FIRST IMPRESSIONS! 3 months of ownership - Pros and Cons!
Discussion
Hi Everyone!
This is my first post, so I’d like to apologise if I ramble on too much!
After silently surfing through AMOC and PH forums for what seemed like an eternity, reading everyone’s opinions and write ups, I finally bit the bullet and jumped head first into Aston ownership!
One sunny day 3 months ago I set off to work as usual only to find a horrendous traffic jam on the M4 due to a serious accident a few junctions up. So like any self respecting hard working individual I called ahead and asked my nurse to cancel my patients for the morning :-)
So with the morning off I did my customary ritual search through PH classifieds and auto trader website for my perfect car! Many cars had previously caught my eye but were always missing a key ingredient (Bluetooth, low miles, heated memory seats etc etc) which stopped me going the whole way and doing a deal! But that fateful day I came across a stunner and this one was too hard to ignore! Meteorite silver 4.3 coupe, low miles, phantom grey leather with all the extras! Was I dreaming, or was this going to be THE ONE! I called the seller and within 5 minutes I had given my card details and a deposit was made!…… Then began the ‘what the hell have I just done’ thoughts! The wait before I collected the car seemed like an eternity! I can only apologise to my patients during that period for the letters ‘AMV8’ that I was inadvertently carving in to their fillings and crowns… lol!
So to cut a long story short, I paid my cash, collected the car and the love affair is growing stronger by the day!
So after nearly three months of owning all I can say is WOW!
Pros
I CANT STOP LOOKING AT HER! She is a piece of art! Those curves, the aggressive stance, the compact and pert body, a finely honed athlete or a seriously high class stripper is all I can compare her too! I wake up every morning with a smile and a desire to drive her! I thought it would wear off but the adrenaline still flows fast whenever I think about jumping in to the car!
Everywhere I drive I get APPRECIATIVE LOOKS! At first I thought nothing of it but on the drive home fellow drivers were waving, asking to swap the car with theirs (yeah right mate!) and little kids waving and smiling! I just cant get over how happy this car makes other people feel! When you use it everyday you often forget just how stunning this thing looks from outside!
THE NOISE! It sounds amazing! My nephew likened it to someone poking a stick through the cage of a wild hungry lion every time I press the loud pedal! :-)
The INTERIOR - yes it has some flaws, but in general it beats anything this side of a proper Bentley or RR phantom. I just love the way all the surfaces just come together and makes you feel special every time you step in!
Its COMPACT DIMENSIONS. So easy to park and manoeuvre in London traffic!
Helps to MAKE NEW FRIENDS. Every fuel stop and shopping trip results in another admiring glance turning into a chat about how the car runs, fuel consumption (you’d be surprised how many people are concerned with this one!) and its sexy lines!
Useful BOOT SPACE. I’ve managed to get all manner of objects in their, from my nephews tricycle to a whole weeks shopping!
It’s a GENUINE EVERYDAY CAR. Since buying it I’ve used the car everyday. I commute to work which is a 30 mile round trip. Nearly everyday I tell myself that I need to stop racking the miles up but as soon as I leave the house I’m magnetically drawn towards the Aston and I tell myself ‘I’ll definitely take the run-around to work tomorrow!’
INSURANCE - I’m 25, clean driving licence, living in W. London. With me as the main driver and my dad as a named driver I got a quote for £1300, which was far better then the £6k I was being quoted by other companies, most wouldn’t even insure me due to my age!
Cons - very few and the majority are small niggles rather than anything that will remotely put me off the car! Its surprising how forgiving a perfectionist like me can become around a thing of such beauty!
It feels slower than it sounds! Now I know this is a hot topic of discussion and there have been many reasons suggested for this but if I were to be brutally honest the 4.3 could do with some more low down torque. If your cooking with some revs (above 4k) then you’ll fly by traffic and overtaking feels brisk! But as ever, due to the shortage of low down torque you tend to have to drop a gear to get in to the power band! Once I’ve fitted the tubi exhaust I will be considering the power upgrade kit!
Some annoying creaking from the interior - this tends to happen more so when the car has been left outside in the sun, so possibly its due to expansion of the panels. It appears to come esp. from the curved panel in front of the air vent for the front windscreen. There is also the well documented rattle from the steering wheel!
The leather is VERY vulnerable to scratching and scuffing so I’m being very careful entering and exiting the car!
My biggest gripe is the vulnerability of the front bumper and bonnet to chipping and stone damage! I’ve got to the point where I have stopped enjoying the car on anything but smooth gravel free roads! (I know I deserve to hang my head in shame!) It seems the paint is SOOO fragile! I have had a few cars in the past which I have driven hard for many years with hardly any damage, but the Aston has already picked up a number of small dots already where the underlying primer is showing through in just under 3 months! I have considered a 3M coating for the front bumper but not sure if it too will end up looking like a dog’s dinner after a few months! Any suggestions of either a good protective coating that anyone is using or a decent body shop for a re-spray in the near future will be appreciated!
Although is sounds amazing, being a coupe I find it sounds far better from outside than inside! So after a fair bit of research I’ve bought myself a TUBI exhaust which is currently sat in the garage awaiting fitting! I will be driving up to see Rick for fitment as I wouldn’t trust my baby to any of the local garages that the tubi dealer suggested!
The alloy wheels are a pain too keep clean because of all the brake dust!
Fuel consumption is not great, but my heavy right foot is to be blamed here. I’m currently averaging 16mpg, and remember that’s with 60% motorway driving! But I must admit filling her up is like feeding your only child, how could you moan when she provides so much happiness!
I’m getting an odd jerking of the drive train when I’m driving in 2nd gear. It happens after I accelerate to about 2k revs and then back off (like when driving between speed bumps) and the car will to and fro in a jerking manner as if I’m a learner driver! Its not happening every time but it is often enough to be of concern!
1st to 2nd gear change is a takes a good shove when cold! Thinking of getting the service bulletin update done to the car when I take it in to have a look at the other issues I’ve mentioned
I’ve realised my driving habits have changed dramatically since buying the car! Previously I would see a spot in the car park and without thinking twice fling my car in and off id go! Now, I find myself thinking 10 steps ahead and trying to find a quiet corner to park in to ensure some thoughtless git doesn’t inflict any damage to the beautiful lines!
Sat nav isn’t great, but come on guys its not THAT bad! I know its no Tom Tom but if all you want to do it find your way out of a strange town or get directions back home its definitely better than a map or being lost!
I find the xenon headlights are not as bright as they should be - I know this is mainly due to the low stance of the car but they are definitely not the brightest around! But boy do the LED’s look AMAZING!
And I guess that’s it! So all in all I’m SO glad I bought the car! Yes, there are faster, more responsive cars around, and yes there are cars with more drama, air scoops and crazy lines ( LP-560/F430) but which other car can combine such understated beauty with the heart of a wild beast so well! Answers on a post card!
So once again I apologise about the length of this post, but its been a LONG time coming and I hope I can continue to contribute positively to this forum as it has provided me with much needed help during the process of deciding on my dream car!
Many thanks
Dr D
This is my first post, so I’d like to apologise if I ramble on too much!
After silently surfing through AMOC and PH forums for what seemed like an eternity, reading everyone’s opinions and write ups, I finally bit the bullet and jumped head first into Aston ownership!
One sunny day 3 months ago I set off to work as usual only to find a horrendous traffic jam on the M4 due to a serious accident a few junctions up. So like any self respecting hard working individual I called ahead and asked my nurse to cancel my patients for the morning :-)
So with the morning off I did my customary ritual search through PH classifieds and auto trader website for my perfect car! Many cars had previously caught my eye but were always missing a key ingredient (Bluetooth, low miles, heated memory seats etc etc) which stopped me going the whole way and doing a deal! But that fateful day I came across a stunner and this one was too hard to ignore! Meteorite silver 4.3 coupe, low miles, phantom grey leather with all the extras! Was I dreaming, or was this going to be THE ONE! I called the seller and within 5 minutes I had given my card details and a deposit was made!…… Then began the ‘what the hell have I just done’ thoughts! The wait before I collected the car seemed like an eternity! I can only apologise to my patients during that period for the letters ‘AMV8’ that I was inadvertently carving in to their fillings and crowns… lol!
