Vantage 2020 Hero (manual)
Discussion
Welcome Sutitem.
I am confused.
Some manuals were offered for the 2017 Vantage V12S ('The manual is a new 7-speed unit with a “dogleg” configuration, where switching from first to second gear requires moving into the adjacent slot of the H-pattern. This is better for days at the track when shifting between second and third is much more frequent than shifting between first and second').
I had (presumably mistakenly) thought that all the Mercedes-Benz engine Vantage cars are autos.
The manual was indeed offered for a limited time in the 2C Vantage.
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/2020-as...
Its the same box as the VH era V12 Vantage S - the 7 speed dogleg Graziano.
I can’t however relate or help with the OP’s post, but what he describes doesn’t sound at all normal.
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/2020-as...
Its the same box as the VH era V12 Vantage S - the 7 speed dogleg Graziano.
I can’t however relate or help with the OP’s post, but what he describes doesn’t sound at all normal.
Jon39 said:
Welcome Sutitem.
I am confused.
Some manuals were offered for the 2017 Vantage V12S ('The manual is a new 7-speed unit with a “dogleg” configuration, where switching from first to second gear requires moving into the adjacent slot of the H-pattern. This is better for days at the track when shifting between second and third is much more frequent than shifting between first and second').
I had (presumably mistakenly) thought that all the Mercedes-Benz engine Vantage cars are autos.
I have no experience of using the seven speed dog leg manual box myself, but I distinctly remember APs pledge and the “Hero” cars. If my memory serves me well the gear box first appeared in the AMR “59” version of the previous gen Vantage (with a rather hideously shaped gear lever) followed by the “Hero” scheme, which to all intents and purposes was just a tarted up version of the standard car. The gearbox became an option in the bog standard model too, although the take up was incredibly low and it was quietly phased out not long after AP left and LS took the reins. Imho the automatic gearbox suited the previous gen Vantage really well, and although the idea of a manual box sounded like a hark back to the old days in practice fitment was difficult to engineer, and the torque output had to be lowered. As far as I know this application was the only time an AMG V8 was ever mounted to a manual gearbox, although I may be wrong on that. As mentioned above, the problems you are experiencing do not sound normal to me either. The AM PH resident expert on the seven speed dog leg manual is Adam so hopefully he will see this thread and offer his expert advice. OP sorry to hear of your problems with this car. It must be incredibly frustrating for you. BRM.
As far as I know, most (if not all) of the AMR and HERO cars were manual in the AMG engined cars. The situation the OP finds themselves in certainly seems odd. If there were regular issues with the 7 speed box we would be hearing all sorts of tales by now. I thought it was a pretty robust and reliable gearbox.
It appears this box has more than it's fair share of problems, I would be taking it up with the supplying dealer, if you weren't the first owner I would also be trying to get a resume of the work the car had done prior to ownership, this may show the issues were being experienced by the previous owner and why they moved the car on. This would also give more weight the the OP's argument which surely must be heading towards the car not being 'fit for purpose' under trades descriptions.
As it stands the dealer appears to have seen this car on more than one occasion for the same problem which would also add weight to the above.
It appears this box has more than it's fair share of problems, I would be taking it up with the supplying dealer, if you weren't the first owner I would also be trying to get a resume of the work the car had done prior to ownership, this may show the issues were being experienced by the previous owner and why they moved the car on. This would also give more weight the the OP's argument which surely must be heading towards the car not being 'fit for purpose' under trades descriptions.
As it stands the dealer appears to have seen this car on more than one occasion for the same problem which would also add weight to the above.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for the comments.
This doesn’t seem like a normal situation at all, and I can't accept that this is how an Aston Martin manual gearbox should work. Multiple dealerships have told me that the gates are tricky, which I understand. Missing a few gears is fine, that’s just part of getting used to a new gearbox. The real issue is that I can't engage gears at all sometimes -they just seem stuck, almost as if something is blocking the cogwheels or something else moved around.
