USED ASTON MARTIN INSPECTION

[PV7998]

A bit of advice please........

I'm looking for a used Aston Martin inspection service, ie someone who will come out and view a private sale vehicle and give a report on it.

Anyone got any recommendations?

[Little Donkey]

Roughly where are you and which model?

[PV7998]

I'm in Essex but I'm willing to travel pretty much anywhere.

I'm looking for a DB7, 6 or 12 cylinder (but preferably 12), up to about £27K

Edited by PV7998 on Wednesday 11th December 23:28

[vankypanky]

rikki cann is perhaps close to you and Chiltern have a good rep for the DB7

[Little Donkey]

I own a DB7 Volante which is currently with Chiltern Aston over in Hemel. It's in for a general inspection and I have to say they've been excellent. They took the time to get the car up on the ramp to show me every item reported. So much more thorough than the 140'point check that was done by a certain main dealer way down south.

They have a good stock, too. I'm heading over there on Saturday to collect mine. I'd be happy to introduce you.

[PV7998]

I've been to Chiltern......but I didn't ask......will they come out and inspect a car on someone's driveway?

Rikki Cann......I've no knowledge but I'll Google him

[Little Donkey]

PV7998 said:

I've been to Chiltern......but I didn't ask......will they come out and inspect a car on someone's driveway?

Rikki Cann......I've no knowledge but I'll Google him

Best to get it up on a ramp. So much to look out for was pointed out to me that I would suggest a driveway inspection would be pretty much useless.

[PV7998]

Little D....thanks for the offer, I've already been there with MrsPV7998 and we were both impressed. I'm thinking that if I see the car of my dreams for sale privately I'd want an expert opinion on it - hence the enquiry.
Just sold the present chariot and now seriously looking for a replacement.

[PV7998]

Little Donkey said:

Best to get it up on a ramp. So much to look out for was pointed out to me that I would suggest a driveway inspection would be pretty much useless.

Agree 100%.......I've got a ramp at home but I'm thinking that the logistics of a private seller - even reasonably local - being up for driving their car to Chiltern (or anywhere else) for an inspection may be difficult.

[Little Donkey]

PV7998 said:

Little D....thanks for the offer, I've already been there with MrsPV7998 and we were both impressed. I'm thinking that if I see the car of my dreams for sale privately I'd want an expert opinion on it - hence the enquiry.
Just sold the present chariot and now seriously looking for a replacement.

Good luck with your search, DB7's in good nick and with few miles are hard to find. I bought mine from a small independent, but Chiltern still held my hand through the process. Don't dismiss them, the difference you'll pay between private and dealer from these guys could be well worth it in my opinion.

Speak to Derek or Dominic for help with an inspection.

L.D

[PV7998]

Thanks....it was Derek we saw (and took us for a test drive in a Sutherland Red V12) a while ago. Unfortunately the present chariot took longer to sell than anticipated and so it's only now, a couple of months later, that we're back looking.
Chiltern have a nice looking low mileage Black V12 for sale that MrsPV7998 is making noises about.
We might end up there on Saturday ourselves.

[vankypanky]

dont think domonic is there anymore

[PiloteAM]

In general the dealers really look after you, so I think it's worth the extra few quid to avoid buying privately. As I'm sure you know, these cars can be total money pits if there's much work to be done.

I'm not familiar with DB7s, but the later cars you really need to get on a lift and poke about to see what condition they're in. Combination of quite low, and lots of underbody covers.

[jazzyjeff]

PiloteAM said:

In general the dealers really look after you, so I think it's worth the extra few quid to avoid buying privately. As I'm sure you know, these cars can be total money pits if there's much work to be done.

Thank you for that bland generalisation. Very helpful to those of us enthusiast owners who are trying to sell our cars privately. You don't happen to work for a dealer by any chance, do you? :-p

[avinalarf]

jazzyjeff said:

PiloteAM said:

In general the dealers really look after you, so I think it's worth the extra few quid to avoid buying privately. As I'm sure you know, these cars can be total money pits if there's much work to be done.

Thank you for that bland generalisation. Very helpful to those of us enthusiast owners who are trying to sell our cars privately. You don't happen to work for a dealer by any chance, do you? :-p

Sorry Jeff but I disagree with you.
Some of us are more comfortable buying from a dealer with a warranty when we realise that buying the 'wrong' car can end up costing a fortune. At least then we have some comeback if problems arise.
Obviously if you are comfortable you have the appropriate technical/mechanical knowledge then buying privately is a relevant choice.

[Russwhitehouse]

Have to go with avinalarf on this one. I bought my DB9 from Chiltern. Having seen a few privately, I was swayed by the warranty and European recovery package included in the price by them. Glad I did as I have had cause to use both.

[jazzyjeff]

avinalarf said:

jazzyjeff said:

PiloteAM said:

In general the dealers really look after you, so I think it's worth the extra few quid to avoid buying privately. As I'm sure you know, these cars can be total money pits if there's much work to be done.

Thank you for that bland generalisation. Very helpful to those of us enthusiast owners who are trying to sell our cars privately. You don't happen to work for a dealer by any chance, do you? :-p

Sorry Jeff but I disagree with you.
Some of us are more comfortable buying from a dealer with a warranty when we realise that buying the 'wrong' car can end up costing a fortune. At least then we have some comeback if problems arise.
Obviously if you are comfortable you have the appropriate technical/mechanical knowledge then buying privately is a relevant choice.

You're all entitled to your opinion as to what you'd prefer to do. However, blanket statements implying that all dealer purchases are 'safe' and private purchases should be avoided are, in my view, unhelpful and insulting to fellow PHers who are trying to sell their cars privately. That is what I object to - remember, fellow enthusiasts come on here asking questions because they believe the PH massive are relative experts in the vehicles they are looking at, and will often take offhand comments as gospel. Dealers are there to make money, nothing more. Private sellers are merely seeking to change the car they drive. For those of us that don't want to part exchange at great financial loss, trading our car in isn't a valid option. In my own personal experience, buying privately and buying from a dealer hasn't made a shred of difference - both are equally likely to have expensive underlying faults, or be utterly immaculate with no work being required. There is plenty of room in the marketplace for both dealer and private.

Having said the above, I'm fully behind independent inspections when considering a private purchase. Such inspections are often more thorough than pre-sale checks undertaken by dealers.

[ChrisDB7]

The thing is, if you're looking at buying a DB7 then you're very unlikely to be getting one from a franchised dealer (unless its Chiltern as mentioned). You'll be going through an independent trader instead and whether you get a good one or a bad one is up to chance, so I'm not sure how much benefit you'll get over one for sale privately.

Also as mentioned above I wouldn't bother with the main dealers 140 point check. It's just a tick list, and if it isn't on the list it doesn't get checked at all. I had one carried out before I bought mine and it found a number of incredibly minor issues whilst missing a couple of biggies. You'll be much better going with a good independent.

Edited by ChrisDB7 on Thursday 12th December 16:34

[Gibberish]

jazzyjeff said:

avinalarf said:

jazzyjeff said:

PiloteAM said:

In general the dealers really look after you, so I think it's worth the extra few quid to avoid buying privately. As I'm sure you know, these cars can be total money pits if there's much work to be done.

Thank you for that bland generalisation. Very helpful to those of us enthusiast owners who are trying to sell our cars privately. You don't happen to work for a dealer by any chance, do you? :-p

Sorry Jeff but I disagree with you.
Some of us are more comfortable buying from a dealer with a warranty when we realise that buying the 'wrong' car can end up costing a fortune. At least then we have some comeback if problems arise.
Obviously if you are comfortable you have the appropriate technical/mechanical knowledge then buying privately is a relevant choice.

...blanket statements implying that all dealer purchases are 'safe' and private purchases should be avoided are, in my view, unhelpful

Agreed, but for a first time buyer with no experience of the Aston Martin, the dealer network looks the safer option.

However if you've researched and are informed, a canny buyer will buy from an 'Aston enthusiast' with no reason to off load, other than they're moving on to the next Aston.

I see it as a positive advantage to be able to speak to the previous owner.

I would buy privately, but 'caveat emptor' applies in equal measure to both dealer and when buying privately, in my view.

[Quinny]

jazzyjeff said:

However, blanket statements implying that all dealer purchases are 'safe' and private purchases should be avoided are, in my view, unhelpful and insulting to fellow PHers who are trying to sell their cars privately. That is what I object to - remember, fellow enthusiasts come on here asking questions because they believe the PH massive are relative experts in the vehicles they are looking at, and will often take offhand comments as gospel. Dealers are there to make money, nothing more. Private sellers are merely seeking to change the car they drive. For those of us that don't want to part exchange at great financial loss, trading our car in isn't a valid option. In my own personal experience, buying privately and buying from a dealer hasn't made a shred of difference - both are equally likely to have expensive underlying faults, or be utterly immaculate with no work being required. There is plenty of room in the marketplace for both dealer and private.

This'll make you laugh Jeff....... The chap that bought my car on Monday..... had already Dismissed 2 dealer cars as not "good enough"..
On inspecting mine and after me taking him on a 20 mile test drive..... He bought it at just below asking price there and then.
He logged onto my wifi, and by the time I'd made a cuppa the funds were showing in my account

When I asked him why he'd turned his nose up at the other cars... He said they just weren't as good as they should be for the price being asked......
When I asked him what attracted him to mine.... He said it looked better than he expected for the price being asked...

In fact he had a tongue in cheek moan that he had little bargaining power, as he was struggling to find anything to pick on...

A the end of the day I'm just chuffed to bits that the car has gone to someone who'll really appreciate it like I did, he paid a fair price, and I don't feel like I've been shafted.

By the way, when I bought the car, it was a private sale also...... There are private buyers out there, you just have to be realistic on price, and be patient...