Taking the plunge… advice?
Discussion
I got my 2019 car from AM Cambridge (RIP) in 2021. As per other comments, keep it on a C-Tek (learned why the hard way), and I haven’t regretted extending the warranty, even though it costs £1,800 per year. I reckon I’ve had my money’s worth, even though the issues fixed have been niggles, rather than anything catastrophic. Peace of mind has a price, and it’s currently about……£1,800 a year. It was, until about a week ago, my only car though, so it’s used as a vehicle for transportation, rather than just a toy. You will need to get used to random strangers walking up and engaging you in conversation about it, asking to take photos and so on. The general public seem to like it rather more than the cognoscenti of Pistonheads…………
I wouldn't want a dealership to repair a few chips as they wouldn't do a very good job anyway unless they resprayed whole panels and rhen you are into.blending as well which,personally for me, is worse than a few chips.
I would happily buy the car accept it, buy a good repair kit like Dr Color chip or similar. Touch it up myself, then a very light polish and It will be almost invisible.
If you're not happy to do it yourself go speak with a reputable detailer who will either do it in house or point you in the right direction.
I've just done a million (it felt like that) tiny weeney chips and road rash damage from rhe last year or two and I can't find any of the previous chips now. Just gone.
Off for fresh PPF next month.
I would happily buy the car accept it, buy a good repair kit like Dr Color chip or similar. Touch it up myself, then a very light polish and It will be almost invisible.
If you're not happy to do it yourself go speak with a reputable detailer who will either do it in house or point you in the right direction.
I've just done a million (it felt like that) tiny weeney chips and road rash damage from rhe last year or two and I can't find any of the previous chips now. Just gone.
Off for fresh PPF next month.
Seeing some of those issues on a lightning silver car I’ve been looking at from AM Hatfield. Generally in pretty good shape, but after a good look having been told the bonnet had been resprayed, I found over spray down one side where it clearly hadn’t been cleaned/sanded properly the paint had bulged up around lumps or dust, and then after opening the bonnet a sharp thin lip of paint on that same side which would clearly snap off.
It turns out a third party did the job “my paint guy” said the sales exec, and only targeted three quarters of the panel which resulted in the issues I had to point out. He’s going to re-do the whole bonnet now, but it worries me about the quality overall and will I notice over time other issues!
This exec also wants me to pay for a detailer to sort lots of scratches (forgot to take a pic) on the gloss black roof at £450 (or I’m told I might as well get the whole car ceramic coated at the same time for £800), and fork out £900 to replace a badly faded black wing mirror arm. Things like this I expected to be within the “showroom standard” quoted under Aston Timeless, but apparently there’s a limit as to what is economical. To me they shouldn’t take on cars for which it wouldn’t be economical to get to that standard, I thought that was the point.
All this guy seems to want to do is get a holding deposit out of me which is totally different to other execs I’ve seen at other garages, and frankly is putting me off! The problem is it’s the car I want!
I have a good alternative at Sevenoaks in hyper red which is fully wrapped in PPF so I know the paintwork is and will stay good, just slightly lower spec (no premium audio, 8-way seats) and 3k more miles, but £2k more expensive which is bugging me given those differences.
It turns out a third party did the job “my paint guy” said the sales exec, and only targeted three quarters of the panel which resulted in the issues I had to point out. He’s going to re-do the whole bonnet now, but it worries me about the quality overall and will I notice over time other issues!
This exec also wants me to pay for a detailer to sort lots of scratches (forgot to take a pic) on the gloss black roof at £450 (or I’m told I might as well get the whole car ceramic coated at the same time for £800), and fork out £900 to replace a badly faded black wing mirror arm. Things like this I expected to be within the “showroom standard” quoted under Aston Timeless, but apparently there’s a limit as to what is economical. To me they shouldn’t take on cars for which it wouldn’t be economical to get to that standard, I thought that was the point.
All this guy seems to want to do is get a holding deposit out of me which is totally different to other execs I’ve seen at other garages, and frankly is putting me off! The problem is it’s the car I want!
I have a good alternative at Sevenoaks in hyper red which is fully wrapped in PPF so I know the paintwork is and will stay good, just slightly lower spec (no premium audio, 8-way seats) and 3k more miles, but £2k more expensive which is bugging me given those differences.
44HammerTime said:
I have a good alternative at Sevenoaks in hyper red which is fully wrapped in PPF so I know the paintwork is and will stay good, just slightly lower spec (no premium audio, 8-way seats) and 3k more miles, but £2k more expensive which is bugging me given those differences.
I had a look at the Sevenoaks stock.
Here is an interesting choice, at the same price.
The performance might be quite similar too.
alscar said:
Sorry meant to add if a fun / occasional car then a battery conditioner is definitely required - CTEK MXS5 is a decent one and Amazon is usually your friend here and also has all the accessories / adapters you many need.
On any of my cars that don’t get used for a couple of weeks then I put them on although the occasional drivers stay on them continually until driven.
Any idea which model version of this I’ll need? On Amazon I see 56-758, 56-972 and 56-975 but struggling to see what the differences are! ThanksOn any of my cars that don’t get used for a couple of weeks then I put them on although the occasional drivers stay on them continually until driven.
44HammerTime said:
Any idea which model version of this I’ll need? On Amazon I see 56-758, 56-972 and 56-975 but struggling to see what the differences are! Thanks
As long as it’s the MXS5 model I imagine the different choices are perhaps whether it comes with different accessories ?You may need an extension cable and whether you want to connect via the 12v socket with a cigarette lighter socket , just with the clamps to the battery which usually come as standard or with an adapter that fits on the battery and you then plug into that.
Yours might also have the magnetic adapter connector by the rear number plate ?
44HammerTime said:
You’re right it does have the magnetic connector at the back which is far easier, can’t see an adapter for the CTEK for that though, do they do one?
Yep, got mine from Ebay.https://shorturl.at/cvBKZ
CC Charger does them too:
https://www.cccharger.co.uk/
I am sure Clive can help if you have a query about which one.
https://www.cccharger.co.uk/
I am sure Clive can help if you have a query about which one.
alscar said:
Your new car looks very good in Lightening.
Especially the side view.
Cheers picked her up today and over the moon. I was like a kid at Christmas! Lots of fun driving home and managed to squeeze into the garage after getting out and checking clearance each side about 5 times. Literally a couple of cm each side with the mirrors folded in… closer than I thought! Especially the side view.
44HammerTime said:
Perfect, thanks for the advice and links. Ordered the charger from Amazon and a magnetic adapter from eBay to keep her topped up. So convenient to have that magnetic connection at the back, glad you mentioned that alscar!
Perhaps the salesman didn’t want you to think the battery was liable to go flat.
If you aren’t planning on using for more than say a week I’d put it on.
44HammerTime said:
Cheers picked her up today and over the moon. I was like a kid at Christmas! Lots of fun driving home and managed to squeeze into the garage after getting out and checking clearance each side about 5 times. Literally a couple of cm each side with the mirrors folded in… closer than I thought!
Careful when you exit then - especially as the mirrors will no doubt unfold automatically for the reverse !Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff