Aston Main Dealer vs Specialist

[Harold29]

Owning a Vantage V12 manual has been an absolute joy. I'm fastidious about the car but always ensure it's driven how its supposed to, relatively often and quickly!

It's a 2012 plate and I've always found on slightly older cars (essentially not brand new) that specialists are more aligned to the car, what I'd like done and are at a more attractive price point.

Then again, using an Aston main dealer gives the provenance in the service book when (or if!) I ever come to sell.

General thoughts on main dealer vs a specialist?

[Caslad]

Depends on who the main dealer or specialist is, and whether you’re looking after the car for yourself or a future buyer.

[LordBretSinclair]

On a 14 year old car as long as it has been serviced regularly it will make no difference to the "provenance" whether main dealer or specialist.

[ds666]

I have the same and use a specialist . I've tended to find that as the cars get older the specialists tend to know more about them than the dealers ( presumably as when older more people use the specialists) .

[Phil74891]

At that age I would go specialist, that’s if you have a respected one in your general area.

I use a specialist for my 2014 V12S, it’s a keeper so I’m not cencerned about having main dealer stamps in the service book.

Much better service too, if you forgive the pun…..

[BiggaJ]

It's specialist for me however, am lucky enough to have several well respected ones all within 30 mins drive, some 3 mins away. They will still stamp the service book and carry all the required tech kit.

[Harold29]

Thank you all for the comments. Pleased that the general consensus reinforced my gut instinct and experience to go with a specialist. I've used Nicholas Mee in the past who were excellent and will most likely now go back! Happy driving

[DH 67 AML]

I am going through exactly the same thought process with my 12 year old V12 Vantage, which has a complete dealer service history. It feels like quite a big decision, particularly as it needs to get through the MOT with the "adjusted" emissions system, which the dealer has always permitted. Could anyone recommend specialists in the South West (Cotswolds, Bristol etc) area?

[Dewi 2]

DH 67 AML said:

I am going through exactly the same thought process with my 12 year old V12 Vantage, which has a complete dealer service history. It feels like quite a big decision, particularly as it needs to get through the MOT with the "adjusted" emissions system, which the dealer has always permitted. Could anyone recommend specialists in the South West (Cotswolds, Bristol etc) area?

I am not a customer (don't live near), but David Appleby Engineering, Wellington, Somerset have a good reputation.
As well as road cars, they prepare race cars, so to achieve good results on track considerable knowlege is required.

[phumy]

DH 67 AML said:

I am going through exactly the same thought process with my 12 year old V12 Vantage, which has a complete dealer service history. It feels like quite a big decision, particularly as it needs to get through the MOT with the "adjusted" emissions system, which the dealer has always permitted. Could anyone recommend specialists in the South West (Cotswolds, Bristol etc) area?

I had a 2014 V12S until last week, its gone now, sold on, but i used to use Bristol Aston Martin until i got messed around by them, they left a real bad taste in my moth so decided to go Indie. I found DAE down in Wellington, close to Taunton and was bowled over by their level of service and quality of work and of course theyre also not so heavy on costs either. A fantastic service from them and would recommend them to anyone else in the South West Region all day and every day.

[turbobloke]

DH 67 AML said:

I am going through exactly the same thought process with my 12 year old V12 Vantage, which has a complete dealer service history. It feels like quite a big decision, particularly as it needs to get through the MOT with the "adjusted" emissions system, which the dealer has always permitted. Could anyone recommend specialists in the South West (Cotswolds, Bristol etc) area?

I've had good experiences from H R Owen specialist cars, Cheltenham, though it's with a Continental GT not an Aston Martin. As they regularly have Astons in, and sit next to an Aston Martin dealership (sales) I've seen a lot of classic and later Aston Martins in their workshop, also McLarens. They have a convenient location for motorway access.

[ds666]

DH 67 AML said:

I am going through exactly the same thought process with my 12 year old V12 Vantage, which has a complete dealer service history. It feels like quite a big decision, particularly as it needs to get through the MOT with the "adjusted" emissions system, which the dealer has always permitted. Could anyone recommend specialists in the South West (Cotswolds, Bristol etc) area?

What’s the “adjusted “ emissions system ?

[Jon39]

ds666 said:

What’s the “adjusted “ emissions system ?

I am sure it must be one of the new buzz words, purposely used to create mystery about what is going on.

Others now in popular use include;

Digital Motorway ( There is no hard shoulder, but we needed a new name, because politicians stopped the construction of Smart Motorways, following many deaths and bad press. )

Net-Zero ( You can still create pollution, so long as you plant some trees as well. If for example pollution is 10 and the trees absorb
10, then 10-10=Zero. QED. Happy days, target met. )

Sustainability ( The original meaning no longer applies, but your boss will give you a gold star every time that you can use the word.
What it now means, has become a mystery. )

[DH 67 AML]

Sorry, should have been precise. It has had the primary cats removed before my time and the emissions light is almost always showing.

[LTP]

DH 67 AML said:

Sorry, should have been precise. It has had the primary cats removed before my time and the emissions light is almost always showing.

So how do you get it through the MOT? The test manual says:

8.2.1.2. Gaseous emissions
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (engine management light or ‘EML’).Turn on the ignition and check that the engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminates and then goes off (my emphasis). On some vehicles it will be necessary to start the engine before the MIL goes off.
You need to inspect MIL fitted to petrol vehicles including hybrids with 4 or more wheels, not more than 8 passenger seats in addition to the driver’s seat and first used on or after 1 July 2003

[Jon39]

DH 67 AML said:

Sorry, should have been precise. It has had the primary cats removed before my time and the emissions light is almost always showing.

Certainly no need for an apology DH.

We understood what you meant, but the humour began on the basis that you might have purposely used the word 'adjusted', instead of de-catted, because of the other topics running at the moment. Some seem to be intimating that we will all be arrested, unless the exhaust system is exactly original, which of course is ridiculous.

You mentioned your 'emissions light is almost always showing' and also 'needs to get through the MOT with the "adjusted" emissions system, which the dealer has always permitted'.
If your main dealer does their own MoTs at their premises, they must have an employee officially authorised to carry out MoTs.
I would doubt that person would not act correctly, if they saw an engine warning light on. It could be the end of their MoT licence.
Perhaps the light has never been on at the time of testing.

There might not be many idependent specialists who do their own MoTs, so if I were you, I would talk to a selected specialist about the matter, before a test is arranged.

Enjoy your car. A wonderful model and it sounds to be very well cared for. I don't think continuous main dealer stamps means as much as main dealers might suggest. Many of our cars are now over ten years old and the very best ones are easy to spot.

[ds666]

DH 67 AML said:

Sorry, should have been precise. It has had the primary cats removed before my time and the emissions light is almost always showing.

That's a pity - can't you get the light coded out ? I'm sure that is work some of the garages do when they delete the cats.
I presume it has secondary cats ? ( I have primary but not secondary ).

[ram_g]

Jon39 said:

I am sure it must be one of the new buzz words, purposely used to create mystery about what is going on.

Others now in popular use include;

Digital Motorway ( There is no hard shoulder, but we needed a new name, because politicians stopped the construction of Smart Motorways, following many deaths and bad press. )

Net-Zero ( You can still create pollution, so long as you plant some trees as well. If for example pollution is 10 and the trees absorb
10, then 10-10=Zero. QED. Happy days, target met. )

Sustainability ( The original meaning no longer applies, but your boss will give you a gold star every time that you can use the word.
What it now means, has become a mystery. )

You're forgetting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Clearly Aston Martin were ahead of their time as selling the Cygnet along with the DBS or V12V surely illustrates that they were masters at DE&I long before it became popular!