Planning to buy a 1968 DB6....
Discussion
...any current or past owners have any advice regarding the wisdom of this? It will be used regularly, probably doing 10k miles per year (in all weathers!).
Obviously, I'll make sure the one I buy is a good example, but how reliable are they as (almost) daily drivers?
Planning to get the servicing done by RS Williams.
All comments appreciated - e.g. re: running costs, points to look out for etc. What colours are best? I have my eye on one that's dark blue with a parchment interior - automatic - £40k. What should a good one cost?
Obviously, I'll make sure the one I buy is a good example, but how reliable are they as (almost) daily drivers?
Planning to get the servicing done by RS Williams.
All comments appreciated - e.g. re: running costs, points to look out for etc. What colours are best? I have my eye on one that's dark blue with a parchment interior - automatic - £40k. What should a good one cost?
wax lyrical said:
...any current or past owners have any advice regarding the wisdom of this? It will be used regularly, probably doing 10k miles per year (in all weathers!).
Obviously, I'll make sure the one I buy is a good example, but how reliable are they as (almost) daily drivers?
Planning to get the servicing done by RS Williams.
All comments appreciated - e.g. re: running costs, points to look out for etc. What colours are best? I have my eye on one that's dark blue with a parchment interior - automatic - £40k. What should a good one cost?
Good luck! The DB6 is closely related to the DB4 of 1958, and feels like one- the Mk 1 had crossply tires, the DB6 Mk 2 has radials and is the better proposition.
Dont worry about colour- go for condition. But...
The Automatic is the Borg-warner 3 speed, and even when new it was hideous- is sapped too much power, so that the car had a very low axle ratio. A road test from the time reported that the car would run into the redline at 117 mph- 5,000 was 106 mph. It then started to overheat, and returned 13 mpg.
If you do use it for 10,000 miles a year it will cost a small fortune to run- not least petrol, but Oil, saervicing, rust (they do rust, and will need regualr checking)
If the engine needs rebuilding it will be about 80-100 hours labour, if the water pump needs doing its about £400 for the new part alone.
Every 2,500 miles: lubrictae king pin nipples, track rod nipples, steering rack and steering box nipples,
Oil change every 5,000 miles, as well as lubricate prop shaft and all suspension points.
I wish you luck, because you'll be a brave/ rich man to drive one in all weathers for 10,000 miles a year, and keep your sanity and savings intact.
However if you do choose to do this (and something in me really hopes you decide to) then join the AMOC, find a decent car and get one of the local specialists to inspect it for you- the few hundred pounds this will cost could save you thousends.
RS Williams is the best in the Business, and is often used by the factory (often on the quiet...) but other London specialists are more reasonably priced: Pugsley and lewis in Bromley for one.
Oh, have a look at www.gmes.co.uk. Not sure they have any DB6's for sale, but read about the V8: the cost of servicing (which they helpfully list) will give a good indication of what's to come.
I hope this helps
Will
AMOC member since I was 14, and despite what I've written, I would drive one every day. I just want you to know what it could involve!!!
Will, many thanks for your very full and helpful reply! Most appreciated. Do you/have you owned a classic Aston yourself? Your profile only refers to the Porsche.
The DB6 I am interested in is actually in in stock at RS Williams and they'll give a 12 months parts and labour warranty - so there's little risk in the purchase. However, the intricacy of the maintenance requirements is an eye-opener for me. Food for thought - but I would love to buy that DB6 - shame the auto boxes are a bit cr@p. Have also been thinking about a V8.
The DB6 I am interested in is actually in in stock at RS Williams and they'll give a 12 months parts and labour warranty - so there's little risk in the purchase. However, the intricacy of the maintenance requirements is an eye-opener for me. Food for thought - but I would love to buy that DB6 - shame the auto boxes are a bit cr@p. Have also been thinking about a V8.
Mr Lyrical,
My Dad has had a couple of DB's - an early 4 and a late 4 Vantage. He certainly didn't do 10,000 miles per year but used them both fairly regularly. I think William is right on the money with the maintenance requirements, but it's worth pointing out that the cars are pretty bullet proof mechanically. There are, as William said, numerous good specialists who will be cheaper than RS Williams. I'd also support the suggestion of joining the AMOC - a very well run club with enormous resources and a nice bunch of people to boot.
A friend of mine in the club has owned his DB6 for many years and I don't think he'd swap it for anything.
Good luck....
My Dad has had a couple of DB's - an early 4 and a late 4 Vantage. He certainly didn't do 10,000 miles per year but used them both fairly regularly. I think William is right on the money with the maintenance requirements, but it's worth pointing out that the cars are pretty bullet proof mechanically. There are, as William said, numerous good specialists who will be cheaper than RS Williams. I'd also support the suggestion of joining the AMOC - a very well run club with enormous resources and a nice bunch of people to boot.
A friend of mine in the club has owned his DB6 for many years and I don't think he'd swap it for anything.
Good luck....
alfa dave said:
Mr Lyrical,
My Dad has had a couple of DB's - an early 4 and a late 4 Vantage. He certainly didn't do 10,000 miles per year but used them both fairly regularly. I think William is right on the money with the maintenance requirements, but it's worth pointing out that the cars are pretty bullet proof mechanically. There are, as William said, numerous good specialists who will be cheaper than RS Williams. I'd also support the suggestion of joining the AMOC - a very well run club with enormous resources and a nice bunch of people to boot.
A friend of mine in the club has owned his DB6 for many years and I don't think he'd swap it for anything.
Good luck....
...thanks for your input! Very reassuring. Looks increasingly like I'm smitten by the DB6 (can't afford a DB4/5!). The V8's are quite handsome too - but probably a little too similar in style to the American muscle cars of the period for my tastes.
The only person who still runs one of these every day is HRH, the Prince of Wales - that should tell you all you need to know abouit running costs........
Seriously, they will do it but the cost is staggering - a friend of mine is a forex trader. He had exactly the same idea and loved it for a year but, even earning the best part of £1m a year, he couldn't justify the expense
Seriously, they will do it but the cost is staggering - a friend of mine is a forex trader. He had exactly the same idea and loved it for a year but, even earning the best part of £1m a year, he couldn't justify the expense
Thanks for the further responses - the running costs are indeed quite scary, now that I've done further research! Fuel consumption of 10mpg for enthusiastic driving requires deep pockets, leaving aside the servicing and occasional expensive repairs.
Still, I'm trying to find a way to justify the purchase. I have a Golf as a runaround, but for me the whole point of buying such an exquisite piece of machinery is to use it ALL the time...
Still, I'm trying to find a way to justify the purchase. I have a Golf as a runaround, but for me the whole point of buying such an exquisite piece of machinery is to use it ALL the time...
I have done 20k miles in one year in my vantage. And have the receipts to prove it <laugh>
Howefver, one thing is crystal clear -- the costs per mile go down as you use the car more and more.
Do 5k-15k miles per year in the car, have it properly and immacuately serviced, and it will go on for years and years and years and years. It will outlast you.
But, and it is a huge but, you must think of it in terms of owning an old country house. Every couple of years the guttering will need attention (sills...). Every 10-15 years you will need to repaint. The engine will need attention every 75k miles, possiibly with some element of rebuild every 150k.
These are massively over engineered cars. To give you an example of this, my zagato-engined 1989 V8 Vantage has just had compression check, valve check etc at 78k miles. Compression was 9.8 atmospheres on the dot on each cylinder, indicating effectively no wear on the bores and rings, and excellent valve sealing. We are going to reshim the exhaust valvues just to make sure they are spot on, but this is a few hours work. The camshaft chains are spotless, and the engine will undoubtedly run to 150k or even 200k miles before needing anything major.
The killer things are a) lack of oil and b) lack of water and c) overrevving. Keep those sorted, and enjoy the miles!
Howefver, one thing is crystal clear -- the costs per mile go down as you use the car more and more.
Do 5k-15k miles per year in the car, have it properly and immacuately serviced, and it will go on for years and years and years and years. It will outlast you.
But, and it is a huge but, you must think of it in terms of owning an old country house. Every couple of years the guttering will need attention (sills...). Every 10-15 years you will need to repaint. The engine will need attention every 75k miles, possiibly with some element of rebuild every 150k.
These are massively over engineered cars. To give you an example of this, my zagato-engined 1989 V8 Vantage has just had compression check, valve check etc at 78k miles. Compression was 9.8 atmospheres on the dot on each cylinder, indicating effectively no wear on the bores and rings, and excellent valve sealing. We are going to reshim the exhaust valvues just to make sure they are spot on, but this is a few hours work. The camshaft chains are spotless, and the engine will undoubtedly run to 150k or even 200k miles before needing anything major.
The killer things are a) lack of oil and b) lack of water and c) overrevving. Keep those sorted, and enjoy the miles!
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