Aston V8 Vantage paint issues
Discussion
Hey guys, just signed up on here. Anyway my dad has a V8 vantage, which has a few issues. The most shocking of which is stone chips. All up the fronts of the rear arches it is plastered in stone chips, not just a few but there must be over 100 little chips on each side of the car. Its going in to Aston Martin soon to have the side resprayed which is pretty shocking really, they say that they will fit some stone guards too which will solve the problem.
Anyway just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same, or had the stone guards fitted?
Anyway just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same, or had the stone guards fitted?
Welcome Joe, in answer, I too have noticed the the stone chips on mine, unfortunately in last weeks heat the local council in their wisdom decided, in order to stop the roads melting like hot liquorice, to cover them with granite chips, every deflected ping was painful to hear but unavoidable.
Does your father like the V8V ?
Does your father like the V8V ?
What colour is yours? Have you heard anything about these stone guards?
Errm well in all honesty its been a nightmare, looks wise - cant fault it, absolutly stunning to look at, driving wise he likes it, speed wise I dont think its as fast as it should be really, its quick but not lightning, the engine seems a bit lazy.
The worst bit has been the reliability and niggly bits, we picked it up in December time I think it was and on new years day as he was driving back from his pals, the car started running on a handful of cylinders and then just cut out, would'nt fire back up at all. Had to get it trailored away on new years day, Stratstones in Chester had it in and messed about with it, could'nt decide what was wrong so suggested to him to put in a new engine. My dad refused and gave ownership back to the place we purchased it from and they supplied us with a new one.
Other than that theres the management light that won't go off, theres a bit of Diff noise which appeared when it went for its 1000 mile service, and theres been a few other niggles.
The worst and most disappointing though is the paint work and the fact that the first one just gave up the ghost after 200 miles, for £90,000+ I expect alot better and I think he does.
Anyway that was a bit of an essay, you pleased with yours?
Errm well in all honesty its been a nightmare, looks wise - cant fault it, absolutly stunning to look at, driving wise he likes it, speed wise I dont think its as fast as it should be really, its quick but not lightning, the engine seems a bit lazy.
The worst bit has been the reliability and niggly bits, we picked it up in December time I think it was and on new years day as he was driving back from his pals, the car started running on a handful of cylinders and then just cut out, would'nt fire back up at all. Had to get it trailored away on new years day, Stratstones in Chester had it in and messed about with it, could'nt decide what was wrong so suggested to him to put in a new engine. My dad refused and gave ownership back to the place we purchased it from and they supplied us with a new one.
Other than that theres the management light that won't go off, theres a bit of Diff noise which appeared when it went for its 1000 mile service, and theres been a few other niggles.
The worst and most disappointing though is the paint work and the fact that the first one just gave up the ghost after 200 miles, for £90,000+ I expect alot better and I think he does.
Anyway that was a bit of an essay, you pleased with yours?
Helicopter Tape / Armorfend is standard and is definitely NOT painted over ! That would somewhat miss the point. Personally I think it looks bloody awful and dont see the point behind it. If you love the paintwork etc why would covering it in visible plastic be any better than enjoying the looks and sorting out the paint as and when it needs it. Only answer is cost I suppose.
Anyway , no heli tape on mine and I have had very few chips as a result.
Anyway , no heli tape on mine and I have had very few chips as a result.
joe6886 said:
What colour is yours? Have you heard anything about these stone guards?
Errm well in all honesty its been a nightmare, looks wise - cant fault it, absolutly stunning to look at, driving wise he likes it, speed wise I dont think its as fast as it should be really, its quick but not lightning, the engine seems a bit lazy.
The worst bit has been the reliability and niggly bits, we picked it up in December time I think it was and on new years day as he was driving back from his pals, the car started running on a handful of cylinders and then just cut out, would'nt fire back up at all. Had to get it trailored away on new years day, Stratstones in Chester had it in and messed about with it, could'nt decide what was wrong so suggested to him to put in a new engine. My dad refused and gave ownership back to the place we purchased it from and they supplied us with a new one.
Other than that theres the management light that won't go off, theres a bit of Diff noise which appeared when it went for its 1000 mile service, and theres been a few other niggles.
The worst and most disappointing though is the paint work and the fact that the first one just gave up the ghost after 200 miles, for £90,000+ I expect alot better and I think he does.
Anyway that was a bit of an essay, you pleased with yours?
Errm well in all honesty its been a nightmare, looks wise - cant fault it, absolutly stunning to look at, driving wise he likes it, speed wise I dont think its as fast as it should be really, its quick but not lightning, the engine seems a bit lazy.
The worst bit has been the reliability and niggly bits, we picked it up in December time I think it was and on new years day as he was driving back from his pals, the car started running on a handful of cylinders and then just cut out, would'nt fire back up at all. Had to get it trailored away on new years day, Stratstones in Chester had it in and messed about with it, could'nt decide what was wrong so suggested to him to put in a new engine. My dad refused and gave ownership back to the place we purchased it from and they supplied us with a new one.
Other than that theres the management light that won't go off, theres a bit of Diff noise which appeared when it went for its 1000 mile service, and theres been a few other niggles.
The worst and most disappointing though is the paint work and the fact that the first one just gave up the ghost after 200 miles, for £90,000+ I expect alot better and I think he does.
Anyway that was a bit of an essay, you pleased with yours?
Very pleased , the opinion and one that I have concurred with in the past that the V8V is underpowered has diluted for me , I now believe that all the brilliant engineers that put together this vehicle have scored a bulls eye. In the last twelve days I have driven a 360 ( which I exchanged to buy the AM) , a 996t and of course the Vantage. I now think like this : if one had to go which one would I choose to keep...? The 360 seems almost vulgar now , bright red with a creme interior and people staring because of the noise.,( that`ll be the Tubi then) the 996, like a (go) cart
with extra urge and superb manners in all weathers, the Vantage..? The car you always feel relaxed in , to drive anywhere any time , love it.
