Many thanks from a new owner
Discussion
Hello everybody,
First of all I must apologize for my poor knowledge of english!
I'm a belgian french speaking citizen living south of Brussels.
I'm now the proud owner of a splendid V8V 4,7 since yesterday and I'm really happy to share this with all of you.
It's been more than two months that I'm waiting for my car and I've learned a lot from the 280 pages of posts on the forum.
I've a debt to you all as I've learned a lot on the car and this knowledge saved me from a bad buy!
It's been a year or so that I was thinking to upgrade my everyday car (Mercedes 500SL MY 2003) and have always wanted an Aston since I'm grown up... After a few everyday cars (VW to BMW to Mercedes and Porsche) and a few "keepers" (Porsche 993, Lotus Elan M100, MG Midget, RR Shadow 2) I thought it was time to move to Aston.
Reading your posts on the forum I acquired confidence in the car as an ideal way to commute for the 15 miles between home and the hospital were I work as a specialist in Intensive care medicine.
Finding the right car was not so easy as Astons are pretty rare in Belgium and we have few second hand cars.
I first spotted what I thought was a fine one from a seller specialized in top cars selling only "one owner, never damaged, full history, well cared" cars.
After two road tests I was convinced that this V8V (MY 2007 30.000km, many options) was my car!
What I learned from this forum helped me to "do my homework".
I called the belgian main dealer and asked to control the VIN number in the database and I discovered that the car was severely crashed a few month ago... The first owner wanted to trade his 4,3 for a 4,7 and convinced the expert that the car was beyond salvation! He recovered from the insurance and bought his new car. Since then I lost the trace of the car that was repaired out of the AM network and reappeared at a Mercedes dealer where the actual seller found it.
The chief technician at AM Antwerpen assured me that the car was properly restored and had only "cosmetic" repairs (the front bumper, the right wing and the right door!) but I lost all faith when they discovered that the rear left suspension arm was broken and the dampers worn out...
I also spotted that at least one alloy was (badly) painted.
I kindly replied to the seller that "this wasn't what I'm looking for".
I then moved to the pre-owned department of the main dealer were I discovered what is today my new car.
It's a V8V 4.7L in Meteorite silver with black leather and black stitches but clear alcantara for the roof line.
It took a while for the dealer to exchange the front air vent strakes that showed some pitting and to have the passenger door repainted around the key hole where a few bubbles appeared.
So I took delivery of the beast yesterday around noon. The worst day of the week with heavy rain and a lot of mud everywhere waiting to be sprayed on my pride and joy!
Thank to you all I was prepared for the experience: a few rattles from the dash, issues with the Sat-Nav system, etc.
What I was less prepared to is the wide grin on my face during the whole return journey. As soon as I reached home I took fuse 22 out and I cannot stop grinning since!
What a car!!!!
As my other half asked me in the morning what I intended to do this sunday I replied: "you must be kidding" and we left home for a fabulous experience meeting my brothers and sharing driving pleasure.
Once again I would like to thank all of you on this forum for sharing your knowledge and questions and I will keep up posting as soon as I discover the pros (and cons?) of this wonderful car
And here are the pics (sorry for the poor quality. I'm a doctor not a photograph!)
Best regards from rainy Belgium.
http://community.webshots.com/album/581928430hZZUZ...
First of all I must apologize for my poor knowledge of english!
I'm a belgian french speaking citizen living south of Brussels.
I'm now the proud owner of a splendid V8V 4,7 since yesterday and I'm really happy to share this with all of you.
It's been more than two months that I'm waiting for my car and I've learned a lot from the 280 pages of posts on the forum.
I've a debt to you all as I've learned a lot on the car and this knowledge saved me from a bad buy!
It's been a year or so that I was thinking to upgrade my everyday car (Mercedes 500SL MY 2003) and have always wanted an Aston since I'm grown up... After a few everyday cars (VW to BMW to Mercedes and Porsche) and a few "keepers" (Porsche 993, Lotus Elan M100, MG Midget, RR Shadow 2) I thought it was time to move to Aston.
Reading your posts on the forum I acquired confidence in the car as an ideal way to commute for the 15 miles between home and the hospital were I work as a specialist in Intensive care medicine.
Finding the right car was not so easy as Astons are pretty rare in Belgium and we have few second hand cars.
I first spotted what I thought was a fine one from a seller specialized in top cars selling only "one owner, never damaged, full history, well cared" cars.
After two road tests I was convinced that this V8V (MY 2007 30.000km, many options) was my car!
What I learned from this forum helped me to "do my homework".
I called the belgian main dealer and asked to control the VIN number in the database and I discovered that the car was severely crashed a few month ago... The first owner wanted to trade his 4,3 for a 4,7 and convinced the expert that the car was beyond salvation! He recovered from the insurance and bought his new car. Since then I lost the trace of the car that was repaired out of the AM network and reappeared at a Mercedes dealer where the actual seller found it.
The chief technician at AM Antwerpen assured me that the car was properly restored and had only "cosmetic" repairs (the front bumper, the right wing and the right door!) but I lost all faith when they discovered that the rear left suspension arm was broken and the dampers worn out...
I also spotted that at least one alloy was (badly) painted.
I kindly replied to the seller that "this wasn't what I'm looking for".
I then moved to the pre-owned department of the main dealer were I discovered what is today my new car.
It's a V8V 4.7L in Meteorite silver with black leather and black stitches but clear alcantara for the roof line.
