First Aston DB9, low mileage - advice please!
Discussion
I'm another recent buyer of my first Aston Martin, a 2007 DB9 coupe, midnight blue paintwork, sandstorm/blue leather, dark blue carpets, and excellent spec (15 spoke alloys, bright grille, Linn 260 audio, stone guards, Diamondbrite paint protection,etc.).
I bought it privately, it had done just over 10,000 miles, one owner from new. I'd been looking for over a year for this spec, and I was told by my local AM franchise dealer that I would never get one, as my requirements were so specific. So, when this one came up, I acted quickly and went to see it the same day after speaking to the owner - who was very helpful. He had a great collection of cars (Ferrari, Jaguar, Morgan etc) and the DB9 had been kept in a Carcoon "bubble" and hardly used. The MOT history showed 2011 8,300 miles, 2012 9,500 miles, 2013 9,700 miles, and 2014 10,400 miles. It had been serviced by Stratstone for the early services and then last year a 40,000 mile service by Aston Martin Works. I was hooked when I saw it, it was immaculate, virtually as new, especially the engine bay. We agreed a price and the owner threw in the Carcoon, battery trickle charger,the 8 months remaining on the tracker service and wrote to AMW to allow them to give me a report on the car, which was very positive.
It did more miles with me driving it home than it had done in many months, since when I've taken it out a few times for a blast, otherwise it has been in my garage waiting for the weather to improve. I've probably done around 500 miles since I got it. I changed the 07 number plate for a dateless V12 #*# arrangement (which some may feel is tacky, but so be it), fitted a Fuse 22 remote relay, and next week I have booked it into AMW again to have the heated seat recall issue fixed, and for a 50,000 mile/5-year service, although it still hasn't done more than 11,000 miles.
So, I'd appreciate any advice regarding what things I should look out for, and perhaps ask AMW to check, on a car which has had such little use. It will soon have had 2 annual AMW services although it has done less than 2,000 miles in those 2 years - how often should it be serviced if the mileage is so low?
I bought it privately, it had done just over 10,000 miles, one owner from new. I'd been looking for over a year for this spec, and I was told by my local AM franchise dealer that I would never get one, as my requirements were so specific. So, when this one came up, I acted quickly and went to see it the same day after speaking to the owner - who was very helpful. He had a great collection of cars (Ferrari, Jaguar, Morgan etc) and the DB9 had been kept in a Carcoon "bubble" and hardly used. The MOT history showed 2011 8,300 miles, 2012 9,500 miles, 2013 9,700 miles, and 2014 10,400 miles. It had been serviced by Stratstone for the early services and then last year a 40,000 mile service by Aston Martin Works. I was hooked when I saw it, it was immaculate, virtually as new, especially the engine bay. We agreed a price and the owner threw in the Carcoon, battery trickle charger,the 8 months remaining on the tracker service and wrote to AMW to allow them to give me a report on the car, which was very positive.
It did more miles with me driving it home than it had done in many months, since when I've taken it out a few times for a blast, otherwise it has been in my garage waiting for the weather to improve. I've probably done around 500 miles since I got it. I changed the 07 number plate for a dateless V12 #*# arrangement (which some may feel is tacky, but so be it), fitted a Fuse 22 remote relay, and next week I have booked it into AMW again to have the heated seat recall issue fixed, and for a 50,000 mile/5-year service, although it still hasn't done more than 11,000 miles.
So, I'd appreciate any advice regarding what things I should look out for, and perhaps ask AMW to check, on a car which has had such little use. It will soon have had 2 annual AMW services although it has done less than 2,000 miles in those 2 years - how often should it be serviced if the mileage is so low?
Edited by Philip0 on Tuesday 9th February 15:42
First of all congrats on your new car, I am sure you will enjoy it 
This comes up quite a lot, but its the same answer whether you do 500 miles or 10,000 miles. The service interval is 1 year or 10,000 miles which ever comes first. So for example, my car has done about 38,000 miles and in November it will have an 80,000 mile service.
The other thing is obviously, if its a keeper or you may sell it in a few years time. If it has a full Aston Service history, and or Aston and Indy service history like yours, then the re-sell will be better with that history. However, if you are keeping it for good, then its down to you. If you are only going to drive it for a few thousand a year, then get it MOT'd every year and serviced every 2, but I wouldn't advocate that way of thinking.
The other thing about checks on the car. Is the car under Aston extended warranty?? If it is you could ask for them to re check it under the warranty, you may not have to pay for the check then. However, if its not under any Aston extended warranty and you want a proper check done, it will cost you for the check as they would do the warranty check and give you a report of the issues if there are any. If there are any outstanding recall jobs (heated seat ect) they should do those while they have it, as it is a recall ect. They should do the fuel cap one if it hasn't already been done. You best ask them about that one.
