Discussion
Hi
Having had practically every other marque, I find myself for the first time acquiring a late 2008 DBS which will hopefully be delivered this week.
I was hoping to glean any information a Newbie such as myself would need to have from experienced DBS/AM owners. In order then:
1. Reliability - will the AA be on my christmas card list
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - will it cope with the mileage in comfort
3. Clutch wearability - do i have to be gentle
4. Electrical - should i expect random electrical issues
5. Ceramic brakes - noisy? do they need heat in them to work
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending this further for peace of mind
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - recommendations...
Thanks in anticipation.
Carl
Am
Having had practically every other marque, I find myself for the first time acquiring a late 2008 DBS which will hopefully be delivered this week.
I was hoping to glean any information a Newbie such as myself would need to have from experienced DBS/AM owners. In order then:
1. Reliability - will the AA be on my christmas card list
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - will it cope with the mileage in comfort
3. Clutch wearability - do i have to be gentle
4. Electrical - should i expect random electrical issues
5. Ceramic brakes - noisy? do they need heat in them to work
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending this further for peace of mind
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - recommendations...
Thanks in anticipation.
Carl
Am
carl carrera said:
Hi
1. Reliability - will the AA be on my christmas card list
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - will it cope with the mileage in comfort
3. Clutch wearability - do i have to be gentle
4. Electrical - should i expect random electrical issues
5. Ceramic brakes - noisy? do they need heat in them to work
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending this further for peace of mind
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - recommendations...
Welcome!1. Reliability - will the AA be on my christmas card list
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - will it cope with the mileage in comfort
3. Clutch wearability - do i have to be gentle
4. Electrical - should i expect random electrical issues
5. Ceramic brakes - noisy? do they need heat in them to work
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending this further for peace of mind
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - recommendations...
Reliability - little bit less than a Porsche - there can be niggles.
Mileage - yes - that will not be an issue
Clutch. 510bhp through two pieces of metal. I generally get the car rolling then nail the gas rather than slipping the clutch while hitting the loud pedal
Electrical - I've had two Astons - had a few niggles but electricals have been faultless
Ceramic brakes - can be squeaky when stopping. Don't need to be hot to work - they may work a wee bit better when warm but the stopping power is immense.
Warranty - I would always keep the warranty running but if you can afford to self-insure it's a matter of personal risk appetite.
Servicing - I'm in Highgate - I used Aston Martin Cambridge - nice run up the A1, Hatfield tunnel etc. but I will now be using Grange in Brentwood - quite close to you.
Once you've got it - get up nice and early and have a blast!!!
You're welcome. We're a friendly bunch over here.
This thread http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
has an Aston Martin dealer information reference on page 5 - I suggest you ask your dealer about this reference and he/she can see what they think.
I've driven a DBS at a spirited speed and it was rock solid. I think you can just test drive it to see. If you need a co-pilot for the test drive let me know - always happy to sit in a nice car...
This thread http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
has an Aston Martin dealer information reference on page 5 - I suggest you ask your dealer about this reference and he/she can see what they think.
I've driven a DBS at a spirited speed and it was rock solid. I think you can just test drive it to see. If you need a co-pilot for the test drive let me know - always happy to sit in a nice car...
1. Reliability - will the AA be on my christmas card list
Had one for about a year from (almost) new, no reliability issues whatsoever
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - will it cope with the mileage in comfort
Just back from a 1200 mile trip, on one occasion did 400km, no aches or pains, extremely comfortable
3. Clutch wearability - do i have to be gentle
I drive quite hard but probably too early to tell.
4. Electrical - should i expect random electrical issues
Nope
5. Ceramic brakes - noisy? do they need heat in them to work
Always best to heat them up a little but took did a 180 mile journey recently, very hard driving, little squeaky at the end, almost unnoticeable.
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending this further for peace of mind
I would, just to be sure.
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - recommendations...
Cant help here as live in cotswolds but suggest you haggle or go elsewhere.
Look forward to seeing some pics and welcome to the club, you are guaranteed a lot of pleasure (and turning heads).