If I had to have one car for all occasions , it would be the Aston Martin. (
Edited by mikial on Friday 4th August 22:24
Just come back from a blast in the V8, it keeps growing on me as a drivers car, it's 49/50 weight distribution is very evident & it corners beautifully, nice & fluid. The v8 seems to be getting stronger all the time & even the sound seems to be getting louder, in the case of the AMV8 beauty isn't just skin deep.
Anyway got it back, cleaned it & noticed exactly what you guys were saying, although it has only done 2700 miles it is already chipped a little on the "upper" rear arches above the protective film. I wonder how it will fair when it has done 20k! Anyway can't worry obviously a traint of the car, but I wonder if a bigger clear protective strip would help prevent this?
Anyway got it back, cleaned it & noticed exactly what you guys were saying, although it has only done 2700 miles it is already chipped a little on the "upper" rear arches above the protective film. I wonder how it will fair when it has done 20k! Anyway can't worry obviously a traint of the car, but I wonder if a bigger clear protective strip would help prevent this?
grant3 said:
it has only done 2700 miles it is already chipped a little on the "upper" rear arches above the protective film.
Also describes mine.
I know it's nice when they are perfect, but a few 'battle scars' don't bother me too much - the chips have got through the paint, but I'm sure it's only aesthetics that are compromised.
O/T My R500 looked like it had been pebble dashed after the drive home from the factory (!)... and after the M3 decided (cough) to drive through the cat litter at Donington, I was finding stones everywhere for months and the sills looked like Brighton beach.
Steve
Get Carter & Mikial, interesting that both of you, myself & Rich1231 have moved from a 996TT into an AMV8. That's four just on this one forum! I miss the sheer 2nd gear grunt of the Turbo, but now I have adjusted to the Aston it actually seems pretty much as fast(point to point) over my usual B road route!
I wonder what percentage of AMV8 owners are ex-Pork & what next after the Aston?
I wonder what percentage of AMV8 owners are ex-Pork & what next after the Aston?
grant3 said:
Get Carter & Mikial, interesting that both of you, myself & Rich1231 have moved from a 996TT into an AMV8. That's four just on this one forum! I miss the sheer 2nd gear grunt of the Turbo, but now I have adjusted to the Aston it actually seems pretty much as fast(point to point) over my usual B road route!
I wonder what percentage of AMV8 owners are ex-Pork & what next after the Aston?
I wonder what percentage of AMV8 owners are ex-Pork & what next after the Aston?
Yea, I've been thinking how strange that was.
From my point of view the turbo was a total monster and constantly amazed me how quick it was, esp in the wet, but in the end it was (forgive me) a tad boring (unless one was really pushing - which it needed to come alive).
I'm sure the 997tt now takes over as the quickest all weather point to point car on the planet - but I've already read some copy from owners about it lacking some 'soul'.
I'm sure all of us hate the 'Power Beauty Soul' crap on startup in the V8... but I have to say - the marketing bods might just have had a point.
(We just don't want it spelt out thanks.)
Mine is bloody peppered, the loose surface of French payages and my heavy right foot have not helped...at all... My dealer told me that there is little black front 'mud/Stone' guards on the new V8 (like you get on the '9) that should help with the side flanks and these should be retrofitable. I called the other week and they are not in yet, but hopefully before the winter and the salting. I find all my cars get peppered, and I just live with it and get it sprayed before I sell.
Sold mine at just under 6000 miles and was exactly as all others have described stone chip wise. However - and I'm sad enough to moniter these things - it all seemed to happen over the first 2000 miles and then not get any worse. Came from 997S, going back to a GT3 but miss AM more than any car I've prev. owned, with possible exception of a MK1 Clio V6 - which just goes to show that the 'best' cars aren't always the fastest - or the most trouble free!
Last month I took delivery of a new 997C4S - spent first week in and out of dealer trying to fix electrical shorting noise which was traced to a faulty connection on a relay on the ignition system. There are a few niggly rattles and squeaks. Great drive. There are clear protectors on the rear arches. I had a long while before ordered an AMV8 but ordered the Porsche as bored waiting. Vantage arrives November. Dealer said that mud flaps not attractive, but now think I should have them - thanks for the tip. Intend to drive both cars side by side for a month before deciding which to sell, but heart has always said amv8 is the one for me. We shall see.........
joe6886 said:
Hey guys, just signed up on here. Anyway my dad has a V8 vantage, which has a few issues. The most shocking of which is stone chips. All up the fronts of the rear arches it is plastered in stone chips, not just a few but there must be over 100 little chips on each side of the car. Its going in to Aston Martin soon to have the side resprayed which is pretty shocking really, they say that they will fit some stone guards too which will solve the problem.
Anyway just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same, or had the stone guards fitted?
Anyway just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same, or had the stone guards fitted?
Oddly enough, if anyone can be arsed to search for the very first post by petrol_noggin, my son asked the very same question about my DB9, the problem was caused by the car not having a long enough "bake" time on the paint, I took it to Works Service, who repainted the entire car to great cost, I have since had a brand new DB9 since then as a replacement and requested several tests on the replacement before receiving it, its now been a while, and the car has been perfect. I was told by a contact at AM that the early cars were plagued by an untested paint problem, but I can't imagine V8's suffering the same problem after all the fuss U went through.
*just found the post- www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=70&t=229885
Edited by petrol_noggin on Thursday 7th September 21:58
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