Aston Martin Vanquish as a Daily Driver?
Discussion
Hi Everyone!
Thank you for taking the time to look at my post.
I currently drive a used Maserati GranTurismo as a daily driver and love it. I drive about 90 miles a day and about 12k miles per year and haven't had any major issues with it so far.
I really LOVE how the Aston Martin Vanquish looks. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
I was thinking about maybe getting a used one of these for my next DD (would love a convertible). I am open to any year.
What do you guys think? How reliable are vanquishes in general? Are there any super expensive fixes you would have to drop several thousand to fix at one time?
I have an indy mechanic who works on exotic cars and is not expensive at all compared to the dealer.
Do you think $5,000 per year on maintenance/fixes would be a reasonable budget?
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to look at my post.
I currently drive a used Maserati GranTurismo as a daily driver and love it. I drive about 90 miles a day and about 12k miles per year and haven't had any major issues with it so far.
I really LOVE how the Aston Martin Vanquish looks. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
I was thinking about maybe getting a used one of these for my next DD (would love a convertible). I am open to any year.
What do you guys think? How reliable are vanquishes in general? Are there any super expensive fixes you would have to drop several thousand to fix at one time?
I have an indy mechanic who works on exotic cars and is not expensive at all compared to the dealer.
Do you think $5,000 per year on maintenance/fixes would be a reasonable budget?
Thank you
Sadly I only do circa 2,500 miles PA so mine is mainly an annual service at just under £1k. Consumables will depend on your driving style. Tyres every 3 years perhaps.
Not sure you will ever be able to buy a convertible in the UK for £50k, have a look at the classifieds on here. Are you UK based as if not might be more cars in your home country.
Not sure you will ever be able to buy a convertible in the UK for £50k, have a look at the classifieds on here. Are you UK based as if not might be more cars in your home country.
I did it and enjoyed it. It's a very easy car to drive every day. Sufficient luggage space and you can even squeeze people in the back for short journeys.
My only problem was car parks where you couldn't see the kerbs. Just had to be very careful. I only had one bad issue but that was a terrible parisian car park.
The car can be very docile if needed.
My only problem was car parks where you couldn't see the kerbs. Just had to be very careful. I only had one bad issue but that was a terrible parisian car park.
The car can be very docile if needed.
amanu1 said:
I did it and enjoyed it. It's a very easy car to drive every day. Sufficient luggage space and you can even squeeze people in the back for short journeys.
My only problem was car parks where you couldn't see the kerbs. Just had to be very careful. I only had one bad issue but that was a terrible parisian car park.
The car can be very docile if needed.
i'm surprised how docile they can be, the best of both worlds. Sublimely quiet motorway cruiser to thunderous noise, depending on your foot position...My only problem was car parks where you couldn't see the kerbs. Just had to be very careful. I only had one bad issue but that was a terrible parisian car park.
The car can be very docile if needed.
amanu1 said:
I did it and enjoyed it. It's a very easy car to drive every day. Sufficient luggage space and you can even squeeze people in the back for short journeys.
My only problem was car parks where you couldn't see the kerbs. Just had to be very careful. I only had one bad issue but that was a terrible parisian car park.
The car can be very docile if needed.
Awesome - thank you for your input!My only problem was car parks where you couldn't see the kerbs. Just had to be very careful. I only had one bad issue but that was a terrible parisian car park.
The car can be very docile if needed.
How reliable was the car for you? How many miles did you drive it per year?
Bought it with 8k miles and sold with almost 40k over about 5 years. I travel a lot so the car could be left for months at a time.
You could leave the car for two months without any issue and it would start immediately. Otherwise it may have needed a jump start. I only had to replace the battery once.
Mechanically the car was great. Never let me down.
The electronics were a different matter but never stranded me. First off, the sat nav is rubbish and I never used it. Bluetooth was great for music and OK on phone calls but I used a headset on motorways and for long/important calls.
I'd get the occasional random warning but it would go away after a few days and I'd ignore them. Occasionally the speakers would get out of sync - one would go the other way to the others but radio still worked fine.
Only once did I have to take it to a dealer and that was immediately after a service. They did something that left the passenger seat stuck full forward. Another dealer sorted it within an hour and gave it a nice wash which I suspect took longer than the fix. This was the servicing dealer's fault though.
Oh. Undo the emergency boot release as twice my luggage moved and pulled it so the boot wouldn't then open. Fix to that was brake really really hard. Make sure no one is behind you!
You could leave the car for two months without any issue and it would start immediately. Otherwise it may have needed a jump start. I only had to replace the battery once.
Mechanically the car was great. Never let me down.
The electronics were a different matter but never stranded me. First off, the sat nav is rubbish and I never used it. Bluetooth was great for music and OK on phone calls but I used a headset on motorways and for long/important calls.
I'd get the occasional random warning but it would go away after a few days and I'd ignore them. Occasionally the speakers would get out of sync - one would go the other way to the others but radio still worked fine.
Only once did I have to take it to a dealer and that was immediately after a service. They did something that left the passenger seat stuck full forward. Another dealer sorted it within an hour and gave it a nice wash which I suspect took longer than the fix. This was the servicing dealer's fault though.
Oh. Undo the emergency boot release as twice my luggage moved and pulled it so the boot wouldn't then open. Fix to that was brake really really hard. Make sure no one is behind you!
Edited by amanu1 on Tuesday 22 August 08:24
Edited by amanu1 on Tuesday 22 August 08:33
amanu1 said:
Bought it with 8k miles and sold with almost 40k over about 5 years. I travel a lot so the car could be left for months at a time.
You could leave the car for two months without any issue and it would start immediately. Otherwise it may have needed a jump start. I only had to replace the battery once.
Mechanically the car was great. Never let me down.
The electronics were a different matter but never stranded me. First off, the sat nav is rubbish and I never used it. Bluetooth was great for music and OK on phone calls but I used a headset on motorways and for long/important calls.
I'd get the occasional random warning but it would go away after a few days and I'd ignore them. Occasionally the speakers would get out of sync - one would go the other way to the others but radio still worked fine.
Only once did I have to take it to a dealer and that was immediately after a service. They did something that left the passenger seat stuck full forward. Another dealer sorted it within an hour and gave it a nice wash which I suspect took longer than the fix. This was the servicing dealer's fault though.
Oh. Undo the emergency boot release as twice my luggage moved and pulled it so the boot wouldn't then open. Fix to that was brake really really hard. Make sure no one is behind you!
Thank you so much for the amazing information - so thorough. Sounds like an amazing DD. How many miles in your informed opinion do you think the car could last if maintained properly? Also is the comfort level high in the car? Looking forward to your response.You could leave the car for two months without any issue and it would start immediately. Otherwise it may have needed a jump start. I only had to replace the battery once.
Mechanically the car was great. Never let me down.
The electronics were a different matter but never stranded me. First off, the sat nav is rubbish and I never used it. Bluetooth was great for music and OK on phone calls but I used a headset on motorways and for long/important calls.
I'd get the occasional random warning but it would go away after a few days and I'd ignore them. Occasionally the speakers would get out of sync - one would go the other way to the others but radio still worked fine.
Only once did I have to take it to a dealer and that was immediately after a service. They did something that left the passenger seat stuck full forward. Another dealer sorted it within an hour and gave it a nice wash which I suspect took longer than the fix. This was the servicing dealer's fault though.
Oh. Undo the emergency boot release as twice my luggage moved and pulled it so the boot wouldn't then open. Fix to that was brake really really hard. Make sure no one is behind you!
Edited by amanu1 on Tuesday 22 August 08:24
Edited by amanu1 on Tuesday 22 August 08:33
amanu1 said:
Oh. Undo the emergency boot release as twice my luggage moved and pulled it so the boot wouldn't then open. Fix to that was brake really really hard. Make sure no one is behind you!
Just tape it down with duct tape. Always makes me smile when I think back to when mine was semi pulled, boot wouldn’t open, and AM service’s advice was essentially (and paraphrasing slightly) to drive it like I’d stolen it to shift the luggage a bit.
I ran mine daily for a while (unless it was deep snow) and it worked well. Boot is surprisingly spacious and practical.
I've had my 2015 for nearly 2 years and apart from services and the fitting of Carplay, it's been perfect.
Lots of local short journeys and eight journeys of nearly 600 miles each. Long journeys return really good MPG too.
It's a fabulous cruiser and a smile a mile which sounds glorious when you give it some.
As for looks, it's in a class of it's own, sheer beauty.
Lots of local short journeys and eight journeys of nearly 600 miles each. Long journeys return really good MPG too.
It's a fabulous cruiser and a smile a mile which sounds glorious when you give it some.
As for looks, it's in a class of it's own, sheer beauty.
OP as you are in the US please check the cost of extended warranty (should you want one) and servicing.
Unlike the UK, the US for AM customers seems a very different proposition. Whilst a newer model in the new vantage I am seeing a number of US owners getting severely stung on every cost where it goes near a dealer.
A single service on the Vantage I have seen quoted as $3k (not sure what level mind), US owners were gobsmacked to discover we were getting 5 yrs servicing for free on DB11/DBS and Vantages.
On warranties some have been quoted as high as $10k for some Vantage owners. It might be different on the Vanquish, but it seems UK owners get far less stung on servicing/warranties than in the US.
Unlike the UK, the US for AM customers seems a very different proposition. Whilst a newer model in the new vantage I am seeing a number of US owners getting severely stung on every cost where it goes near a dealer.
A single service on the Vantage I have seen quoted as $3k (not sure what level mind), US owners were gobsmacked to discover we were getting 5 yrs servicing for free on DB11/DBS and Vantages.
On warranties some have been quoted as high as $10k for some Vantage owners. It might be different on the Vanquish, but it seems UK owners get far less stung on servicing/warranties than in the US.
Edited by Ninja59 on Friday 25th August 08:48
manu100 said:
Thank you so much for the amazing information - so thorough. Sounds like an amazing DD. How many miles in your informed opinion do you think the car could last if maintained properly? Also is the comfort level high in the car? Looking forward to your response.
The car's interior and mechanics were fine at the end. The car was serviced annually whatever the mileage and other than infrequent washes and pumping up the tyres (which my car needed every now and then. Made a huge difference to to handling.) was left alone. Replaced the tyres once. I got all the marks taken out after a few years as I wanted it to look nice again. Unfortunately that's just a cost of parking a low car in cities. Wheels I just left as I knew I'd kerb them again.
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