I've had it 24 hours...2 electrical faults?

I've had it 24 hours...2 electrical faults?

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Discussion

stompboxx

Original Poster:

309 posts

187 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
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So I've had my 2008 V8 Vantage Roadster for 24 hours...already 2 faults...not a great start.

The problems are:

- the iPod system appears to have completely crashed. It will not sync to the iPod, and the system is stuck on Track 46, though nothing plays. You cannot access the iPod menus. Yesterday it was fine. CD / Radio both working perfectly. I switched the car off for a few hours, turned the iPod off on and again...still there.

- There is a high pitch electrical squeal coming from the drivers side dash...almost as if the little 'ding' that tells you to put your seat belt on is 'crying'...it's intermittent and annoying as hell...

Can anyone help with either of these, or is a trip back to the dealer? Covered under warranty but I thought I'd get a bit further than 1 day before needing to take it back...

clorenzen

3,689 posts

237 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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Mostly it is a case of the vehicle not having been used for a while. When voltage drops all sorts of funny things start to appear. Have it looked over by the dealer and then take it for a long drive and use it regularly would be my advice. Good luck with the vehicle.

mikey k

13,014 posts

218 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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Has the ipod locked up?
Could try a battery disconnect and reconnect using the buttons to reset everything?

sharky67

153 posts

175 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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The joys of owning an Aston Martin.... Its only just begun...

What you need is a excel spreadsheet so everyday you can list the faults and get them repaired once a month..

sharky

Murph7355

37,944 posts

258 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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mikey k said:
Has the ipod locked up?
Could try a battery disconnect and reconnect using the buttons to reset everything?
That's what I'd try (car battery reset).

You'll need to reset all the other systems on the car (seats etc). Do a search on here as it's been covered before, or if not comfy with it, pop down to your dealer smile

mikey k

13,014 posts

218 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
I'd also look at firm ware compatibility on the ipod with the AM system.
This catches out quite a few ipod kits

997GT3

3,135 posts

216 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
sharky67 said:
The joys of owning an Aston Martin.... Its only just begun...

What you need is a excel spreadsheet so everyday you can list the faults and get them repaired once a month..

sharky
I've had four Porsches covering the last 15 years but feel it will soon be time to try another manufacturer. As you may be able to tell from my presence on here over the last 9 months or so, it could well be AM i turn to next.

But comments like the above, maybe in jest - who knows, and not the first ones i've read from other AM owners, really does make me wonder about the marque!

I love the looks, i love the sound, i've not driven an AM yet but sat in a couple, I'm very concerned about depreciation, i'm worried about reliability!

Thank you....carry on wink

Murph7355

37,944 posts

258 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
997GT3 said:
...
But comments like the above, maybe in jest - who knows, and not the first ones i've read from other AM owners, really does make me wonder about the marque!...
You have to read all you can and decide on the balance in what you read. Remember that people are prone to noting when things go wrong far more than when they go right...and what constitutes a major issue for some, may be a minor irritant to others.

A few people have had some bad experiences with newer AMs. But then equally, many have had fantastic experiences (self included).

Perhaps a better example would be to look at the comments made about 911s...I'd never buy one judging by some of the comments I read. But they are fine machines and one day I'm sure I'll have a go with one smile

btw, if you're concerned about depreciation, don't buy a sports car!

WantanewV12V

580 posts

204 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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997GT3 said:
sharky67 said:
The joys of owning an Aston Martin.... Its only just begun...

What you need is a excel spreadsheet so everyday you can list the faults and get them repaired once a month..

sharky
I've had four Porsches covering the last 15 years but feel it will soon be time to try another manufacturer. As you may be able to tell from my presence on here over the last 9 months or so, it could well be AM i turn to next.

But comments like the above, maybe in jest - who knows, and not the first ones i've read from other AM owners, really does make me wonder about the marque!

I love the looks, i love the sound, i've not driven an AM yet but sat in a couple, I'm very concerned about depreciation, i'm worried about reliability!

Thank you....carry on wink
Like Clorenzen says :- if you are buying a car because you want to drive it the AM's are seen as reliable cars. A new one often has a few minor niggles due, I think, to the hand finished nature of the cars but these are normally sorted quickly and fully by the supplying dealer. Thats been my experience with both the N400 and the V12V, both cars driven as my main car with back up only used for railway car parking, the very worst of the winter and occasional forays in to city centres when I am not sure of parking. If you want a weekend/summertime only car then I would be more wary. The only new porsche that you can be reasonably certain of seemingly defying depreciation for a period following launch is the GT3 or GT3RS otherwise I think that they are generally comparable with AM's.

