First year of V8V ownership

[V8V Pete]

So it is a year since I bought my California Sage MY2009 4.7 V8V and I thought I would share my experiences.

The car was fairly low mileage at 16,000 and I have done a further 7,000 miles in the last year returning about 20mpg in mixed driving.




Maintenance:
1. Annual service August 2014 at local Main Dealer - no unexpected issues.
2. Rear brake pads (at service and anticipated by me).
3. Set of winter tyres.
4. One small top up of oil between services.
5. Full paint correction detail by Paddy - very highly recommended.

Warranty items:
1. New AM tuner module for radio - not sure how long it was broken as I only found out when I tried to listen to the cricket (FM was fine).
2. New Aircon pump - was working fine but nasty intermittent squealing sound due to slipping electromagnetic clutch.
3. New hydraulic pistons for boot lid as not holding it fully open.
4. Paintwork for minute bubble top of passenger door next to mirror which I didn't spot when I bought the car - not really warranty I know but 100% contribution from AML.

Modifications:
1. New steering wheel to get Cruise Control - well worth it for me.
2. Parrot Bluetooth unit - works very well and is completely hidden in "ashtray".
3. BR 3-way exhaust switch - better than just removing Fuse 22 because it stops your valves sticking (unless you have it on loud ALL the time!)

What I've learnt:
1. Not all main dealers are the same! The one I bought it from sent me out for a test drive in a car with a slipping clutch then when I collected the car it had oil leaking from the gearbox oil cooler. Unfortunately, I only discovered this when over 100 miles away at home when I saw oil on the drive (and all over the back of the car). They even tried to deny that it was present when the car left them until I showed them a picture of it when I test drove it 10 days earlier with oil on their forecourt. OK, I should have spotted that too but so should their 140 point check!



This problem and a couple of other issues hanging over from the sale were sorted out by my local main dealer (Derby Stratstone) with a level of service I have never encountered before in the motor trade. It is for this reason that I chose to have my service at this dealership rather than one of the very reputable indies within easy reach of me.

2. Do not test drive a V12V. I absolutely love my V8V but since test driving the Madagascar beast at Works Service in July my waking hours have been consumed with the need to upgrade to a V12. This will happen within the next couple of years but if you have less patience / self control than me then really - DO NOT TEST DRIVE A V12V.
3. Everyone loves Aston Martins.
4. The answer to the question "Do you need a lovely lady to sit in that empty seat?" should nearly always be "No, I've already got one of those" but that may depend on personal circumstances.
5. Do not scratch bumper on stupid garden wall 2 weeks after paint protection film applied



So what do I plan for the next year?
1. Save up for V12.
2. Save £250 by not subscribing to Tracker service (going towards V12 fund).
3. Save a lot more (hopefully) by not renewing warranty (hopefully going towards V12 fund).
4. Do AM Performance Driving Course (in preparation for V12 ownership).

Thanks for all the advice and banter on here and here's to another year of happy motoring (not thinking about this).

[dig123]

Very informative thanks, best not test drive a V12 just yet then. The Bluetooth sounds interesting as the standard one I have in my V8 is not good. Thanks

[JimboA]

And there was me waiting for that particular V12....

Great write up and thanks for the 'warts and all' info!

[Brakke]

brilliant!
I was talking about this with a mate as well, he asked if we should visit a dealership and drive a v12v....my answer "hell no!".
Nice write up.

[Little Donkey]

Can't believe that Madagascar V12 is still up for sale. What's the matter with you lot, it's stunning - someone please get it bought!

[avinalarf]

Nice write up,shame it's not a roadster.
P.S.that V12 looks terrific.

[V8V Pete]

Little Donkey said:

Can't believe that Madagascar V12 is still up for sale. What's the matter with you lot, it's stunning - someone please get it bought!

It's not only stunning but it also has a specification to die for. The deal was done in my world but when I took the family to see it the girls totally hated the colour. Clearly divorce is the only logical route to pursue but I'm still working on gentle persuasion. My legendary patience will falter eventually.

[avinalarf]

V8V Pete said:

It's not only stunning but it also has a specification to die for. The deal was done in my world but when I took the family to see it the girls totally hated the colour. Clearly divorce is the only logical route to pursue but I'm still working on gentle persuasion. My legendary patience will falter eventually.

Cannot understand why you think you have a dilemma.
Having to choose between your family and an Aston is a no brainer.
So if you have nowhere to stay when you leave home you can kip at mine for a couple of weeks.

[KarlFranz]

I enjoyed reading your write up. Thanx for sharing.

[Little Donkey]

V8V Pete said:

Little Donkey said:

Can't believe that Madagascar V12 is still up for sale. What's the matter with you lot, it's stunning - someone please get it bought!

It's not only stunning but it also has a specification to die for. The deal was done in my world but when I took the family to see it the girls totally hated the colour. Clearly divorce is the only logical route to pursue but I'm still working on gentle persuasion. My legendary patience will falter eventually.

Go for the divorce - any judge will sympathise in your plight and will find heavily in your favour. Guaranteed.

[V8V Pete]

Little Donkey said:

V8V Pete said:

Little Donkey said:

Can't believe that Madagascar V12 is still up for sale. What's the matter with you lot, it's stunning - someone please get it bought!

It's not only stunning but it also has a specification to die for. The deal was done in my world but when I took the family to see it the girls totally hated the colour. Clearly divorce is the only logical route to pursue but I'm still working on gentle persuasion. My legendary patience will falter eventually.

Go for the divorce - any judge will sympathise in your plight and will find heavily in your favour. Guaranteed.

Did think about following the legendary advice "Just get a V12 in the same colour, she'll never notice". Obviously a watertight plan until you see the colour of my V8 and that of the V12 I have been seduced by.

[Little Donkey]

V8V Pete said:

Did think about following the legendary advice "Just get a V12 in the same colour, she'll never notice". Obviously a watertight plan until you see the colour of my V8 and that of the V12 I have been seduced by.

You have my favourite colour already in the V8 (I still miss mine) now a V12 in CSG would make me weep. Wonder if they ever produced any?

I have a pic of mine somewhere - ah yes, here we are........

Sigh..... (

[sunseeker]

Pete, Your Aston is stunning. You should be happy with what you have. I am still waiting on my DB7 to get finished. It went for exhaust system this week on a transporter. Here is what a light weight DB7 looks like. lol.

[V8V Pete]

sunseeker said:

Pete, Your Aston is stunning. You should be happy with what you have. I am still waiting on my DB7 to get finished. It went for exhaust system this week on a transporter. Here is what a light weight DB7 looks like. lol.

Gus, you need to get that car out of Scotland before it becomes a foreign country and import tax is due!

[V8V Pete]

Little Donkey said:

You have my favourite colour already in the V8 (I still miss mine) now a V12 in CSG would make me weep. Wonder if they ever produced any?

I have a pic of mine somewhere - ah yes, here we are........

Sigh..... (

I had wondered if it was your old V8V that I had but I see that it was a 4.3 so clearly not. I'm actually not sure if CSG would suit the V12V as well as it does the V8 because subtlety isn't really the V12's strong point. I'm sure MakoV12V and his registry will know if any were made in Sage.

[john ryan]

And on this topic, I am 18 months in on a 2007 V8V coupe (now queueing on the dockside at Portsmouth). Main dealer trade in, with 24k and no warranty work in the service record apart from a timing cover leak-my kind of car; no dents or dings, but a few honest bonnet chips. This was/is a good one from day one. Now 5k on, mostly continental trips,and no issues whatsoever apart from a precautionary new battery last winter, and a slight camber adjustment on one side at the rear, which I did at home, to bring into spec. With my mileage I will service every two years. Fabulous car, with little depreciation now.

[sunseeker]

V8V Pete said:

sunseeker said:

Pete, Your Aston is stunning. You should be happy with what you have. I am still waiting on my DB7 to get finished. It went for exhaust system this week on a transporter. Here is what a light weight DB7 looks like. lol.

Gus, you need to get that car out of Scotland before it becomes a foreign country and import tax is due!

Pete, I sure I will get a discount as its not a complete car. There is method in the mad ness....lol.

[mikey k]

V8V Pete said:

Thanks for all the advice and banter on here and here's to another year of happy motoring (not thinking about this).

I do like Sage Green
No idea why that V12 hasn't sold
If I could cope with a coupe I'd have bought it by now

[V8V Pete]

mikey k said:

V8V Pete said:

Thanks for all the advice and banter on here and here's to another year of happy motoring (not thinking about this).

No idea why that V12 hasn't sold

1. When first on sale it was too expensive.
2. Being a press car any rational potential purchaser would worry at least to some extent how hard it may have been driven for 9000 miles.
3. In my experience girls hate the colour - WTF
4. It's now been on sale nearly a year.

[mikey k]

V8V Pete said:

mikey k said:

V8V Pete said:

Thanks for all the advice and banter on here and here's to another year of happy motoring (not thinking about this).

No idea why that V12 hasn't sold

1. When first on sale it was too expensive.
2. Being a press car any rational potential purchaser would worry at least to some extent how hard it may have been driven for 9000 miles.
3. In my experience girls hate the colour - WTF
4. It's now been on sale nearly a year.

1 Fair comment
2 Again caution required!
3 Wifey loves the paint
4 Could be worth a cheeky offer

Edited by mikey k on Thursday 18th September 14:07