My AM experience so far...
Discussion
When AM decided to do the necessary work required to get the V12V to pass the crash tests in the States, I was very excited. Saw the first example at a car show in Boston earlier this year in January. Was blown away at its appearance and performance numbers.
Fast forward 11 months and I see one at the local AM dealer outside of Boston. After several weeks of negotiations, a carbon black version was delivered to my door and I waved goodbye to my R8 5.2.
Enjoyed the car for about 300 miles before it shook rather violently, like a terribly matched downshift. Lots of red and yellow warning lights and of course the ubiquitous emissions statement on the dash.
Had the car trucked to the dealer where the gas pedal (potentiometer) was replaced, along with a new engine control unit sent from AM. That process took 10 days. Picked it up and drove the 75 miles home. As soon as I got home, same warning lights and emissions/engine statements popped up. Car was again picked up and resides at the dealer. Service manager says the computer is reading the same message as before. Calls and data have been sent to AM.
Mixed feelings. Still want to drive the wheels off this car, but confidence for long road trips is ebbing, if it can be fixed at all. That's the part that really wrangles me. Love to drive and take tours. Never had a situation like this with a new car. Guess I'm just disappointed.
Comments welcome.
Fast forward 11 months and I see one at the local AM dealer outside of Boston. After several weeks of negotiations, a carbon black version was delivered to my door and I waved goodbye to my R8 5.2.
Enjoyed the car for about 300 miles before it shook rather violently, like a terribly matched downshift. Lots of red and yellow warning lights and of course the ubiquitous emissions statement on the dash.
Had the car trucked to the dealer where the gas pedal (potentiometer) was replaced, along with a new engine control unit sent from AM. That process took 10 days. Picked it up and drove the 75 miles home. As soon as I got home, same warning lights and emissions/engine statements popped up. Car was again picked up and resides at the dealer. Service manager says the computer is reading the same message as before. Calls and data have been sent to AM.
Mixed feelings. Still want to drive the wheels off this car, but confidence for long road trips is ebbing, if it can be fixed at all. That's the part that really wrangles me. Love to drive and take tours. Never had a situation like this with a new car. Guess I'm just disappointed.
Comments welcome.
Sorry to hear this. How many miles were on the carbon black that you bought?
About 14 months ago, there were a few Carbon Black V12 Vantages being used for test drives at the dealers. My dealer set up hour slots for owners of Astons that had purchashed through the dealer......needless to say I am sure that most drove them quite hard.
About 14 months ago, there were a few Carbon Black V12 Vantages being used for test drives at the dealers. My dealer set up hour slots for owners of Astons that had purchashed through the dealer......needless to say I am sure that most drove them quite hard.
Welcome to the world of Aston service. Similar thing with my car (09 V8 Sport shift).
Car came to a grinding halt with what appeared to be an obvious problem with the transmission. Dealer "fixed" it by replacing a brake sensor. Gave the car back to me and it very shortly thereafter failed AGAIN. This time they actually figured out it was a transmission failure.
I think the combination of a lack of diagnostic information from the car and lack of troubleshooting skills by the mechanics add up to a lot of guessing.
Car came to a grinding halt with what appeared to be an obvious problem with the transmission. Dealer "fixed" it by replacing a brake sensor. Gave the car back to me and it very shortly thereafter failed AGAIN. This time they actually figured out it was a transmission failure.
I think the combination of a lack of diagnostic information from the car and lack of troubleshooting skills by the mechanics add up to a lot of guessing.
Sorry to hear, but I have to think they'll figure it out. There is obviously something wrong (brilliant, aren't I?) and when they identify it, they should know how to fix it. After that, there is no reason to think you'll have ongoing issues. FWIW, my '09 V8V has been nearly faultless.
Ok, I'll raise my head above the parapet.
Don't mess around with the dealer. Speak to Gaydon aftersales and go nuclear right now. Same failure twice is not right.
Gaydon will have seen this failure.
PM me if you want to know why I'm saying this or look at the Bamford Rose thread where I discuss my old V8 fuel tank issue.
Don't mess around with the dealer. Speak to Gaydon aftersales and go nuclear right now. Same failure twice is not right.
Gaydon will have seen this failure.
PM me if you want to know why I'm saying this or look at the Bamford Rose thread where I discuss my old V8 fuel tank issue.
Update....and it's not good. Dealer called me and said they found the problem. The electrical lead that plugged into the potentiometer was not making a solid contact. There was too much insulation preventing contact. They cut it off and spliced a new lead on and everything was perfect. AM also agreed that this was THE fix. 
I dutifully drove the 70 miles to the dealer and they showed me all the great work they had done. All they had to do was pull the car out front.
10 minutes go by and no car. I went back in and saw the car hooked up to the diagnostic again. As they started it up to pull it around, the red/yellow lights were back. They were speechless and could offer no solution.
So as of now, I own a $200K lump of metal that does not want to run, with no fix in sight.
Since the purchase date, they've had the car more days than I've had it.
I dutifully drove the 70 miles to the dealer and they showed me all the great work they had done. All they had to do was pull the car out front.
10 minutes go by and no car. I went back in and saw the car hooked up to the diagnostic again. As they started it up to pull it around, the red/yellow lights were back. They were speechless and could offer no solution.
So as of now, I own a $200K lump of metal that does not want to run, with no fix in sight.
Since the purchase date, they've had the car more days than I've had it.
Edited by CPBRI on Monday 19th December 01:41
CPBRI said:
Update....and it's not good. Dealer called me and said they found the problem. The electrical lead that plugged into the potentiometer was not making a solid contact. There was too much insulation preventing contact. The cut it off and spliced a new lead on and everything was perfect. AM also agreed that this was THE fix.
I dutifully drove the 70 miles to the dealer and they showed me all the great work they had done. All they had to do was pull the car out front.
10 minutes go by and no car. I went back in and saw the car hooked up to the diagnostic again. As they started it up to pull it around, the red/yellow lights were back. They were speechless and could offer no solution.
So as of now, I own a $200K lump of metal that does not want to run, with no fix in sight.
Since the purchase date, they've had the car more days than I've had it.
That this point they should have sent you home in a DBS or similar and delivered a new V12V as your spec as soon as possible.I dutifully drove the 70 miles to the dealer and they showed me all the great work they had done. All they had to do was pull the car out front.
10 minutes go by and no car. I went back in and saw the car hooked up to the diagnostic again. As they started it up to pull it around, the red/yellow lights were back. They were speechless and could offer no solution.
So as of now, I own a $200K lump of metal that does not want to run, with no fix in sight.
Since the purchase date, they've had the car more days than I've had it.
Edited by David W. on Sunday 18th December 10:06
I've got a morning frost V12V and whilst I love the colour, it needs it's "ears" to be black and I'm sorely tempted to paint the roof black after someone pasted a you tube vid of one on here.
I was going to talk to works service but after seeing the quality of this wrap (tango not my colour but agree it looks pretty striking) I'm thinking it might be the better way to go - especially as I'm not quite sure yet!
I was going to talk to works service but after seeing the quality of this wrap (tango not my colour but agree it looks pretty striking) I'm thinking it might be the better way to go - especially as I'm not quite sure yet!
MattV12V said:
I've got a morning frost V12V and whilst I love the colour, it needs it's "ears" to be black and I'm sorely tempted to paint the roof black after someone pasted a you tube vid of one on here.
I was going to talk to works service but after seeing the quality of this wrap (tango not my colour but agree it looks pretty striking) I'm thinking it might be the better way to go - especially as I'm not quite sure yet!
Matt, if you move closer to the screen, I shall whisper something into your ear.....I was going to talk to works service but after seeing the quality of this wrap (tango not my colour but agree it looks pretty striking) I'm thinking it might be the better way to go - especially as I'm not quite sure yet!
Just a little bit closer still.......
YOU'RE ON THE WRONG THREAD !!!!!
Refund.
And if they're especially nice to you, tell them you might risk taking another with the money.
It'd be nice if a car manufacturer opted to do this voluntarily in circumstances such as these. Splicing wires FFS. It's a new car. If it wasn't built properly in the first place, send it back and make the guy responsible rebuild it in his spare time!
And if they're especially nice to you, tell them you might risk taking another with the money.
It'd be nice if a car manufacturer opted to do this voluntarily in circumstances such as these. Splicing wires FFS. It's a new car. If it wasn't built properly in the first place, send it back and make the guy responsible rebuild it in his spare time!
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff