Using ones DB7 VV daily...
Discussion
Well then, now I am back in the *cough* sunny *cough* Britain permanently, I thought I might as well press my DB7 Vantage Volante into daily use to get some well needed miles under the wheels.
As some of you may know, I bought the car with 35,000 miles on the clock last June, put about a hundred miles on it then parked it up the garage pretty much until I got back in April (I did manage about 8 miles in January but that didn't really count).
First things first were the flat battery, I had to change it as it was buggered. I wandered down to Halfords (don't laugh) and they couldn't help as they didn't even have 'Aston Martin' on their computers - the lass behind the screen even tried to convince me it may be listed under 'Rover Group' - bless.
I then went to a very helpful motor trade factors who went through his catalogue and had a suitable Exide battery (listed for the DB7 VV in fact) all for the princely sum of £78!
I gave the car a once over, checked the fluids, tyres etc. and once I'd fitted the battery (which actually involved removing most of the boot!) the old girl fired up first time with no hassle and a nice steady idle. I then let it idle for a bit to ensure nothing was leaking before taking my 'other woman' (as the wife calls it) out for a good blast.
The car ran great, we dropped the roof and enjoyed some brief sunshine, I checked the AC and to my amazement it still blows nice and cold and everything bar the drivers heated seat seems to work as it should. I found an annoying rattle from the passenger side window and there are a couple of other little cosmetic jobs that need doing but after a nice days drive I figured I might as well press the car into daily use for a few weeks to get me the 155 miles to work each Monday and the 14 mile country commute between my digs and site.
So far (touch wood) the car has been running great, I have already put 300 miles on it this week, it's rained heavily everyday and it hasn't leaked and once it's warmed up it's a fun way to get to work. I have to admit I do park it at the top of the car park in an out of the way spot where nobody parks next to me, but I can get my shopping in the boot and it even lugged my bags and bedding down (just about) when I first came down. It is currently covered in road grime and muck but I think it's much more fun actually driving the bloody thing rather than talking about it.
It's going to need a service next month, I've decided to have the front resprayed to get rid of a few stone chips, get the wheels repainted and have the calipers re lacquered and I also want to get the geometry checked as it's a bit darty and tramlines badly over uneven road surfaces.
This weekend I'm driving to Plymouth and back which will be the longest journey I've done in one go, I can't wait!
Excited chap and his Aston (feel free to take the proverbial):
It'll be interesting to see how the running costs pan out using the car regularly but you only live once and I bought it to enjoy it, I'll let you know how I get on...
As some of you may know, I bought the car with 35,000 miles on the clock last June, put about a hundred miles on it then parked it up the garage pretty much until I got back in April (I did manage about 8 miles in January but that didn't really count).
First things first were the flat battery, I had to change it as it was buggered. I wandered down to Halfords (don't laugh) and they couldn't help as they didn't even have 'Aston Martin' on their computers - the lass behind the screen even tried to convince me it may be listed under 'Rover Group' - bless.
I then went to a very helpful motor trade factors who went through his catalogue and had a suitable Exide battery (listed for the DB7 VV in fact) all for the princely sum of £78!
I gave the car a once over, checked the fluids, tyres etc. and once I'd fitted the battery (which actually involved removing most of the boot!) the old girl fired up first time with no hassle and a nice steady idle. I then let it idle for a bit to ensure nothing was leaking before taking my 'other woman' (as the wife calls it) out for a good blast.
The car ran great, we dropped the roof and enjoyed some brief sunshine, I checked the AC and to my amazement it still blows nice and cold and everything bar the drivers heated seat seems to work as it should. I found an annoying rattle from the passenger side window and there are a couple of other little cosmetic jobs that need doing but after a nice days drive I figured I might as well press the car into daily use for a few weeks to get me the 155 miles to work each Monday and the 14 mile country commute between my digs and site.
So far (touch wood) the car has been running great, I have already put 300 miles on it this week, it's rained heavily everyday and it hasn't leaked and once it's warmed up it's a fun way to get to work. I have to admit I do park it at the top of the car park in an out of the way spot where nobody parks next to me, but I can get my shopping in the boot and it even lugged my bags and bedding down (just about) when I first came down. It is currently covered in road grime and muck but I think it's much more fun actually driving the bloody thing rather than talking about it.
It's going to need a service next month, I've decided to have the front resprayed to get rid of a few stone chips, get the wheels repainted and have the calipers re lacquered and I also want to get the geometry checked as it's a bit darty and tramlines badly over uneven road surfaces.
This weekend I'm driving to Plymouth and back which will be the longest journey I've done in one go, I can't wait!
