New Member and First Aston
Discussion
Hi All,
finally decided to register and say hello after being a long time lurker
Just moved to a manual DB9 after 7 years of flappy-paddled Maseratis (4200 coupe and more recently a Gransport).
The information on the forum has been most useful, so thanks to everyone for helping me take the plunge
I also bought myself a copy of Grant Neal's book which I found very informative too.
Here are a few pictures of my new addition :
Couple of minor niggles (squeaky brakes and crashing boot lid) which were promptly sorted out by my local dealer which I guess is not too bad considering the car is a MY05 (with just over 19,000 miles)
They kindly decorked the exhaust for me too !
However, I have had one major issue, the rear windscreen suddenly exploded about a week after I'd had the car
I was actually on my way to the dealer and had 300m to go when there was a loud bang and the rear view was suddenly grey ! No holes or signs of an impact, just crazed glass with a vertical crack in the middle. No joy with AM customer service and extended warranty, although they did confirm the car had the software upgrade designed to rectify the potential heated rear screen "problems"; which was great to hear but I don't make a point of driving with a heated rear screen when the outside temperature is 24 degC ! Anyway, my insurers took care of it and the dealer kindly offered to pay my excess as a gesture of goodwill.
Sorry if the intro was a bit long, hopefully not too boring ...
Cheers, Gerry
finally decided to register and say hello after being a long time lurker
Just moved to a manual DB9 after 7 years of flappy-paddled Maseratis (4200 coupe and more recently a Gransport).
The information on the forum has been most useful, so thanks to everyone for helping me take the plunge
I also bought myself a copy of Grant Neal's book which I found very informative too.Here are a few pictures of my new addition :
Couple of minor niggles (squeaky brakes and crashing boot lid) which were promptly sorted out by my local dealer which I guess is not too bad considering the car is a MY05 (with just over 19,000 miles)
They kindly decorked the exhaust for me too !However, I have had one major issue, the rear windscreen suddenly exploded about a week after I'd had the car
I was actually on my way to the dealer and had 300m to go when there was a loud bang and the rear view was suddenly grey ! No holes or signs of an impact, just crazed glass with a vertical crack in the middle. No joy with AM customer service and extended warranty, although they did confirm the car had the software upgrade designed to rectify the potential heated rear screen "problems"; which was great to hear but I don't make a point of driving with a heated rear screen when the outside temperature is 24 degC ! Anyway, my insurers took care of it and the dealer kindly offered to pay my excess as a gesture of goodwill.
Sorry if the intro was a bit long, hopefully not too boring ...
Cheers, Gerry
GerryS said:
Hi All,
finally decided to register and say hello after being a long time lurker
Just moved to a manual DB9 after 7 years of flappy-paddled Maseratis (4200 coupe and more recently a Gransport).
The information on the forum has been most useful, so thanks to everyone for helping me take the plunge I also bought myself a copy of Grant Neal's book which I found very informative too.
Couple of minor niggles (squeaky brakes and crashing boot lid) which were promptly sorted out by my local dealer which I guess is not too bad considering the car is a MY05 (with just over 19,000 miles) They kindly decorked the exhaust for me too !
However, I have had one major issue, the rear windscreen suddenly exploded about a week after I'd had the car
I was actually on my way to the dealer and had 300m to go when there was a loud bang and the rear view was suddenly grey ! No holes or signs of an impact, just crazed glass with a vertical crack in the middle. No joy with AM customer service and extended warranty, although they did confirm the car had the software upgrade designed to rectify the potential heated rear screen "problems"; which was great to hear but I don't make a point of driving with a heated rear screen when the outside temperature is 24 degC ! Anyway, my insurers took care of it and the dealer kindly offered to pay my excess as a gesture of goodwill.
Sorry if the intro was a bit long, hopefully not too boring ...
Cheers, Gerry
Congrats on the new beast, she looks absolutely superb, welcome to the club. I also love the V12 numberplate................. finally decided to register and say hello after being a long time lurker
Just moved to a manual DB9 after 7 years of flappy-paddled Maseratis (4200 coupe and more recently a Gransport).
The information on the forum has been most useful, so thanks to everyone for helping me take the plunge
I also bought myself a copy of Grant Neal's book which I found very informative too.Couple of minor niggles (squeaky brakes and crashing boot lid) which were promptly sorted out by my local dealer which I guess is not too bad considering the car is a MY05 (with just over 19,000 miles)
They kindly decorked the exhaust for me too !However, I have had one major issue, the rear windscreen suddenly exploded about a week after I'd had the car
I was actually on my way to the dealer and had 300m to go when there was a loud bang and the rear view was suddenly grey ! No holes or signs of an impact, just crazed glass with a vertical crack in the middle. No joy with AM customer service and extended warranty, although they did confirm the car had the software upgrade designed to rectify the potential heated rear screen "problems"; which was great to hear but I don't make a point of driving with a heated rear screen when the outside temperature is 24 degC ! Anyway, my insurers took care of it and the dealer kindly offered to pay my excess as a gesture of goodwill.