Honestly, I feel like I’m reaching the end of the road with this.
I've attached two short videos that show the issue to some extent, though it’s actually much worse than it appears. (I'm actually not allowed to post links just yet. I added them to YouTube (Gearbox issues #astonmartin #vantage #hero #gearbox #manual)
Many thanks,
Marco
Thank you for the comments.
This doesn’t seem like a normal situation at all, and I can't accept that this is how an Aston Martin manual gearbox should work. Multiple dealerships have told me that the gates are tricky, which I understand. Missing a few gears is fine, that’s just part of getting used to a new gearbox. The real issue is that I can't engage gears at all sometimes -they just seem stuck, almost as if something is blocking the cogwheels or something else moved around.
Honestly, I feel like I’m reaching the end of the road with this.
I've attached two short videos that show the issue to some extent, though it’s actually much worse than it appears. (I'm actually not allowed to post links just yet. I added them to YouTube (Gearbox issues #astonmartin #vantage #hero #gearbox #manual)
Many thanks,
Marco
mencan said:
Hi everyone,
Thank you for the comments.
This doesn’t seem like a normal situation at all, and I can't accept that this is how an Aston Martin manual gearbox should work. Multiple dealerships have told me that the gates are tricky, which I understand. Missing a few gears is fine, that’s just part of getting used to a new gearbox. The real issue is that I can't engage gears at all sometimes -they just seem stuck, almost as if something is blocking the cogwheels or something else moved around.
Honestly, I feel like I’m reaching the end of the road with this.
I've attached two short videos that show the issue to some extent, though it’s actually much worse than it appears. (I'm actually not allowed to post links just yet. I added them to YouTube (Gearbox issues #astonmartin #vantage #hero #gearbox #manual)
Many thanks,
Marco
Thank you for the comments.
This doesn’t seem like a normal situation at all, and I can't accept that this is how an Aston Martin manual gearbox should work. Multiple dealerships have told me that the gates are tricky, which I understand. Missing a few gears is fine, that’s just part of getting used to a new gearbox. The real issue is that I can't engage gears at all sometimes -they just seem stuck, almost as if something is blocking the cogwheels or something else moved around.
Honestly, I feel like I’m reaching the end of the road with this.
I've attached two short videos that show the issue to some extent, though it’s actually much worse than it appears. (I'm actually not allowed to post links just yet. I added them to YouTube (Gearbox issues #astonmartin #vantage #hero #gearbox #manual)
Many thanks,
Marco
If people who are familiar with the 7 speed manual dogleg gear change, say yours does not seem right, but dealers are telling you it is normal, then it appears bringing it to the attention of Aston Martin Customer Services is your next step.
Ownership of an Aston Martin for most is a delight. Such a shame that your experience has been spoilt by a gear change.
franki68 said:
I have the 7 speed dog leg but in a v12vs , no issues with it aside from it takes time to get used to , it sounds like yours is seriously faulty .
I also have the manual 7 speed box in a 2016 v12vs and likewise have no issues with it (other than (i) as the other owner says it does take time to get used to and (ii) an AMShift display issue where the dash display occasionally indicated the wrong gear which was sorted out under warranty). In your position I would book the car into Works Service to take a look at. A shame you are no longer under warranty but if there is found to be a problem the factory could possibly assist as I cannot imagine there are many 2020 cars already out of warranty.It looks to me from your YouTubes that there may be a problem with the linkage leading to a lack of self-centring. If you look at the Harry's Garage review on YouTube of the Aston Martin Vulcan Harry Melcalfe complains (@around 9.30) that the Vulcan has slop in the gear lever. The NP Vanquish has a completely different automated manual gearbox but I was put off the factory stick-shift conversion when I drove an example as I found the gearstick lacked self-centring (which I also found on the Callum re-gen version I was also lucky enough to drive). Suffice it to say, I have kept my 2007 Vanquish S on paddles.