So to cut a long story short, I paid my cash, collected the car and the love affair is growing stronger by the day!
So after nearly three months of owning all I can say is WOW!
Pros
I CANT STOP LOOKING AT HER! She is a piece of art! Those curves, the aggressive stance, the compact and pert body, a finely honed athlete or a seriously high class stripper is all I can compare her too! I wake up every morning with a smile and a desire to drive her! I thought it would wear off but the adrenaline still flows fast whenever I think about jumping in to the car!
Everywhere I drive I get APPRECIATIVE LOOKS! At first I thought nothing of it but on the drive home fellow drivers were waving, asking to swap the car with theirs (yeah right mate!) and little kids waving and smiling! I just cant get over how happy this car makes other people feel! When you use it everyday you often forget just how stunning this thing looks from outside!
THE NOISE! It sounds amazing! My nephew likened it to someone poking a stick through the cage of a wild hungry lion every time I press the loud pedal! :-)
The INTERIOR - yes it has some flaws, but in general it beats anything this side of a proper Bentley or RR phantom. I just love the way all the surfaces just come together and makes you feel special every time you step in!
Its COMPACT DIMENSIONS. So easy to park and manoeuvre in London traffic!
Helps to MAKE NEW FRIENDS. Every fuel stop and shopping trip results in another admiring glance turning into a chat about how the car runs, fuel consumption (you’d be surprised how many people are concerned with this one!) and its sexy lines!
Useful BOOT SPACE. I’ve managed to get all manner of objects in their, from my nephews tricycle to a whole weeks shopping!
It’s a GENUINE EVERYDAY CAR. Since buying it I’ve used the car everyday. I commute to work which is a 30 mile round trip. Nearly everyday I tell myself that I need to stop racking the miles up but as soon as I leave the house I’m magnetically drawn towards the Aston and I tell myself ‘I’ll definitely take the run-around to work tomorrow!’
INSURANCE - I’m 25, clean driving licence, living in W. London. With me as the main driver and my dad as a named driver I got a quote for £1300, which was far better then the £6k I was being quoted by other companies, most wouldn’t even insure me due to my age!
Cons - very few and the majority are small niggles rather than anything that will remotely put me off the car! Its surprising how forgiving a perfectionist like me can become around a thing of such beauty!
It feels slower than it sounds! Now I know this is a hot topic of discussion and there have been many reasons suggested for this but if I were to be brutally honest the 4.3 could do with some more low down torque. If your cooking with some revs (above 4k) then you’ll fly by traffic and overtaking feels brisk! But as ever, due to the shortage of low down torque you tend to have to drop a gear to get in to the power band! Once I’ve fitted the tubi exhaust I will be considering the power upgrade kit!
Some annoying creaking from the interior - this tends to happen more so when the car has been left outside in the sun, so possibly its due to expansion of the panels. It appears to come esp. from the curved panel in front of the air vent for the front windscreen. There is also the well documented rattle from the steering wheel!
The leather is VERY vulnerable to scratching and scuffing so I’m being very careful entering and exiting the car!
My biggest gripe is the vulnerability of the front bumper and bonnet to chipping and stone damage! I’ve got to the point where I have stopped enjoying the car on anything but smooth gravel free roads! (I know I deserve to hang my head in shame!) It seems the paint is SOOO fragile! I have had a few cars in the past which I have driven hard for many years with hardly any damage, but the Aston has already picked up a number of small dots already where the underlying primer is showing through in just under 3 months! I have considered a 3M coating for the front bumper but not sure if it too will end up looking like a dog’s dinner after a few months! Any suggestions of either a good protective coating that anyone is using or a decent body shop for a re-spray in the near future will be appreciated!
Although is sounds amazing, being a coupe I find it sounds far better from outside than inside! So after a fair bit of research I’ve bought myself a TUBI exhaust which is currently sat in the garage awaiting fitting! I will be driving up to see Rick for fitment as I wouldn’t trust my baby to any of the local garages that the tubi dealer suggested!
