Mixed emotions
Discussion
Hi all.
Well Saturday didnt start well. We arrived at the dealer, my car was sitting looking glorious in the sunshine. We looked it over and to our horror saw several hairline scratches on the boot and bonnet. You can really only see them in bright sun and it had been dull when we 1st viewed the car the previous week. To make matters worse there is a really strange "patch" on the top of the offside A pillar. It looks like when it was painted the sparkle had run out. It felt perfect but very weird to look at. Again it only shows in strong light.
Now I know its not a brand new car but we may not have bought if we had seen these before.
We showed the dealer, who to be fair immediately took pics and promised it will all be sorted under warranty. No arguement.
Feeling happier we began the paperwork and to cut a long story short then spent two hours onto various call centres trying to get the money transfer through, even though my bank manager had rang the previous eve to assure me all was ready.
At last it was sorted but by now my stress levels were, to say the least, high.
Hand over time. What a stupid key!!! No doubt I will drop and crack it within a few days.
To cap it all I realised I stupidly had worn flip flops. I didnt want to risk them in an unfamiliar car so Tony drove the car home via a very long route.
What can I say... Fantastic, the sound, the exhileration everything just fantastic.
Now my turn. I couldnt engage reverse. Having flustered and finally got the knack, I reversed out of the drive and stalled it. Massive panic. Forgot to depress clutch, left hand flapping for a handbrake that isnt there. Tony calmly talked me through and we got going. I am now so stressed, feeling so stupid and bitterly regretting getting the car.
I drove around but it was obvious I wasnt in the right frame of mind, I felt like a learner again.
We decided to call it a day before I had an accident.
What a difference a good nights sleep makes.
We got up at 7am so I could get used to the car on quiet roads. After initial trepidation it all just seemed to fit into place and it drove beautifully. Tony followed in his Jag in case I had problems, but no, all was just fine. On another thread someone likened it to the offspring of a Bentley and a Tuscan. I think its so much better than my TVR's. It sounds so much better than a Speed 6. It feels more planted and so much safer at highish speeds.
So yes I do now have that huge grin I was hoping for.
Sorry account is long winded, but thought it best to give an honest impression, warts and all.
Just one question. We looked in the fuse board for 22. There appear to be 4 20amp ones and even with a torch we couldnt see them numbered. Can anyone advise. Just left or right row looking towards front of car and number up from bottom. Or could they be in different locations?
Many thanks
Di
Close relations
Well Saturday didnt start well. We arrived at the dealer, my car was sitting looking glorious in the sunshine. We looked it over and to our horror saw several hairline scratches on the boot and bonnet. You can really only see them in bright sun and it had been dull when we 1st viewed the car the previous week. To make matters worse there is a really strange "patch" on the top of the offside A pillar. It looks like when it was painted the sparkle had run out. It felt perfect but very weird to look at. Again it only shows in strong light.
Now I know its not a brand new car but we may not have bought if we had seen these before.
We showed the dealer, who to be fair immediately took pics and promised it will all be sorted under warranty. No arguement.
Feeling happier we began the paperwork and to cut a long story short then spent two hours onto various call centres trying to get the money transfer through, even though my bank manager had rang the previous eve to assure me all was ready.
At last it was sorted but by now my stress levels were, to say the least, high.
Hand over time. What a stupid key!!! No doubt I will drop and crack it within a few days.
To cap it all I realised I stupidly had worn flip flops. I didnt want to risk them in an unfamiliar car so Tony drove the car home via a very long route.
What can I say... Fantastic, the sound, the exhileration everything just fantastic.
Now my turn. I couldnt engage reverse. Having flustered and finally got the knack, I reversed out of the drive and stalled it. Massive panic. Forgot to depress clutch, left hand flapping for a handbrake that isnt there. Tony calmly talked me through and we got going. I am now so stressed, feeling so stupid and bitterly regretting getting the car.
I drove around but it was obvious I wasnt in the right frame of mind, I felt like a learner again.