Good luck and maybe let us know how you get on.
volvodrummer said:
Sorry to hear this. I test drove and passed on a manual AM6 Vantage in 2021. I have been after one ever since. I'm sorry to report that having spoken to someone with very intimate knowledge (all I'll say) I was advised to pass unless I REALLY had to have a manual. There are known issues with clutch wear, and shift engagement/quality etc. "There's a reason we don't offer them any more".
That's not what I wanted to hear, but it does make sense. I've read complaints about these cars here and there, but I didn't realize the issue was this widespread. I feel like the best option now is to take a loss and change cars before the problem gets worse. It's really disappointing, and I regret not going for the Porsche 718 GT4, which has a great manual gearbox. I could try escalating this to Aston Martin Lagonda, but if it's a design issue, as it seems to be, all I'd be doing is delaying the inevitable.Since I bought this car (December 2023 with just 7,500 miles), it's been issue after issue. Three months after buying it, I started having problems with the driver's side window sensor not operating properly in rain conditions. The gearbox has been a problem almost since I bought it, and Aston Martin Sevenoaks initially said there was no issue. They ended up charging a lot to replace faulty parts, but after driving it in the rain again, the sensor they replaced is malfunctioning again. On top of that, the rattle from the air vent they replaced is also back.
Additionally, I'm now dealing with issues like the driver's seat squeaking a lot, the sun visor not holding, and the outdated infotainment system showing some strange "filter" effect on the screen. This is not what I expected from Aston Martin.
Edited by mencan on Tuesday 11th February 12:18
mencan said:
That's not what I wanted to hear, but it does make sense. I've read complaints about these cars here and there, but I didn't realize the issue was this widespread. I feel like the best option now is to take a loss and change cars before the problem gets worse. It's really disappointing, and I regret not going for the Porsche 718 GT4, which has a great manual gearbox. I could try escalating this to Aston Martin Lagonda, but if it's a design issue, as it seems to be, all I'd be doing is delaying the inevitable.
Not what I wanted to hear either. Sorry if you're holding the proverbial hot potato, man. I was a little leery from the get-go when AM claimed that the manual cars were detuned from the autos because there was less weight. Sounded to me like the gear box and diff weren't up to playing with the AMG V8. Seems that with the recent Valour/specials they have a better fitment using the 6spd box. I hope that lesson is learned if they ever decide to offer the manual in a Vantage again : (That said, I did love the brand new car I drove back in '21. I found it great when fresh with 4 miles on the odo.
Hi all,
Happy New Year, and thanks for all your comments. I hadn’t received any updates on the vehicle until last month, and after that, I was abroad. To be very honest, I just didn’t want to think about this problem at the time.
The car was once again taken to the dealership, and this time, I requested that a technician drive the car with me. As expected, while he was driving, he experienced the same issues I have, and first gear popped out as it had happened to me many times before.
This is what I was told after the car was with the dealership for a few weeks:
I have some good news for you regarding the transmission on your car.
We have identified that the gear cable set was incorrect.We have located the base settings for the cable. This has been removed, set up correctly, and reinstalled into the vehicle. We had two technicians working on your car, and both are now certain that this issue is resolved—you should certainly notice an improvement in shifting."
The technician working on your car also identified that the selector cables attached to the gearbox were off-centre, causing the gate travel to be tight. The cable was removed from the car, set up on the bench to the correct measurements, and then reinstalled. The technician has clearly indicated that there is now a significant improvement in gear selection. Their view is that the car is now selecting gears correctly, in comparison to another Vantage they had in for service last week.
.......
I have checked the history of your car, and it appears that the clutch and flywheel were replaced in October 2020. We can only assume that when this was replaced, the selector cable was not set up correctly by Aston Martin Nottingham, hence the ongoing issue."
After collecting the car, it initially felt better, but soon after, the same issues reappeared. Last night, while driving, I received a warning on the dash stating that AM shift was unavailable, which further supports my suspicion that something is still not right with the current setup.
Some have mentioned that the Graziano gearbox is complicated, which I understand, but at this stage, I shouldn’t have to engage and re-engage gears three times just to get them to engage properly. I have been able to drive it around but it's very very trick.
I have sent the dealership another email this morning:
Regarding the gearbox, while it initially seemed slightly improved for a few miles, this was largely a placebo effect. The issues remain largely unchanged. Although gears 4-7 now function better, gears 1-3, including reverse, continue to be highly problematic. Additionally, I now have a dashboard warning related to AM shift, suggesting the issue is worsening.
The gearbox remains unreliable and, at times, unsafe to drive. These problems have supposedly been "fixed" multiple times, only for them to return. Given this recurring nature, I believe a full investigation into the gearbox - and potentially a replacement - should be considered. However, I will not be covering the cost, as it is evident that this mechanical fault has been present from the beginning. All signs point to a deeper underlying issue, potentially involving internal components such as the synchros, clutch hydraulics, linkage mechanisms, clutch disengagement, or hydraulic failure.
Furthermore, the fact that the clutch and flywheel were replaced in October 2020 - just four months after the car was first purchased - raises serious concerns. This strongly suggests that gearbox issues existed from the outset, and the clutch replacement may have been an attempt to mask a more fundamental mechanical flaw.
It is increasingly evident that the gearbox is not fit for purpose. The problem appears to stem from mechanical design flaws or component failure rather than normal wear and tear.
Right now, it feels like the best thing to do is get rid of the car, but I’ll wait to hear from them. I might get in touch with David Appleby at some point, as Riddoch suggested, but I’ll give the dealership a bit more time to sort the issue before contacting AML.
Thanks for your help.
Dealership visits:
- Window sensor malfunctioning (especially in rainy conditions).
- Vent rattle at cruising speeds.
- The dealership claimed to have fixed the window sensor and vent rattle, but no gearbox faults were identified.
- The selector cable was misaligned, and realigning it showed improvement for a few miles before the issue returned.
- However, the gearbox functioned correctly only for a short time before the same issues returned and worsened over time.
- However, the gearbox issues have now returned, including difficulty engaging gears (especially 1st and 2nd), grinding when shifting, and linkage noise from under the car.
- Corroded electrical pins were identified in the door harness, causing the window sensor malfunction, and an attempt was made to address the vent rattle.
Current Unresolved & Worsening Gearbox-Related Issues:
- 1st, 2nd, and at times 3rd gear engagement remains difficult.
- Grinding occurs when shifting from reverse to 1st, 1st to 2nd, 3rd to 2nd, or any combination—though re-engaging after releasing feels smoother.
- 1st gear occasionally pops out.
- Gearbox performance worsens significantly when hot.
- Linkage noise is present under the car.
- The AMShift system is now disabled, suggesting a deeper mechanical or sensor-related issue.
Happy New Year, and thanks for all your comments. I hadn’t received any updates on the vehicle until last month, and after that, I was abroad. To be very honest, I just didn’t want to think about this problem at the time.
The car was once again taken to the dealership, and this time, I requested that a technician drive the car with me. As expected, while he was driving, he experienced the same issues I have, and first gear popped out as it had happened to me many times before.
This is what I was told after the car was with the dealership for a few weeks:
I have some good news for you regarding the transmission on your car.
We have identified that the gear cable set was incorrect.We have located the base settings for the cable. This has been removed, set up correctly, and reinstalled into the vehicle. We had two technicians working on your car, and both are now certain that this issue is resolved—you should certainly notice an improvement in shifting."
The technician working on your car also identified that the selector cables attached to the gearbox were off-centre, causing the gate travel to be tight. The cable was removed from the car, set up on the bench to the correct measurements, and then reinstalled. The technician has clearly indicated that there is now a significant improvement in gear selection. Their view is that the car is now selecting gears correctly, in comparison to another Vantage they had in for service last week.