997GT3

3,135 posts

216 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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Murph/Wantanew - great responses - thanks! Yes, i agree, quite often the Porsche forum can also give the impression that all modern Porsches are all going to fail imminently smile
Depreciation costs/concerns are relative to earnings imo - lost £1500 pa on my 944s2 which at the time was alot but now would be more than acceptable. My 993 dropped £2500pa which was just ok. My current GT3 has probably dropped £8000pa since purchased from new. But i also think if buying new you should keep for at least 5 years because the fall in value lessons over time.

However, a 997 Turbo looked at recently even after 18 months is still expected to drop at least a further 20k over the next 2 years. The V8V also tends to have similar depreciation issues as the 997T.

That is why, possibly, the V12V is the way forward. Assuming values drop to 90k at some point then this is when the price to purchase will be right as i dont think they would then continue rapidly down to £60k given their exclusivity!

The point about hand built cars and initial brand new 'niggles' is spot on and agree entirely that probably after a few months use these would disappear.

Wantanew - i'm interested in your comments about a "spare" runaround, used when the area/journey is not desirable in a V12V. Is this your own second car? Is it just a cheap, naff everyday car that sits around doing nothing most of the time? Is this the most sensible solution when owning a V12V?

Rgs Phil

WantanewV12V

580 posts

204 months

Saturday 12th June 2010
quotequote all
997GT3 said:
Murph/Wantanew - great responses - thanks! Yes, i agree, quite often the Porsche forum can also give the impression that all modern Porsches are all going to fail imminently smile
Depreciation costs/concerns are relative to earnings imo - lost £1500 pa on my 944s2 which at the time was alot but now would be more than acceptable. My 993 dropped £2500pa which was just ok. My current GT3 has probably dropped £8000pa since purchased from new. But i also think if buying new you should keep for at least 5 years because the fall in value lessons over time.

However, a 997 Turbo looked at recently even after 18 months is still expected to drop at least a further 20k over the next 2 years. The V8V also tends to have similar depreciation issues as the 997T.

That is why, possibly, the V12V is the way forward. Assuming values drop to 90k at some point then this is when the price to purchase will be right as i dont think they would then continue rapidly down to £60k given their exclusivity!

The point about hand built cars and initial brand new 'niggles' is spot on and agree entirely that probably after a few months use these would disappear.

Wantanew - i'm interested in your comments about a "spare" runaround, used when the area/journey is not desirable in a V12V. Is this your own second car? Is it just a cheap, naff everyday car that sits around doing nothing most of the time? Is this the most sensible solution when owning a V12V?

Rgs Phil
You can see from my profile that I have a landrover freelander which can suffer as many dents, bumps, winter salt, child seats with grandchildren and sweets that the roads and other drivers can throw at it. My only satisfaction in owning one is that I don't have to worry about it for trips to the dump, shops, railway stations etc. It does a fantastic job.

However the car that I drive the most is the V12V. I use it for work and for pleasure. I also have the occasional bit of fun in my wifes VX220 Turbo but it is only the occasional drive as she uses that as her daily drive and loves it - summer and winter.

Ultimately what you choose to have as a second vehicle will be determined by your lifestyle, what you can afford, and whether or not you truly intend to drive the AM as your main car. I wouldn't choose any other car for that role. As said in other threads the V12V has now banished the GT3/GT3RS from my thoughts and IMHO, the understated nature of AM's is far more preferable to Lambo or Ferrari ownership for everyday use. I hesitated from moving (and didn't) from a C4S to a V8V, choose the N400 to replace my GT3 but within 12 months was besotted by the V12V which overcame the niggle, that whilst I loved the N400, I missed the rawness of the GT3. Not any longer. I of course hope that the V12V never goes down to £90k - on the other hand I know that it will but I don't care because I intend to keep it!

steve_amv8

1,890 posts

212 months

Saturday 12th June 2010
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I've had two V8s, both from new, a MY06 4.3 (had for two years) and a MY08 N400 (which I still have). No issues whatsoever with either car.


Edited by steve_amv8 on Saturday 12th June 11:33