We decided to call it a day before I had an accident.
What a difference a good nights sleep makes.
We got up at 7am so I could get used to the car on quiet roads. After initial trepidation it all just seemed to fit into place and it drove beautifully. Tony followed in his Jag in case I had problems, but no, all was just fine. On another thread someone likened it to the offspring of a Bentley and a Tuscan. I think its so much better than my TVR's. It sounds so much better than a Speed 6. It feels more planted and so much safer at highish speeds.
So yes I do now have that huge grin I was hoping for.
Sorry account is long winded, but thought it best to give an honest impression, warts and all.
Just one question. We looked in the fuse board for 22. There appear to be 4 20amp ones and even with a torch we couldnt see them numbered. Can anyone advise. Just left or right row looking towards front of car and number up from bottom. Or could they be in different locations?
Many thanks
Di
Close relations
Hi Di, glad you're getting to grips with the new toy. We've all stalled in reverse; just remember to be positive and give it a few extra beans; after all the sound effects are great so why try and do it silently.
Fuse 22 is in the boot (note, NOT under the hood). The fuse box is under the foam and pump puncture repair kit if it's the same as my coupe. As you stand at the back of the car looking towards the front the fuses are arranged in two columns. You want to pull the bottom left, which should be yellow. Too fiddly to do by hand; suggest you use a small pair of pincer pliers. Then enjoy.
Lovely looking car, and the perfect time of year for a bit of topless posing. Should've kept the Tusc for a bit of variety though
Cheers
GR1FF1F (aka Saggy Dave)
Fuse 22 is in the boot (note, NOT under the hood). The fuse box is under the foam and pump puncture repair kit if it's the same as my coupe. As you stand at the back of the car looking towards the front the fuses are arranged in two columns. You want to pull the bottom left, which should be yellow. Too fiddly to do by hand; suggest you use a small pair of pincer pliers. Then enjoy.
Lovely looking car, and the perfect time of year for a bit of topless posing. Should've kept the Tusc for a bit of variety though
Cheers
GR1FF1F (aka Saggy Dave)
Just quickly Di, the post above is not quite right (sorry mate)
On the roadster fuse 22 is on the passenger side. Sounds like you've located the fuse box. Number 22 is the one closest to the back passenger side of the car, the last 20 amp fuse. I needed a pair of longnose pliers to get it out as for some reason there is no fuse pulling tool in the box
I must say that I had all the same feelings as you to start with. Very nervous to start with, stalled in reverse, had to drive off from Wilmslow Aston with hundreds of people and 2 Man U footballers all watching from the comfort of their restaurant seats on the street!!
I didn't really *get* the car on Saturday at all. But after a good hour long drive on my own yesterday morning it all started to sink into place and now I can pin the thing from apex to apex with consummate ease
I've not had any tail action yet though or dared to turn off the traction control. 
It really is a wonderful relaxed drive.
I even think my Dad will be happy at the wheel, although he will need the wind stop up so his hair doesn't fly off
Greg
On the roadster fuse 22 is on the passenger side. Sounds like you've located the fuse box. Number 22 is the one closest to the back passenger side of the car, the last 20 amp fuse. I needed a pair of longnose pliers to get it out as for some reason there is no fuse pulling tool in the box
I must say that I had all the same feelings as you to start with. Very nervous to start with, stalled in reverse, had to drive off from Wilmslow Aston with hundreds of people and 2 Man U footballers all watching from the comfort of their restaurant seats on the street!!
I didn't really *get* the car on Saturday at all. But after a good hour long drive on my own yesterday morning it all started to sink into place and now I can pin the thing from apex to apex with consummate ease
I've not had any tail action yet though or dared to turn off the traction control. It really is a wonderful relaxed drive.
I even think my Dad will be happy at the wheel, although he will need the wind stop up so his hair doesn't fly off
Greg
No apology necessary. Did wonder if they'd moved things around in the trunk because of the roof mechanism, hence why I caveated it by saying I was basing my advice on the coupe. Main thing is to avoid pulling out 22 from the front box which has a somewhat different effect, I understand.
