Friends, Aston owners, countrymen, lend me your ears.
Discussion
After reading the many quality issue topics posted here concerning mechanical failure, QC issues, dealership indifference etc, I have begun to wonder if we ought to try and build something positive out of all this information.
What do I mean, we all realise that human nature dictates those that wish to 'complain', in any sphere of life, will vastly out number those that wish to 'compliment', its just a fact of life. Therefore implictly, what I am going to suggest here is aimed (I sincerely hope) at the silent majority,,,but we will see.
So what is my idea; It is that with the help of someone that knows how to create the 'scores on the doors' fascility, we conduct our own survey. Inviting all that are willing to contribute their own Aston experience, from the good to bad or downright ugly, on a 1 to 5 scale of satisfaction is normal I believe, 1 being very good to 5 unacceptable.
May I suggest 2 headings (so 2 lots of boxes) 1 to cover car performance failings, mechanical or otherwise, the 2nd dealership/factory customer care performance.
What I hope will be created, will be an unbias, fairer picture of the current level of satisfaction, for both topics.
I leave it with you to please modify my idea if you wish, perhaps collecting opinion in a different way but essentially, we need to hear from all owners, not just the dissatisfied.
What do I mean, we all realise that human nature dictates those that wish to 'complain', in any sphere of life, will vastly out number those that wish to 'compliment', its just a fact of life. Therefore implictly, what I am going to suggest here is aimed (I sincerely hope) at the silent majority,,,but we will see.
So what is my idea; It is that with the help of someone that knows how to create the 'scores on the doors' fascility, we conduct our own survey. Inviting all that are willing to contribute their own Aston experience, from the good to bad or downright ugly, on a 1 to 5 scale of satisfaction is normal I believe, 1 being very good to 5 unacceptable.
May I suggest 2 headings (so 2 lots of boxes) 1 to cover car performance failings, mechanical or otherwise, the 2nd dealership/factory customer care performance.
What I hope will be created, will be an unbias, fairer picture of the current level of satisfaction, for both topics.
I leave it with you to please modify my idea if you wish, perhaps collecting opinion in a different way but essentially, we need to hear from all owners, not just the dissatisfied.
I love my DBS and the only issue during ownership has been a failed FM module covered under warranty.
Stratstone sold me this car and my previous V8V and were excellent to deal with. They have also serviced the DBS and the guy I deal with is first class.
BR have done non warranty stuff like "pheasantgate" and a post hoon 140 point check.
Paddy has detailed her and clean she looks amazing.
My brakes squeak but that is a small price to pay.
All in all my experience has been brilliant
I feel very lucky to have a rich filthy wife who allows me to have such a beautiful car
Stratstone sold me this car and my previous V8V and were excellent to deal with. They have also serviced the DBS and the guy I deal with is first class.
BR have done non warranty stuff like "pheasantgate" and a post hoon 140 point check.
Paddy has detailed her and clean she looks amazing.
My brakes squeak but that is a small price to pay.
All in all my experience has been brilliant
I feel very lucky to have a rich filthy wife who allows me to have such a beautiful car
AMDBSNick said:
I love my DBS and the only issue during ownership has been a failed FM module covered under warranty.
Stratstone sold me this car and my previous V8V and were excellent to deal with. They have also serviced the DBS and the guy I deal with is first class.
BR have done non warranty stuff like "pheasantgate" and a post hoon 140 point check.
Paddy has detailed her and clean she looks amazing.
My brakes squeak but that is a small price to pay.
All in all my experience has been brilliant
I feel very lucky to have a rich filthy wife who allows me to have such a beautiful car
Pics or she doesn't exist . Stratstone sold me this car and my previous V8V and were excellent to deal with. They have also serviced the DBS and the guy I deal with is first class.
BR have done non warranty stuff like "pheasantgate" and a post hoon 140 point check.
Paddy has detailed her and clean she looks amazing.
My brakes squeak but that is a small price to pay.
All in all my experience has been brilliant
I feel very lucky to have a rich filthy wife who allows me to have such a beautiful car
P.S. Exactly how filthy is she ?
Dear Bob ,I have been tempted to suggest a similar poll but the problem is that there are so many different variables.
For example....There are owners that have had serious problems with new cars ( poor QC).
Known probs with blistering paintwork that Aston try to wriggle out of.
Cars going into limp mode etc.
So although I applaud your intention I do not know what good may come of it.
If owners find it hard to get satisfaction when purchasing a new car that proves to have several serious faults what chance several years down the line.
It seems to be a general consensus that if the car is purchased from a main dealer with a warranty there is a fair chance of getting a result.
For example....There are owners that have had serious problems with new cars ( poor QC).
Known probs with blistering paintwork that Aston try to wriggle out of.
Cars going into limp mode etc.
So although I applaud your intention I do not know what good may come of it.
If owners find it hard to get satisfaction when purchasing a new car that proves to have several serious faults what chance several years down the line.
It seems to be a general consensus that if the car is purchased from a main dealer with a warranty there is a fair chance of getting a result.
avinalarf said:
AMDBSNick said:
I love my DBS and the only issue during ownership has been a failed FM module covered under warranty.
Stratstone sold me this car and my previous V8V and were excellent to deal with. They have also serviced the DBS and the guy I deal with is first class.
BR have done non warranty stuff like "pheasantgate" and a post hoon 140 point check.
Paddy has detailed her and clean she looks amazing.
My brakes squeak but that is a small price to pay.
All in all my experience has been brilliant
I feel very lucky to have a rich filthy wife who allows me to have such a beautiful car
Pics or she doesn't exist . Stratstone sold me this car and my previous V8V and were excellent to deal with. They have also serviced the DBS and the guy I deal with is first class.
BR have done non warranty stuff like "pheasantgate" and a post hoon 140 point check.
Paddy has detailed her and clean she looks amazing.
My brakes squeak but that is a small price to pay.
All in all my experience has been brilliant
I feel very lucky to have a rich filthy wife who allows me to have such a beautiful car
P.S. Exactly how filthy is she ?
Sadly I thought she must be intelligent (bearing in mind her career), but alas no.... 
Bob, my experience of AM is actually very good. I bought my first V8V privately and Grange Brentwood looked after her. I had a clutch failure covered by warranty, but in fairness that was about it and a trip around Europe with no problems. Then I purchased the V12V from Grange and again the car has been faultless really (except the squealing clutch that was replaced under warranty)and it has been driven by me, so that is testament enough I believe
The Grange experience has been excellent and I have been treated like a customer should be, so a big thumbs up from me for my personal AM experience.
So then onto the BR experiences that have further enhanced my enjoyment of the car. So my personal experience of the brand, car, dealer and independent has been good, I only hope that ALL facets of that relationship continues...
The Grange experience has been excellent and I have been treated like a customer should be, so a big thumbs up from me for my personal AM experience.
So then onto the BR experiences that have further enhanced my enjoyment of the car. So my personal experience of the brand, car, dealer and independent has been good, I only hope that ALL facets of that relationship continues...
Agree with you Bob.
There must hopefully be many more happy AM owners, than disappointed ones.
I think it was you, who had dodgy seat stitching. Something that ought to have been very obvious to QC.
I do not know how to set up the opinion survey on here, but I would enter my score as 1.
My 4·7 is a delight. Not bought new, but it has now been mine for two years. I have the detailed workshop history from day one onwards, and nothing of any consequence has required attention. It is just a toy, so usually only driven when weather is dry. I am a serial car keeper, so another for the collection.
Have had dealings with three main dealers. Good experience each time, but as I have not put them to the test with problems, cannot really comment.
I haven't had my V12V very long, only since May.
However, the whole experience of Aston Martin & ownership so far has been excellent.
Like Cockers, I also purchased my car from Grange, Brentwood. Their customer service, after care and knowledge was, and has been, really first class.
I had a fan replaced on the radiator because it was 'ticking' (catching on something) but apart from that, so far so good. Oh, and my fuel filler caps sticks, which the dealer are sorting for me too.
The only massive disappointment is my own stupid self, ripping a hole in my front splitter
which Grange are repairing for me next week, and again have sorted me out with excellent service and a good deal on the repair. 
I LOVE this car, it is easily the best purchase I ever made in my life.
I just hope it doesn't cost me a fortune going forward!
However, the whole experience of Aston Martin & ownership so far has been excellent.
Like Cockers, I also purchased my car from Grange, Brentwood. Their customer service, after care and knowledge was, and has been, really first class.
I had a fan replaced on the radiator because it was 'ticking' (catching on something) but apart from that, so far so good. Oh, and my fuel filler caps sticks, which the dealer are sorting for me too.
The only massive disappointment is my own stupid self, ripping a hole in my front splitter
which Grange are repairing for me next week, and again have sorted me out with excellent service and a good deal on the repair. I LOVE this car, it is easily the best purchase I ever made in my life.
I just hope it doesn't cost me a fortune going forward! Edited by stimshady on Thursday 3rd October 16:05
Previously I've had 4 Lotuses and a Noble; both cars have plenty of known weak points and faults and things that often break, such as gearboxes on the Esprit, radiators on the Esprit, exhaust manifolds on both, exhaust brackets on the Noble, leaking floors on the Noble, I could go on and on - the list for both cars are long.
But for the AM the most serious issue reported on here appears to be : Bubbling paint on the wing mirror brackets and how it's an absolute bloody outrage that AM wont repair your bubbling paint after god knows how many years of ownership.
I suppose it's what you are used to but to me a lot of AM owners need to get a very large sense of proportion.
But for the AM the most serious issue reported on here appears to be : Bubbling paint on the wing mirror brackets and how it's an absolute bloody outrage that AM wont repair your bubbling paint after god knows how many years of ownership.
I suppose it's what you are used to but to me a lot of AM owners need to get a very large sense of proportion.
Ed50 said:
I'm thick so please do expand on 'very large sense of proportion'.
I would have thought that me giving examples of problems on other, low volume marques (okay, lower volume than AM I'll admit) which are much more serious (breaking gearboxes, cracking manifolds etc) compared to bubbling paintwork was self explanatory in relation to 'very large sense of proportion' 
I blame the internet and forums ....get a few people with problems together and you get a very negative view on any product. Go on any manufacturer specific forums, read them for a few weeks and you wouldnt make any major purchases these days 
..I dont think theres enough owners on here to be a fair statistical sample. Maybe the entire AMOC membership would be enough...
..I dont think theres enough owners on here to be a fair statistical sample. Maybe the entire AMOC membership would be enough...
bogie said:
I blame the internet and forums ....get a few people with problems together and you get a very negative view on any product. Go on any manufacturer specific forums, read them for a few weeks and you wouldnt make any major purchases these days
That's a very good point. It used to be "get good service, tell 1 person. Get bad service, tell 10 people". Now, with the internet, it's more like "Get bad service, tell 1 million people".Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff