Bit of a Statement,don't you think.

[drmw]

Thanks for that. I bought the Aston on a whim - call it an itch that needed to be scratched. I loved the looks, the handling and the the degree of exclusivity but (appears I was unlucky) the issues were ridiculous for what's meant to be a quality car.

I could have lived with that, but the attitude from the factory was something I couldn't. It's one thing to have things go wrong with your pride & joy, but when the manufacturer - the entity completely responsible for the faults - holds up two fingers and tries to hide behind the wording of its warranty liability that was it for me.

The 63 is familiar territory to me (had a 55 pre the aston) - not as nimble as the vantage, nowhere near as pretty, but way better equipped, quicker, more civilised - and better built.

[mikey k]

Ed50 said:

I didn't know about that 5k business which if true is a bit of a worry,
I might have opened or reopened a can of worms here which wasn't intentional but clearly this is an ongoing debacle.

That figure is low
Gaydon quality control is a joke
Saving grace is the cars a great once you hassle the dealer to sort them

[Y100]

paddy328 said:

From what I'm lead to believe, there just isn't the pride in making the cars anymore, they are just numbers and if they guy above them has signed it off, then it's good enough for them. I imagine time is probably an issue too.

That said, I think Ferrari are worse.

Most people know what to expect now, but I think there are a lot of people out there that presume that because its a new Aston and they've just spent 100k, it must be perfect and wrapped up in cotton wool until its unveiled at the showroom. Wrong. The truth being that they are treated no better than a 10k ford.

Ed50 said:

Thank you Francis,

Your professional view says it all really,its probably getting worse,sadly.

Some one needs to take the Bull or in this case Goat by the horns and get it sorted for the good of their own reputation as this thread shows
in some cases current AM owners are fed up with it and are considering defection to other brands,frankly that can't make for good reading for
AM if they bother to monitor this forum and that said how many other owners have already made the move to the competition without voicing
their issue or concerns.

Thanks for mentioning my Cake devouring Goat there Paddy.....umm I think we'll name it McGinty after some lost relative of yours that kept Goats

"Farrari are WORSE". So there you have it, Francis is right there at the sharp end, our very own pdi expert.

Edited by Y100 on Monday 19th August 12:36

[KarlFranz]

Interestingly, my dealer actually hires a paint correction guy to working all black cars ordered from the factory before they are put in the showroom. The guy actually takes about 1.5-2 days per car. So some dealers do care.

I wonder if it's really a case of the final inspection guys not being very thorough before putting a personalized inspection badge in the engine compartment or if it's the bean counters telling the inspectors to be less picky in order to move more cars more quickly out the door. Ironic that the whole idea of putting an individual's name on the badge is supposed to signify some degree of personal commitment to the task. I would hate to have to put my name on something knowing that it has defects I have been ordered to overlook.

[SHIFTY]

Well my first Aston (2009) spent a week at the AM approved body shop to sort out the paint issues such as the swirl marks and cutting compound on the base of the driver’s door. When I went for the factory tour I asked for the guy who is charge of the paint shop and he did not seem bothered at all.

I P/X for a N420 in Carbon black 1 year later and the complete opposite was true not one swirl mark, so as Karl said above maybe this dealer does use a detailer.

I know that the dealer where I bought my first Aston from was also looking at this as an option.

[Ed50]

KarlFranz said:

Interestingly, my dealer actually hires a paint correction guy to working all black cars ordered from the factory before they are put in the showroom. The guy actually takes about 1.5-2 days per car. So some dealers do care.

I wonder if it's really a case of the final inspection guys not being very thorough before putting a personalized inspection badge in the engine compartment or if it's the bean counters telling the inspectors to be less picky in order to move more cars more quickly out the door. Ironic that the whole idea of putting an individual's name on the badge is supposed to signify some degree of personal commitment to the task. I would hate to have to put my name on something knowing that it has defects I have been ordered to overlook.

Good to hear that some US Dealers are going the extra mile, or is it that they know that their American clientele won't except the sh*t us Brits have to wade through.

I think my under bonnet badge bares the signing off inspectors name,arrgh lets have a look then,Oh yes there it is Mr Magoo.......

[mikey k]

KarlFranz said:

I'm curious: how much of the scratches and swirls do you think left the factory unnoticed during the final inspection and how many we're introduced by subsequent cleanings during PDI or other stages prior to being sold as a new vehicle? I find it hard to believe that they could miss all those scratches in a white room under inspection lights at the factory.

Edited by KarlFranz on Monday 19th August 03:52

OH they can!
Mine was not cleaned/polished by the dealer it had swirls (not too bad) and paint defects on a few panels
Even after all the UV lights and QC inspection

It's worth noting the pearlescent colours like Mako & Lightning are not sprayed by the robots and are still done by hand

[v12v2013]

like everyone here we have the adoration for our AM's..all of mine have had gremlins....Was at Gaydon last week and as always, re-ignites my passion for what I have owned and indeed. Despite looking a complete half-wit at the weekend when the fuel filler cap was jammed on the BP forecourt I still keep smiling...fuel filler cap is misaligned, mine must have slipped through the stringent inspection at the factory.., great news, have just enough petrol to get to dealer on Wednesday other upside I'm not getting a Cygnet but a Jag!!
Checked under bonnet. Ahmed Munir carried out final inspection, hmm perhaps Stevie Wonder should be stamped there

[KarlFranz]

Couldn't help but laugh at this picture and caption:


Paint job: The production line spends as much time on the paint job as many other manufacturers do to build an entire car

Here's the full article:
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-23...

[mikey k]

KarlFranz said:

Couldn't help but laugh at this picture and caption:


Paint job: The production line spends as much time on the paint job as many other manufacturers do to build an entire car

Here's the full article:
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-23...

that picture isn't even on the Gaydon paint line

[steveatesh]

mikey k said:

OH they can!
Mine was not cleaned/polished by the dealer it had swirls (not too bad) and paint defects on a few panels
Even after all the UV lights and QC inspection

It's worth noting the pearlescent colours like Mako & Lightning are not sprayed by the robots and are still done by hand

Mine is Lightning and was flawless when delivered to me, not a single swirl. Shows they can do it when they want to!

[mikey k]

steveatesh said:

mikey k said:

OH they can!
Mine was not cleaned/polished by the dealer it had swirls (not too bad) and paint defects on a few panels
Even after all the UV lights and QC inspection

It's worth noting the pearlescent colours like Mako & Lightning are not sprayed by the robots and are still done by hand

Mine is Lightning and was flawless when delivered to me, not a single swirl. Shows they can do it when they want to!

In fairness the paint quality was actually OK
It was the prep before they painted on the edges of some of the panels and the lack of clean up of wet sanding reside
A good detail sorted most of it out