Sorry if the intro was a bit long, hopefully not too boring ...
Cheers, Gerry
- by the way the exploding rear screen is covered on page 203 (bulletin 162)
Edited by Grant3 on Monday 20th June 15:32
Jockman said:
Fab car Gerry - good to see those upgraded.clear rear lights too on a 2005 model !!
Exploding rear windscreen?
Wasn't mentioned as an optional extra to me, but I shall be getting a quotation from my dealer toute de suite
Exploding rear windscreen?
Wasn't mentioned as an optional extra to me, but I shall be getting a quotation from my dealer toute de suite
Cheers ! And there I was thinking of rear bullet proof screen 
Congrats, lovely car and so nice to see another one with a *real* gearbox as well! I also came from a 4200GT (manual) which I'd converted to GranSport spec, just with a manual box.
DB9 is far smoother and more sophisticated IMHO, but can be sharpened up with a few mods. The 4200/GS drives extremely well with a good geo setting but needs to be lowered and stiffened (just springs) to get the best from it.
Nice to see rear lights done, are you thinking of having the Sports Pack retrofitted long term? Especially with a manual car, you could make something very, very fast!
DB9 is far smoother and more sophisticated IMHO, but can be sharpened up with a few mods. The 4200/GS drives extremely well with a good geo setting but needs to be lowered and stiffened (just springs) to get the best from it.
Nice to see rear lights done, are you thinking of having the Sports Pack retrofitted long term? Especially with a manual car, you could make something very, very fast!
mikey k said:
Nice
Bummer on the rear screen
How does it compare to your GranSport?
Well, I do miss the proper rear seats in the Gransport ! I would say the build quality of the DB9 in general (apart from the stereo knobs and the fiddly buttons) just edges past the Gransport. My wife says the Gransport was much louder, although I think the V8 may have had a deeper rumble and was not necessarily louder. Performance-wise, both wonderful cars to drive but perhaps the Gransport felt a little sportier than the DB9 and certainly fed back every bump and ripple in the road (always kept it in sport mode Bummer on the rear screen
How does it compare to your GranSport?
). The DB9 is no slacker of course, the V12 really does do its work very well when asked to ! Both cars seem to generate admiring looks but IMHO the DB9 just looks pretty from any angle 
Not that I'm now biased of course !yeti said:
Congrats, lovely car and so nice to see another one with a *real* gearbox as well! I also came from a 4200GT (manual) which I'd converted to GranSport spec, just with a manual box.
DB9 is far smoother and more sophisticated IMHO, but can be sharpened up with a few mods. The 4200/GS drives extremely well with a good geo setting but needs to be lowered and stiffened (just springs) to get the best from it.
Nice to see rear lights done, are you thinking of having the Sports Pack retrofitted long term? Especially with a manual car, you could make something very, very fast!
Cheers Yeti and d@mn you, I had already consigned my desire for the sports pack upgrade to the recesses of my mind and now you have reminded me DB9 is far smoother and more sophisticated IMHO, but can be sharpened up with a few mods. The 4200/GS drives extremely well with a good geo setting but needs to be lowered and stiffened (just springs) to get the best from it.
Nice to see rear lights done, are you thinking of having the Sports Pack retrofitted long term? Especially with a manual car, you could make something very, very fast!
Will be a medium to long term project ...
GerryS said:
Will be a medium to long term project ...
That's a good idea, get it done piece by piece. The wheels come up for sale every now and again on the bay of E's and the rest can be done in stages. Steering rack is the biggie, I am having it done soon at DMS. Are you anywhere near Derby? Doesn't really matter (I'm in London), that's where the good stuff happens
yeti said:
That's a good idea, get it done piece by piece. The wheels come up for sale every now and again on the bay of E's and the rest can be done in stages. Steering rack is the biggie, I am having it done soon at DMS.
Are you anywhere near Derby? Doesn't really matter (I'm in London), that's where the good stuff happens
Bit far from Derby (also nr. London Are you anywhere near Derby? Doesn't really matter (I'm in London), that's where the good stuff happens
) but heard so much good stuff about Rick and DMS will no doubt be planning a trip that way at some stage 
Congratulations!
It might be worth having a chat with your dealer about the screen. It's a known problem, and there's pretty much no way it would have happened any other way.
Are your insurers going to hike your premium? Even if they're not, you want to make your dealer aware that you're no mug and know this stuff is covered.
It might be worth having a chat with your dealer about the screen. It's a known problem, and there's pretty much no way it would have happened any other way.
Are your insurers going to hike your premium? Even if they're not, you want to make your dealer aware that you're no mug and know this stuff is covered.
tonyhall38 said:
a trip to Hever this weekend to meet fellow owners?....also might just have a set od stereo knobs , and i know Yeti have some heater knobs......first mod?
Cheers Tony, that does sound very tempting and certain to be a pleasant day out. Not sure what"s planned for this weekend though Is it possible to just turn up should I be able to "escape", or is some kind of pre-registration necessary ?Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff