Discussion
Hi, I am a new member looking for some information from any six cylinder DB7 owners. Having lusted after one for a number of years, I am thinking of buying one. Has anyone got some advice on running the car, possible pitfalls, expenditure and whether owner maintenance is a problem (I reckon I am halfway competent in most aspects of maintenance).
Thanks,
Thanks,
I bought one about 8 months ago - done about 2,500 miles and intend to all the maint myself. So far no problems, but looking through the service history of the car there are some really scary bills.
However it is the most beautiful car in the world and an Aston Martin - so worth it when the worst happens!
However it is the most beautiful car in the world and an Aston Martin - so worth it when the worst happens!
I am currently driving a Porsche 928, which has a reputation for heavy bills. I have averaged 12k miles each year over three and a half years with only the normal servicing. However, others often report that huge sums are spent on electrics etc. It really seems to me that weekend use only sounds the death knell to a complex car, and that higher milage regular use helps keeps everything in order. The only DB7 I have so far looked at was a 1995, 34k car and huge sums had been spent on the aircon, headlights, door glass, and gearbox. Could this be the same reasoning behind your cars previous history?
I agree about regular use - my car had just over 60,000 miles when I bought it - 10 years old. Aircon is a well known weak spot and very expensive to repair as it can be a dashboard out job. Not sure what can be done to reduce the chance of failure - I make a point of running mine for a good 10 mins every couple of weeks in the hope that it will prevent the air con seals drying out
"[quote=Danny Hoffman] Aircon is a well known weak spot and very expensive to repair as it can be a dashboard out job. Not sure what can be done to reduce the chance of failure - "
I was at Davron today to chat with David Reed - he mentioned the aircon problem and suggested that an annual re-gassing, which should include the addition of a lubricant, was important. Like you, I have always run my aircon for 10 mins every trip, but it sounds as though this alone might not be enough??
I was at Davron today to chat with David Reed - he mentioned the aircon problem and suggested that an annual re-gassing, which should include the addition of a lubricant, was important. Like you, I have always run my aircon for 10 mins every trip, but it sounds as though this alone might not be enough??
I have checked this out and yes there are quite a few good reports/accounts. I am also going to go and visit Chiltern Aston Centre over the next week or so and see if I can drive a car or two. Viewed nine 928s before I got the one that was 'just right' - well nearly so. Looking more and more likely that I will be advertising it for sale soon!
Simple question. How reliable are DB7s? Are they up to use as daily drivers? From reading on here it looks as though a good one would actually thrive on that but I may be wrong. My wife is fed up with the usual Audi preference I have and to be honest so am I. Not frightened of a bit of maintenance - enjoy it actually - and don't need the car for hooning, just a medium length commute with a few longish cross-countries thrown in each month.
Mostly reliable. The 7's have some weak points, putting mileage on by using it as a daily drive means you'll see something that needs replacing a bit sooner. The repair will take a little longer and cost a bit more than a Plan B car. As you say, a lot will depend on finding one in good condition to start with.
im by no way an expert , however after my 6 month search 4 a db7 i was told to look at suspension/ and wheels/tyre balance-Are level as they are known problems, check serviced regularly,,usually every 6 months depending on mileage,,As Soon as i bought mine i asked Pugsley&lewis Beckenham,,again recommended to do afew checks..They did resolve the Air Con prob and was only a couple hundred,However i was advised these can go wrong again.
The ‘7 geometry is a little sensitive. The general advice is to have an alignment done at least annually, twice a year if you really want to be on top of it, and more often if you’re frequently pounding along rough roads.
Aircon is an issue but owners don’t seem to be having frequent problems with it. Stuck flaps, leaking hoses and failed compressors turn up most often.
Aircon is an issue but owners don’t seem to be having frequent problems with it. Stuck flaps, leaking hoses and failed compressors turn up most often.
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