Off to test a DBS and V12VS tomorrow...Any advice?

[Nijius Maximus]

Quarterly said:

..you're probably not in a very good negotiating position right now.

I spent £85,000 and got a free keyring.

Haha, I think the price was the least of my concerns: I was obsessed with getting the car before someone else did! Mine's March 2011 by the way.

Free key ring, hey? Right time to play hardball with that key ring...

Actually I liked the Aston Martin mug I got served my "free" coffee in. Could do with a nice set of those for the house!

[Nijius Maximus]

THANK YOU to everyone who's congratulated me! Look forward to meeting you all in the very near future and thanks for the warm welcome. I'm getting restless now waiting for the car to be ready. I've even started looking at buying AM accessories such as the wallet and hip flask to keep me going in these stressful times...

So from this thread (and others) it looks like these are the CB V12 Club members:

V12VMan
damianke
cayman-black
C997
Tex
t0s
sukh_m
(Nijius Maximus)

Nice to be a member!


Grant3: It was thanks to your excellent book that got me on this journey in the first place. You've even got a whole half page dedicated to the CB V12V. Nice.

V12VMan: You're right about the grin. I couldn't stop smiling! Grange at Brentwood were really good as well, in fact all the AM dealers I visited. Really laid back and friendly.

Mako V12V: Thanks for the info on the car! It looks like we've reached the bottom of the depreciation curve...

bentley01: Wow, your car looks good. Can't beat a black car on a sunny day...

Edited by Nijius Maximus on Tuesday 2nd February 15:24

[Nijius Maximus]

Guys, I just got the tyre depths:
Rears are 3-5-3, 4-4-4 and Fronts 4-4-3 and 4-5-4

Is this all good??

tonyhall38 said:

congratulations on your new car....

Why do I feel like the dots at the end of your sentence imply that you really wanted to say:

"... But you shouldve bought a Vanquish."

Haha.

[Nijius Maximus]

mblade123 said:

http://www.thecufflinkstore.co.uk/motoring-cufflin...

https://www.astonmartin.com/en/shop/collectibles/p...

http://www.astonmartin.com/en/shop/clothing

Thought I'd just help you spend any lose change you have left

Thanks...won't have any money left for the actual car at this rate.

The only poster they have for sale is....for a Cygnet?!

[Nijius Maximus]

Thank you lewisco! I've spent my whole day thinking about it at every spare moment...

mblade, that's a great photo. Speaking of professional photographers, here's a photo our photographer took when I got married in November. And which car did I hire for the whole weekend....an Aston of course!



A Rapide S is a stunning car. Great fun driving it.
I'm gonna get the photographer to come down for the V12V as well...

[Nijius Maximus]

mblade123 said:

Great pic Nijius.
Just be prepared for yours to be used as a wedding car from now on

Funny you should say that as my sister's getting married in March. It was meant to be...

Love the laser etched poster. I remember seeing that on another thread. Would look nice in my office. Anymore for anymore? I should be bankrupt by the end of the week...

[Nijius Maximus]

And a bit of knob polishing, surely Tony?

[Nijius Maximus]

Before I get into the many, many replies... I got some info back from Grange:

V12 side badges: £56.26 + VAT
Glass buttons: £370 + VAT
No reversing camera option for a 2011 car.

I've realised that only two of the four glass buttons would be used: Sport and Parking Sensors. If it was an automatic then it would make sense for an additional four buttons. Think I'll leave it.

Definitely want the side badges...otherwise how is a fellow Aston driver driving side by side to know that I've got the V12?!

Pity about the camera option but AMDBSNick has another thread about upgrading the sat nav with cameras so will look to see how that comes along.

Now replies...



Ed50: How did you manage to stay away for so long?! I thought you'd be down here persuading me to sign up much earlier than this!

The funny thing is that I remember when you put the Burghley thread up and that's what made me think: I need to get an Aston sometime this year so I can go. And it's happened.

I'm waiting until I actually have it and have shared some photos before signing up. Seems wrong to do otherwise!

Mako V12V: Holy st! I've just realised that I've stumbled upon a bunch of Aston fanatics. I'm surprised you don't just sleep in the garage next to the Aston...

tonyhall38: Of course you'd have to go one better, no? That Aston logo is insane...

DocW: You're right of course, maintaining the looks of the car should be the number one priority. Still waiting for Grange to get back to me with a deal on paint protection and wheel insurance (pesky curbs in London). Advice for how to maintain a black Aston would be much welcomed!

divetheworld: Believe me I'm desperate to get my hands on it so I can finally take some amazing photos for yourself and everyone else on this thread. No doubt it'll rain when it's time to pickup... which ALWAYS happens when it's pick up time.

Quickmoose: Who are these "some" people you talk about...and what examples do they have...

t0s: Ha, brilliant! Nothing beats three pedals on an Aston...especially when comparing to Sportshift...

JS1500: There's no need to be jealous: you've got an Aston yourself! Every Aston is special.

JaseB: It's amazing how different the R8 V10 and V12V feel to drive despite similar performance. The V12V is SO MUCH more involving so yes driving recalibration will be required and it should be fun to do so!

[Nijius Maximus]

Yeah I was surprised as well mblade. It was registered March 2011 so it must be a 2011 model year. Seems pretty expensive anyway, I'm sure I can get an independent to fit it for less and looking forward to seeing how Nick's solution is coming along...

[Nijius Maximus]

CSK1 said:

Well, he'll think you are also driving the V12 Vantage S until you both set off!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYGBMZwmw9I

Hahaha... Oh dear. I should've gone for the V12VS...

[Nijius Maximus]

DocW said:

I would not go down the dealer route for paint protection, you may get very lucky and it will be correctly applied and last but the chances of that are less likely than you seeing Halleys comet tonight. The protection is often applied by someone who really does not have the time, experience or correct product so save your money, in fact free is still too expensive as you may end up paying to have it corrected professionally. I have the wheel insurance and used it in the past (not on this car I hope), read the small print. You should register the damage with a series of pictures within 48 hours of the incident, although how they have any idea I don't know. They may refer you to one of their approved repairers, I insisted on my Aston dealership and asked the service department to deal with the insurer ( it's owned by Pendragon if you dealt with Stratstone but a separate company ). I will e-mail you a bit about caring for Black paint as I sought far and wide for information and I won't bore everyone with the details.

Thanks for the info!

So no to the paint protection but yes to the wheel insurance? They said I can claim five times a year. I know that London has some tight spots especially in multi stories and those dreaded width restriction roads (evil) but... Who the hell would curb their wheels that many times?!

Also theyve reapplied the protective film to the front bumper which is most likely to attract stone chips no doubt.

[Nijius Maximus]

DocW: Yeah diamond turned wheels definitely feel like they could so with proper insurance. I have to go up four levels in a tight multi storey at my office and have a tight underground car park at home...

I'll find out exactly what kind of paint protection they're talking about when they (finally) give me a quote.


mblade123: Good point about the bonnet vents. They do blend in better on black paint though. So some people might miss them...(!) Looking forward to "testing" the efficiency of those bonnets when driving back for the first time...

[Nijius Maximus]

Thanks to both of you above ^^ for the advice.

It's tempting when a dealer tries to sell you protection for the car when you yourself don't know enough about the subject. Will definitely keep my options open...

[Nijius Maximus]

Mako V12V said:

Heat haze out of vents in bonnet is pretty cool to see. Now who can be the first to capture this on camera as I've not seen any photo of this yet!

Challenge Accepted.

[Nijius Maximus]

Flugplatz said:

I'm not a sexist so I cant answer that

Hahaha...

[Nijius Maximus]

mblade123 said:

Something else I would recommend is a cteck battery conditioner. (Plugs into the socket in the boot)

I know you won't need it to start with as you will be out playing all the time.
But if you go on holiday or leave it for any length of time they are a must

Is that the same as a trickle charger? I know one came with my last Vantage...

[Nijius Maximus]

Phil74891 said:

Congratulations on the purchase!

I would highly recommend getting Paddy to paint correct your car and protect it with GTechniq Crystal Serum.

Amazing stuff, puts an incredible shine on the car and makes it much easier to clean without scratching it.

Thanks! I just heard back from Grange actually. They're offering "lifeshine" application inside and out. Is that some kind of second rate protection??

[Nijius Maximus]

I've answered my own question by doing some quick internet "research" (Google). It appears to be AutoGlym Lifeshine they're talking about which the general consensus is that it's "applied by garage monkeys".

They want to charge me £382 for it for the inside and out.

The tyre and alloy insurance is £616 for 10 diamond cut refurbs and 5 tyre puncture replacements over 3 years.

What's the verdict guys? The above prices are only if I buy both together...

[Nijius Maximus]

roughrider said:

As for the interior, is it going to be used for the school run???

Well my wife says I act like a big kid half the time... Does that count??

[Nijius Maximus]

tonyhall38 said:

tell em to shove it.....

I'll tell Grange Tony says hi...