Is it worth using Main Dealers?
Discussion
Hello
Been a lurker for sometime now and hoping to take the plunge with a V8V in the next couple of months (although having read about the clutch maybe I should be a bit more circumspect) so this seemed a good time to tap into your collective expertise.
Have read and digested the detailed AM ownership guide detailed elsewhere here and I've sniffed about....but there doesnt seem to be a consensus on whether the franchised dealer is worth (the presumed) extra ££ for purchasing your pride & joy?
I suspect I will be heading Bamford Rose way for major servicing events.
I am also slightly concerned I will be asking too much of the car...mostly daily use 25 miles each way (A1) with a few miles at midday (wont get a chance to run warm). I live up muddy country lanes as well. I plan to get a Japanese 4x4 for most winter miles (so about 6 months of the year at present...).
Any recommendations? (AM not the 4x4....and Im defo not getting a Jag before anyone says it)
Been a lurker for sometime now and hoping to take the plunge with a V8V in the next couple of months (although having read about the clutch maybe I should be a bit more circumspect) so this seemed a good time to tap into your collective expertise.
Have read and digested the detailed AM ownership guide detailed elsewhere here and I've sniffed about....but there doesnt seem to be a consensus on whether the franchised dealer is worth (the presumed) extra ££ for purchasing your pride & joy?
I suspect I will be heading Bamford Rose way for major servicing events.
I am also slightly concerned I will be asking too much of the car...mostly daily use 25 miles each way (A1) with a few miles at midday (wont get a chance to run warm). I live up muddy country lanes as well. I plan to get a Japanese 4x4 for most winter miles (so about 6 months of the year at present...).
Any recommendations? (AM not the 4x4....and Im defo not getting a Jag before anyone says it)
BigOne said:
...I am also slightly concerned I will be asking too much of the car...mostly daily use 25 miles each way (A1) with a few miles at midday (wont get a chance to run warm).
Hi, and welcome (and all that) but get a grip - its a car, it's designed to be driven. Drive it and enjoy it. Go buy - NOW! Curious as to why you think 25 mikes a day as a daily driver would be too much for the car?
Many on here use a Vantage as a DD ( myself included) and they are considered a reliable car with no major running gear issues.
What is important is condition and service history, as with any premium car. As above from Sage Jockman the main dealer offers a years peace of mind with the warranty if your budget is a car over three years old.
Looking for a Vantage is a superb position to be in, my suggestion would be to cast your net far and wide, test drive a few cars and select the one you prefer - then enjoy. Remember to call back with pics etc when you decide, and taking as many threads off topic as possible will make you a much valued contributor to this forum!
Talking of which, Easter is on us, if Aston made chocolate, which brand would it be? A smooth silky Galaxy, a creamy Thorntons, or a Mars a day helping you work rest or play?
There, that's off topic!
Many on here use a Vantage as a DD ( myself included) and they are considered a reliable car with no major running gear issues.
What is important is condition and service history, as with any premium car. As above from Sage Jockman the main dealer offers a years peace of mind with the warranty if your budget is a car over three years old.
Looking for a Vantage is a superb position to be in, my suggestion would be to cast your net far and wide, test drive a few cars and select the one you prefer - then enjoy. Remember to call back with pics etc when you decide, and taking as many threads off topic as possible will make you a much valued contributor to this forum!
Talking of which, Easter is on us, if Aston made chocolate, which brand would it be? A smooth silky Galaxy, a creamy Thorntons, or a Mars a day helping you work rest or play?
There, that's off topic!
Edited by steveatesh on Thursday 28th March 07:13
I recently went through this process.
Having never bought a car from a main dealer before, and having what I hope is a modicum of understanding of cars, I was loath to buy from a main dealer.
I saw several private cars, and called up regarding every car advertised that met my requirements price and spec wise. Many had missing services, many had not been serviced for some time and had not had any consumables changed for some time.
The ones I got as far as seeing also did not live up to expectation, you may well find a gem out there, but I only found cars that had imminent large spends looming, regardless of if the car had been owned for 1 year or 5 years by the same guy/gal.
I called up regarding a few cars from (none main) dealers, a couple had missing services on a claimed 'full service history' once I really dug into the history, and the margin between the Stratstone cars and the other dealer cars did not seem huge, definitely not as wide as some other premium marques.
I surprised myself and bought a car from Statstone, it ticked all my boxes, had low owners, the miles I was looking for, my ideal spec, a new clutch, new tyres and new pads. It also naturally came with a years warranty. I bought it on the last day of last month and managed to get about a 2% discount which from what I have read is not a bad deal as they are fairly firm on prices. Maybe it was a coincidence that the best car I could find was at main dealer, I don’t know, but I was happy with the result, and also surprised at the number of cars out there that I would not touch.
Having never bought a car from a main dealer before, and having what I hope is a modicum of understanding of cars, I was loath to buy from a main dealer.
I saw several private cars, and called up regarding every car advertised that met my requirements price and spec wise. Many had missing services, many had not been serviced for some time and had not had any consumables changed for some time.
The ones I got as far as seeing also did not live up to expectation, you may well find a gem out there, but I only found cars that had imminent large spends looming, regardless of if the car had been owned for 1 year or 5 years by the same guy/gal.
I called up regarding a few cars from (none main) dealers, a couple had missing services on a claimed 'full service history' once I really dug into the history, and the margin between the Stratstone cars and the other dealer cars did not seem huge, definitely not as wide as some other premium marques.
I surprised myself and bought a car from Statstone, it ticked all my boxes, had low owners, the miles I was looking for, my ideal spec, a new clutch, new tyres and new pads. It also naturally came with a years warranty. I bought it on the last day of last month and managed to get about a 2% discount which from what I have read is not a bad deal as they are fairly firm on prices. Maybe it was a coincidence that the best car I could find was at main dealer, I don’t know, but I was happy with the result, and also surprised at the number of cars out there that I would not touch.
Edited by gibbon on Thursday 28th March 09:50
gibbon said:
I surprised myself and bought a car from Statstone, it ticked all my boxes, had low owners, the miles I was looking for, my ideal spec, a new clutch, new tyres and new pads. It also naturally came with a years warranty. I bought it on the last day of last month and managed to get about a 2% discount which from what I have read is not a bad deal as they are fairly firm on prices. Maybe it was a coincidence that the best car I could find was at main dealer, I don’t know, but I was happy with the result, and also surprised at the number of cars out there that I would not touch.
Food for thought there 
I like to think I would not buy from a main dealer as i know about cars too, but I did; partly due to the fact my car is unusual (manual Volante). Car was well prepped and wanted for nothing, the warranty was a relief to have for a newbie (although I didn't need to use it) and the car was priced competitively. Yeah, I did OK too and would probably do it again if I couldn't find a member from here's car that I wanted.
95+% of the owners on here look after their cars properly, those that don't fortunately like everyone to know about it
It is probably the only way I would buy privately, lots of rough cars out there and as prices get cheaper, there will be more every year as many can afford them, but not afford to maintain them. A 100k car will always have 100k running costs 
I have a Hotel Chocolat next to the station I commute into so that should be easy. But my wife likes Godiva chocolates, so I have to trek across London instead to please my loved one.
And in case Mr Duckhouse reads this and wants to print a copy, I am more than happy to traverse London to get them as nothing is too much for my loved one
And in case Mr Duckhouse reads this and wants to print a copy, I am more than happy to traverse London to get them as nothing is too much for my loved one
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