.......
I have checked the history of your car, and it appears that the clutch and flywheel were replaced in October 2020. We can only assume that when this was replaced, the selector cable was not set up correctly by Aston Martin Nottingham, hence the ongoing issue."
After collecting the car, it initially felt better, but soon after, the same issues reappeared. Last night, while driving, I received a warning on the dash stating that AM shift was unavailable, which further supports my suspicion that something is still not right with the current setup.
Some have mentioned that the Graziano gearbox is complicated, which I understand, but at this stage, I shouldn’t have to engage and re-engage gears three times just to get them to engage properly. I have been able to drive it around but it's very very trick.
I have sent the dealership another email this morning:
Regarding the gearbox, while it initially seemed slightly improved for a few miles, this was largely a placebo effect. The issues remain largely unchanged. Although gears 4-7 now function better, gears 1-3, including reverse, continue to be highly problematic. Additionally, I now have a dashboard warning related to AM shift, suggesting the issue is worsening.
The gearbox remains unreliable and, at times, unsafe to drive. These problems have supposedly been "fixed" multiple times, only for them to return. Given this recurring nature, I believe a full investigation into the gearbox - and potentially a replacement - should be considered. However, I will not be covering the cost, as it is evident that this mechanical fault has been present from the beginning. All signs point to a deeper underlying issue, potentially involving internal components such as the synchros, clutch hydraulics, linkage mechanisms, clutch disengagement, or hydraulic failure.
Furthermore, the fact that the clutch and flywheel were replaced in October 2020 - just four months after the car was first purchased - raises serious concerns. This strongly suggests that gearbox issues existed from the outset, and the clutch replacement may have been an attempt to mask a more fundamental mechanical flaw.
It is increasingly evident that the gearbox is not fit for purpose. The problem appears to stem from mechanical design flaws or component failure rather than normal wear and tear.
Right now, it feels like the best thing to do is get rid of the car, but I’ll wait to hear from them. I might get in touch with David Appleby at some point, as Riddoch suggested, but I’ll give the dealership a bit more time to sort the issue before contacting AML.
Thanks for your help.
Dealership visits:
- Initial Report of Issues (29/01/2024):
- Window sensor malfunctioning (especially in rainy conditions).
- Vent rattle at cruising speeds.
- The dealership claimed to have fixed the window sensor and vent rattle, but no gearbox faults were identified.
- Identified Gear Selector Cable Misalignment:
- The selector cable was misaligned, and realigning it showed improvement for a few miles before the issue returned.
- Air in the Clutch System:
- However, the gearbox functioned correctly only for a short time before the same issues returned and worsened over time.
- Identified Incorrect Gear Cable Setup:
- However, the gearbox issues have now returned, including difficulty engaging gears (especially 1st and 2nd), grinding when shifting, and linkage noise from under the car.
- Corroded electrical pins were identified in the door harness, causing the window sensor malfunction, and an attempt was made to address the vent rattle.
Current Unresolved & Worsening Gearbox-Related Issues:
- 1st, 2nd, and at times 3rd gear engagement remains difficult.
- Grinding occurs when shifting from reverse to 1st, 1st to 2nd, 3rd to 2nd, or any combination—though re-engaging after releasing feels smoother.
- 1st gear occasionally pops out.
- Gearbox performance worsens significantly when hot.
- Linkage noise is present under the car.
- The AMShift system is now disabled, suggesting a deeper mechanical or sensor-related issue.
Edited by mencan on Monday 10th February 15:20
franki68 said:
I have the 7 speed dog leg but in a v12vs , no issues with it aside from it takes time to get used to , it sounds like yours is seriously faulty .
And I third this - no experience of gears popping out or “graunching” in lower gears on the dog leg over 7k+ miles. Yes the gears are tightly spaced but that’s not an issue with practice. Hi all,
The saga has finally come to an end as I've decided to get rid of this car. I bought the car in December 2023, and during that year, it spent six months at the dealership. It was with Aston Martin Sevenoaks twice and with Aston Martin Works around five times. I have already described the multiple issues with both dealerships — Sevenoaks charged me for parts that then stopped working again, which Works later said had the same issues they were first replaced for. Sevenoaks told me many times there was no problem with the gearbox, and despite Works telling me the same initially, for the next five times the car was taken there, there was always something new wrong with the gearbox. I don't think they quite knew what they were doing, and it was necessary for me to ask for a technician to drive the car — with me sitting next to them — to actually get them tho accept that the issue was still there. After the first gear popped out while the technician was driving around, and even after leaving the car with them again, the issue still persisted. At this time, after consulting a few people, I decided it was best to get rid of the car.
Aston Martin Works was especially bad; their customer service is terrible. I left the car with them multiple times, and apart from the gearbox, the services I paid for were poorly delivered. I paid for a full detailing, but the car left dirty and full of small exterior scratches. I pointed this out multiple times, but the issue was not sorted out. I paid around £4K to get the yellow plastic covers replaced with carbon, and when doing so, they scratched the centre panel. I also told them multiple times that the sun visor did not hold, yet it was never fixed, among other issues. About a month ago, I let them know that the issues still persisted, and not a word from them.
Worse yet, they still have a boot rear panel, which was supposed to have been sorted out months ago but never was, and they have made zero effort to get it returned, despite my emails reminding them about it.
They even told me at some point that it was not their responsibility to sort out the gearbox issue because the car was not bought from them. But the cherry on top of the cake was when, after telling them I was tired of all these issues and was thinking about seeling the car, they informed me about a promotion on some of their new models. This is not just poor customer service, really.
Anyway, the car is for sale now:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502289...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18119948
I am surprised it's an Aston Martin dealership that has it for sale now and at a much higher price than what I bought it for. This car has been involved in so many shady issues and quick sales that I feel I need to warn anyone against buying this car. I bought the car with around 7K miles on the clock for about £88K from a non AM dealership, but the same car was also sold with about 5K miles here: https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/aston-martin/...
After just four months since new, the car had a clutch replaced, and it seems this car is not a keeper since it keeps changing hands. I am also surprised as to why the original owner never sold the car back to Aston Martin and instead sold it to a non AM dealership and another one until it reached my hands at such a low price for a high-spec limited edition car.
I'd stay away from that car like the plague because the person who buys it will have a very hard time ahead. I had it for about a year, and six months it spent at the dealership with the same issues. Aston Martin cars look great, but it seems to me that they are just careless, and the cars actually lack quality—maybe not on the parts that are visible, but for everything else.
It is a shame my first experience with an Aston Martin was this bad, which will obviously push me away from this brand, but it is what it is. I have driven manual cars all my life and had no issues ever, and saying it's a Graziano gearbox, which is difficult, is not really valid here—it's just a broken car, really.
Anyway, thank you very much for the help.
Missing rear panel:
The saga has finally come to an end as I've decided to get rid of this car. I bought the car in December 2023, and during that year, it spent six months at the dealership. It was with Aston Martin Sevenoaks twice and with Aston Martin Works around five times. I have already described the multiple issues with both dealerships — Sevenoaks charged me for parts that then stopped working again, which Works later said had the same issues they were first replaced for. Sevenoaks told me many times there was no problem with the gearbox, and despite Works telling me the same initially, for the next five times the car was taken there, there was always something new wrong with the gearbox. I don't think they quite knew what they were doing, and it was necessary for me to ask for a technician to drive the car — with me sitting next to them — to actually get them tho accept that the issue was still there. After the first gear popped out while the technician was driving around, and even after leaving the car with them again, the issue still persisted. At this time, after consulting a few people, I decided it was best to get rid of the car.