It took a while for the dealer to exchange the front air vent strakes that showed some pitting and to have the passenger door repainted around the key hole where a few bubbles appeared.
So I took delivery of the beast yesterday around noon. The worst day of the week with heavy rain and a lot of mud everywhere waiting to be sprayed on my pride and joy!
Thank to you all I was prepared for the experience: a few rattles from the dash, issues with the Sat-Nav system, etc.
What I was less prepared to is the wide grin on my face during the whole return journey. As soon as I reached home I took fuse 22 out and I cannot stop grinning since!
What a car!!!!
As my other half asked me in the morning what I intended to do this sunday I replied: "you must be kidding" and we left home for a fabulous experience meeting my brothers and sharing driving pleasure.
Once again I would like to thank all of you on this forum for sharing your knowledge and questions and I will keep up posting as soon as I discover the pros (and cons?) of this wonderful car
And here are the pics (sorry for the poor quality. I'm a doctor not a photograph!)
Best regards from rainy Belgium.
http://community.webshots.com/album/581928430hZZUZ...
Many thanks for this warm welcome.
Un grand bonjour à tous les francophones sur ce forum! Et même aux écossais qui font l'effort de saluer un francophone dans sa langue!
I would like to be as fluent in English than the Scotsman in French.
I'm afraid my knowledge of Scotland is mainly about whisky.
Back to topic: my car is a MY2009 but was registered in 08/2008.
At this moment the former orner was offered to choose between the new and the old set of alloys.
I agree with his choice anyway.
In Belgium we barely see any AM in the streets. The dealer recently split in two parts: one in Brussels and another one in Antwerpen. The old war between French and Flemish communities...
Nevertheless I know of a few proud owners on both sides of the linguistic border.
I like the feeling of uniqueness that comes with this ownership. Most wealthy people buy Porsches (and I did ... twice) because they trust the german reputation of reliability. That's why we see plenty of 911 and Cayennes on every streets.
IMO the V8V is a far better package but this is another topic.
Can't wait to show the car to my colleagues tomorrow morning!
Un grand bonjour à tous les francophones sur ce forum! Et même aux écossais qui font l'effort de saluer un francophone dans sa langue!
I would like to be as fluent in English than the Scotsman in French.
I'm afraid my knowledge of Scotland is mainly about whisky.
Back to topic: my car is a MY2009 but was registered in 08/2008.
At this moment the former orner was offered to choose between the new and the old set of alloys.
I agree with his choice anyway.
In Belgium we barely see any AM in the streets. The dealer recently split in two parts: one in Brussels and another one in Antwerpen. The old war between French and Flemish communities...
Nevertheless I know of a few proud owners on both sides of the linguistic border.
I like the feeling of uniqueness that comes with this ownership. Most wealthy people buy Porsches (and I did ... twice) because they trust the german reputation of reliability. That's why we see plenty of 911 and Cayennes on every streets.
IMO the V8V is a far better package but this is another topic.
Can't wait to show the car to my colleagues tomorrow morning!
Many thanks for this warm welcome.
Un grand bonjour à tous les francophones sur ce forum! Et même aux écossais qui font l'effort de saluer un francophone dans sa langue!
I would like to be as fluent in English than the Scotsman in French.
I'm afraid my knowledge of Scotland is mainly about whisky.
Back to topic: my car is a MY2009 but was registered in 08/2008.
At this moment the former owner was offered to choose between the new and the old set of alloys.
I agree with his choice anyway.
In Belgium we barely see any AM in the streets. The dealer recently split in two parts: one in Brussels and another one in Antwerpen. The old war between French and Flemish communities...
Nevertheless I know of a few proud owners on both sides of the linguistic border.
I like the feeling of uniqueness that comes with this ownership. Most wealthy people buy Porsches (and I did ... twice) because they trust the german reputation of reliability. That's why we see plenty of 911 and Cayennes on every streets.
IMO the V8V is a far better package but this is another topic.
Can't wait to show the car to my colleagues tomorrow morning!
Un grand bonjour à tous les francophones sur ce forum! Et même aux écossais qui font l'effort de saluer un francophone dans sa langue!
I would like to be as fluent in English than the Scotsman in French.
I'm afraid my knowledge of Scotland is mainly about whisky.
Back to topic: my car is a MY2009 but was registered in 08/2008.
At this moment the former owner was offered to choose between the new and the old set of alloys.
I agree with his choice anyway.
In Belgium we barely see any AM in the streets. The dealer recently split in two parts: one in Brussels and another one in Antwerpen. The old war between French and Flemish communities...
Nevertheless I know of a few proud owners on both sides of the linguistic border.
I like the feeling of uniqueness that comes with this ownership. Most wealthy people buy Porsches (and I did ... twice) because they trust the german reputation of reliability. That's why we see plenty of 911 and Cayennes on every streets.
IMO the V8V is a far better package but this is another topic.
Can't wait to show the car to my colleagues tomorrow morning!
Neil1300R said:
beautiful car
great English!
great country - especially out in the Ardenne forest, pity the state of your roads they are even worse than the UK!
glad the forum was of help.
fuse 22 - its great isn't it, makes you wonder why other manufacturers don't do it
Indeed!great English!
great country - especially out in the Ardenne forest, pity the state of your roads they are even worse than the UK!
glad the forum was of help.
fuse 22 - its great isn't it, makes you wonder why other manufacturers don't do it
The state of the roads resume the state of the country.
The Ardennes forests are great as is the rest of the country with some sunrays. The people are great too and that makes it one of the best places to live.
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