In the 2000s, Aston Martin was arguably the most want-one car brands on the planet, producing style icons like the DB9, DBS, and V8 Vantage. However, because everyone loves the way they look, they never depreciated to the same level as the earlier DB7s did when they hit their bottom. Or at least, most of them didn’t. When I stumbled upon this Aston Martin V8 Vantage listed on Facebook Marketplace for $17,000, my eyes just about leapt out of my skull.
We’re talking about the baby Aston, a cut-down V8-powered sibling to the DB9 thrust into battle against the Porsche 911. Sure, it was more expensive than the 911, not as sharp as its German rival, and didn’t feature rear seats, but with a silhouette like this, the V8 Vantage carved out a niche of its own. After all, Aston Martin took the risky move of having two full years between unveiling the concept and putting it into production, and the design didn’t go stale.
Originally launched with a 4.3-liter V8 pumping out 380 horsepower and 302 lb.-ft. of torque, this British brawler featured a slightly rear-biased weight distribution and could sprint from zero-to-60 mph in 4.8 seconds while pumping out some glorious V8 noise. At the same time, the Ian Callum and Henrik Fisker coachwork endowed the V8 Vantage with the status of being among the most beautiful cars of the 2000s.
Alright, so maybe this open-topped Volante example with 117,000 miles on the clock is a little less fresh than the average V8 Vantage. The front grille situation is a bit more, well, open than when this thing left the factory, it has its share of battle scars, and certain functions aren’t quite optimal. The seller states that the roof only works manually, there’s a phantom battery drain somewhere, and the secondary air injection system isn’t quite operating as intended.
Inside, it’s a similar story, with some mismatched trim on the center stack, unusual wear on the driver’s seat, and what appear to be scratches on the radio screen. However, by dirt-cheap exotic car standards, none of the switchgear is missing, and the dashboard leather on this V8 Vantage seems fairly alright considering it’s a known sore spot with the model.
From the look of things, this Aston has seen a hard 117,000 miles, but these V8 Vantages are generally known for being surprisingly reliable. The big potential pain point would be a timing cover leak, but the internals of the engine are robust and even the SportShift transmission isn’t a complete nightmare so long as fluid changes are done on time. Sure, it’s definitely not the most refined gearbox on the planet, even by single-clutch automated manual standards, but it seems more robust than say, BMW’s SMG transmissions, and it seems to offer longer clutch life than Maserati’s Duoselect single-clutch units. Its primary bugs were largely isolated to software issues, and updated calibrations exist to make owning a SportShift car a pretty painless experience by single-clutch standards.
Actually, painless is a reasonably decent way to describe a V8 Vantage. It’s almost a Camry by exotic car standards, in that it mostly just works. Sure, the dash leather will eventually start to pull away and consumables are expensive, but at the end of the day, it’s an Aston Martin you can theoretically run on a reasonable budget. Plus, this one doesn’t seem like a basketcase, it just looks like a solid project that could use a little love. So, if you’re feeling brave, this one’s up for sale in New Jersey. At $17,000, how can you really go wrong?
[Update: The seller reached out to me with a few additional notes about this magnificent machine. From the seller:
I’d just note that it’s well loved and is not a salvage title or rebuilt or anything like that. Title is free and clear and she runs and drives and doesn’t need a trailer or nothing like that. Whoever buys it, can drive it home without any worry.
Apparently he’s been daily-driving it for a while. Much respect! -DT]
Top graphic credit: Facebook Marketplace seller
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A surprisingly cheap Aston Martin for sale over Facebook – what could possibly go wrong?
I call salvage title
Has anyone considered a business where they take 80,000 to 120,000 mile cars refresh them repair the known problems and redo the interior? Seems a better model than selling rebuilt motors, or recover the interior maybe make it better. Offer this to sellers to increase the resale value.
It should be cheap for its condition, boring color, automatic, what looks like ostrich leather on the seats (yuck), and (arguably) convertible. That doesn’t consider what the lifestyle of the NJ low-budget baller did to the inside. I’m surprised to not see glitter glinting in the interior, but surely there’s an unpleasant smell.
This is Hoovie levels of optimism.
No, but a manual coupe one of these in good condition is achievable for under $40k which is crazy.
IMO, it’s one of the most beautiful cars ever made. I saw a well kept one recently and it’s still striking 20 years later.
They also don’t seem as problematic as you’d expect. You’re still paying elevated prices for maintenance and repairs, but they aren’t as unreliable as people make it seem.
My biggest issue with swinging for a V8 Vantage is I suspect it’s a “never meet your heroes” kind of car. I own a 997 Carrera S – Apart from the Vantage looking “more special”, I suspect the Porsche is the better car in every other way…
Driven both cars, can confirm the 997 is better
The only people crazy enough to do that now are people with an outlet to show their pain. Ford parts are you friend on that thing.
If I were to buy one of these, I’d only want to get the version I’d REALLY want… which is to say the coupe version with the manual.
With cars like these, the purchase price is merely the price of admission. You’ll spend at least as much maintaining it if you want to drive it regularly.
The level of optimism in this post is off the (manual opearation only) roof.
I may be brave enough yet my wallet is crying and hiding in fear.
Why buy this when you can buy an XKR for the same price in WAY better condition? They’re basically the same car and the XKR has a supercharger.
The xkr is also way cooler looking imho
And the Jag’s exhaust note is phenomenal! Office mgr here has one. Sound better than Boss’s Z06 (which sounds like chevy truck when fired up).
Just buy a motorcycle?
Needs more aero…
Now we know a guy who can help!
You know, $17k isn’t THAT much money for the start of an entertaining new YouTube series….
I love Astons of this generation, but they are absolutely vehicles that you only buy the very best one you can afford – and if this one is the only one you can afford, then you can’t afford to own one.
No.
I am gonna wait till the Orange Turd makes me bigly wealthy, “so much money we won’t know what to do with it”, rich../s.
From all the sweet market tariffs, and the record breaking economy. and stock market…/s
Then I will buy Torch a decent car…
Ass hat…YMMV
the good news: we’ll all be billionaires. the bad news: it will be a million dollars for a loaf of bread.
Wonder whose face will (dis)grace the new $1,000,000 bill?
Morons will be allowed to vote on it and that will satisfy the majority when biden is put on it.
Hitting the buy-it-now. Hit it with a good rattle can primer paint job, slap on some Cragar’s, big meats in the rear, skinny tires in front, air shocks out back to jack it up, some ladder bars…perfect Jersey cruiser.
Add a flame paint job and KC lights and it’s the Porsche from Bachelor Party. Linked in case you’re to young to remember an early Tom Hanks flick before he pivoted to dramatic roles.
https://www.imcdb.org/v025148.html
I’m in. It would make a perfect 5th car.
Oh Lord No. Just buy a Corvette for that money, you’ll be a whole lot happier in the long run.
Agree with this, if you search hard, you could probably find a stick.
I just ran a search, dozens of C5 manuals (lots of them droptop) in total creampuff condition. Even a couple of C6s with close to 100k.
And every podunk town big enough to have a dealership row has a GM dealer that can fix them.
Yeah plenty of manual versions of these in much better shape go for reasonable money even on BaT.
Anyone can buy a Corvette and look like another sad sack middle aged thinning haired loser.
My jorts and gleaming white New Balance sneakers are ready to go.
Gee, I never knew buying a car meant default adherence to archaic stereotypes. I must not have got the memo.
Ever met a Cybertruck owner?
ooooh sick virtue signalling. You probably own a Corvette, are either a 20yo trust fund kid or a mid-50’s middle manager with thinning hair that washes the car by hand every other day.
None of the above. Who has time for all that?
And what do you expect me to do, vice signaling? That would be pretty stupid.
It would be more interesting than the usual sanctimonious, condescending buffoonery.
But James Bond never drove a Corvette.
He wouldn’t be caught dead in this sorry example.
Well, You Only Live Twice…
James Bond is also a fantasy story
…
You can tell because his Aston always starts
Just like his BMWs too.
He leads a charmed life.
But he did drive a 74 AMC Hornet! Here’s a blue one for only $9900!
Is the slide whistle included?
It replaced the horn.
Well, James Bond wouldn’t, you know who would?
Felix Leiter. In fact he drove a Studellac in one novel.
I’ll concede that point.
And whenever I read that name, it’s always in Connery’s voice.
I looked at these before I bought my Europa. The running costs and potential for big bills scared me off. Pretty though.
I’ve been passing one on my way to work for years, it’s gorgeous. But the rear number plate fell off in October, and just sat there on the ground for months, which made me realise it wasn’t being driven.
Paging SWG to the white courtesy phone.
SWG, please pick up the white courtesy phone
“Alright, gimme Ham on five, hold the Mayo.”
There is no parking in the red zone
More interesting project than the lackluster taxi, IMHO.
Over/under on the repair costs outpacing the purchase price – I’d put it at 9.5 months.
I’m thinking they’re trying to tell us something by photographing it pulled over on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.
Luckily the grille from a Ford Fusion should just bolt right in.
There are worse ways to cause your wife to file for divorce, but there are better cars to have to live out of afterwards, so I think I will have to pass today. It would be fun though!
A good one? Sure. This mangy old dog? Oh HELL no. There are more fun ways to lose piles of money.
Leave this one for Hoovie, I am sure The Wizard has a Rolex he wants to buy.