Advice re: Warranty & Dealer issues on DB7 Volante

Advice re: Warranty & Dealer issues on DB7 Volante

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Discussion

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Right, another update:

Since then, the papers have magically appeared. A new service book including post-dated stamps and full SH printout from the previous dealer are being ordered.

Red key is "open to discussion" and the latest phone-a-gimp is more useful and sympathetic.

Seat belts - no real progress, they seem to think WD40 will fix knackered re-calls.

I'm tempted to do the 6hour drive on Saturday, be stood there at 10am and collect in person all the required items. Also returning their precious wrong book, and also collecting 2x new seat belts should they concur.

(All this has come since the words: "solicitor" "legal advice" and "vehicle will be returned to you by trailer on Saturday as it is not fit for road use" were mentioned)

Now the advice bit; my father is sick of the sight of it....... He sold a immaculate XK8, that he adored for this for my mum, and is now rollin' a £750 S type as a snotter.

He's sick of a £30k car being a PITA, and with no red key, no papers, it's essentially worthless..... let alone the 4x mis-matching tyres, 2x dodgy seat belts, and 2x non shutting windows.

PH experts, would you:

1) return the car, get all "PH" on their case and demand moneys/repairs etc

2) deal with it by phone and pray for a better outcome

3) Take whatever you can get and then add some cash to make the vehicle mint, and what you want

4) take whatever, then sell ASAP


I will stress that this is one of 5 cars on their fleet, and whilst not restricted by money, the old adage of "Losing the love for the car" appears to be happening..... Especially since the dealerships lack of abillity has placed enough stress on my mother to reduce her to tears.


(apologies for rant, but I am feeling some what annoyed and struggling with the whole no name and shame issue)

Neil1300R

5,487 posts

177 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
If you can get the papers and if it really does have a full documented service history then 3. Tyres are easy to swap - and you can then take the mickey out of your parents for wastinf money on cars.
If no paperwork, then burn them, this is PH afterall. wink

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
I expressed my views by way of muttering:

"why the fk didn't you tell me? Could've done checks and avoided this"

Mothers reply:

"remember your eBay buys"

Touché

SLacKer

2,622 posts

206 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Any possibility of involving their local trading standards? They need shaming without naming.

I am looking for an immaculate XK8 do you know of a dealer who has a well cared for example by any chance?

StephenP

1,886 posts

209 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
NotDave said:
Thanks, one assumes thats:

Aston Martin Owners Club forum?
Oops, sorry! Yes.

I wouldn't send the other anything to him until you get the service history, etc in your hands.

As for red key .... I don't have one for mine either. What was it like?

I ask because the owner's manual for my DB7 Vantage Volante (2001) says the car comes with two sets of keys, each consisting of:

- One ignition/door key (Ford style shaft and black body with DB7 logo on)
- One key number tag
- One key for centre armrest storage box
- One alarm key fob

I have both sets of mine, none of which are red ....

StephenP

1,886 posts

209 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
... forgot to add, the key number tag will most likely have been removed since it allows spare keys to be produced and the manual recommends taking them off!

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Legal advice being sought tonight, trading standards tomorrow.

As for an immaculate XK8, I know where theres one on a 96 plate in BRG with 30k on the clock.... Sussex area.

Afraid any more details are beyond me frown

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
StephenP said:
Oops, sorry! Yes.

I wouldn't send the other anything to him until you get the service history, etc in your hands.

As for red key .... I don't have one for mine either. What was it like?

I ask because the owner's manual for my DB7 Vantage Volante (2001) says the car comes with two sets of keys, each consisting of:

- One ignition/door key (Ford style shaft and black body with DB7 logo on)
- One key number tag
- One key for centre armrest storage box
- One alarm key fob

I have both sets of mine, none of which are red ....
Right.

Book/papers - agree.

Key wise this came with 2x keys, no fobs.

Story from " specialist" and indeed previous maintaining dealer AND Aston who supplied the car is that it was sold to a wealthy collector type, who took it to Singapore for a couple of years then it came back... Upon doing so, somewhere in transit/relocation in the UK he lost the keys, so got new ones supplied & fitted by AM main dealer.

Hence no master.


"specialist" says - not all DB7 come with fobs

evoivboy

926 posts

145 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
i know this chap well, i have cooked for him many times(im a chef), unfortunatly he has been doing this for many years at various sites, he has been prosecuted for clocking jags in the 90's, i nearly bought an e36 m3 of him but changed my mind as i just could'nt trust him

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
evoivboy said:
i know this chap well, i have cooked for him many times(im a chef), unfortunatly he has been doing this for many years at various sites, he has been prosecuted for clocking jags in the 90's, i nearly bought an e36 m3 of him but changed my mind as i just could'nt trust him
That worries me.

To ensure we're on about the same place can you PM me either the company name OR the town it's in?

StephenP

1,886 posts

209 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Sorry, just realised you said late 90s car ... is it an i6 (the straight 6 engine) or a V12 Vantage?

evoivboy

926 posts

145 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
NotDave said:
That worries me.

To ensure we're on about the same place can you PM me either the company name OR the town it's in?
yhpm

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Thanks, unfortunately you're right!

Straight 6

StephenP

1,886 posts

209 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Ah, not familiar enough with i6 to know what keys it came with, or alarm fobs. I think they had Cobra alarms but there are quite a few i6 owners who would know better .. I'll point one this way...

V8LM

5,166 posts

208 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
No 'red' key with my i6, although that was much earlier than the OP's.

Windows not shutting probably just needs resetting, although controllers on DB7s can go AWOL. A few hundred £ each if so.


Mysterae

93 posts

140 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
I feel for the OP and his parents. As a relative newbie to the Aston scene and regularly checking the classifieds for my impending purchase, I am concerned at the poor customer services of some dealers I hear on this and other forums. When paying over £30k for something and they taking 10 - 15% cut of the proceeds, you expect a certain level of service. The product to be as advertised and safe, honour their warranty obligations and provide common courtesy. It shameful, dishonest and disgraceful to the Aston Martin marque (cheesy and cliched I know, but it's not a Micra we are talking about).

If it's any consolation the buyer woes I hear reinforce the checks required when buying a car. You would have thought you would have been safer with a dealer (after all you're paying extra for the privilege and perceived piece of mind) but even that doesn't seem valid anymore.

To the OP, I hope you get it sorted to you and your folks satisfaction.

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Right, again...... Many thanks for the advice.

1) yes it is the same dealer that another poster knows of above

2) it is a self proclaimed "specialist" not a MD. I am told they have a mixed reputation

3) key fobs - Has none. Told it came with none. I reckon this is bks. Father now pushing whilst they're on the back-burner for a pair of fobs.

4) windows - Checked myself, not the windows causing issue. Seal that is on the hood, and the windows butt-up-to is what is the issue. Reckon a bit of re-fitting would sort.

5) currently owner and son won't deal with issue, so "just a salesman" is. He's actually started sorting some of the things....... And seems offended by the actions of his superiors.

When father said: "well if nothing changes you can expect the car on your forecourt Saturday morning and I'll be expecting a refund" his reply was:

"you're joking"

When told no, we weren't... His reply: "I actually wouldn't blame you"


Mixed views

sandbanks61

18 posts

141 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
I hope you get this sorted asap for your parents and then hopefully they can enjoy the car.
I know the dealer,I've looked at a couple of cars over the years and never bought from them.
Something just didn't seem quite right with the operation.
Not much consolation I know.

StephenP

1,886 posts

209 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Not sure if you have already done so but try a search on Pistonheads for 'xxxx independent' (replacing xxxx with the dealers first name) ...

Assuming it is the same people, there is a thread in the search results, under the Jaguar section, which suggest aftersales service my not be their strong point.

On the plus side, if it is the green/parchment i6 I found via Google as previous for sale with them, it looks very nice!

Hopefully the poor performance of a single dealer doesn't taint your parents view of the AM brand as there are plenty of good service companies out there ...

NotDave

Original Poster:

20,951 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Afraid this is one occasion that I wish I was wrong about my gut feeling