Problems with AM V8

[jweeks]

I am buying a new car, it's between the AM V8 and an Audi R8. I am use to driving an Audi, and one of the plus points is that it never misses a beat, I get into it in the morning and it starts every time. I have had very few problems, if any.

My heart says Aston, but the old reliability reputation worries me. The dealer at Stratstone in Wilmslow assures me that this is no longer the case, but I would prefer to listen to the experiences of owners - should I be concerned?

[GetCarter]

Very few of us have had problems with the V8.

Known issues are silly things like petrol filler caps not opening, gear linkages and oil needing updating (from early models)... occasional electrical gremlins etc.

It won't be as quick 'a to b' as the R8, but it's a whole heap of fun and a pleasure to drive.

...and joe public loves the marque.

I've owned several Audis (RS6 etc) and they have been if anything, more trouble than the Aston

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 24th November 13:16

[Lucozade]

jweeks said:

I am buying a new car, it's between the AM V8 and an Audi R8. I am use to driving an Audi, and one of the plus points is that it never misses a beat, I get into it in the morning and it starts every time. I have had very few problems, if any.

My heart says Aston, but the old reliability reputation worries me. The dealer at Stratstone in Wilmslow assures me that this is no longer the case, but I would prefer to listen to the experiences of owners - should I be concerned?

buying new in this climate?

Huge savings available on nearly new V8s currently as I've found out :-)

[GetCarter]

/\ I assume he means second hand... it would be bonkers to buy new at the moment, Shirley?!

[jweeks]

Correct, I am buying a second hand car - looking around £65k mark, so expecting a 57/08 plate with less than 4000 miles.

[GetCarter]

I'm sure that won't be a problem. They are giving them away with Cornflakes at the moment.

[sadlerj]

My Aston has been more reliable than my Audi. The Aston has had a squeaky fan belt, the Audi a new Turbo, new head, and multiple oil leaks....Also other Audi's myself and my family have owned have had many issues, ignition coils, haldex couplings, not to mention my old mans 1999 TT that had to go back to the factory for a major refit so it could actually go round corners....so Audi's reliable...I dont think so. I am now onto BMW's for the 'wife' (now all the BMW driving idiots are driving Audi s-lines) and they are proving troublesome too..

Saying that tho...I do love the R8...probably better to drive than the Vantage...but not better to 'own' if you know what I mean..

Edited by sadlerj on Monday 24th November 14:05

[apotek]

THERE REALLY IS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN ASTON AND AUDI , A VANTAGE IS A SIMILAR CAR TO AN AUDI R8, BUT SO MUCH MORE FUN.I HAVE NEVER HAD GREAT SERVICE AT AUDI THEY ARE TOO BUSY WITH REP MOBILES AND LOCALLY THEY ARE LIKE A-HOLES EVERYONE WHO WORKS AT BENTLEY GETS THEM ON A SCHEME.
STRATSTONES HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT DEALING WITH MY ODD MINOR QUEERY.
ONE OTHER GOOD THING IS THE RESPONSE FROM OTHER ROAD USERS WHO ALL SEEM TO LOVE ASTONS.
I AM SURE YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING GOOD LUCK

[GetCarter]

Good advice from a pharmacist stuck in a deep tunnel somewhere in Cheshire.

[XXXAngelXXX]

<--------- daily driver - no problems as SJ mentioned only minor stuff...

[Wanta996Gotta]

GetCarter said:

Very few of us have had problems with the V8.

Known issues are silly things like petrol filler caps not opening, gear linkages and oil needing updating (from early models)... occasional electrical gremlins etc.

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 24th November 13:16

Its kind of strange that some of us seem to find the above acceptable with these highly expensive cars. Friends early Gallardos fuel cap lid would come off at the petrol station leaving him standing there like an idiot and the door handle once came off in his hand and this was 2months after paying £90k for it from Lamborghini Birmingham. I think the R8's build quality and finish is at a level never seen from a sportscar and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment. Unless you are paying 45-55k for the AM V8 then i would personally not consider one unless its the looks that you love.

[Pugsey]

Wanta996Gotta said:

GetCarter said:

Very few of us have had problems with the V8.

Known issues are silly things like petrol filler caps not opening, gear linkages and oil needing updating (from early models)... occasional electrical gremlins etc.

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 24th November 13:16

Its kind of strange that some of us seem to find the above acceptable with these highly expensive cars. Friends early Gallardos fuel cap lid would come off at the petrol station leaving him standing there like an idiot and the door handle once came off in his hand and this was 2months after paying £90k for it from Lamborghini Birmingham. I think the R8's build quality and finish is at a level never seen from a sportscar and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment. Unless you are paying 45-55k for the AM V8 then i would personally not consider one unless its the looks that you love.

Perhaps the fact that people are willing to accept the occasional wee niggle from their Astons - in truth probably no more nowadays than any other car - tells you all you need to know. IMHO the more you spend on a car the more it becomes important that it involves your heart as much, in fact probably more, than your head. After all from a purely 'head rules heart' perspective none of us actually NEED to spend more than £20k or so if all we want is reliable, comfortable a to b transport. I'd suggest that anyone spending much over that figure is driven by their emotions, not practicalities and long may it continue.

[GetCarter]

Wanta996Gotta said:

...and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment.

Yep... so did my 996 turbo S - but I'd have the Aston every day of the week over the porker.