Best thing to do is drive the car as much as you can
do as many miles as you like, (well up to your insurance yearly mileage limit) get it serviced and MOT'd every year (Aston/Indy your choice) and enjoy it. The thing is these cars really like to be driven.
Well that's my 2 pence worth of advice about that.
There maybe others that have a similar opinion or have other thoughts no doubt.
This comes up quite a lot, but its the same answer whether you do 500 miles or 10,000 miles. The service interval is 1 year or 10,000 miles which ever comes first. So for example, my car has done about 38,000 miles and in November it will have an 80,000 mile service.
The other thing is obviously, if its a keeper or you may sell it in a few years time. If it has a full Aston Service history, and or Aston and Indy service history like yours, then the re-sell will be better with that history. However, if you are keeping it for good, then its down to you. If you are only going to drive it for a few thousand a year, then get it MOT'd every year and serviced every 2, but I wouldn't advocate that way of thinking.
The other thing about checks on the car. Is the car under Aston extended warranty?? If it is you could ask for them to re check it under the warranty, you may not have to pay for the check then. However, if its not under any Aston extended warranty and you want a proper check done, it will cost you for the check as they would do the warranty check and give you a report of the issues if there are any. If there are any outstanding recall jobs (heated seat ect) they should do those while they have it, as it is a recall ect. They should do the fuel cap one if it hasn't already been done. You best ask them about that one.
Best thing to do is drive the car as much as you can
do as many miles as you like, (well up to your insurance yearly mileage limit) get it serviced and MOT'd every year (Aston/Indy your choice) and enjoy it. The thing is these cars really like to be driven.Well that's my 2 pence worth of advice about that.
There maybe others that have a similar opinion or have other thoughts no doubt.
bomberh said:
First of all congrats on your new car, I am sure you will enjoy it
This comes up quite a lot, but its the same answer whether you do 500 miles or 10,000 miles. The service interval is 1 year or 10,000 miles which ever comes first. So for example, my car has done about 38,000 miles and in November it will have an 80,000 mile service.
The other thing is obviously, if its a keeper or you may sell it in a few years time. If it has a full Aston Service history, and or Aston and Indy service history like yours, then the re-sell will be better with that history. However, if you are keeping it for good, then its down to you. If you are only going to drive it for a few thousand a year, then get it MOT'd every year and serviced every 2, but I wouldn't advocate that way of thinking.
The other thing about checks on the car. Is the car under Aston extended warranty?? If it is you could ask for them to re check it under the warranty, you may not have to pay for the check then. However, if its not under any Aston extended warranty and you want a proper check done, it will cost you for the check as they would do the warranty check and give you a report of the issues if there are any. If there are any outstanding recall jobs (heated seat ect) they should do those while they have it, as it is a recall ect. They should do the fuel cap one if it hasn't already been done. You best ask them about that one.
Best thing to do is drive the car as much as you can do as many miles as you like, (well up to your insurance yearly mileage limit) get it serviced and MOT'd every year (Aston/Indy your choice) and enjoy it. The thing is these cars really like to be driven.
Well that's my 2 pence worth of advice about that.
There maybe others that have a similar opinion or have other thoughts no doubt.
Thanks very much for the advice, really helpful. The car isn't under Aston extended warranty - is it worth buying it? Are there significant "known faults" that I should know about? I have Grant's excellent "definitive Buyers' Guide" book, I didn't read anything worrying in that.This comes up quite a lot, but its the same answer whether you do 500 miles or 10,000 miles. The service interval is 1 year or 10,000 miles which ever comes first. So for example, my car has done about 38,000 miles and in November it will have an 80,000 mile service.
The other thing is obviously, if its a keeper or you may sell it in a few years time. If it has a full Aston Service history, and or Aston and Indy service history like yours, then the re-sell will be better with that history. However, if you are keeping it for good, then its down to you. If you are only going to drive it for a few thousand a year, then get it MOT'd every year and serviced every 2, but I wouldn't advocate that way of thinking.
The other thing about checks on the car. Is the car under Aston extended warranty?? If it is you could ask for them to re check it under the warranty, you may not have to pay for the check then. However, if its not under any Aston extended warranty and you want a proper check done, it will cost you for the check as they would do the warranty check and give you a report of the issues if there are any. If there are any outstanding recall jobs (heated seat ect) they should do those while they have it, as it is a recall ect. They should do the fuel cap one if it hasn't already been done. You best ask them about that one.
Best thing to do is drive the car as much as you can
do as many miles as you like, (well up to your insurance yearly mileage limit) get it serviced and MOT'd every year (Aston/Indy your choice) and enjoy it. The thing is these cars really like to be driven.Well that's my 2 pence worth of advice about that.