The alloy wheels are a pain too keep clean because of all the brake dust!
Fuel consumption is not great, but my heavy right foot is to be blamed here. I’m currently averaging 16mpg, and remember that’s with 60% motorway driving! But I must admit filling her up is like feeding your only child, how could you moan when she provides so much happiness!
I’m getting an odd jerking of the drive train when I’m driving in 2nd gear. It happens after I accelerate to about 2k revs and then back off (like when driving between speed bumps) and the car will to and fro in a jerking manner as if I’m a learner driver! Its not happening every time but it is often enough to be of concern!
1st to 2nd gear change is a takes a good shove when cold! Thinking of getting the service bulletin update done to the car when I take it in to have a look at the other issues I’ve mentioned
I’ve realised my driving habits have changed dramatically since buying the car! Previously I would see a spot in the car park and without thinking twice fling my car in and off id go! Now, I find myself thinking 10 steps ahead and trying to find a quiet corner to park in to ensure some thoughtless git doesn’t inflict any damage to the beautiful lines!
Sat nav isn’t great, but come on guys its not THAT bad! I know its no Tom Tom but if all you want to do it find your way out of a strange town or get directions back home its definitely better than a map or being lost!
I find the xenon headlights are not as bright as they should be - I know this is mainly due to the low stance of the car but they are definitely not the brightest around! But boy do the LED’s look AMAZING!
And I guess that’s it! So all in all I’m SO glad I bought the car! Yes, there are faster, more responsive cars around, and yes there are cars with more drama, air scoops and crazy lines ( LP-560/F430) but which other car can combine such understated beauty with the heart of a wild beast so well! Answers on a post card!
So once again I apologise about the length of this post, but its been a LONG time coming and I hope I can continue to contribute positively to this forum as it has provided me with much needed help during the process of deciding on my dream car!
Many thanks
Dr D
Edited by Dr Drill n Fill on Sunday 12th July 14:03
Edited by Dr Drill n Fill on Sunday 12th July 14:12
Edited by Dr Drill n Fill on Sunday 12th July 14:21
Edited by Dr Drill n Fill on Monday 13th July 09:00
Dr Drill n Fill said:
INSURANCE - I’m 25, clean driving licence, living in W. London. With my dad as the main driver and me as a named driver I got a quote from Chubb for £1300, which was far better then the £6k I was being quoted by other companies, most wouldn’t even insure me due to my age!
But you're the main driver, not your Dad right?Soovy, your thread is here!
Nice write up Dr Pain (I don't like going to the dentist!). I had the service bulletin carried on the 1st to 2nd gear change stiffness, which made it better, but did not completey cure the problem. You mention 'I’m getting an odd jerking of the drive train when I’m driving in 2nd gear. It happens after I accelerate to about 2k revs and then back off (like when driving between speed bumps) and the car will to and fro in a jerking manner as if I’m a learner driver!' Yes I get that too, so I would be interested to hear if anyone else has a similar experience, maybe our rubbish driving style. Oh and I still stall it in reverse on full lock! Even having a number of issues sorted out under warranty, this has never stopped the enjoyment, especially when other drivers wind their windows down when I overtake so they can hear the converted exhaust!
I'm glad you are enjoying the car and caught Astonitos...it's happened to us all. Welcome my friend.
I'm glad you are enjoying the car and caught Astonitos...it's happened to us all. Welcome my friend.
hi AMD,
I appreciate ur kind words! makes a change from some of the other posts before u! what a 'warm' welcome eh!
as for the jerking in the drive train, im surprised ur car also has it! not sure if its normal, but least i have something in common with other cars!
which exhaust did u opt to upgrade to? i fell in love with the tubi... just need to get it fitted now!
I appreciate ur kind words! makes a change from some of the other posts before u! what a 'warm' welcome eh!
as for the jerking in the drive train, im surprised ur car also has it! not sure if its normal, but least i have something in common with other cars!
which exhaust did u opt to upgrade to? i fell in love with the tubi... just need to get it fitted now!
