Trying to do a deal on this...

[Leondrums]

http://www.sytner.co.uk/search/aston-martin-vantag...

This will be my first Aston, it looks well specced to me - is there anything obvious missing?

I have'nt driven so I'll be taking a leap of faith buying over the phone...

Are the clutches heavy? I'd be coming from an S4 Cab, recently driven a 997 C4S also..

Hopefully will be tying the deal up today!

[DeltaHedge]

Can't comment on the car, but be careful with the dealer. At the risk of breaking PH rules, I've dealt with them recently and been horrified at their service. I agreed to buy a RR without seeing it, but thought that with 3000 miles on the clock how wrong can you go? Answer. VERY wrong. It turned up and was chipped, various panels had scratches, and even some cuts in the leather. Needless to say the deal got called off and I ended up buying new from elsewhere, but the dealership were pretty incompetent - and didn't really seem too bothered - throughout.

This car may well be different, presume they've taken it in PX so the owner is likely careful given his choice in car and spec....but make sure any deal you do is subject to seeing it.

[Leondrums]

Absolutely - the idea was to agree price and run down to Surrey today or Monday.. Thanks for the warning.

Edited by Leondrums on Saturday 8th August 12:42

[CatalystV8V]

I've had a similar experience... don't even put down a 'deposit' until you've seen it..

[Animal]

Looks very nice for a 'saloon'! Good luck!

[Murph7355]

Leondrums said:

...is there anything obvious missing?...
Are the clutches heavy? I'd be coming from an S4 Cab, recently driven a 997 C4S also.....

Premium audio not mentioned but not necessarily essential.

All options possible have been detailed on here previously. This one looks well spec'd if not "fully loaded" as Americans say.

Clutch isn't heavy IMO, but then I prefer meaty controls. My other half drives mine with no problem and she's a petite 5'4" (however does have a wicked right hook and can kick like a donkey!).

As the others have said, I wouldn't even consider dealing on these cars without seeing the car first. They're not that rare, and this isn't so bargain basement that it constitutes a once in a lifetime opportunity.

[Leondrums]

Thanks, they have so far agreed 46.5k with an AM Service and warranty. I am trying to purchase at 44k.

No premium sound system but does have;

phone (fixed and bluetooth)
Sat Nav
Heated Seats
Fold Mirrors
HD Lights (are they all?)
Parking Sensors
Cruise
Heated Screen
Bright Grille
Silver Stiching...

2 previous owners..

Is 44k a realistic target price?

The other one for consideration was this;

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/ASTO...

[Murph7355]

Leondrums said:

...
phone (fixed and bluetooth)...
HD Lights (are they all?)
...
Is 44k a realistic target price?
...

I doubt the phone is fixed AND bluetooth unless the BT one is aftermarket. It may well be as not sure BT was even an option on an 06...

IIRC HID lights were an option (I think through to 08 or 09 model years). But I've never seen a car without them. I guess Aston needed to do something to keep the basic list price "down" to 86k Same thing goes with the 19" 7 spoke wheels (have seen 1 or 2 with the std wheels, but literally 1 or 2).

44k realistic? Possibly, but the only real way you'll know is if the dealer bites. Take a look on Autotrader and the PH classifieds and look for some similar cars, what they're priced at and talk to the people selling to see what they'll deal at

Do NOT do any deal without looking at a number of cars. Take your time. There are plenty for sale (again, check PH and Autotrader). One person's "excellent condition" might not be equal to another's. And whilst having warranty if great for the mechanical bits, it will not cover the cosmetics that could make or break your enjoyment of the car.

Also, don't get too hung up on mileage. If the car's been serviced properly, it shouldn't be an issue. And a higher mileage car might be more likely to have had all the little niggles sorted;)

[Leondrums]

Thanks Murph,

I have always been over particular with my cars - they have to be like new - no stone chips, scratched wheels, scuffed leather etc. They need to be 'as new'. I agree - dealers say A1 condition and there opinion is poles apart from mine.

They have said 44k without the service or warranty (and 2 new tyres) but theres no point IMO taking a car and then having to service etc immediately...

I dont plan to part with any money until I have seen and tested the car..

No response from them yesterday (when they said they would call) so I think I have a 'stand off' at 46.5k..

Looking like the search continues..

[Leondrums]

CatalystV8V said:

I've had a similar experience... don't even put down a 'deposit' until you've seen it..

With the same dealer??

[steve_amv8]

Murph7355 said:

Leondrums said:

...
phone (fixed and bluetooth)...
HD Lights (are they all?)
...
Is 44k a realistic target price?
...

I doubt the phone is fixed AND bluetooth unless the BT one is aftermarket. It may well be as not sure BT was even an option on an 06...