There maybe others that have a similar opinion or have other thoughts no doubt.
Regarding extended warranty, this is another topic that comes up quite a lot. It all depends on how risk averse you are??
Some prefer to have it (like me), some don’t bother, some put the money they would pay for it aside and use it as a fund. If they don’t use it, they then spend what’s left on something else etc. There are many on here that have varied opinions on this subject.
For me I have it. The reason being in my first year of ownership of my car (from a main dealer) I had loads of issues and the year the dealers initially give you was a God send for me. However, I purchased it in my second year and I’m glad I did as I had a few things that went wrong that needed some attention. But that’s another story.
Like I said depends, some cars go for many years with no issues, some have a few and like mine some have loads. However, my car (touch wood) hasn’t had any issues for some time, (sorry, I had a few things done when it went in for service under my warranty)
The top warranty I have is just over £1,800 and the one below is just over £1,400. It depends what you want covered. If you are interested, you should read the documentation for the two types of Warranty and see what is covered and then make your mind up. (There is also a charge for the check for the warranty) However, there are a few things that even the top warranty doesn’t cover, so it’s not completely fool proof. There are other companies that do extended warranties, but I don’t know much about them, or how much they are or what they cover. There may be someone on here that has one and could give you more information.
You ask “Are there significant "known faults". Not really, Astons are really quite solid and reliable; some people use their cars as daily drives to work etc, so I don’t think there are any. There might be someone on here that might give some advice on this, but generally there isn’t.
You may see things about clutches etc, don’t worry about how long is my clutch going to last….. It’s the ‘how long is a piece of string’ really, I heard of them lasting 80,000-90,000 miles on the original clutch, so don’t worry too much about that.
Hopefully this has helped, no doubt someone else will add to this tread at some point.
Grants book is excellent, and an interesting read, I think I read it about 3 times before I went looking for my car.
Some prefer to have it (like me), some don’t bother, some put the money they would pay for it aside and use it as a fund. If they don’t use it, they then spend what’s left on something else etc. There are many on here that have varied opinions on this subject.
For me I have it. The reason being in my first year of ownership of my car (from a main dealer) I had loads of issues and the year the dealers initially give you was a God send for me. However, I purchased it in my second year and I’m glad I did as I had a few things that went wrong that needed some attention. But that’s another story.
Like I said depends, some cars go for many years with no issues, some have a few and like mine some have loads. However, my car (touch wood) hasn’t had any issues for some time, (sorry, I had a few things done when it went in for service under my warranty)
The top warranty I have is just over £1,800 and the one below is just over £1,400. It depends what you want covered. If you are interested, you should read the documentation for the two types of Warranty and see what is covered and then make your mind up. (There is also a charge for the check for the warranty) However, there are a few things that even the top warranty doesn’t cover, so it’s not completely fool proof. There are other companies that do extended warranties, but I don’t know much about them, or how much they are or what they cover. There may be someone on here that has one and could give you more information.
You ask “Are there significant "known faults". Not really, Astons are really quite solid and reliable; some people use their cars as daily drives to work etc, so I don’t think there are any. There might be someone on here that might give some advice on this, but generally there isn’t.
You may see things about clutches etc, don’t worry about how long is my clutch going to last….. It’s the ‘how long is a piece of string’ really, I heard of them lasting 80,000-90,000 miles on the original clutch, so don’t worry too much about that.
Hopefully this has helped, no doubt someone else will add to this tread at some point.
Grants book is excellent, and an interesting read, I think I read it about 3 times before I went looking for my car.
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Midnight blue - great choice!
The only issue of substance I have heard of is wear in little ends on some pre 2010 V12's. I think it is really really rare and maybe others know more as I do not want to unsettle anyone, but if there is substance to this then best to know. A trained ear will be able to hear little end tapping noise. I think Mike of BR has mentioned it in the big BR thread.
Now you must drive and enjoy her - if only to reduce the cost per mile! I'm on mile 4100 of my 5000 mile insurance limit as I cant keep my hands off her - so the notion of only 300 miles per month for the next 3 months is a bit miserable.
The only issue of substance I have heard of is wear in little ends on some pre 2010 V12's. I think it is really really rare and maybe others know more as I do not want to unsettle anyone, but if there is substance to this then best to know. A trained ear will be able to hear little end tapping noise. I think Mike of BR has mentioned it in the big BR thread.
Now you must drive and enjoy her - if only to reduce the cost per mile! I'm on mile 4100 of my 5000 mile insurance limit as I cant keep my hands off her - so the notion of only 300 miles per month for the next 3 months is a bit miserable.
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