Dr Drill n Fill said:
hi AMD,
I appreciate ur kind words! makes a change from some of the other posts before u! what a 'warm' welcome eh!
as for the jerking in the drive train, im surprised ur car also has it! not sure if its normal, but least i have something in common with other cars!
which exhaust did u opt to upgrade to? i fell in love with the tubi... just need to get it fitted now!
Mine also has the "jerking" drive train option.I appreciate ur kind words! makes a change from some of the other posts before u! what a 'warm' welcome eh!
as for the jerking in the drive train, im surprised ur car also has it! not sure if its normal, but least i have something in common with other cars!
which exhaust did u opt to upgrade to? i fell in love with the tubi... just need to get it fitted now!
I had a Quicksilver fitted to mine but it was a close call between that and a Tubi.
whoami said:
Dr Drill n Fill said:
hi AMD,
I appreciate ur kind words! makes a change from some of the other posts before u! what a 'warm' welcome eh!
as for the jerking in the drive train, im surprised ur car also has it! not sure if its normal, but least i have something in common with other cars!
which exhaust did u opt to upgrade to? i fell in love with the tubi... just need to get it fitted now!
Mine also has the "jerking" drive train option.I appreciate ur kind words! makes a change from some of the other posts before u! what a 'warm' welcome eh!
as for the jerking in the drive train, im surprised ur car also has it! not sure if its normal, but least i have something in common with other cars!
which exhaust did u opt to upgrade to? i fell in love with the tubi... just need to get it fitted now!
I had a Quicksilver fitted to mine but it was a close call between that and a Tubi.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
@XXXAngelXX - my english spelling will never be as bad as yours, but on this occassion, you are right...Astonitos is correct. I saw in the latest TG magazine they are calling Schumacher DAS STIG, a copyright infringment I feel...there is only one german Stig and we know who that is don't we!
@Dr Pain - I had the exhaust tubes cut, tied and blocked and bypassed the exhaust valves (a vesectomy). In effect the same as removing Fuse 22. It was a 10 minute job at the dealer and although not quite a Tubi, the sound is good enough for me.
As for the judder when slowing in 2nd gear, I don't think it is the same as a previous thread regarding engine cutout, but it may be related.
@Dr Pain - I had the exhaust tubes cut, tied and blocked and bypassed the exhaust valves (a vesectomy). In effect the same as removing Fuse 22. It was a 10 minute job at the dealer and although not quite a Tubi, the sound is good enough for me.
As for the judder when slowing in 2nd gear, I don't think it is the same as a previous thread regarding engine cutout, but it may be related.
AMD - I too have had the fuse taken out and its sounds awesome, but maybe in my 'old' age my hearing isnt what it used to be but i still want it to sound as good on the inside as it does to passers by! so ive gone for the 'loud' verson of the tubi exhaust! just hope i dnt wind up the neighbours too much!
ps. i love the way this forum gets active from such an early hour!
ps. i love the way this forum gets active from such an early hour!
owh and as for the 'DR Pain' references.... lol.... i must correct you guys! I am the new breed of 'caring' dentist! so all you guys who have had scary visits to the dentist in the past can now relax a little as things have improved in the profession a great deal! (well only a little mind you!!! ha ha)
Congrats Drill'n'Fill :-)
My gears were crunchy 1st to 2nd too.. mentioned it during the 1k mile service and they replaced the gearbox.
Business partners car (older) also had very crunchy 2nd and they carried out the fix but it's still not great.
We both get the kangaroo in low gears/low revs also... just rev it a bit more now though and lets face it it's not a bad car to rev up a bit :-) Not sure it'll do the clutch much good but it seems the only way to control the jerky movements.
My gears were crunchy 1st to 2nd too.. mentioned it during the 1k mile service and they replaced the gearbox.
Business partners car (older) also had very crunchy 2nd and they carried out the fix but it's still not great.
We both get the kangaroo in low gears/low revs also... just rev it a bit more now though and lets face it it's not a bad car to rev up a bit :-) Not sure it'll do the clutch much good but it seems the only way to control the jerky movements.
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