No need to worry about being embarrassed in front of Man U players; at least you didn't stuff your car into the side of a tunnel like Ronaldo did in his 599
No need to worry about being embarrassed in front of Man U players; at least you didn't stuff your car into the side of a tunnel like Ronaldo did in his 599
Great to see that you have the car, and thanks for the pictures.
It sounds as if you have had the stage fright issues which are normal in situations like this - probably accentuated by the amount of money you have had to pay over.
I am sure thast none of theissues you mention are significant. Every car on the planet gets hairline scratches - a pro can take them out in a day or quicker.
Sounds glorious, and what a time to have a V8V roadster! Have fun.
I was at the Nurburgring at the weekend, and the Aston Martin Test Centre had a range of nice cars inside and out including 3 or 4 DBS's, in tungsten, black and frost white, including an 09 reg with different wheels. There were also DB9's, coupe and Volante, and some V8V's. One V was under a cover and I wondered if it might be a V12. What it did impress on me is what a good looking car the V8V Roadster is in any company. It simply doesn't have a bad angle.
It sounds as if you have had the stage fright issues which are normal in situations like this - probably accentuated by the amount of money you have had to pay over.
I am sure thast none of theissues you mention are significant. Every car on the planet gets hairline scratches - a pro can take them out in a day or quicker.
Sounds glorious, and what a time to have a V8V roadster! Have fun.
I was at the Nurburgring at the weekend, and the Aston Martin Test Centre had a range of nice cars inside and out including 3 or 4 DBS's, in tungsten, black and frost white, including an 09 reg with different wheels. There were also DB9's, coupe and Volante, and some V8V's. One V was under a cover and I wondered if it might be a V12. What it did impress on me is what a good looking car the V8V Roadster is in any company. It simply doesn't have a bad angle.
Di,
Congratulations, when you posted your first thread, I thought, 'here's a time waster', how wrong I was. I've got to hand it to you, you wanted one, you found one, you own one and now you are driving one.
Don't give up on the fuse, it's worth a pull. Don't be afraid to give it loads of revs, the engine is tough and if you hear any rattles are sense any smells, put your foot and roof down! Enjoy
Congratulations, when you posted your first thread, I thought, 'here's a time waster', how wrong I was. I've got to hand it to you, you wanted one, you found one, you own one and now you are driving one.
Don't give up on the fuse, it's worth a pull. Don't be afraid to give it loads of revs, the engine is tough and if you hear any rattles are sense any smells, put your foot and roof down! Enjoy
Brilliant post, brought back memories. When I got mine had to drove it from the dealer straight home as I was too nervous and too much traffic around for a first time drive. Soon got used to it though, except getting through gaps. Other half still getting used to it in traffic
Jealous yours is a Roadster, it looks stunning
Jealous yours is a Roadster, it looks stunning
regarding the stalling in reverse, it's not uncommon, for a reason only known to themselves, AML cal the accel pedal to be 30% longer when reverse is selected, so, you quickly learn how much to accelerate to pull away smoothly in 1st, do the same in reverse, and...... stall doh!!
so, you nead to learn to accel by about 30% more when going backwards, practise makes perfect, and there are worse cars to practise in !!
so, you nead to learn to accel by about 30% more when going backwards, practise makes perfect, and there are worse cars to practise in !!
Max_Torque said:
regarding the stalling in reverse, it's not uncommon, for a reason only known to themselves, AML cal the accel pedal to be 30% longer when reverse is selected, so, you quickly learn how much to accelerate to pull away smoothly in 1st, do the same in reverse, and...... stall doh!!
so, you nead to learn to accel by about 30% more when going backwards, practise makes perfect, and there are worse cars to practise in !!
Im guessing so you don't zoom off in reverse at high speed? Quite clever if you think about it, rather stall than reverse into somethingso, you nead to learn to accel by about 30% more when going backwards, practise makes perfect, and there are worse cars to practise in !!
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