Had one for about a year from (almost) new, no reliability issues whatsoever
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - will it cope with the mileage in comfort
Just back from a 1200 mile trip, on one occasion did 400km, no aches or pains, extremely comfortable
3. Clutch wearability - do i have to be gentle
I drive quite hard but probably too early to tell.
4. Electrical - should i expect random electrical issues
Nope
5. Ceramic brakes - noisy? do they need heat in them to work
Always best to heat them up a little but took did a 180 mile journey recently, very hard driving, little squeaky at the end, almost unnoticeable.
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending this further for peace of mind
I would, just to be sure.
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - recommendations...
Cant help here as live in cotswolds but suggest you haggle or go elsewhere.
Look forward to seeing some pics and welcome to the club, you are guaranteed a lot of pleasure (and turning heads).
Hi Carl - welcome - pics please (it's an authenticity and veracity thing) 
As for your points.
1. Reliability - No probs, but if you feel the need to join Alcoholics Annonymous then so be it.
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - No probs, I assume Europe makes its roads in a similar material to ours.
3. Clutch wearability - Dunno what a clutch is.
4. Electrical - Sometimes you get a gremlin. Never shove your finger (or anything else for that matter) into the power socket.
5. Ceramic brakes - I have a pauper's DB9 so can't comment.
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending - get a quote if you like but it will be at dealer rate.
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - Yup, move house, closer to Derby if you can.
8. Will this be the most gorgeous car I have ever driven - most certainly.
9. Will I get a round of applause from admiring people - from time to time.
10. Does it give me access to the friendliest PH Forum - yup, and the most knowledgeable.
11. Will I feel a better person for this purchase - oh, yes...and poorer.
Any other questions, fire away
As for your points.
1. Reliability - No probs, but if you feel the need to join Alcoholics Annonymous then so be it.
2. Will be taking car to mainland Europe regularly - No probs, I assume Europe makes its roads in a similar material to ours.
3. Clutch wearability - Dunno what a clutch is.
4. Electrical - Sometimes you get a gremlin. Never shove your finger (or anything else for that matter) into the power socket.
5. Ceramic brakes - I have a pauper's DB9 so can't comment.
6. It will be coming with a year's warranty, is it worth extending - get a quote if you like but it will be at dealer rate.
7. Servicing - I live in North East London - Yup, move house, closer to Derby if you can.
8. Will this be the most gorgeous car I have ever driven - most certainly.
9. Will I get a round of applause from admiring people - from time to time.
10. Does it give me access to the friendliest PH Forum - yup, and the most knowledgeable.
11. Will I feel a better person for this purchase - oh, yes...and poorer.
Any other questions, fire away
JohnG1 said:
Welcome!
Reliability - little bit less than a Porsche - there can be niggles.
Mileage - yes - that will not be an issue
Clutch. 510bhp through two pieces of metal. I generally get the car rolling then nail the gas rather than slipping the clutch while hitting the loud pedal
Electrical - I've had two Astons - had a few niggles but electricals have been faultless
Ceramic brakes - can be squeaky when stopping. Don't need to be hot to work - they may work a wee bit better when warm but the stopping power is immense.
Warranty - I would always keep the warranty running but if you can afford to self-insure it's a matter of personal risk appetite.
Servicing - I'm in Highgate - I used Aston Martin Cambridge - nice run up the A1, Hatfield tunnel etc. but I will now be using Grange in Brentwood - quite close to you.
Once you've got it - get up nice and early and have a blast!!!
Have you tried Aston martin North One in Tufnell Park. I've found them to be good and much easier to deal with than the dealer closest to Highgate.Reliability - little bit less than a Porsche - there can be niggles.
Mileage - yes - that will not be an issue
Clutch. 510bhp through two pieces of metal. I generally get the car rolling then nail the gas rather than slipping the clutch while hitting the loud pedal
Electrical - I've had two Astons - had a few niggles but electricals have been faultless
Ceramic brakes - can be squeaky when stopping. Don't need to be hot to work - they may work a wee bit better when warm but the stopping power is immense.
Warranty - I would always keep the warranty running but if you can afford to self-insure it's a matter of personal risk appetite.
Servicing - I'm in Highgate - I used Aston Martin Cambridge - nice run up the A1, Hatfield tunnel etc. but I will now be using Grange in Brentwood - quite close to you.
Once you've got it - get up nice and early and have a blast!!!
Zod said:
Have you tried Aston martin North One in Tufnell Park. I've found them to be good and much easier to deal with than the dealer closest to Highgate.
I've been through Tufnell Park I don't know how many hundred times and never new that!http://www.astonmartinnorthone.co.uk/
Do you use them?
Thanks very much for the tip!!!
Not a lot to add as good sense spoken so far. I have a DB9 manual and talked to the mechanical people for a while with regard to clutch reliability and the alignment of the transaxle linkage.
Clutch plates are pretty big as the front-engined packaging for the car allows for it - I compared it to a Gallardo and they said its absolutely nothing like it, they have tiny clutch plates. However, it's still a lot of power so I wouldn't spend the day doing standing starts, but I assume you're familiar with driving a powerful manual car anyway.
Linkage alignment... they said they'd never had to do one before, my Maserati manual needed re-aligning every year, sometimes more but it'd done a lot of miles. So far no issues, we'll see how the years unfold as once a transaxle manual gets out of alignment it can take a lot from the driving experience and is never quite right. I replaced everything in the end then sold it. But the Graziano box was built for a manual car whereas the Ferrari/Maser box was designed as a robotic manual (for the 550 Maranello) with linkage for the manual.
I digress. Pictures of new car please!
Clutch plates are pretty big as the front-engined packaging for the car allows for it - I compared it to a Gallardo and they said its absolutely nothing like it, they have tiny clutch plates. However, it's still a lot of power so I wouldn't spend the day doing standing starts, but I assume you're familiar with driving a powerful manual car anyway.
Linkage alignment... they said they'd never had to do one before, my Maserati manual needed re-aligning every year, sometimes more but it'd done a lot of miles. So far no issues, we'll see how the years unfold as once a transaxle manual gets out of alignment it can take a lot from the driving experience and is never quite right. I replaced everything in the end then sold it. But the Graziano box was built for a manual car whereas the Ferrari/Maser box was designed as a robotic manual (for the 550 Maranello) with linkage for the manual.
I digress. Pictures of new car please!
JohnG1 said:
Zod said:
Have you tried Aston martin North One in Tufnell Park. I've found them to be good and much easier to deal with than the dealer closest to Highgate.
I've been through Tufnell Park I don't know how many hundred times and never new that!http://www.astonmartinnorthone.co.uk/
Do you use them?
Thanks very much for the tip!!!
My word, there's a lot of straight talking friendly chat on this forum and there was I thinking I was joining a stuffy, pompous gentlemen's club. How wrong can you be.....
Regarding the list of cars owned to date, I regrettably have not had an opporutnity to update this since my last visit to PH, probably about 2 years ago - the list has grown by 10 cars (minimum) since then, but nothing as interesting as the DBS to make note of I think. I am hoping that the DBS is going to stifle my expensive habit though.
Cheers again to all you DBS/AM patriots.
Carl
Regarding the list of cars owned to date, I regrettably have not had an opporutnity to update this since my last visit to PH, probably about 2 years ago - the list has grown by 10 cars (minimum) since then, but nothing as interesting as the DBS to make note of I think. I am hoping that the DBS is going to stifle my expensive habit though.
Cheers again to all you DBS/AM patriots.
Carl
funny you mention drivers burning out the clutches of their customers cars.....I caught a driver in a well known Wilmslow Ferrari dealer screaming a car up the hill from the dealership to the workshops when collecting my Aston (same dealership but different department) I complained to the dealer principle and threatened to contact the owner (I lied and told him I had access to DVLA information) the company were suitably embarrassed and the enginer rang me to appologise.
Jockman said:
carl carrera said:
My word, there's a lot of straight talking friendly chat on this forum and there was I thinking I was joining a stuffy, pompous gentlemen's club. How wrong can you be.....
Very.You may be confusing us with some parts of AMOC
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