Aston Martin Works was especially bad; their customer service is terrible. I left the car with them multiple times, and apart from the gearbox, the services I paid for were poorly delivered. I paid for a full detailing, but the car left dirty and full of small exterior scratches. I pointed this out multiple times, but the issue was not sorted out. I paid around £4K to get the yellow plastic covers replaced with carbon, and when doing so, they scratched the centre panel. I also told them multiple times that the sun visor did not hold, yet it was never fixed, among other issues. About a month ago, I let them know that the issues still persisted, and not a word from them.
Worse yet, they still have a boot rear panel, which was supposed to have been sorted out months ago but never was, and they have made zero effort to get it returned, despite my emails reminding them about it.
They even told me at some point that it was not their responsibility to sort out the gearbox issue because the car was not bought from them. But the cherry on top of the cake was when, after telling them I was tired of all these issues and was thinking about seeling the car, they informed me about a promotion on some of their new models. This is not just poor customer service, really.
Anyway, the car is for sale now:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502289...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18119948
I am surprised it's an Aston Martin dealership that has it for sale now and at a much higher price than what I bought it for. This car has been involved in so many shady issues and quick sales that I feel I need to warn anyone against buying this car. I bought the car with around 7K miles on the clock for about £88K from a non AM dealership, but the same car was also sold with about 5K miles here: https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/aston-martin/...
After just four months since new, the car had a clutch replaced, and it seems this car is not a keeper since it keeps changing hands. I am also surprised as to why the original owner never sold the car back to Aston Martin and instead sold it to a non AM dealership and another one until it reached my hands at such a low price for a high-spec limited edition car.
I'd stay away from that car like the plague because the person who buys it will have a very hard time ahead. I had it for about a year, and six months it spent at the dealership with the same issues. Aston Martin cars look great, but it seems to me that they are just careless, and the cars actually lack quality—maybe not on the parts that are visible, but for everything else.
It is a shame my first experience with an Aston Martin was this bad, which will obviously push me away from this brand, but it is what it is. I have driven manual cars all my life and had no issues ever, and saying it's a Graziano gearbox, which is difficult, is not really valid here—it's just a broken car, really.
Anyway, thank you very much for the help.
Missing rear panel:
Edited by Sutitem on Saturday 8th March 19:24
Riddochg said:
Can I suggest calling James at David Appleby. Aston specialist. What he doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing! Good luck.
Hi Riddoch, I did get in touch with James, thank you. James is a top lad and super helpful. I had a few chats with him, and he reached out to a few AM guys regarding my situation. All I can say is that he knows his trade. Highly recommend.Sutitem said:
I bought the car in December 2023, and during that year, it spent six months at the dealership. It was with Aston Martin Sevenoaks twice and with Aston Martin Works around five times... It is a shame my first experience with an Aston Martin was this bad, which will obviously push me away from this brand, but it is what it is. I have driven manual cars all my life and had no issues ever, and saying it's a Graziano gearbox, which is difficult, is not really valid here—it's just a broken car, really.
Sorry to hear you had such a saga with your first Aston. I wouldn't have kept taking it back to the same place if you found them so bad. My first (and current) Aston was not dissimilar to start with, in that the main problem (caused by Sevenoaks) was mis-diagnosed by a so-called specialist who then charged me for taking apart the wrong part apart. A fight ensued involving Section 75 after which the car went away elsewhere for 8 weeks to be fixed properly. Like you I was starting to think of selling it, striking Aston off my lifelong wish list and going back to Jaguar. But somehow I stuck with it and when this car goes it will be for another Aston. And I will be older and wiser.The key IMHO is to take your car to someone COMPETENT. Just having AMDS doesn't mean they know how to use it, they may be more interested in emptying your wallet. The issue with my car was found not by dealer with AMDS, but by a very good diagnostics man without it. For normal servicing I go to Nicholas Mee who haven't put a foot wrong.
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