Excited chap and his Aston (feel free to take the proverbial):
It'll be interesting to see how the running costs pan out using the car regularly but you only live once and I bought it to enjoy it, I'll let you know how I get on...
Neil, I refer you to Bob's opening thread last year...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Jockman said:
Neil, I refer you to Bob's opening thread last year...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Cheers my good man.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm still as excited now as I was then!
The only odd thing I have noticed is some people behave 'oddly' when I drive it sometimes. In the last week I have been tailgated whilst doing the speed limit in a 30 zone by a chap who kept swerving around the back of me in what seemed like an attempt to intimidate me, on the way back from work on Monday some scruffy 'hoody' types ran out in front of me when they saw me coming towards them (on an NSL road a mile or so outside one of the local villages) and some chap seemed determined to out accelerate me in his Alfa Romeo Gulietta (sp?) away from some traffic lights. I just let them get on with to be honest, except for the 'hoody' types who I had to slow down for, obviously I didn't want to hit them, they could have damaged my car.
Jockman said:
Neil, I refer you to Bob's opening thread last year...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Women obviously arent safe in Prenton Phil!http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Aeroresh said:
Bob,
its not a 6sp manual car is it? Look suspiciously like my old car thats all, especially with that year/mileage!
It is a manual car, I bought it from a chap called Sam Hall in Harrogate.its not a 6sp manual car is it? Look suspiciously like my old car thats all, especially with that year/mileage!
It's on a 'Y' registration, I'd love to know a bit more about it's past (I've got tons of history but it's always good to hear from a previous owner).
It originally had wood trim but this was replaced with carbon due to the varnish going cloudy.
bob1179 said:
It is a manual car, I bought it from a chap called Sam Hall in Harrogate.
It's on a 'Y' registration, I'd love to know a bit more about it's past (I've got tons of history but it's always good to hear from a previous owner).
It originally had wood trim but this was replaced with carbon due to the varnish going cloudy.
Yeah, mine was on a Y. Click on my profile and garage/previoulsy owned...pic in there with the reg on It's on a 'Y' registration, I'd love to know a bit more about it's past (I've got tons of history but it's always good to hear from a previous owner).
It originally had wood trim but this was replaced with carbon due to the varnish going cloudy.
Does sound like it though. Walnut was going cloudy when I had it!
Edited by Aeroresh on Wednesday 25th April 16:30
Aeroresh said:
bob1179 said:
It is a manual car, I bought it from a chap called Sam Hall in Harrogate.
It's on a 'Y' registration, I'd love to know a bit more about it's past (I've got tons of history but it's always good to hear from a previous owner).
It originally had wood trim but this was replaced with carbon due to the varnish going cloudy.
Yeah, mine was on a Y. Click on my profile and garage/previoulsy owned...pic in there with the reg on It's on a 'Y' registration, I'd love to know a bit more about it's past (I've got tons of history but it's always good to hear from a previous owner).
It originally had wood trim but this was replaced with carbon due to the varnish going cloudy.
Does sound like it though. Walnut was going cloudy when I had it!
Edited by Aeroresh on Wednesday 25th April 16:30
How long did you have it for? As you can probably tell, I absolutely love it. Once I've sorted out the little cosmetic issues it'll be top notch - plus I need to get some Gliptone onto the drivers side bolster as I've noticed a bit of wear there.
LordBretSinclair said:
Top post Bob.
As a fellow DB7VV owner I agree they are meant to be driven and enjoyed
Of course! I am moving up to Aberdeen in June and will be taking it with me to explore some of the surrounding countryside with. I am really looking forward to some nice roads!As a fellow DB7VV owner I agree they are meant to be driven and enjoyed
bob1179 said:
Aeroresh said:
bob1179 said:
It is a manual car, I bought it from a chap called Sam Hall in Harrogate.
It's on a 'Y' registration, I'd love to know a bit more about it's past (I've got tons of history but it's always good to hear from a previous owner).
It originally had wood trim but this was replaced with carbon due to the varnish going cloudy.
Yeah, mine was on a Y. Click on my profile and garage/previoulsy owned...pic in there with the reg on It's on a 'Y' registration, I'd love to know a bit more about it's past (I've got tons of history but it's always good to hear from a previous owner).
It originally had wood trim but this was replaced with carbon due to the varnish going cloudy.
Does sound like it though. Walnut was going cloudy when I had it!
Edited by Aeroresh on Wednesday 25th April 16:30
How long did you have it for? As you can probably tell, I absolutely love it. Once I've sorted out the little cosmetic issues it'll be top notch - plus I need to get some Gliptone onto the drivers side bolster as I've noticed a bit of wear there.
Feel free to email me if you want any info
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