My new Vantage S Roadster

My new Vantage S Roadster

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Discussion

Knights of Aston

311 posts

177 months

Monday 20th February 2012
quotequote all
With the battery being flat I'm guessing you couldn't roadtest the car with the technician first. Some rattles aren't always there and temperature makes a big difference to these cars. Ideally to pin point a rattle you need a roadtest with the bloke who's going to work on it. Contrary to popular opinion on the PH Aston Martin forums, dealers put a lot of effort in but if the fault isn't there at the time of test they can't fix it. If it's persistent, next time you pass your dealer I'm sure they'll be happy to go out and try to locate the noise with you.
Glad you got your car back and it's running OK.

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Thursday 23rd February 2012
quotequote all
The weather was too good this afternoon not to!
Went or a blast across Cheshire roof down smile
Started first time - no issues - all is good clap
(other than the unfixed rattles)

steveatesh

4,893 posts

163 months

Thursday 23rd February 2012
quotequote all
Knights of Aston said:
With the battery being flat I'm guessing you couldn't roadtest the car with the technician first. Some rattles aren't always there and temperature makes a big difference to these cars. Ideally to pin point a rattle you need a roadtest with the bloke who's going to work on it. Contrary to popular opinion on the PH Aston Martin forums, dealers put a lot of effort in but if the fault isn't there at the time of test they can't fix it. If it's persistent, next time you pass your dealer I'm sure they'll be happy to go out and try to locate the noise with you.
Glad you got your car back and it's running OK.
That's exactly how my dealer has dealt with rattles - a drive out with the technician who will work on it. Intermittent rattles are of course hardest. I had a strange noise that was only there when cold and would go after a stop and switch off, say for petrol. They resolved it by booking in a slot with a visiting AM technician and leaving the car there the night before. Said technician identified the noise within 2 minutes. I agree, certainly my main dealer has been first class with the niggles that have arisen so far in warranty.

jonby

5,357 posts

156 months

Friday 24th February 2012
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Mikey, did you say it's fuse 15 on the S (as opposed to fuse 22)?

Must get round to pulling it - where is fuse 15 - I know it's the boot fuse box, but can't see numbers on each fuse. I'm guessing fuse 1 is top left if you are looking at the box whilst opening the boot and you count down the strip of fuses, then go to the right hand side and count down again ?

Cheers

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
I think this deserves a bit of an update after 8 months and 4k miles! :drive:

It drives exactly like my old HIGHLY modified Honda S2000 did which I loved!
Very direct, lots of grip and lots of communication from the steering and light weight seats.
Suspension is alot tighter and a bit hard to live with on long cruises but pays dividends on the twisties wink
I am finding I occasionally need a bit more power on an overtake as I hit the limiter mid flight nono
It's averaging 16.7 mpg laugh
SO SO glad I put the venture shield on. I have watched cans, pop bottles and chunks of wood bounce up the bonnet without any paint damage! Only 3 stone chips ALL outside the venture shield frown Chipex has dealt with them!
Other than a dead battery after a trip round N Wales to see Molly & Rob it has been very reliable.

It has now been back in for THREE warranty trips;
1st week new front grill falling apart
a few weeks later misc and random electrical gremlins and refusing to start - 2 dead cells in the new battery
After our cornwall trip I booked it in for round three
squealing rear brakes (done)
ASM2 update (done)
Various rattles (one persists frown )
Passenger seat leather parting company (new cover eventually order after a call to Gayon by me frown )
Bump under leather in door card (new one ordered)
Passenger seat belt staying locked (not a bad thing wink but Mrs K disapproved laugh )

Thanks to Jockman for recommending JCT600 in Leeds
They have been very attentive, professional and sorted the problems.
I will be trying to give them my service work (depending on where we move to wink )

I came very close to replacing it with a V12VR but realised other than the power on overtakes it is ideal and exactly the package need for what I use it for.
I'm now looking forward to Bamford Rose tweaking the DNA and giving it a suitable name wink

robgt

2,585 posts

161 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
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Mikey do you mind if I tell you our experience to date.
Vantage V8S coupe, 11 months old,
5900 miles new rear tyres originals less than 3mill
Brake squeal, sorted with the addition of shims (warranty)
Gearbox softwear upgrade (warranty) vast improvement
Serviced on Monday, nothing adverse to report, no oil consumed
Fuel consumption seems to be 21-22mpg average. Highs of 27, lows of 18.
No rattles or shakes
No reliability issues whatsoever
Car seems to get faster as my confidence grows, the grin factor as constant as ever.
Molly and I are soon to embark on the Alpine Tour with Petrol Head Nirvana, I can think of no better steed than our beautifull V8S

spice

632 posts

269 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
and mine
N420 roadster.2011 Manual 4200 miles (i know i need to use it more )
Valve spring went bang at 3000 miles
18mpg at best
no issue with first sevice (£750)
no squeaks or rattles
always on battery conditioner
depreciation bit of a killer (£30k)weeping
but still love it


mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Waiting on two new pieces of trim now
Whole new passenger seat cover as the one fitted in the factory is wrinkling baddly in the area between the shoulders.
It looks like the leather is parting company with the backing frown

BingoBob

1,098 posts

146 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
That's bad news about the leather. Did you have to kick up a fuss?

I am finding that the leather in the Vantage is quite fragile. My bolster seems to have a lot more wear on it than you would expect on a car with only 13000 miles.

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
BingoBob said:
That's bad news about the leather. Did you have to kick up a fuss?
I raised it as an issue when they did the brakes an ASM update, Gaydon turned it down initially stating fair wear & tear scratchchin
After a call to Gaydon to explain and an "attempt" to heat seal it back on they agreed to a new cover (on 8 weeks lead time)

Strangely the small bump under the leather on the top of the drivers door card was passed as a warranty replacement with no arguement.

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Friday 20th July 2012
quotequote all
JCT600 now have my new leather bits to fit next week.
Timing is good as we are off around Europe soon.

Jockman

17,912 posts

159 months

Friday 20th July 2012
quotequote all
mikey k said:
JCT600 now have my new leather bits to fit next week.
Timing is good as we are off around Europe soon.
I'm assuming all this is a warranty job Mikey ??

I wouldn't be seen dead claiming on the warranty - I like to pay my way in this world smile

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Friday 20th July 2012
quotequote all
Jockman said:
mikey k said:
JCT600 now have my new leather bits to fit next week.
Timing is good as we are off around Europe soon.
I'm assuming all this is a warranty job Mikey ??

I wouldn't be seen dead claiming on the warranty - I like to pay my way in this world smile
laugh
It is all warranty

Tony V12V

2,465 posts

151 months

Friday 20th July 2012
quotequote all
Jockman said:
I'm assuming all this is a warranty job Mikey ??

I wouldn't be seen dead claiming on the warranty - I like to pay my way in this world smile
Cakegate ??

Jockman

17,912 posts

159 months

Friday 20th July 2012
quotequote all
Tony V12V said:
Cakegate ??
whistle

johng39

3,059 posts

159 months

Friday 20th July 2012
quotequote all
Tony V12V said:
Cakegate ??
Ha ha ha. Brilliant well spotted Tony.

Tony V12V

2,465 posts

151 months

Friday 20th July 2012
quotequote all
johng39 said:
Tony V12V said:
Cakegate ??
Ha ha ha. Brilliant well spotted Tony.
No problemo Cockernee me ole' mate, got it covered while your away. Have to look out for my 'wingman' - Us 'girly' V12V types rolleyes have to stick together against the bandits from north of the border punch

Edited by Tony V12V on Friday 20th July 18:25

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Wednesday 8th August 2012
quotequote all
Bit of an update
10 months, 4.5k miles and running well.
No brake squeal and smoother gear changes thanks to JCT in Leeds.
They also sorted a couple of interior rattles and squeaks for me, as well as replacing a smearing wiper blade.
Replace the top of the drivers door card under warranty as there was a small lump in the leather.
Not so good progess on the passenger seat though.
The panel between the shoulders was wrinkled from new but it got worse.
JCT fought my corner to get a new seat cover supplied which they had fitted by a local car upholstery specialist
Unfortunately it looked even worse frown
After a few photos and exchanges with the factory they agreed it is not acceptable and will sort it after our Eurohoon smile
I'll give JCT the first service and rear tyres at the same time (providing they are competitive wink )
Just need to sort out a geo check then wink


Edited by mikey k on Wednesday 8th August 17:12

Jockman

17,912 posts

159 months

Wednesday 8th August 2012
quotequote all
mikey k said:
....I'll give JCT the first service and rear tyres at the same time (providing they are competitive wink )
Just need to sort out a geo check then wink
You may find your rear tyres more expensive than my DB9 ones from JCT as - for some daft reason - they are wider !!

I mwill be taking Karen's car up to Buckleys shortly to get its geo done if you are interested. We could even go and annoy a couple of people whilst we are in the area wink JCT have assured me that the new Front Tyres they are currently putting on will not impact on my recent geo settings smile

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Wednesday 8th August 2012
quotequote all
Jockman said:
You may find your rear tyres more expensive than my DB9 ones from JCT as - for some daft reason - they are wider !!

I mwill be taking Karen's car up to Buckleys shortly to get its geo done if you are interested. We could even go and annoy a couple of people whilst we are in the area wink JCT have assured me that the new Front Tyres they are currently putting on will not impact on my recent geo settings smile
Absolutely mentally busy at the mo, I'm sure you trust Buckley now wink it will be a lot cheaper only being front wheel drive.
JCT are right new tyres shouldn't change the geo.