing rear parking sensors

Included Options

Ordering a new Vantage usually involves sitting down with the sales person and going through the laundry list of options that can be added to your car. The items in this list do surprise some that expect such an expensive vehicle to come fully loaded. However, in the world of exotic cars, it seems that everything is optional and prices can escalate quickly. The other part that is overwhelming is the multitude of color choices for every single surface of the car. Some are a bit adventurous when it comes to these choices, but the reality is that most people expect an Aston Martin to be Gray, Silver or Black. Due to this, the majority of cars come in one of those shades. Below are the options included when this car was ordered.

6-Speed Manual Gearbox

2007 was the first year the Sportshift automated manual single clutch transmission was made available. In an effort to increase their potential market, dealers ordered most of their cars with this transmission option figuring that many Americans who did not know how to drive a stick shift could now drive a Vantage. The assumption was that it would drive similar to an automatic gearbox. It didn’t. It was jerky and it had a “creep mode” that slipped the clutch when you let go of the brake pedal and consequently wore out the clutch prematurely. This is the reason that the manual 6-speed gearbox Vantage is so sought after. It has a tight mechanical feel that just feels right and is a pleasure to drive. This car has had the upgraded linkage and lighter gear oil that eliminates the issues that many early Vantages suffered with difficulty shifting between 1st and 2nd before the engine/gearbox had warmed-up.

700W Premium Audio

There are 3 levels of audio available on the Aston Martin Vantage:

Standard 160W
700W Premium Audio ($1,595 option)
1000W Bang & Olufsen Audio (approx. $8,300 option)

Out of the three, the 700W system is generally agreed to be the best option. Not only is it considerably cheaper than the 1000W system, but it is more adjustable as well. It features Dolby ProLogic 2, additional rear two-way speakers, a larger, more powerful dual-coil subwoofer and a center channel speaker in the dash.

2-Stage heated seats

Not exactly necessary here in Florida where I live but my wife loves using it on the few cold nights we have each year. This was a $450 option.

Red brake calipers

The standard color for the Vantage brake calipers is boring gray. These were a $450 option.

Bright finish grille

The standard grille is matte gray. The beautiful chrome grille you see on some Vantages, including this one, was a$450 option.

HID self-leveling headlights

Be aware that HID headlights were not standard back in the 2007MY Vantage. It was a $795 option. Many cars for sale have standard halogen bulbs which aren’t as bright. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to tell them apart because the headlamp units themselves look identical. One way to tell is turn the headlight switch on and then insert the key into the ignition. The HID bulbs have an auto-leveling mechanism which the halogen bulbs lack. When you turn the key to the accessory position, you should see the lamps move up, then down and then finally set level. If you don’t see this, either the lamps are halogen or the auto-level mechanism is faulty.

Owner's manual

Many cars for sale are missing the leather-bound manual. I have seen copies of this manual sold on eBay for over $800! I suspect people are trading in cars and keeping the manuals to sell separately. Make sure the car you look at comes with it. It is filled with tons of useful information. I can't tell you how many people ask me questions about their cars that they would know the answer to if they just bothered to read the manual.

Toolkit

The toolkit doesn’t have much in it. It’s basically a small, molded styrofoam tray located above the subwoofer and under the parcel shelf behind the driver seat. The most important item in the kit is the tow hook which you will need if you ever have to load the car onto a flatbed for transport. The hook screws in the right side of the front lower mesh grille or behind the rear license plate. Make sure it’s there.

Key fobs and keys

Keys for cars are expensive. Make sure you have a complete set. There should be 2 key fobs and 3 keys included with any car you buy.

Additional Upgrades

Owners usually spend thousands of dollars after their purchase of a Vantage in order to add many of the popular factory upgrades that update the look of the car. Many of these upgrades are items that were introduced for later model years and Aston Martin made them available for earlier models. Some other upgrades are unique and not available on any other vehicle. When comparing sale prices please note this car already has most of the popular upgrades that you would spend thousands of dollars adding to another car after purchase. And, since they are already installed, they can be included in the financing. This means you don't have to come up with extra cash to purchase and install these later so you can enjoy an updated vehicle from day one.

