Discussion
I had a chat with someone a few weeks ago about the service history on a car that I was looking at. Anyone else heard the term "Golden Ticket"? The reference was to about £16k worth of work that was done to a Vantage over a 12mth period. Timing cover seals, front headlamp replacements, clutch, ecu and a full engine rebuild! on a 7 year old car. In the end I was a bit spooked, but what would you think (owners?) about taking on a car with that history, is it a Friday car or the car thats had it all done and worth getting a deal on or is that the norm for a Vantage :-) It had covered nearly a third of its mileage since having all that work.
Well that depends on who did the work but what doesn't make sense to me is "Timing cover seals" and "full engine rebuild" as I suspect the latter would include the former.
I agree that this would be most unusual however. If I were considering this car I would talk directly to the garage that did the work AND get a full independent inspection by a good Indy. May be a great buy but may not be depending on why and how the work was done.
I agree that this would be most unusual however. If I were considering this car I would talk directly to the garage that did the work AND get a full independent inspection by a good Indy. May be a great buy but may not be depending on why and how the work was done.
I would definately get an Aston dealer to tell you what history they know and if it is an Aston dealer telling you this then ask another also.
As speedraiser says 16k without AM contribution is low esp if engine came out twice or even 3 times with clutch.
Lights, timing covers etc are pretty common place but ECU not so much.
Track car? (Clutch/ engine/ ECU.)
Golden ticket NO.
Worth buying if checked out super thoroughly? Possibly.
As speedraiser says 16k without AM contribution is low esp if engine came out twice or even 3 times with clutch.
Lights, timing covers etc are pretty common place but ECU not so much.
Track car? (Clutch/ engine/ ECU.)
Golden ticket NO.
Worth buying if checked out super thoroughly? Possibly.
I think a "great buy" is a bit of a pipe dream with most high performance marks I have owned in the past. From what i've read the Vantage is going to be a journey. But I've managed to get all of the detailed history right back to supplying dealer and full disclosure on the "golden ticket" works from a very reputable independent specialist. The clutch plate, flywheel and release bearings and timing cover seals were done together and weren't part of the the engine re-build, which was due to an ECU fault leading to constant fuelling and the impact of that. Its done 7k since then with frequent use (nearly a third of its lifetime mileage) so fingers crossed?
Clutch / flywheel ~ £3.5k
Headlights ~ £2.5k
Timing cover ~ £500
So 6-7k. Rest for ecu and engine rebuild? Not heard of any other ECU failures. Possible I suppose. Had someone tried tuning via the ECU?
Why did it need a new clutch so early in it's life?
Would be enough to question how well it was looked after by previous owner(s)
Headlights ~ £2.5k
Timing cover ~ £500
So 6-7k. Rest for ecu and engine rebuild? Not heard of any other ECU failures. Possible I suppose. Had someone tried tuning via the ECU?
Why did it need a new clutch so early in it's life?
Would be enough to question how well it was looked after by previous owner(s)
I would be inclined to look for one that hasn’t had any issues, as you may find it difficult to sell in the future. Many people wouldn’t consider a car that’s had a ‘golden ticket’. Wasn’t that Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?
There should be plenty of near perfect example of that age available.
There should be plenty of near perfect example of that age available.
Personally, I would be put off by the amount of work it has needed. As others have said, it may be hard to move on when your time comes to sell it.
Strange way to sell a car thats had a significant amount spent on it and not for upgrades yet if this was main dealer or a local specialist then it's still looks cheap for the work undertaken. A clutch alone is nearly £4k so that a Quarter of the total spent! I know my local specialist will charge £2.5k for the timing chest seal. Head lights are £1500 a pop.
Strange way to sell a car thats had a significant amount spent on it and not for upgrades yet if this was main dealer or a local specialist then it's still looks cheap for the work undertaken. A clutch alone is nearly £4k so that a Quarter of the total spent! I know my local specialist will charge £2.5k for the timing chest seal. Head lights are £1500 a pop.
As I corrected myself above the clutch plate, flywheel and release bearings and timing cover seals and headlights were done in the course of ownership and all checkout, including the amounts paid (so not included in the now many times repeated 16k rebuild figure).
There is the remaining question as to why a clutch and seals were needed at such low miles of course! Likely a few owners, possibly someone who liked a track day?
I was interested to gauge reaction from existing owners to this prior to buying. The early 4.7s are now over 10 years old and we will undoubtably see more of these having major works performed and will be more common amongst the stock.
Both private and trade don't want to mitigate pricing on cars at around 30-40k miles that haven't seen any clutch or any major work and yet it seems clear that a clutch (and now I learn timing cover seals) are going to be required inside a few years ownership. So take your top price vehicle and add another 4k if your buying. You might get a years warranty.
This car has had it all done and more if you include the engine peripherals in the re-build, BUT I am mindful of what BiggaJ, Phil74891, Neil1300r say about being put off - so I gave this one a swerve.
I do wonder though who knows all this detail about their car. The one being discussed was last sold through a reputable performance car specialist (not an Aston Martin Specialist or Dealer I hasten to add). Sold for top money, undisclosed and the owner (hope they aren't here!) is breezing around in it seemingly unaware.
There is the remaining question as to why a clutch and seals were needed at such low miles of course! Likely a few owners, possibly someone who liked a track day?
I was interested to gauge reaction from existing owners to this prior to buying. The early 4.7s are now over 10 years old and we will undoubtably see more of these having major works performed and will be more common amongst the stock.
Both private and trade don't want to mitigate pricing on cars at around 30-40k miles that haven't seen any clutch or any major work and yet it seems clear that a clutch (and now I learn timing cover seals) are going to be required inside a few years ownership. So take your top price vehicle and add another 4k if your buying. You might get a years warranty.
This car has had it all done and more if you include the engine peripherals in the re-build, BUT I am mindful of what BiggaJ, Phil74891, Neil1300r say about being put off - so I gave this one a swerve.
I do wonder though who knows all this detail about their car. The one being discussed was last sold through a reputable performance car specialist (not an Aston Martin Specialist or Dealer I hasten to add). Sold for top money, undisclosed and the owner (hope they aren't here!) is breezing around in it seemingly unaware.
Hi Andrew, re who knows what has been done to their car: I made a comment on another thread about buying a car and checking its history.
Many cars now will not come with a file of bills etc. due to GDPR laws however, the stamps in the service book will lead new owners to various dealers/Specialists and I found that most will offer some help when tracking down what work has been done to your car. I have emails from a few dealers happy to disclose in writing the work carried out other than routine servicing.
I, like many I'm sure now keep a file full of the work that my car has had and still gets done. I hope one day to help a prospective buyer see how carefully my car has been looked after.
Many cars now will not come with a file of bills etc. due to GDPR laws however, the stamps in the service book will lead new owners to various dealers/Specialists and I found that most will offer some help when tracking down what work has been done to your car. I have emails from a few dealers happy to disclose in writing the work carried out other than routine servicing.
I, like many I'm sure now keep a file full of the work that my car has had and still gets done. I hope one day to help a prospective buyer see how carefully my car has been looked after.
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