Bought a V8 Vantage!

[Navyatco]

NickXX said:

What's Fuse 22?

I want to keep the full AMSH, I really like Chiltern AM - great service and extremely convenient for me. Are Chiltern AM considered 'proper' AM for servicing purposes? I don't quite understand their Independent status, but would prefer to use them for everything if I can.

Chiltern Aston are a great outfit to 'work' with; their knowledge is fantastic, their customer support 1st class and their pricing ranges from very fair to downright 'cheap' (for Aston Martins anyway)! I don't have any connection to them, other than I have availed myself of their services for the last 5 years or so - both from the UAE and in the UK. never had cause for complaint. And they're a very friendly bunch to boot.

[BamfordMike]

Navyatco said:

NickXX said:

What's Fuse 22?

I want to keep the full AMSH, I really like Chiltern AM - great service and extremely convenient for me. Are Chiltern AM considered 'proper' AM for servicing purposes? I don't quite understand their Independent status, but would prefer to use them for everything if I can.

Chiltern Aston are a great outfit to 'work' with; their knowledge is fantastic, their customer support 1st class and their pricing ranges from very fair to downright 'cheap' (for Aston Martins anyway)! I don't have any connection to them, other than I have availed myself of their services for the last 5 years or so - both from the UAE and in the UK. never had cause for complaint. And they're a very friendly bunch to boot.

I can understand your confusion, the factory seems to be in the middle of a process to rejig the network, but at this moment in time Chiltern AM are an approved service centre which is meant to be the same as getting the car serviced at any main dealership? Although the service centre network does seem to be reducing at the moment, and looking at the dealer site on the AM webpage there are only 2 left (Chiltern is one of) where there used to be approx. 5, means there might be more changes to come however??!!

The structure used to be; Franchised dealership which can sell new cars, repair, service and conduct warranty.
There was an approved service centre which could do everything the franchised could but not sell new cars.
There was Heritage dealer who could service and repair DB7 / Vanquish and older to an approved standard.
And clearly the totally independent world.

To the best of my knowledge, the distressed (not selling enough new cars) franchised dealer network complained about service centres because service centres could sell used cars and service and repair all cars under the banner of the approved status, but not have to carry the £££burden of the additional overhead for the only benefit a franchised dealer has over a service centre which is selling new cars, albeit at a seriously deflated number compared previous years hence probably the complaints?? However, it was / is Heritage dealer that receives the largest number of complaints so i have heard because under the banner of being 'Heritage approved' some were stretching the line and service / repairing new era cars too as if they were approved to do so by factory from the consumers standpoint. So if you look on Aston webpage in Heritage section (which is now separate to franchised dealer and service centres), any Heritage dealer working on cars DB7 / Vanquish and younger actually has the same pedigree / approved status (none) as, say, Halfords or any other independent does.

The wider message being that if you want to keep the factory stamp in the car, make sure it is a franchised dealer or service centre, because the Heritage garage is not technically approved to stamp the book of a new era car with the same pedigree or is any more approved than a fully fledged independent.

[NickXX]

Thanks guys. I had it serviced by Chiltern last week- fantastic service by Ed and Stuart- a great experience after years of visiting BMW main dealers. They have the personal touch and experience of a top independent with the weight of a main dealer stamp which is exactly what I want.

Martin- the car isn't a daily, but I've been using it most weekends since I got it. Based very close to London- so would be good to meet up. There was talk of a Highgate meet recently, so I will try and arrange a pub lunch when the weather is nicer.

[boxstaman]

Great photos and the perfect colour - mine is onyx black as well!

I am not far away from you near Beaconsfield, so would be great to meet up sometime.