All my Vantage questions
Discussion
Ok this is my first post so please don't shoot me for asking the stupidly obvious etc but I would appreciate any sensible answers to the following please.
I have a May 2007 V8 Vantage. I am the second owner from new and bought the car in September 2011. 15k miles (6k since I bought it). Main dealer supplied and full AM service history. Car is garaged, trickle charged and covered for 6 months and I have put it back on the road today. It had a hard charge across the RDG to Monte Carlo las year but apart from that is very well looked after I think.
Questions.
1. What is Clutch learn?
2. Battery - seems like a nightmare of a thread on here. Have self diagnosed the power folding mirrors and window 2mm drop thing albeit the passenger door hasn't fixed - what do I o next?
3. Service - I live quite near to Bamford Rose. Have 6 months left on the AM warranty. I know this is a million dollar question but what do most people do ie "self insure" and hope annual problems are no more than a grand and Bamford Rose for servicing and forget the whole warranty thing?
4. Cracked leather in the usual place - despite covering the seats in quality leather balm they are still wearing and the drivers bolster is surface cracked but not perforated. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Sorry to be greedy with my questions. Love my car although I do find owning an Aston is quite scary and hate idea of big bills etc
Thanks
I have a May 2007 V8 Vantage. I am the second owner from new and bought the car in September 2011. 15k miles (6k since I bought it). Main dealer supplied and full AM service history. Car is garaged, trickle charged and covered for 6 months and I have put it back on the road today. It had a hard charge across the RDG to Monte Carlo las year but apart from that is very well looked after I think.
Questions.
1. What is Clutch learn?
2. Battery - seems like a nightmare of a thread on here. Have self diagnosed the power folding mirrors and window 2mm drop thing albeit the passenger door hasn't fixed - what do I o next?
3. Service - I live quite near to Bamford Rose. Have 6 months left on the AM warranty. I know this is a million dollar question but what do most people do ie "self insure" and hope annual problems are no more than a grand and Bamford Rose for servicing and forget the whole warranty thing?
4. Cracked leather in the usual place - despite covering the seats in quality leather balm they are still wearing and the drivers bolster is surface cracked but not perforated. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Sorry to be greedy with my questions. Love my car although I do find owning an Aston is quite scary and hate idea of big bills etc
Thanks
RoseyV8 said:
Ok this is my first post so please don't shoot me for asking the stupidly obvious etc but I would appreciate any sensible answers to the following please.
I have a May 2007 V8 Vantage. I am the second owner from new and bought the car in September 2011. 15k miles (6k since I bought it). Main dealer supplied and full AM service history. Car is garaged, trickle charged and covered for 6 months and I have put it back on the road today. It had a hard charge across the RDG to Monte Carlo las year but apart from that is very well looked after I think.
Questions.
1. What is Clutch learn?
2. Battery - seems like a nightmare of a thread on here. Have self diagnosed the power folding mirrors and window 2mm drop thing albeit the passenger door hasn't fixed - what do I o next?
3. Service - I live quite near to Bamford Rose. Have 6 months left on the AM warranty. I know this is a million dollar question but what do most people do ie "self insure" and hope annual problems are no more than a grand and Bamford Rose for servicing and forget the whole warranty thing?
4. Cracked leather in the usual place - despite covering the seats in quality leather balm they are still wearing and the drivers bolster is surface cracked but not perforated. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Sorry to be greedy with my questions. Love my car although I do find owning an Aston is quite scary and hate idea of big bills etc
Thanks
Hello & welcome. The boys will be along shortly to offer their advice. The key thing you have said above is that you are fortunate enough to live near Bamford Rose I have a May 2007 V8 Vantage. I am the second owner from new and bought the car in September 2011. 15k miles (6k since I bought it). Main dealer supplied and full AM service history. Car is garaged, trickle charged and covered for 6 months and I have put it back on the road today. It had a hard charge across the RDG to Monte Carlo las year but apart from that is very well looked after I think.
Questions.
1. What is Clutch learn?
2. Battery - seems like a nightmare of a thread on here. Have self diagnosed the power folding mirrors and window 2mm drop thing albeit the passenger door hasn't fixed - what do I o next?
3. Service - I live quite near to Bamford Rose. Have 6 months left on the AM warranty. I know this is a million dollar question but what do most people do ie "self insure" and hope annual problems are no more than a grand and Bamford Rose for servicing and forget the whole warranty thing?
