So what have you done with your Aston today? (Vol. 2)
Discussion
Just got my Vantage back from it’s annual service, 13 years young and still feels great to drive. HWM in Walton were very thorough with their inspection and report so have a few bits to schedule in this year to keep on top of maintenance. I did find my head turned by the DB11’s though....
Well, having just got back from a week and 1,500 miles in the North of Scotland I am off to Switzerland on Wednesday.
I was going to take my 6-month old Tesla Model S Performance (with free electricity so the fuel cost would be zero for a 2,500 mile trip) but it has helpfully decided that it's rear motor doesn't work anymore so it was trailered away on Friday.
Looks like I have to take the Aston. Main issue with that is a £0 fuel cost turns into a £1,000+ fuel cost! Plus the V12VSM will go from 6,500 miles two weeks ago to 8,000 miles today to 10,500 miles in a week's time. But given it will never be sold it doesn't really matter.
How ironic is that, the old-school V12 beats the new electric car for reliability ;-)
I was going to take my 6-month old Tesla Model S Performance (with free electricity so the fuel cost would be zero for a 2,500 mile trip) but it has helpfully decided that it's rear motor doesn't work anymore so it was trailered away on Friday.
Looks like I have to take the Aston. Main issue with that is a £0 fuel cost turns into a £1,000+ fuel cost! Plus the V12VSM will go from 6,500 miles two weeks ago to 8,000 miles today to 10,500 miles in a week's time. But given it will never be sold it doesn't really matter.
How ironic is that, the old-school V12 beats the new electric car for reliability ;-)
^^^ that is funny, but expensive! I have an electric vehicle too, but it's a motorcycle with a range of about 100 miles so it's just not an option for more than fun/commuting to the office... Hmmmm.
Anyway, back to the topic of the thread... I serviced my Aston myself this weekend for the first time. It was filters and oil, and brake pads all round, I have spark plugs and coil packs on order as it's at that mileage. It was very straightforward, I'm ok with a spanner but I have to say there was nothing particularly challenging.
Lessons learned:
1. You NEED a strap wrench for the oil filter, my chain one won't fit between the filter casing and the casting.
2. Level up the car, eg on 4 stands, or 2 litres of the old oil will be left in the 'dry' sump.
Anyway, back to the topic of the thread... I serviced my Aston myself this weekend for the first time. It was filters and oil, and brake pads all round, I have spark plugs and coil packs on order as it's at that mileage. It was very straightforward, I'm ok with a spanner but I have to say there was nothing particularly challenging.
Lessons learned:
1. You NEED a strap wrench for the oil filter, my chain one won't fit between the filter casing and the casting.
2. Level up the car, eg on 4 stands, or 2 litres of the old oil will be left in the 'dry' sump.
Sebastian Tombs said:
Beautiful car Sebastian, Will never look out date.
Instead of a house, have you considered a French chateau?
Dick Strawbridge makes everything look so easy.
Need to convert a crumbling barn into rental accommodation and re-roof the chateau.
With the help of an elderly mate, he has everything done in time for the next broadcast, one week later.
Whilst doing building work and clearing the mote, he can also conduct a wedding ceremony, then put on a chef's hat to cook for the wedding party.
Phew! -
ReformedPistonhead said:
Well, having just got back from a week and 1,500 miles in the North of Scotland...
Same here! Sadly, it was in the new motorhome that replaced my Vantage. 1.5k miles in total doing the majority of the NC500. But what the heck... only saw one AM (a nice Vanquish) on the route down again. McLaren was better represented on the NC500 with a solitary [something... hard to tell them apart in the past few years].Advice to ALL on here; do the NC500 in your Aston. These cars were made for this trip. Some of the roads may be narrow with passing places, but if I could hassle an over-burdened van along there without breaking into a sweat, you have no excuse
Sebastian Tombs said:
In the Charente. That’s the 2nd choice house at the moment.
I just got back from 10 days in a shabby Chateau in the Charente. It seems like a lovely (if unremarkable) area with fantastic weather and very good value houses. I’ve been scouring the French property websites since we got back trying to find the balance between price and proximity to the coast.
Well, having just got back from a week and 1,500 miles in the North of Scotland I am off to Switzerland on Wednesday.
I was going to take my 6-month old Tesla Model S Performance (with free electricity so the fuel cost would be zero for a 2,500 mile trip) but it has helpfully decided that it's rear motor doesn't work anymore so it was trailered away on Friday.
Looks like I have to take the Aston. Main issue with that is a £0 fuel cost turns into a £1,000+ fuel cost! Plus the V12VSM will go from 6,500 miles two weeks ago to 8,000 miles today to 10,500 miles in a week's time. But given it will never be sold it doesn't really matter.
".............
Hi any issues , iI should be aware of taking the Aston on the NC500 in September, did you do the Applecross pass.
I was going to take my 6-month old Tesla Model S Performance (with free electricity so the fuel cost would be zero for a 2,500 mile trip) but it has helpfully decided that it's rear motor doesn't work anymore so it was trailered away on Friday.
Looks like I have to take the Aston. Main issue with that is a £0 fuel cost turns into a £1,000+ fuel cost! Plus the V12VSM will go from 6,500 miles two weeks ago to 8,000 miles today to 10,500 miles in a week's time. But given it will never be sold it doesn't really matter.
".............
Hi any issues , iI should be aware of taking the Aston on the NC500 in September, did you do the Applecross pass.
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