Advice on a Vantage that has been laid up.
Discussion
This is my first post as I am looking to buy my first AM Vantage.
I have seen a car that I am interested in, that is immaculate and has low mileage.
I understand that the car was SORN from 2014 - 18, then serviced recently by AM Main Dealer. Should I be alarmed?, should a car be prepared to be laid up and should the service afterwards be a recommissioning one, instead of a usual service?. I don't not know full details about the period of SORN yet. Is there anything I should be asking or concerned about.
I also understand that the car had the clutch replaced at 11K miles, which seems very low, would that be down to bad driving?
I have seen a car that I am interested in, that is immaculate and has low mileage.
I understand that the car was SORN from 2014 - 18, then serviced recently by AM Main Dealer. Should I be alarmed?, should a car be prepared to be laid up and should the service afterwards be a recommissioning one, instead of a usual service?. I don't not know full details about the period of SORN yet. Is there anything I should be asking or concerned about.
I also understand that the car had the clutch replaced at 11K miles, which seems very low, would that be down to bad driving?
If it's been stored indoors or under a good cover then I wouldn't be too worried, especially as it's been serviced.
Likely problems would be out of round tyres (flat spots) which would be immediately noticeable when driving, and things like sticking hand/foot brake calipers, but again the service should have picked these things up and rectified them.
There could be many reasons for the SORN, maybe the owner was working abroad, or just didn't drive it often enough, sadly some people become so protective of their cars that they don't want to actually drive them and spend all their time in a runabout instead.
11000 miles is low for a clutch but not unheard of, again it depends how the car was used, if it involved constant uphill reversing from a parking spot up a steep drive for example it could have goosed the clutch within that mileage, this is due to the Vantage having a very tall reverse gear meaning the clutch gets a hard time in those circumstances.
Likely problems would be out of round tyres (flat spots) which would be immediately noticeable when driving, and things like sticking hand/foot brake calipers, but again the service should have picked these things up and rectified them.
There could be many reasons for the SORN, maybe the owner was working abroad, or just didn't drive it often enough, sadly some people become so protective of their cars that they don't want to actually drive them and spend all their time in a runabout instead.
11000 miles is low for a clutch but not unheard of, again it depends how the car was used, if it involved constant uphill reversing from a parking spot up a steep drive for example it could have goosed the clutch within that mileage, this is due to the Vantage having a very tall reverse gear meaning the clutch gets a hard time in those circumstances.
Edited by Manx V8V on Sunday 16th December 11:21
Personally, I wouldn't touch it but that is just my opinion. Vantages seem to run very reliably when used regularly but not so well when not. I suspect the problems with this car will only become apparent once someone starts using it again. Would I be reassured by a recent main dealer service? No.
Was it really off the road continuously for between 4 and 5 years?
If so, the difficulty is not being able to ever know how it was looked after, during such a lengthy period of non-use.
Using the right techniques to store a Vantage for 5 or 6 months during each winter, has not caused any problems for me, but I would not even think about buying an extremely long-term 'lay-up', particularly a car as complex as an AM.
A low mileage car can be a tempting buy, but the best ones have been in use every year, and have avoided short journeys with a cold engine. How can buyers ever know though?
Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 16th December 21:02
Just had a thought. Could this be the car that was used on the BOTB stand at Birmingham airport for several years but has gone now? I'm pretty sure it was Lightning Silver and had Lightweight seats. Rare and nice spec for a standard V8V. I would still be very nervous if I were to be the first owner after this period of non-use but If someone else had owned it and driven it for 6-12 months since then they might have ironed out all the problems so it may be worth a gamble.
On the subject of needing a clutch after 11K miles, I think that's likely down to poor driving irrespective of reversing up hill. You can use the anti-stall to avoid having to slip the clutch too much in those circumstances. Plenty of people get over 50K miles on a V8 clutch.
On the subject of needing a clutch after 11K miles, I think that's likely down to poor driving irrespective of reversing up hill. You can use the anti-stall to avoid having to slip the clutch too much in those circumstances. Plenty of people get over 50K miles on a V8 clutch.
Lack of use creates its own problems but these usually appear quite quickly and within the warranty period.
For example mine was 6 years old with less than 20k miles when I acquired from AM Newcastle and now at 32k its running better than ever.
The issues I has were a clutch fail on trip home from pick up which was fixed under warranty and various battery related issues which I changed myself
So I would only consider if it was a main dealer sale with a Timeless warranty but I would negotiate an extra year ie 2 yrs cover and make sure issue was reported to dealer along with asking for all fluids and filters to be changed
For example mine was 6 years old with less than 20k miles when I acquired from AM Newcastle and now at 32k its running better than ever.
The issues I has were a clutch fail on trip home from pick up which was fixed under warranty and various battery related issues which I changed myself
So I would only consider if it was a main dealer sale with a Timeless warranty but I would negotiate an extra year ie 2 yrs cover and make sure issue was reported to dealer along with asking for all fluids and filters to be changed
Is this car being sold by an AM dealer ? If so it'll come with a Timeless warranty, so providing you use it well in that 12 months, then anything serious should become apparent in that time frame.
