Discussion
After months of mentally tyre kicking. I've had my heart set on an m3 followed by a 997 and now I'm finally ready to follow my heart and go for a Vantage. My budget is early 40's I'm looking for a late 2006 model ideally with the new interior.
I've read a lot on the forums here and I have to say the Aston owners tend to be far more helpful than the porsche club who tend to have the attitude if you ask how much running costs are you couldn't possibly afford to own one.
I'm not too concerned about buying privately. My intention is to get it checked by an indi or have an inspection. My question is really around whether or not you can get an Aston warranty if it's already lapsed? I know the general feeling on inspections and warranties is fairly mixed, for me the warranty would give me peice of mind and is probably worth the £1kish it costs. Is there an excess in the policy?
Previously I've never had an inspection on cars I've bought but I've never played in this league before. Are their any recommendations on who I should contact for a chat. This will be a nationwide search but I don't think I'll have to go that far.
I honestly can not remember the last time I was this excited about owning something, this will be a dream come true.
I've read a lot on the forums here and I have to say the Aston owners tend to be far more helpful than the porsche club who tend to have the attitude if you ask how much running costs are you couldn't possibly afford to own one.
I'm not too concerned about buying privately. My intention is to get it checked by an indi or have an inspection. My question is really around whether or not you can get an Aston warranty if it's already lapsed? I know the general feeling on inspections and warranties is fairly mixed, for me the warranty would give me peice of mind and is probably worth the £1kish it costs. Is there an excess in the policy?
Previously I've never had an inspection on cars I've bought but I've never played in this league before. Are their any recommendations on who I should contact for a chat. This will be a nationwide search but I don't think I'll have to go that far.
I honestly can not remember the last time I was this excited about owning something, this will be a dream come true.
Hi chap and on behalf of fellow am owners welcome to the fold.
You won't regret making the move, I did a smiler one myself and haven't looked back.
With regards to inspection I used Aston Martin works service for mine and they were great. If this is not an option then dms seem to be held in very high regard.
With regards to warranty it is personal preference. I wouldn't be without one but that being said touch wood it has been money down the drain as I have not made a single claim.
If you have any more question then feel free to post them up. As a whole we are a friendly bunch.
You won't regret making the move, I did a smiler one myself and haven't looked back.
With regards to inspection I used Aston Martin works service for mine and they were great. If this is not an option then dms seem to be held in very high regard.
With regards to warranty it is personal preference. I wouldn't be without one but that being said touch wood it has been money down the drain as I have not made a single claim.
If you have any more question then feel free to post them up. As a whole we are a friendly bunch.
Hi Simplyred
Good choice on getting a Vantage. I'm in the same boat as you. A childhood dream about to become a reality now i'm able to comfortably afford and run a Vantage.
If you haven't got the 'Definitive Guide to Gaydon Era Aston Martin' (£20 from Amazon) then I highly recommend it. it has proved invaluable for me when choosing a car, colour, options and model year. An added bonus is that it was written by a regular here with contributions from other members too.
Good choice on getting a Vantage. I'm in the same boat as you. A childhood dream about to become a reality now i'm able to comfortably afford and run a Vantage.
If you haven't got the 'Definitive Guide to Gaydon Era Aston Martin' (£20 from Amazon) then I highly recommend it. it has proved invaluable for me when choosing a car, colour, options and model year. An added bonus is that it was written by a regular here with contributions from other members too.
I bought my V8V privately and it had the extended warranty already on the car for another year. It has covered the following in the last ten months -
Thermostat
Door module
Headlight washer jet
Oxygen sensor
Wing mirror
Rear light
So for me the warranty has proved worthwhile. I think you can renew it even if lapsed. Will require the dealership to check the car over first - some charge for this and some don't.
Thermostat
Door module
Headlight washer jet
Oxygen sensor
Wing mirror
Rear light
So for me the warranty has proved worthwhile. I think you can renew it even if lapsed. Will require the dealership to check the car over first - some charge for this and some don't.