4. Cracked leather in the usual place - despite covering the seats in quality leather balm they are still wearing and the drivers bolster is surface cracked but not perforated. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Sorry to be greedy with my questions. Love my car although I do find owning an Aston is quite scary and hate idea of big bills etc
Thanks
In which case - all the help and advice you will ever need is right there at BR for you 
Hi Rosie, nice to have another lady on the forum and welcome to Aston Martin ownership .
To answer your questions.
1 Clutch Learn. Really important but not a big deal. When you start the car keep your foot on the brake pedal , after a few seconds you will hear a click as the clutch moves to its optimum position . Apart from being smoother your clutch will last considerably longer. I do this every time I start the car,
2 Sounds like a door lock actuator problem. Will be under warranty.
3. Bamford Rose are more than capable of servicing your car plus they will ensure that any warranty issues are dealt with. I would suggest a visit to them before your existing warranty expires.
4. Paddy can sort any leather issues for you. You can find him on the AM forum.
5 . Aston ownership is a very special thing. 20 months in and I am still in awe of my car.
Finally I am assuming that you are a lady , if not I apologise .
To answer your questions.
1 Clutch Learn. Really important but not a big deal. When you start the car keep your foot on the brake pedal , after a few seconds you will hear a click as the clutch moves to its optimum position . Apart from being smoother your clutch will last considerably longer. I do this every time I start the car,
2 Sounds like a door lock actuator problem. Will be under warranty.
3. Bamford Rose are more than capable of servicing your car plus they will ensure that any warranty issues are dealt with. I would suggest a visit to them before your existing warranty expires.
4. Paddy can sort any leather issues for you. You can find him on the AM forum.
5 . Aston ownership is a very special thing. 20 months in and I am still in awe of my car.
Finally I am assuming that you are a lady , if not I apologise .
Looks like I had better nip this one in the bud then (I have seen how these threads get out of hand from my days of Elise ownership!) sorry but I am a bloke, surname is Rose but my wife does like a good A road thrash in the car too.
So, warranty or not to warranty? Any idea how much BR charge for the annual 10k service?
So, warranty or not to warranty? Any idea how much BR charge for the annual 10k service?
that's how our forum should be!Rosey, get stuffed, you can sort it out for yourself now!
Anyhow, warranty? Plenty of sage advice on here already, but it's a gamble. Some will say bank the £1500 and enjoy it when nothing goes wrong, others will say extended warranty every time - how much of a gambler are you? Remember clutch isn't covered anyway, and that's likely to be one of the bigger payouts. That said, many have had a series of relatively small issues that are covered on warranty and cumulatively were quite expensive. Personally, my warranty expires in August, so I shall book it in to BR for an inspection in Jun/Jul then not bother with renewing the warranty having got any outstanding work done if they find anything.
BR charge about £700 for a service, I think, but have a look on their website (it's in the FAQs sticky at the top of the opening page). Main dealers will be about £2-300 more, roughly.
Please do not fear the costs.....as Bogey would say, it's no more expensive than a premium German saloon, and he's right. The Gaydon models are well engineered and just keep getting better, so there is nothing to fear if the car has been well looked after. I bought mine in September last year and its the best thing I ever did. Enjoy. BTW, if you'd have pretended to be a woman, you'd have got significantly more input from the 'Loons in the Asylum'.
Anyhow, warranty? Plenty of sage advice on here already, but it's a gamble. Some will say bank the £1500 and enjoy it when nothing goes wrong, others will say extended warranty every time - how much of a gambler are you? Remember clutch isn't covered anyway, and that's likely to be one of the bigger payouts. That said, many have had a series of relatively small issues that are covered on warranty and cumulatively were quite expensive. Personally, my warranty expires in August, so I shall book it in to BR for an inspection in Jun/Jul then not bother with renewing the warranty having got any outstanding work done if they find anything.
BR charge about £700 for a service, I think, but have a look on their website (it's in the FAQs sticky at the top of the opening page). Main dealers will be about £2-300 more, roughly.
Please do not fear the costs.....as Bogey would say, it's no more expensive than a premium German saloon, and he's right. The Gaydon models are well engineered and just keep getting better, so there is nothing to fear if the car has been well looked after. I bought mine in September last year and its the best thing I ever did. Enjoy. BTW, if you'd have pretended to be a woman, you'd have got significantly more input from the 'Loons in the Asylum'.
robgt said:
3. Bamford Rose are more than capable of servicing your car plus they will ensure that any warranty issues are dealt with. I would suggest a visit to them before your existing warranty expires.
Just to clarify, BR do not undertake warranty work. They would of course point out anything that should be done under warranty but you would need to go back to an authorised dealer to have the work done. Ha ha and thanks Bincenzo
You are right. Purchasing an Aston has been one of the best things I have ever done. I absolutely bloody well love it. I am tempted to opt out and go with BR particularly as they are nearby and its quite a decent drive across too. Last year there were a few niggles which I think would have cost about the equivalent to the warranty so I did get my monies worth but as the car gets older the list of exclusions in the warranty gets longer. Hobsons choice I suppose but I would sooner have a hand made brogue than a nike training shoe any day, after all I did own a beetle once so I dont need another engine out the back!
Good forum banter, thanks.
You are right. Purchasing an Aston has been one of the best things I have ever done. I absolutely bloody well love it. I am tempted to opt out and go with BR particularly as they are nearby and its quite a decent drive across too. Last year there were a few niggles which I think would have cost about the equivalent to the warranty so I did get my monies worth but as the car gets older the list of exclusions in the warranty gets longer. Hobsons choice I suppose but I would sooner have a hand made brogue than a nike training shoe any day, after all I did own a beetle once so I dont need another engine out the back!
Good forum banter, thanks.
RoseyV8 said:
I would sooner have a hand made brogue than a nike training shoe any day.
With a comment like that, you will fit right in. That phrase is going straight into my list of things to say when accused of being 'too conservative/boring/old/don't like aftermarket alloys......oops, sorry all! It's happening again. Welcome Rosey.Bincenzo said:
RoseyV8 said:
I would sooner have a hand made brogue than a nike training shoe any day.
With a comment like that, you will fit right in. That phrase is going straight into my list of things to say when accused of being 'too conservative/boring/old/don't like aftermarket alloys......oops, sorry all! It's happening again. Welcome Rosey.RoseyV8 said:
Bincenzo said:
RoseyV8 said:
I would sooner have a hand made brogue than a nike training shoe any day.
With a comment like that, you will fit right in. That phrase is going straight into my list of things to say when accused of being 'too conservative/boring/old/don't like aftermarket alloys......oops, sorry all! It's happening again. Welcome Rosey.Cheers folks, I feel at home already
Clutch learn is super important! Having had my car only five weeks, and not doing it for the first couple, I can see a huge difference at lower speeds.
As mine is a daily driver, I always wait for the click before setting off, and have promised myself I would do the whole procedure 3 times (as recommended) once a week - preferably somewhere where no one can see or hear me - must look odd to people turning your car on and off 3 times - probably think its OCD a la jack Nicholson in As good as it gets....
As mine is a daily driver, I always wait for the click before setting off, and have promised myself I would do the whole procedure 3 times (as recommended) once a week - preferably somewhere where no one can see or hear me - must look odd to people turning your car on and off 3 times - probably think its OCD a la jack Nicholson in As good as it gets....
hashlove said:
Clutch learn is super important! Having had my car only five weeks, and not doing it for the first couple, I can see a huge difference at lower speeds.
As mine is a daily driver, I always wait for the click before setting off, and have promised myself I would do the whole procedure 3 times (as recommended) once a week - preferably somewhere where no one can see or hear me - must look odd to people turning your car on and off 3 times - probably think its OCD a la jack Nicholson in As good as it gets....
Thanks for this. I still do not get what the heck it does but it sounds important so I will do a "clutch learn" or two next time I go out. Do you find that when the car is cold that the first and second gears are very clunky too and I have noticed that reversing makes the clutch stink. Also I think the handbrake caliper rubs when turning hard around corners as it makes a very light squeak. AM looked at this last year after I panicked about it being something major. They told me that is what it was and fixed but I noticed today that it is back again despite having sat in the garage all winter with the hand brake off.As mine is a daily driver, I always wait for the click before setting off, and have promised myself I would do the whole procedure 3 times (as recommended) once a week - preferably somewhere where no one can see or hear me - must look odd to people turning your car on and off 3 times - probably think its OCD a la jack Nicholson in As good as it gets....
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