However, my first AM was a very low mileage V8R (2009).........problems from day one (leaking timing cover etc). The next three were all used (to a degree) and other than the odd trim niggle they were (and are) fine.
As Pete has said, i'd be nervous about something that had sat completely unused for years. That just doesn't make sense to me. Light use I get, but to sit on something for years that just depreciates and getting zero use from it..........
If it's not in a main dealer, then why not get it inspected by a main dealer and haggle the warranty cost into any deal ?
If it had sat for that period of time without any maintenance at all, then i'd be very cautious indeed. If however it was on SORN but was still maintained, then I'd still be cautious but less so.
Clutch wouldn't bother me, that's going to be mainly down to driving style, and some drivers are more mechanically sympathetic than others.
Also comes down to price. If it's a real bargain then the money saved can be squirrelled away for any future bills. If they want the same money as what else is out there when I don't see why you would.
However, my first AM was a very low mileage V8R (2009).........problems from day one (leaking timing cover etc). The next three were all used (to a degree) and other than the odd trim niggle they were (and are) fine.
As Pete has said, i'd be nervous about something that had sat completely unused for years. That just doesn't make sense to me. Light use I get, but to sit on something for years that just depreciates and getting zero use from it..........
If it's not in a main dealer, then why not get it inspected by a main dealer and haggle the warranty cost into any deal ?
If it had sat for that period of time without any maintenance at all, then i'd be very cautious indeed. If however it was on SORN but was still maintained, then I'd still be cautious but less so.
Clutch wouldn't bother me, that's going to be mainly down to driving style, and some drivers are more mechanically sympathetic than others.
Also comes down to price. If it's a real bargain then the money saved can be squirrelled away for any future bills. If they want the same money as what else is out there when I don't see why you would.
Quick update - I have now been informed by the dealer that although the car was SORN in the UK, the car had been taken to France, where it had French Number Plates on it and had been serviced by a French AM dealer.
Unfortunately, I have also been sent a picture of the passenger door, that has a small amount of corrosion next to the door handle. I have tried to speak to a AM dealer to enquire if this was a simple fix, i.e. without spraying the whole door, as I am sure they would have come across this problem before, but were unable to offer any advise without seeing the car, even though, I have a picture. Whats everyones views, has anyone has this sort of corrosion repaired? Bit concerned that a car of this quality can suffer corrosion.
Unfortunately, I have also been sent a picture of the passenger door, that has a small amount of corrosion next to the door handle. I have tried to speak to a AM dealer to enquire if this was a simple fix, i.e. without spraying the whole door, as I am sure they would have come across this problem before, but were unable to offer any advise without seeing the car, even though, I have a picture. Whats everyones views, has anyone has this sort of corrosion repaired? Bit concerned that a car of this quality can suffer corrosion.
A problem David, which judging by this forum, is far too common, and has involved cars of various ages, which appears to reveal that even though AML became aware, the manufacturing problem was not resolved quickly.
Most AM dealers do not have their own paintshops, so probably would not comment to you, until their sub-contract people saw the car.
It is not rust, because the the door is alloy, but is considered to be incorrect preparation of the surface before spraying. It is mostly found near the door handles and on the mirror stalks. To fix properly requires a full door spray.
Is the other door OK?
Edit - in this particular instance, I wonder if it could be damage by finger nails?
Edited by Jon39 on Monday 17th December 16:38
The paint bubbles are a known issue. Its not "corrosion" as such but poor surface preparation in the painting process. My previous Vantage had similar in 3 places when I traded it in at 9 years old, the dealer sorted it out before re-sale as part of their prep process.
I would not expect to be buying a car from a main dealer, with timeless warranty, that has paint defects.
My latest Vantage, a 2012 Roadster, was mint when I picked it up at 3 1/2 years old. Not a blemish on it. Since then in the last year or so it too has developed paint bubbles in a couple of places. I had thought it was an issue with earlier cars and sorted later on, but appears not. Its out of any warranty period so I either live with until I trade it in or pay to have doors sprayed etc.
There are mostly aluminium with a couple of steel panels on the whole car, with some composite plastic on a bonded aluminium chassis, so very little to actually corrode......plenty of scope for paint that does not seem to like to stick though
I would not expect to be buying a car from a main dealer, with timeless warranty, that has paint defects.
My latest Vantage, a 2012 Roadster, was mint when I picked it up at 3 1/2 years old. Not a blemish on it. Since then in the last year or so it too has developed paint bubbles in a couple of places. I had thought it was an issue with earlier cars and sorted later on, but appears not. Its out of any warranty period so I either live with until I trade it in or pay to have doors sprayed etc.
There are mostly aluminium with a couple of steel panels on the whole car, with some composite plastic on a bonded aluminium chassis, so very little to actually corrode......plenty of scope for paint that does not seem to like to stick though
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