Personally, I would go to a franchised dealer - unless you can save two or three grand by sourcing elsewhere. They appear to prep their cars to a high standard and provide a little extra piece of mind should something go wrong. I don't believe there's an excess on warranty claims - I wasn't charged a couple of months back on my thermo replacement. Have a decent unrushed test drive, the 4.3 is different to a 997, but whatever people say about the differences, I'm exceptionally happy with my one.
Quinny said:
SL500UK said:
Personally, I would go to a franchised dealer - unless you can save two or three grand by sourcing elsewhere. They appear to prep their cars to a high standard and provide a little extra piece of mind should something go wrong.
A lot of it depends on whether you can find the spec your after..... But from my experience, no dealer had what I wanted, at the price I was prepared to pay....When the right car did turn up, it was private, and was at least £4k less than similar cars at dealers...
There have also been a few threads on here recenty regarding customers disappointment at the standard of prep from main dealers.....
Obviously not all main dealers are the same t pays to do your research
You will not be dissapointed with the car they are amazing...
But my experience of buying mine very recentley from a (non AM) independant garage turned out to be a bit of a nightmare!!!!!
I found the car after months of looking on the internet and like you was comparing the prices between main dealer and private sales etc..
I took the route of looking for a newer reg and low number of owners in the thought that would be a better option.
So I found the car of my dreams and done the deal on an 07 reg 1 owner in the spec I wanted as well, the garage informed me that the car was due a service before letting it go and offered me the option of them servicing it or having it done by AM, given an already full AM history I chose to keep it that way, plus should there be anything wrong with the car they would pick up on it.. mmmmmmmmmmm
I went to pick up the car on a Sat morning, having no sleep the night before due to the excitement!!! I am not joking, I was like a 4 year old on christmas eve.
The drive back (300 miles or so) showed no faults or problems and was a wonderful drive, the car had been serviced and apparentley given a clean bill of health.
3 days later I find the car will not let me select 4th or 5th gear? very odd, the garage told me to take it to AM to have it checked. I dropped the car off and asked the garage to check the car over top to bottom,It turned out that the clutch had gone, they also found that the discs and pads were dangerously low and a suspected problem with the rear shocks...
Baring in mind that since buying the car no abuse what so ever had taken place.
The service done by AM showed these items as needing attention but the garage was obviously not interested in forking out any money on the car as would mean a lesser proffit, so they let the car go to me knowing that in the near future I would have a billcoming my way for nearly £5-6K +
So the car at a shade over 40K with the repairs added!! could have gone to a main dealer and had one with all proper checks and work carried out backed up with a full warranty. Hassle free and left to enjoy my new toy.
The garage I bought from much to my suprise did come good, they held up theyre hands!! The car was picked up from my local AM on a low loader, taken back to have a new breaks, clutch and a full inspection of the rear shocks at theyre own work shop, the car was then sent off to a local AM dealer for the work to be checked and a 2 year premium AM warranty put on the car.
I now have the car back and am enjoying every moment with the car, but all the hassle I encountered after buying it took the shine off my dream coming true of having an Aston Martin.
My advice would be to ether go main dealer or when you do find one from a private seller having it taken down to AM for a full check, at a cost of £250-00 its a small price to pay should they find a major problem. Or at least if you can find one with a warrant still on it.
I hope you find the right one and dont have the grief I had... Enjoy, you will love it!!!!!
But my experience of buying mine very recentley from a (non AM) independant garage turned out to be a bit of a nightmare!!!!!
I found the car after months of looking on the internet and like you was comparing the prices between main dealer and private sales etc..
I took the route of looking for a newer reg and low number of owners in the thought that would be a better option.
So I found the car of my dreams and done the deal on an 07 reg 1 owner in the spec I wanted as well, the garage informed me that the car was due a service before letting it go and offered me the option of them servicing it or having it done by AM, given an already full AM history I chose to keep it that way, plus should there be anything wrong with the car they would pick up on it.. mmmmmmmmmmm
I went to pick up the car on a Sat morning, having no sleep the night before due to the excitement!!! I am not joking, I was like a 4 year old on christmas eve.
The drive back (300 miles or so) showed no faults or problems and was a wonderful drive, the car had been serviced and apparentley given a clean bill of health.
3 days later I find the car will not let me select 4th or 5th gear? very odd, the garage told me to take it to AM to have it checked. I dropped the car off and asked the garage to check the car over top to bottom,It turned out that the clutch had gone, they also found that the discs and pads were dangerously low and a suspected problem with the rear shocks...
Baring in mind that since buying the car no abuse what so ever had taken place.
The service done by AM showed these items as needing attention but the garage was obviously not interested in forking out any money on the car as would mean a lesser proffit, so they let the car go to me knowing that in the near future I would have a billcoming my way for nearly £5-6K +
So the car at a shade over 40K with the repairs added!! could have gone to a main dealer and had one with all proper checks and work carried out backed up with a full warranty. Hassle free and left to enjoy my new toy.
The garage I bought from much to my suprise did come good, they held up theyre hands!! The car was picked up from my local AM on a low loader, taken back to have a new breaks, clutch and a full inspection of the rear shocks at theyre own work shop, the car was then sent off to a local AM dealer for the work to be checked and a 2 year premium AM warranty put on the car.
I now have the car back and am enjoying every moment with the car, but all the hassle I encountered after buying it took the shine off my dream coming true of having an Aston Martin.
My advice would be to ether go main dealer or when you do find one from a private seller having it taken down to AM for a full check, at a cost of £250-00 its a small price to pay should they find a major problem. Or at least if you can find one with a warrant still on it.
I hope you find the right one and dont have the grief I had... Enjoy, you will love it!!!!!
burntout said:
The garage I bought from much to my suprise did come good, they held up theyre hands!!...My advice would be to ether go main dealer or when you do find one from a private seller having it taken down to AM for a full check, at a cost of £250-00 its a small price to pay should they find a major problem. Or at least if you can find one with a warrant still on it.
Under the Sale of Goods Act, the onus is on the supplier during the first 6 months to prove that the goods were of satisfactory quality. Thereafter the onus is on the customer.Good rule of thumb to work to
simplyred said:
I've read a lot on the forums here and I have to say the Aston owners tend to be far more helpful than the porsche club who tend to have the attitude if you ask how much running costs are you couldn't possibly afford to own one.
Last time I was in a Porsche showroom, they were very keen to point out how cheap and infrequent the servicing regime was compared to the Aston.They then proceeded to drool over the DB9. So did the customers coming in.
Oh, by the way Mr Hucknall...if you ask how much running costs are you couldn´t possibly afford to own an Aston
Bon Chance.
Thanks for all the messages. I live near Chichester and looked at some 997s at Harbour cars with the Mrs followed by a trip to the local Aston garage. I always wanted a 997 but really as an object there's no comparison whilst some of the stories scare me I have to have one. I think I will test drive both but I am not being pragmatic on this I am following my heart.
simplyred said:
Thanks for all the messages. I live near Chichester and looked at some 997s at Harbour cars with the Mrs followed by a trip to the local Aston garage. I always wanted a 997 but really as an object there's no comparison whilst some of the stories scare me I have to have one. I think I will test drive both but I am not being pragmatic on this I am following my heart.
Wonderful cars though Porsches are, they are not without their issues as well (rear main seal anyone?). The Vantage may have a few niggles but I don't think you are 'safer' with the 997 as far as big bills are concerned. Heart may well be in agreement with head here if you do your homework right Also the 997 two-year service interval... I really wouldn't feel comfortable using a car hard and not changing the oil for 24 months and would probably end up doing an annual service anyway!
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