DB7 for c. £40k - money pit?

[Tina K]

There seem to be lots of these around at the moment. Any thoughts on known problems / likely running costs?

TVMIA

[ukdennis]

Have a look at the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) website, www.amoc.org, on the Bloxham Forum. Plenty of info there.

[amdb7]

DB7's are fairly cheap to run apparently, obviously parts are expensive but running costs are not too bad at all

Both the i6 and V12 engines are bullet proof

The i6 was not so hot on reliability as far as electrics and air con etc went, but all this was sorted for the V12 Vantage

[Tina K]

Thanks both

[f328nvl]

To put some Numbers on it:
I have had a DB7 Vantage since Feb 2002. It has been serviced at Works Service on schedule i.e twice a year and has had no major problems other than routine bits and pieces and an aircon problem fixed under warranty.
The GT brake/suspension upgrade was done in October 2003 at a cost of £9,788.
A Sports Exhaust was put on in April 2005 at a cost of £1,821.
I had the clutch replaced in January 2006 (37k miles, probably 5-10k early) at a cost of £3,897.
The total service costs over 5 years have been £33,224(including the above). The car has done 39k miles, so 85pp mile or £6.6k per annum (55pp mile/£4.3kpa excluding upgrades)

jg

[Graham B]

f328nvl said:

To put some Numbers on it:
I have had a DB7 Vantage since Feb 2002. It has been serviced at Works Service on schedule i.e twice a year and has had no major problems other than routine bits and pieces and an aircon problem fixed under warranty.
The GT brake/suspension upgrade was done in October 2003 at a cost of £9,788.
A Sports Exhaust was put on in April 2005 at a cost of £1,821.
I had the clutch replaced in January 2006 (37k miles, probably 5-10k early) at a cost of £3,897.
The total service costs over 5 years have been £33,224(including the above). The car has done 39k miles, so 85pp mile or £6.6k per annum (55pp mile/£4.3kpa excluding upgrades)

jg

I too am considering a DB7 Vantage as a replacement for my Griff. I don't do many miles a year so the figures above are interesting. When you say two services a year is that due to your mileage or is that the recommended service intervals regardless of mileage? Any other input/thoughts on the cars greatly received.

Cheers,
Graham

[williamp]

f328nvl said:

To put some Numbers on it:
I have had a DB7 Vantage since Feb 2002. It has been serviced at Works Service on schedule i.e twice a year and has had no major problems other than routine bits and pieces and an aircon problem fixed under warranty.
The GT brake/suspension upgrade was done in October 2003 at a cost of £9,788.
A Sports Exhaust was put on in April 2005 at a cost of £1,821.
I had the clutch replaced in January 2006 (37k miles, probably 5-10k early) at a cost of £3,897.
The total service costs over 5 years have been £33,224(including the above). The car has done 39k miles, so 85pp mile or £6.6k per annum (55pp mile/£4.3kpa excluding upgrades)

jg

85p mile!!!!!! That seems a very expensive way to go Aston motoring- are you including depreciation in there as well? Its even more then an old V8 like mine!

Future owners should';nt need to pay this amount for a DB7. You can cut costs by:

-not having the GT pack or the sports exhaust
-not using the factory for your service. There are plenty of Aston specialists throughout the country, some better then others, who can service your DB7 at a better rate and still use genuine Aston parts. Using the factory is a luxury and, for many an unnecessary expense

Most of us V8 owners budget £2K per annum for servicing and work, knowing that a bigger bill will appear every so often. For a DB7, that should not be a problem.

As for the DB7 themselves, great cars providing you get a specialist to look at them beforehand. They do have faults, and these faults are well known. The previous advice about the AMOC is well founded. Lots of private owners on there.

[f328nvl]

You are right that there are much cheaper ways to own a DB7 and that much of what I have done (GT/Works service etc) is a luxury.

However, I'd still do the suspension upgrade - "I just cannot tell you how much better it is" Clarkson - and as my car was virtually new (it belonged to the late Chairman of Aston for six months before I got it) and under warranty when I got it, it was either dealer or factory and there's not much difference in cost between them. As the car ages the luxury gets more difficult to justify.

The service is supposed to be bi-annual and depreciation is now irrelevant to a new owner, we've already done that for you, but was around £50k in 5 years for me.

The best testament to the car is that I have owned it 5 years which is longer than any vehicle I've had and whilst I'm selling my F550, I'm having difficulty with the emotions of selling the Aston.

[v12Aston]

Almond Green T Reg ? If so, I remember driving that car when new

[J_S_G]

Had a DB7 Vantage bought for that kind of ballpark price. 6 month service at a dealer was still a four figure bill - and that was without ANYTHING beyond the standard service being done. And, by the time you've got a 6-7 year old car (i.e. one at that price), you'll be in need of a bit of suspension/steering/brakes work now and then. Another four figure bill each time, no doubt (from a dealer).

Apart from guaranteed high bills from "serviceable" items, the car was very reliable. Should anything have gone wrong, the bills would have been "uncomfortable", though. Would put the running costs at £2k+ a year higher than the Tuscan/Cerbera at least, and £4k+ a year higher than the XKR.

For what it's worth, the XKR was better in every way apart from the badge on the front and the exterior niceness... straight line speed, handling, comfort, gadgets, reliability, running costs, interior, etc. And half the price to start with.