Models · Aston Martin
Aston Martin V8 Vantage buying guide
The V8 Vantage is a two-seat coupé and roadster with a bonded aluminium structure, built from 2005 to 2017 with a 4.3 V8 and, from 2008, a 4.7 V8, including the Vantage S and N-series special editions.
The versions
- 4.3 V8 (2005 to 2008): 4,280cc, 380bhp; N400 special edition (2007), 400bhp
- 4.7 V8 (from 2008): 4,735cc; Vantage S (2011), 430bhp; N420 and N430 special editions; GT8 (2017), 440bhp
- Six-speed Graziano manual, or six-speed Sportshift automated manual; a seven-speed Sportshift arrived in 2012
- Coupé, and roadster from 2007; rear-wheel drive (power figures as given in bhp by Auto Express and Drives Today)
What to check on a V8 Vantage
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Clutch wear
What to look for: On the drive, accelerate hard in a higher gear and watch for the revs rising faster than the speed. On a manual, note where the clutch bites and listen for a noise that changes when the pedal is pressed or released. On a Sportshift car, ask whether it's been reversed up slopes often.
Why it matters: Clutches last up to about 40,000 miles. Engine revs flaring under hard acceleration suggest a worn clutch, and a noise that changes with the pedal can mean a worn release bearing. On the Sportshift, reverse is geared like second, so reversing uphill slips the clutch and wears it quickly. Replacing the clutch is a long job on either gearbox.
Oil leaks at the front of the engine
What to look for: With a torch, look around the front of the engine, where the timing chain cover is, and along the camshaft covers for oil seepage. Check that the engine cover is secure and not melted where it sits near the exhaust manifolds.
Why it matters: Oil leaks around the timing chest are common on both engines, often caused by blocked breathers or a clogged crankcase ventilation valve, which is a small part. Camshaft cover leaks are usually fixed with a new gasket. The V8 itself is considered durable.
Paint bubbling on the aluminium
What to look for: Look at the base of the windscreen pillars, around the door handles and mirror stalks, and at the rear wheelarches for small bubbles or lifting paint. From underneath, look at the steel rear subframe for rust.
Why it matters: Corrosion on the aluminium body shows as bubbling paint, and the rear arches take stone chips. Caught early it's a paint repair; left, it can spread into the rear quarter. The front subframe is aluminium, but the rear subframe is steel and needs checking for corrosion.
Also in the full guide
- Lower wishbone bushes
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the V8 Vantage
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Aston Martin.