BT was an option for the MY06 and was the fully integrated system, pretty much the same (except for a few minor enhancements) to the version on the current car. It did have it's faults - mainly the poor microphone that most dealers just replaced with an aftermarket one stuck at the top of the A-pillar!

If the BT display is separate as opposed to appearing on the radio LCD, it is aftermarket (probably Parrot). Outwardly, there are would be no evidence of BT for the factory unit.

Murph7355 said:

IIRC HID lights were an option (I think through to 08 or 09 model years). But I've never seen a car without them. I guess Aston needed to do something to keep the basic list price "down" to 86k Same thing goes with the 19" 7 spoke wheels (have seen 1 or 2 with the std wheels, but literally 1 or 2).

Indeed. When I spec'd my MY06 car at Gaydon back in 2005, the list of optional vs standard changed daily and even the dealers didn't know! For example, the full leather interior was an option not standard, which was half leather/half fabric. You couldn't actually order the "standard" though so leather was a compulsory option! Likewise, no one in their right mind bought 18" rims.

One thing to ask them is whether the car already has Tracker fitted. At the time, AM offered this as an option (replaced a couple of years ago by a completely different, integrated, setup called AM Tracking.

Most dealers don't know so you may have to get them to check directly with Tracker. You'll need to pay to register it though as the membership is not transferable.

[Murph7355]

steve_amv8 said:

...
If the BT display is separate as opposed to appearing on the radio LCD, it is aftermarket (probably Parrot). Outwardly, there are would be no evidence of BT for the factory unit...

Mine's an 07 with factory bluetooth and I get nothing on the radio's LCD...

[DeltaHedge]

Leondrums said:

Thanks Murph,

I have always been over particular with my cars - they have to be like new - no stone chips, scratched wheels, scuffed leather etc. They need to be 'as new'. I agree - dealers say A1 condition and there opinion is poles apart from mine.

They have said 44k without the service or warranty (and 2 new tyres) but theres no point IMO taking a car and then having to service etc immediately...

I dont plan to part with any money until I have seen and tested the car..

No response from them yesterday (when they said they would call) so I think I have a 'stand off' at 46.5k..

Looking like the search continues..

No response? Can't say I'm shocked, they're hopeless. Be interested to see what happens from here. If I were you in this market I'd decide if 44k is the right number, if you think it is then stick to it, if they don't bite someone else will.

[steve_amv8]

Murph7355 said:

steve_amv8 said:

...
If the BT display is separate as opposed to appearing on the radio LCD, it is aftermarket (probably Parrot). Outwardly, there are would be no evidence of BT for the factory unit...

Mine's an 07 with factory bluetooth and I get nothing on the radio's LCD...

Apologies ... I'm thinking of my current car (the MY06 car went last July so memory not so good there!). Come to think of it, I don't think there is any visual clue to the factory fit BT unit!

My point was that if the car has one of the extra "bolt on" displays, it isn't the factory fit!

[Murph7355]

If the car has factory bluetooth, there will be a control module on the steering wheel to the left of the bottom spoke.

Could be wrong, but think the option was only added in 07.

[Neil1300R]

Hi,
My MY06 (late 06 spec) has the bluetooth phone option as well as the standard. It does NOT display on the Sound system though, just about pairs up with our phones - HTC and Nokia N95 but cannot link up on the contacts list, yo have to manually add them in via the phone control system.
Looks the same spec as my car, without the Premium Sound System. If you get to view it, its easy to tell if its got Premium Sound - turn on the radio and the first thing it will display is Premium Sound System

[Grant3]

Murph7355 said:

Mine's an 07 with factory bluetooth and I get nothing on the radio's LCD...

Are you sure you don't get a small phone icon/bluetooth logo bottom right of the stereo screen once they are paired? Mine does.

[Zod]

Grant3 said:

Murph7355 said:

Mine's an 07 with factory bluetooth and I get nothing on the radio's LCD...

Are you sure you don't get a small phone icon/bluetooth logo bottom right of the stereo screen once they are paired? Mine does.

No. I have a little bluetooth icon in front of the gear lever that lights up blue when connected. There is an orange led next to it that comes on during a call.

[steve_amv8]

Zod said:

Grant3 said:

Murph7355 said:

Mine's an 07 with factory bluetooth and I get nothing on the radio's LCD...

Are you sure you don't get a small phone icon/bluetooth logo bottom right of the stereo screen once they are paired? Mine does.

No. I have a little bluetooth icon in front of the gear lever that lights up blue when connected. There is an orange led next to it that comes on during a call.

That's the one! I've been trying to remember how it was set up in my 06...

[Murph7355]

Zod said:

No. I have a little bluetooth icon in front of the gear lever that lights up blue when connected. There is an orange led next to it that comes on during a call.

Ditto.