Diamond-quilted Alcantara interior

This Vantage has a one-of-a-kind interior in Falcon Grey and Obsidian Black with accents crafted in genuine, navy blue Alcantara. If you're not familiar with Alcantara, it is a synthetic suede material from Italy used in race and exotic cars. The door cards and center armrest are finished in a beautiful diamond quilt pattern. This was done uniquely for this car and there is no other Aston Martin with this interior design anywhere in the world. The entire headliner and A-pillars are also covered in Obsidian Black Alcantara. The carpets are also Obsidian Black.

Clear taillights

This is probably the most sought after upgrade for a Vantage or DB9. Introduced as part of the 2008MY N400 special edition, these gorgeous taillights are a direct replacement for the standard red units and give a much more modern look to the rear of the car. As you can see in the picture below, the inside of each lens has a multi-faceted surface that makes each lamp glow like a jewel. They normally cost over $2000 from the dealer, although you can sometimes find a used set on eBay for around $1,200.

Sport Pack wheels

This is probably the second most sought after upgrade for a Vantage or DB9. The beautiful 5 double spoke forged alloy wheels were first available on the Vantage with the N400 special edition in 2008 and were later made available as part of a dealer-installable Sport Pack for all Vantages. These wheels are silver with diamond-turned faces which makes them iridescent in the sunlight. They are commonly regarded as the most beautiful wheels available for the Vantage and for this reason, used sets on eBay can sometimes be found for about$2,500-3,000. These wheels are in perfect condition with no “curbing” or scrapes.

N400/N420 side sills

First introduced as part of the 2008MY N400 special edition, these race-inspired side sills have a wider, more aggressive profile that gives the car a more “planted” stance. Highly sought by those wishing to upgrade the look of their cars, these regularly sell for for about $1,500 plus paint and installation charge.

Black chrome N420 sport exhaust tips

The standard exhaust tips are chrome finished. Aston introduced the “smoked” black chrome tips only for the N420 special edition.

Homelink GDO and auto-dim mirror

The auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink functionality for programming garage door openers was first available in 2007 as a $495 option. This particular car has been upgraded to the latest generation mirror (not available through Aston Martin) which has better/faster dimming capability and supports openers such as the Chamberlain Liftmaster which uses rolling code technology that was not supported by the original factory mirror.

Dension iPod integration kit w/ Bluetooth

Connecting an iPod/iPhone to the Vantage was only possible after 2008 as a $2,000 option that could be purchased/installed from your Aston Martin dealer. It was not originally available as an option for the 2007 model year. This is a shame, because the sound of the 700W Premium Audio System is stellar. But other than the radio, the only standard option is a 6-disc in-dash CD changer, and who listens to CDs any more? The Dension kit installed in this car includes 2-RCA input jacks, a USB port for a flash drive or portable hard disk drive, a 30-pin iPod connector (also works with Apple’s 30-pin to Lightning adapter for newer devices) as well a supports Bluetooth Audio so you can stream music directly without plugging in your phone. However, for the ultimate in audio fidelity, I recommend that you use one of the wired connection options.

Tinted windows

The windows were tinted with the darkest legal tint permissible in the state of Florida. The tint was applied by the service that tints all the cars at the Orlando dealership and it is perfect with no bubbles or scratches. It makes a huge difference in the interior cabin temperature and helps protect the leather from shrinking or bleaching from the sun.

Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires

The car has a brand new set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and I mean brand new. The only mileage on them is from the dealership to my home after they were installed. If you know anything about tires, you know that these are currently the number one, highest rated maximum performance summer tire available today. Look at the results of a comparison between the OEM tire (Bridgestone Potenza RE050A) and the Michelins from the TireRack website. FYI: The factory OEM Bridgestone is rated #27 versus the #1 Michelin.

Porterfield R4-S brake pads

The standard pad on the Vantage’s 4-piston Brembo calipers is a Pagid/Brembo pad that is very good at stopping but has a tendency to squeal and generates more dust than a midwest tornado. When I first had the dealership service department install my brand new Sport Pack wheels, the wheels were completely covered in a black/brown coating by the time I made my 60-mile trip home. Many years ago I had collaborated with a company named Porterfield Brakes to come up with a set of brake pads for another one of my exotics. These pads featured a “street” compound (R4-S) that was very quiet and generated substantially less dust. Once I realized how dusty the OEM pads, I contacted them again to help develop an application for the Vantage. This is what is on the car now and has become a popular upgrade when it comes time for owners to replace their brake pads. As a side benefit, they are cheaper than the factory pads.

RSC high flow air filters

RSC is a company that offers many upgrades and aftermarket accessories for Aston Martin and other brands. As part of the service that required renewing the air filters, I upgraded their high-flow filters that allow the engine to breathe better and are washable/reusable.

Exterior

It's a wrap!

The exterior features many of the most desirable upgrades for a Vantage including the beautiful Sport Pack wheels, clear tail lights, and N420 side sills. It is painted in a beautiful Tungsten Silver which is, arguably, the most popular color for a modern-day Aston Martin. Tungsten is a beautiful medium gray metallic which so much metal flake that it’s almost as if a jar of glitter had been spilt on the car prior to applying the clear coat. Check the gallery section to see a few pictures of this beautiful color.

So why does the car appear blue in so many of the pictures? Because the car has been meticulously wrapped in 3M Scotchprint 1080 Matte Metallic Blue film. I did this just for fun to display the car at the Celebration Exotic Car Show for which I am a concours judge every year. The show is a charity event to raise funds for the Make A Wish Foundation, and the children really love to see wild and exotic cars.

Matte metallic wrap

A wrap job like this usually costs approximately $5,000-7,500 as it is very labor intensive. It requires bumpers, lights and other items to be removed so you can properly cover all seams and surfaces. This includes the door sills and jambs which continue the illusion that the car is truly painted this color. As a side-benefit, the film protects the gorgeous paint underneath from fading and (to a lesser degree) chipping/road rash. It also makes washing the car incredible easy as most dirt can be simply wiped off with a soft microfiber towel and some matte detailing spray.

At the request of many, I have left the film on because so many people like the way it looks. It does make the car stand out and this can be a good or bad thing depending on how much attention you want your car to draw. So, I’m leaving it to the buyer whether they would prefer the matte blue film on or off. Upon purchase you have the choice to have me remove the film for free or keep it and remove it later yourself. I will be glad to provide you with instruction on how to properly remove the film if you choose to this yourself at a later time. I can also provide excess film material in the event a surface needs to be redone for any reason.

Celebrity

The beautiful exterior of this car was the subject for my book L'art de la Vitesse which highlights the sensuous curves and contours of the Vantage's design. The book may still be available for sale at several online sources. Pictures from the book are found throughout this website and in the image gallery below (images are copyrighted).

My inspiration for automotive photography is due to the honor of having been trained by Tim Wallace who just so happens to be the official photographer for Aston Martin. You can see lots of beautiful examples of Tim's work by visiting his site Ambient Life.

My book cover featuring this very special Vantage

This car was also photographed by renown photographer, Scott Kelby, to be featured in his blog and portfolio. A personal friend for many years, Scott has the distinction of being the number one author of technical books sold through Amazon. You can read about his photoshoot with my car by clicking on this link. In it, you can see how our photographic styles were both inspired by our mentor, Tim Wallace.

Interior

Many pictures of Vantages for sale on the Internet tend to not showcase the true condition of the vehicle. It is not uncommon for someone to be interested in a vehicle and, after looking at fabulous pictures, makes a trip to the seller or dealership only to find that the car is not how the pictures represented it. They find scratches on the seats, door panels, leather that is shrinking and pulling from having the car sitting in the sun all day, broken plastic pieces, missing or scratched stereo controls, paint chips in the door pulls, worn seat belts, etc. I guarantee you that you won’t find any of these in my car. People who have seen the interior usually guess that it has less than 5,000 miles. I'm often told that it even smells new (although I must admit that I must have become accustomed to it as I don’t notice it anymore). Overall, I think you will find that this is a very nice example that has been fastidiously cared-for by someone who respects the car, follows the factory-prescribed maintenance schedule and keeps his car garaged in a climate-controlled environment except when it is actually being driven.

An Interior Like No Other

Most Aston Martins are ordered with "safe" interior colors. These are colors that dealers have chosen so as to increase the likelihood of a sale by appealing the the largest demographic. This explains why the majority of Vantages for sale have a monotone Obsidian Black leather interior. Unfortunately, "safe" usually translates to "boring". Not this one. The black interior has been complemented by hints of navy blue Alcantara that is both luxurious and soft to the touch. Door cards and the center armrest have the added feature of being padded in a diamond quilt stitch pattern. This beautiful synthetic suede is used only on high end vehicles and racecars due to its high cost compared to other materials (over $150/yard.) The standard Aston Martin interior takes approximately 70 hours of manual labor to create. With this car, however, it took considerably more.

One-of-a-kind Alcantara Interior

Reliability and Maintenance

Well Maintained

I have full and extremely detailed history of the car that I am willing to provide the buyer. This includes services done by the previous owner. (I'm the second owner and bought the car with ~9K miles.) Service has been done by my local Aston Martin dealer's service department. Their tech, was chosen last year as the number one Master Technician in North America. If you are considering this car amongst other examples, I can put you in contact with him or anyone else at the dealership to get a feel for how good a condition this car is in. You won't be disappointed.

Reliable

As the maintenance records of this car will show, this car has been extremely reliable. The only work that has been done to it were for service bulletins issued by Aston Martin. These services were:

Difficulty shifting from 1st to 2nd gear when gearbox was cold. Bulletin #0236
Door lock modules would not always lock doors from key fob. Bulletin #0304V2
Cam belt cover oil leak. Bulletin #0280V2

These tasks were done by the dealership under warranty; the same warranty that comes included with this car now. Make sure that any car you consider has had these service bulletins done as they can be expensive if done otherwise.

Please note that this car was not subject to the throttle pedal recall that affected some later 2007 and newer models.

Driven, but not Abused

If you spend any time on any of the online forums you will quickly learn that a low-mileage "garage queen" is not the ideal car it would appear to be at first glance. Cars like these are meant to be driven and reward you with much higher reliability when you do so. My car has mileage that I would consider “adequate but not excessive”. It has never been drag-raced or used on a race track.

Purchase

Full Warranty!

It is rather unusual to see a privately sold car come with a warranty. However, this one will come with record of a full 140-point inspection and a full 1-year premium warranty included in the sale price. The warranty goes into effect on the day of purchase which means you get an entire year, not just a few months left over. The buyer also has the option to buy additional years for an additional cost. This is the same type of warranty offered on brand new vehicles which means that most things (outside of wear-and-tear items) are fully covered including roadside assistance. I'll provide you the details prior to purchase.

Note: It's worth mentioning that most modern-day Aston Martins are very reliable. However, there is an extra sense of peace of mind in knowing that you are covered in the event of an unexpected repair.

Financing and other Services Available

Although the car is being sold privately, I have access to an automotive financial institution that can facilitate your purchase as a favor to me for being a valued customer. They can help the buyer take care of the paperwork, collect/pay sales tax, handle the title application, issue a temporary tag, arrange for financing, take in a trade, and even arrange for transport. This will help ease any issues usually involved with an individual sale since they have experts on staff who handle these kinds of transactions literally on a daily basis. Of course if you can/wish to make a cash purchase, that is an option as well. Payment can be made by certified manager's check.

Details

If you are seriously in the market for a Vantage, I think you will be hard-pressed to find a finer example than this. When comparison shopping on the Internet, please keep in mind that it is sometimes difficult to judge one car's worth versus another. I think that when you take into consideration its history, maintenance, overall condition, full warranty, available financing, ample references and thousands of dollars invested in the most desirable upgrades, you will find this is a very good deal indeed.

Year/Make/Model 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
VIN SCFBB03B67GC04422
Engine Number AM05/03821
Original Dealer Aston Martin of Atlanta
Mileage 32,865mi
Asking Price $69,900 or serious offer

Contact Me

If you are a serious buyer and or have any questions, feel free to contact me. You can also join the conversation and get references at the 6-SpeedOnline Aston Martin forum and the Pistonheads forum where I have been a very active member for over 12 years.

Owner Karl-Franz Marquez
email vantage.5.karlfranz@neverbox.com

It's sold!

Your chance to own a truly unique vehicle!