Condition of dealer cars
Discussion
I enquired about a 2011 V8V for sale at a main dealer this morning. As the car is a long way from home I asked them to send me some additional pictures so I could get a better idea of the condition before decided if it was worth making the trip to view it.
The car is a 2011 in Lightning Silver and looks to be in lovely condition from the pictures on the AM approved website. When I got sent pictures today I changed my mind quite quickly.
This is a picture the dealer sent of the front wheel:
That discs looks knackered. It looks as if the pad isn't making contact with the front of the disc properly.
The picture of the dashboard looks like it's missing a line of pixels across the display where the mileage is displayed:
The drivers seat looks fairly worn and creased for a 33k mile car as well:
It does sound a nice car, it's got a full AM history, had a new clutch 3k miles ago, and the exterior of the car looks to be in lovely condition. The brakes and dashboard can be replaced and would need to be for me to even consider taking it any further but the seat looks to be fairly scruffy. Is there anything that can be done for this or would it need to be a new seat cover?
I was told the car had been prepared ready for sale and that these pictures were taken after it had been "prepared" so presumably that was after the 140 point check. Apparently the service department was refitted at the end of last year so they're still trying to locate the 140 point check.
David.
The car is a 2011 in Lightning Silver and looks to be in lovely condition from the pictures on the AM approved website. When I got sent pictures today I changed my mind quite quickly.
This is a picture the dealer sent of the front wheel:
That discs looks knackered. It looks as if the pad isn't making contact with the front of the disc properly.
The picture of the dashboard looks like it's missing a line of pixels across the display where the mileage is displayed:
The drivers seat looks fairly worn and creased for a 33k mile car as well:
It does sound a nice car, it's got a full AM history, had a new clutch 3k miles ago, and the exterior of the car looks to be in lovely condition. The brakes and dashboard can be replaced and would need to be for me to even consider taking it any further but the seat looks to be fairly scruffy. Is there anything that can be done for this or would it need to be a new seat cover?
I was told the car had been prepared ready for sale and that these pictures were taken after it had been "prepared" so presumably that was after the 140 point check. Apparently the service department was refitted at the end of last year so they're still trying to locate the 140 point check.
David.
dhallworth said:
Apparently the service department was refitted at the end of last year so they're still trying to locate the 140 point check.
David.
David.
My tablet is not the best screen to use when examining photographs, however this is what came to my mind.
Brake - I could not see the pad issue, but on the condition of the brake disc, could it just be light surface corrosion? If a car has been at a dealer for a number of weeks, they move the vehicles short distances around their premises, and with the recent wet weather, surface marks would soon appear.
Of more concern to me, would the appearance of the drivers seat leather. I try to be careful with my own car and the drivers seat still looks perfect, with very smooth appearance and bright stitching. In your photograph, it does look as though the passenger seat is still smooth. It could certainly be recovered, but that would make me wonder, just how the previous owner treated the rest of the car. Perhaps there is an explanation for the wrinkles, but the comparison with the appearance of the passenger seat, presumably indicates wear.
Is this perhaps a high mileage car?
Could the driver have worn dirty trousers? The contrast white stitching does not look very white.
Funny comment about the dealer losing their 140 point check list.
Edited by Jon39 on Friday 29th January 18:21
The seat does look worn to me. My 2009 roadster had perfect crease free seats but my V12 which is a much later car with 8000 miles does have creasing on one part of the drivers seat bolster. Works told me the leather is much softer on the V12s which to be fair it does seem to be. I wonder if there is any way to get the creases out??????
The bolsters look slightly creased from wear, but not that bad in my opinion. I've certainly seen worse.
The rippled effect on the seat cushion suggests to me it has been in contact with wet trousers. A good leather reconditioner may take care of this?
In 30 years they'll call it 'lovely original patina'.
The rippled effect on the seat cushion suggests to me it has been in contact with wet trousers. A good leather reconditioner may take care of this?
In 30 years they'll call it 'lovely original patina'.
It's advertised as a 33k mile car. This was the dealers description of the seat.
[quote]The leather does have a number of creases across it but with the type of leather Aston use that isn't really that unusual. The leather we use has very little treatment done to it which is designed to let the leather age with the car. We do use a leather technician who could return this to a newer state but he did actually advise me not to do this as he deals with a lot of classic cars and customers like the patina of the leather to be untouched. That said I'm happy to obtain a price for him if this was something you would prefer to have rectified.
[/quote]
I've always been convinced that if something doesn't sit right when buying a car then it isn't meant to be, I get that feeling with this one unfortunately.
David.
[quote]The leather does have a number of creases across it but with the type of leather Aston use that isn't really that unusual. The leather we use has very little treatment done to it which is designed to let the leather age with the car. We do use a leather technician who could return this to a newer state but he did actually advise me not to do this as he deals with a lot of classic cars and customers like the patina of the leather to be untouched. That said I'm happy to obtain a price for him if this was something you would prefer to have rectified.
[/quote]
I've always been convinced that if something doesn't sit right when buying a car then it isn't meant to be, I get that feeling with this one unfortunately.
David.
dhallworth said:
This was the dealers description of the seat.
[quote]The leather does have a number of creases across it but with the type of leather Aston use that isn't really that unusual. The leather we use has very little treatment done to it which is designed to let the leather age with the car. We do use a leather technician who could return this to a newer state but he did actually advise me not to do this as he deals with a lot of classic cars and customers like the patina of the leather to be untouched. That said I'm happy to obtain a price for him if this was something you would prefer to have rectified.
[quote]The leather does have a number of creases across it but with the type of leather Aston use that isn't really that unusual. The leather we use has very little treatment done to it which is designed to let the leather age with the car. We do use a leather technician who could return this to a newer state but he did actually advise me not to do this as he deals with a lot of classic cars and customers like the patina of the leather to be untouched. That said I'm happy to obtain a price for him if this was something you would prefer to have rectified.
Sounds classic hogwash to me. - We cannot be bothered, and anyway they nearly all do this, Sir (TADTS). However, if there might still be a chance of selling this car to you, we are not paying, but we can obtain a quote and add on our 100% profit for all the trouble.'
I see you are in Scotland David, so if you ever happen to be in Bridge of Wear (leather supplier), they could probably tell you what has caused this damage (patina).
Phil74891 said:
I think the colour of the leather would put me off rather than the condition.........but that's a personal thing. ...
I agree - if you haven't seen Aston blue leather interiors on a V8V, do so before going further.The brakes may or may not be something to fuss over. Aston dealers have to change them if they're on the verge...
Display may be a problem rather than a photo effect. Ask for another photo.
Seat....mine was in much better nick at 55.5k miles than that and I'm a large athlete with a penchant for jeans and scruffy trousers. BUT....it doesn't look ripped or anything and I tend to agree on patina.
dhallworth said:
As the car is a long way from home ...
I have just realised what you mean. It involves a ship or aeroplane.
Have you seen that the Model Year shows as 2010, whereas the First Registration shows July 2011?
If that is correct, then the car must have initially remained unsold for the first nine months of life.
Jon39 said:
I see you are in Scotland David, so if you ever happen to be in Bridge of Wear (leather supplier), they could probably tell you what has caused this damage (patina).
That's a good idea, I live in Langbank. Bridge of Weir is about 10 minutes from here and I know a girl whose dad works for BoW Leather.That leather is Baltic Blue which I don't find to offensive, the Caspian Blue that was about on the earlier MY's I'm really not keen on. The future Mrs H finds the earlier blue really offensive though.
David.
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