Welcome to your 2007 Aston Martin Vantage rental guide. Below you'll find all the essential information for operating and enjoying your luxury vehicle safely and smoothly.
Emergency Contact for Vehicle Breakdown-
If your Aston Martin Vantage experiences a breakdown, please contact Ken Hudson directly at401.465.1246
How to Start the Aston Martin Vantage-
This vehicle features unique controls not found in standard cars. Please follow the instructions below to ensure proper operation and to maintain the integrity of the vehicle.
No Traditional Park Mode: The Vantage does not have a traditional “Park” gear like most automatic transmissions. Instead, it uses a parking brake, located on the left side of the driver’s seat, between the seat and the door. Always engage this brake when the vehicle is stopped—this functions as the "Park" gear in this model.
Insert and Turn the Key: Insert the key into the ignition and turn it fully to power on the vehicle. This activates the battery and main computer systems to prepare for startup.
Engage Neutral (N): With the key fully turned, press the “N” button on the dashboard. This puts the transmission into Neutral. A red light on the “N” button will confirm the car is in Neutral.
To start the engine, push and hold down the "Engine Start" button until you hear the engine start. If you just push and release the button quickly the engine will not start. The button should be pushed for 3-4 seconds and then released once the engine has started.
Once the engine has started you can then take the "Parking Break" off. This is done by pulling the Parking Brake lever on the left side of the drivers seat all the way up. You'll feel the lever engage at the top, once you feel this, make sure to hold the button in the entire way to the floor again. If done correctly you'll see the parking brake light turn off on the dash.
Red Brake light displayed when the brake is on
The parking brake lever found to the left of the driver seat. To disengage, pull the lever all the way up, you'll feel the lever engage at the top. Once you feel the lever engage, hold the button in all the way to the floor and the light on the dash will go out.
Once the red "Brake" light is off, the parking brake is disengaged.
Drive - There are 3 different drive settings for the vehicle manual, automatic & comfort.
Automatic & Comfort Drive - Push on the dash either the "D" for automatic or "Comfort" for comfort automatic drive settings. The vehicle will act as a regular automatic here on out. The difference between the two is the comfort setting keeps the car in the highest possible gear providing a less "sporty" style of shifting.
"D" for automatic & "Comfort" for non sport automatic
Manual Drive - The vehicle is equipped with "Paddle Shifters" on the steering wheel for manual drive mode. In this mode the vehicle will act exactly like a manual transmission vehicle and you will have to shift the vehicle up or down. To engage into manual mode with the vehicle in Neutral, click the paddle on the right side of the steering wheel with the "+" symbol once. You'll see the transmission setting on the dash go from N to 1. You are now in first gear. Push down on the gas as you normally would to start driving and the car will move. To shift into the next gear simply take your foot off the gas as you normally would with a manual, click the "+" paddle and then push back down on the gas. The vehicle will then shift into the next higher gear. To down shift, simply take your foot off the gas, click the left side paddle "-" and then foot back on the gas. The car will then downshift for you. Do Not keep your foot on the gas while shifting gears, it will burn out the clutch. When coming to a complete stop, if you do not downshift to 1, the car will down shift for you. It is when shifting up a gear you must remember to do so otherwise the car will red line and will not up shift automatically.
Make sure the transmission is in N
Click the + paddle to engage 1st gear and to start driving. Click the + paddle to up shift
Click the - paddle to down shift.
Parking The Vehicle - When parking the vehicle, pull on the "Parking Brake" lever all the way up until you feel it engage. Once you do, let go of the lever and look to see the "Brake" light is on. If the "Brake" light is on, you can then run the vehicle off by turning the Key all the way off. Do Not push the "Start" button to turn off the car, it is only to start the vehicle. Once the key is turned all the way off, you can then pull the key out from the ignition.
NOTE ON PARKING - We highly, like really really highly, recommend parking the vehicle in a location where you do not have to reverse to get out of the location. The one "flaw" with this vehicle is the gearing in reverse and it does put a great deal of stress on the clutch plate. Using the reverse gear will burn out the clutch faster than needed. So we ask you to please be aware of this and whenever possible, park in location which is easy to pull out of rather than reverse out of. Also please be aware of parking lots and other vehicles, park out in the open and away from the rest when possible.
NOTE ON VALET PARKING - Don't plain and simply please do not. We have found that most valet drivers do not know the in's and out's of cars. Please whenever possible park the vehicle on your own. At the end of the rental you are responsible for any damage done to the vehicle. If you are found in a situation where valet is a must, make sure to take it upon yourself to check the vehicle for any damage as it is your responsibility upon returning the vehicle damage free. If you do find yourself in a situation where the valet has returned the vehicle to yourself with possible damge done to it, DO NOT drive the vehicle away, instead call Ken Hudson immediately and wait for further instructions.
Reverse - To reverse the vehicle, make sure the vehicle is at a complete stop. Push the "N" on the dash to engage Neutral. Once in Neutral, push the "R" for Reverse and you'll see the reverse light turn on. Step on the gas and reverse the vehicle. Once done reversing, push the "N" for Neutral and then select your drive setting. PLEASE do not use reverse if not needed, the gearing isn't ideal and puts unnecessary wear on the clutch.
Pumping Gas
The gas tank fill is located on the drivers side.
To open the latch for the the gas tank, push the "Gas Tank" button found on the drivers left side under the dash. Push the "Gas Tank" button and the latch will pop open. USE ONLY 93 octane.
Unscrew the gas cap, using the post to hold the gas cap.
Fill the tank.
Replace the gas cap by turning until it clicks and then push the latch closed.
Push to access gas filler
Gas fill latch will open
Unscrew gas cap and put post onto pin to hold the cap while pumping
Remember 93 octane ONLY please
pump gas
Push cover down to lock after done pumping
allset to drive away
Opening The Trunk
To open the trunk while the vehicle is unlocked, push the small chrome button found above the Aston Martin logo on the trunk. You'll hear the trunk disengage and pop up. The trunk is now ready to open. To close, simply shut the trunk lid and the trunk locks automatically. This can also be done by pushing the trunk button on the key fob.
The small chrome dot seen above the logo and below the brake light is the trunk open latch, simply push the button while the car is unlocked to open the trunk. To close, simply close the trunk and it will automatically lock.