[XXXAngelXXX]

and the Audi look like this .....

[Wanta996Gotta]

GetCarter said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

...and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment.

Yep... so did my 996 turbo S - but I'd have the Aston every day of the week over the porker.

And i have no problems with that - the Aston V8 for me is one of the most beautiful cars ever penned! I just dont think it has the build quality and performance of the current Porsche range never mind a Audi R8 and it is never an £80k+ car. I also dont know of any UK publication that has been overly positive about the car as a performance tool.

This thread just sums it up nicely - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[GetCarter]

Wanta996Gotta said:

GetCarter said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

...and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment.

Yep... so did my 996 turbo S - but I'd have the Aston every day of the week over the porker.

And i have no problems with that - the Aston V8 for me is one of the most beautiful cars ever penned! I just dont think it has the build quality and performance of the current Porsche range never mind a Audi R8 and it is never an £80k+ car. I also dont know of any UK publication that has been overly positive about the car as a performance tool.

This thread just sums it up nicely - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Fair points faily made.

I'd just chuck in that I had more problems with the 911 turbo and ENDLESS problems with the RS6 than I have had with the Aston.

...could just have been my bad/good luck.

However... both of the above being much quicker 'a to b' and me not wanting to swap has 'nout to do with build or speed. It's just either in your blood or it's not. I could get to Tescos 1 minute earlier in a 911tt (65 miles) or I could arrive 1 minute later in the Aston Martin.

It's so easy to choose.

Never again in a Porker.

[Tonto]

I live 20 odd miles from the nearest Tesco (extra). Bet it takes twice as long as it takes you to get there Steve!
Plus, I doubt I get out of 4th more then two,three times.

[Wanta996Gotta]

GetCarter said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

GetCarter said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

...and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment.

Yep... so did my 996 turbo S - but I'd have the Aston every day of the week over the porker.

And i have no problems with that - the Aston V8 for me is one of the most beautiful cars ever penned! I just dont think it has the build quality and performance of the current Porsche range never mind a Audi R8 and it is never an £80k+ car. I also dont know of any UK publication that has been overly positive about the car as a performance tool.

This thread just sums it up nicely - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Fair points faily made.

I'd just chuck in that I had more problems with the 911 turbo and ENDLESS problems with the RS6 than I have had with the Aston.

...could just have been my bad/good luck.

However... both of the above being much quicker 'a to b' and me not wanting to swap has 'nout to do with build or speed. It's just either in your blood or it's not. I could get to Tescos 1 minute earlier in a 911tt (65 miles) or I could arrive 1 minute later in the Aston Martin.

It's so easy to choose.

Never again in a Porker.

I kind of know what you mean, i ran a Lotus Elise everyday for almost two years due to the love for the Lotus badge. The reason a Porsche owner is hovering here is that i am researching the pros and cons of a used Aston Martin DB9 as my next car. I loved the DB7 and would drool over them when the Lotus had its frequent trips to Murray Motor Company in Edinburgh(Lotus/Aston Martin Dealer)and i think the DB9 took it to another level of desirability.

I need the rear seats so the DB9 is the better option for me over the AM V8.

[bikeracer1098]

Wanta996Gotta said:

GetCarter said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

GetCarter said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

...and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment.

Yep... so did my 996 turbo S - but I'd have the Aston every day of the week over the porker.

And i have no problems with that - the Aston V8 for me is one of the most beautiful cars ever penned! I just dont think it has the build quality and performance of the current Porsche range never mind a Audi R8 and it is never an £80k+ car. I also dont know of any UK publication that has been overly positive about the car as a performance tool.

This thread just sums it up nicely - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Fair points faily made.

I'd just chuck in that I had more problems with the 911 turbo and ENDLESS problems with the RS6 than I have had with the Aston.

...could just have been my bad/good luck.

However... both of the above being much quicker 'a to b' and me not wanting to swap has 'nout to do with build or speed. It's just either in your blood or it's not. I could get to Tescos 1 minute earlier in a 911tt (65 miles) or I could arrive 1 minute later in the Aston Martin.

It's so easy to choose.

Never again in a Porker.

I kind of know what you mean, i ran a Lotus Elise everyday for almost two years due to the love for the Lotus badge. The reason a Porsche owner is hovering here is that i am researching the pros and cons of a used Aston Martin DB9 as my next car. I loved the DB7 and would drool over them when the Lotus had its frequent trips to Murray Motor Company in Edinburgh(Lotus/Aston Martin Dealer)and i think the DB9 took it to another level of desirability.

I need the rear seats so the DB9 is the better option for me over the AM V8.

Porkers are great but the Aston is in a completely different league.

Anybody can afford to buy a second hand porker, but only a few are privileged enough to afford an Aston.

For sheer performance just go and get a Caterham!!!

[bikeracer1098]

Wanta996Gotta said:

GetCarter said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

...and it beats the Aston in every performance measurment.

Yep... so did my 996 turbo S - but I'd have the Aston every day of the week over the porker.

And i have no problems with that - the Aston V8 for me is one of the most beautiful cars ever penned! I just dont think it has the build quality and performance of the current Porsche range never mind a Audi R8 and it is never an £80k+ car. I also dont know of any UK publication that has been overly positive about the car as a performance tool.

This thread just sums it up nicely - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Wanta996Gotta

Have you ever driven an Audi R8?
Well, maybee compared with a Porker 996 it is the dogs b******s!!