Looking for a V8V, so what about this one?
Discussion
This one at Derby has been around for over a year now.
Started off as a demo, and seemingly hasn't had another owner.
Now, my taking on demo cars (correct me if I'm wrong) is that they use them for 3 months then sell them.
So why hasn't this sold in all that time?
Colour?
'Cheap' leather interior? (The leather looks on par with that found in a 320d..)
Price?
Any ideas?
http://www.stratstone.com/search/vehicledetails/us...
Started off as a demo, and seemingly hasn't had another owner.
Now, my taking on demo cars (correct me if I'm wrong) is that they use them for 3 months then sell them.
So why hasn't this sold in all that time?
Colour?
'Cheap' leather interior? (The leather looks on par with that found in a 320d..)
Price?
Any ideas?
http://www.stratstone.com/search/vehicledetails/us...
Possibly the price - all Stratstone dealers have a 'no haggle' policy that they absolutely stick to. Zero negotiation on the price of second hand cars - they told me it even extends to throwing in a free service etc. If the car doesn't sell in a given time frame they start reducing it by a certain amount every couple of weeks until it does. It may be that they're still too stubborn to reduce it to what someone will pay for it. It isn't strangely or offensively specced, even if they did go for the basic leather option.
The Derby dealer is closing down in a week so I wonder what will happen to this car. If it transfers to the new Sytner dealer in Nottingham it might just sell - they certainly don't have the same no haggle policy (at least whenever I've dealt with them for BMW).
The Derby dealer is closing down in a week so I wonder what will happen to this car. If it transfers to the new Sytner dealer in Nottingham it might just sell - they certainly don't have the same no haggle policy (at least whenever I've dealt with them for BMW).
Apparently all the stock is going to other Stratstone dealers, so not Nottingham, which is Sytner.
Was very disappointed in the quality of the leather.
They have a V8S with the very smooth hide which is what I expect (but way out of budget unfortunately!)
Also amazed to find the interior alloy (seatbelt exit points and handbrake) to be badly pitted and oxidised.
Was very disappointed in the quality of the leather.
They have a V8S with the very smooth hide which is what I expect (but way out of budget unfortunately!)
Also amazed to find the interior alloy (seatbelt exit points and handbrake) to be badly pitted and oxidised.
MellowshipSlinky said:
So why hasn't this sold in all that time?
Purely personal taste, but I would not buy it because of the colour.
Recently Aston have been encouraging brighter colours, but many owners do still seem to stay with the more traditional understated colours. If too many share my opinion, then the car has a problem finding a new owner.
However, if this is the colour you love, go for it and just ignore me.
The cheap leather is IMHO pretty horrible (compared to the proper stuff in my V8S) and personally, I would never buy an Aston with it. Obviously some people will only ever have an Aston in black, grey or silver but I think Cobalt Blue is a lovely colour and this wouldn't put me off at all.
Move on and find another, it should be in mint condition at that age/price ...
My 10 year old/83K mile Vantage coupe didn't have pitted interior alloy.....it must have been stood in a damp atmosphere for some time......
A bit of leather treatment and polish of the alloy and you might not have noticed .... the dealer prep should be sorting out these things before sale
My 10 year old/83K mile Vantage coupe didn't have pitted interior alloy.....it must have been stood in a damp atmosphere for some time......
A bit of leather treatment and polish of the alloy and you might not have noticed .... the dealer prep should be sorting out these things before sale
MellowshipSlinky said:
bomberh said:
Don't get me started on Stratstone...especially Derby! 
Oh dear... 
Salesman was a nice chap, very affable.
Seems most of the staff are moving to Nottingham
I hope you have a good experience searching and buying your car.
Can't comment on this particular car, but interested to note all the comments on the leather.
For the 16MY the Primary leather quality was downgraded (this didn't affect Contemporary and could be upgraded at cost) and the lower rear section was also now carpet instead of leather, the A.M. wings also disappeared from the engine!
You did get the new Vanquish style fascia/console and the new AMi II infotainment system plus Bluetooth to balance things and could still option upgraded leather and rear leather, but judging by the reaction to the leather it doesn't look like a wise move.... interesting
For the 16MY the Primary leather quality was downgraded (this didn't affect Contemporary and could be upgraded at cost) and the lower rear section was also now carpet instead of leather, the A.M. wings also disappeared from the engine!
You did get the new Vanquish style fascia/console and the new AMi II infotainment system plus Bluetooth to balance things and could still option upgraded leather and rear leather, but judging by the reaction to the leather it doesn't look like a wise move.... interesting
As for the oxidising alloy........all three of mine have had that to be fair. The housing that the seatbelt goes into, a little cleaner and it comes up like new, so poor prep for sure but don't be put off by that when looking at others.
As for the leather, yep, a silly move in my book. Some things I can see the benefit in reducing costs, but something as central as the interior should not be one, it really does look cheap and s
t. I really cannot imagine that this particular corner cut is going to save fast sums. Works have a V12 SS Roadster up at the moment for £140k and that has the cheapo leather, you notice it a mile off.
Price of everything yet the value of nothing springs to mind........lets hope it's not a sign of things to come.
Oh, you'd like alloys instead of hubcaps........not problem sir, that'll be £..........
As for the leather, yep, a silly move in my book. Some things I can see the benefit in reducing costs, but something as central as the interior should not be one, it really does look cheap and s
t. I really cannot imagine that this particular corner cut is going to save fast sums. Works have a V12 SS Roadster up at the moment for £140k and that has the cheapo leather, you notice it a mile off.Price of everything yet the value of nothing springs to mind........lets hope it's not a sign of things to come.
Oh, you'd like alloys instead of hubcaps........not problem sir, that'll be £..........
Big Ry said:
As for the leather, yep, a silly move in my book. Some things I can see the benefit in reducing costs, but something as central as the interior should not be one, it really does look cheap and st. I really cannot imagine that this particular corner cut is going to save fast sums. Works have a V12 SS Roadster up at the moment for £140k and that has the cheapo leather, you notice it a mile off.
Why is it as silly move on behalf of AM? Surely its just a silly move for whoever ordered that car and chose to stay with the cheap leather and not spend the £995 to upgrade. How many cars do we see with the cheap leather - almost none, so it shows that customers (or dealer who spec cars) are informed of the option, and just a small handful make an active choice to save the money and stay with the cheap leather. That's their choice to make.t. I really cannot imagine that this particular corner cut is going to save fast sums. Works have a V12 SS Roadster up at the moment for £140k and that has the cheapo leather, you notice it a mile off.At the end of the day is customer choice to pay more and get what you used to get at the previous price, and a simple way of keeping the price the same for the Manufacturer during inflation. They are doing it everywhere, not just AM - look at the size of a Mars bar today compared to the size they were say 20yrs ago. I bet they have been downgraded multiple times. Coke a Cola have recently downgraded their 2ltr bottles to 1.5ltrs but the price stayed the same - soon Pepsi will follow!
AdamV12V said:
Why is it as silly move on behalf of AM? Surely its just a silly move for whoever ordered that car and chose to stay with the cheap leather and not spend the £995 to upgrade. How many cars do we see with the cheap leather - almost none, so it shows that customers (or dealer who spec cars) are informed of the option, and just a small handful make an active choice to save the money and stay with the cheap leather. That's their choice to make.
At the end of the day is customer choice to pay more and get what you used to get at the previous price, and a simple way of keeping the price the same for the Manufacturer during inflation. They are doing it everywhere, not just AM - look at the size of a Mars bar today compared to the size they were say 20yrs ago. I bet they have been downgraded multiple times. Coke a Cola have recently downgraded their 2ltr bottles to 1.5ltrs but the price stayed the same - soon Pepsi will follow!
Adam I hear you I do, but I just think they'd be better off raising the base price of the car to cover this, instead of reducing the quality of what they're selling. It's an Aston after all, supposed to be among the best of the best. I completely understand that they need to manage costs however where does it end ? Just raise the price, they're already too cheap when you compare them to other marques really.At the end of the day is customer choice to pay more and get what you used to get at the previous price, and a simple way of keeping the price the same for the Manufacturer during inflation. They are doing it everywhere, not just AM - look at the size of a Mars bar today compared to the size they were say 20yrs ago. I bet they have been downgraded multiple times. Coke a Cola have recently downgraded their 2ltr bottles to 1.5ltrs but the price stayed the same - soon Pepsi will follow!
For me it's all about perception, and offering a poor product on the assumption that people don't want it so will cough up more money, isn't a good one. I'd be much happier if they said OK, inflation, brexit, suppliers etc, everything has gone up so we're raising the cost by £5k to cover it all, but you'll still get the same as before.....that's fine, that works for me.
When I have a suit made the cloth is priced accordingly (which is the car), however I don't expect them then to say we're going to put on these plastic buttons unless you pay for horn ones, they just factor in the cost of the horn buttons, as that's what should be on a bespoke suit.
I can understand this approach on more mainstream cars etc, but at this level ?
Look at Rolls Royce, everything in it is top draw, if you want to go above and beyond that then fair enough, but the base is already of the highest quality. It almost seems to me that they've made it look super dodgy so people are compelled to stump up the extra grand.
Just my opinion of course...........happy fun day Friday everyone
V8V Pete said:
The cheap leather is IMHO pretty horrible (compared to the proper stuff in my V8S) and personally, I would never buy an Aston with it.
When did the 'cheap' leather become available?
I don't think I have read about this before. Comments describe the poor appearance. Does it perhaps look like plastic?
Jon39 said:
When did the 'cheap' leather become available?
I don't think I have read about this before. Comments describe the poor appearance. Does it perhaps look like plastic?
http://www.astonmartin.com/en/colour-and-trim/pale...
Its not as bad as is perhaps being made out, but for sure its a obviously lower grade than the Contemporary Caithness Leather range (which 99% of cars have), which in turn is not as good as the top of the range Balmoral Leather (3 colours - Obsidian Black , Chancellor Red and Sahara Tan).
As far as I can tell AM have always used the cheaper Strathmore Leather on the gear gaiter - it is noticeably less supple, more heavily grained and the finish just isn't quite as nice. Always bugged me that it was a different grade to leather to the rest of the leather in the car. Its one of the reasons I got Q to customise me an alcantara gaiter for Kermit.
Just to put in it perspective - Porsche put actual plastic / leatherette bits on the doors and dash of their GT cars as standard and you have to pay to upgrade to real leather too - and its a LOT more than just the £995 that Aston charge!
Edited by AdamV12V on Friday 23 June 18:44
AdamV12V said:
The cheap leather is the Strathmore Leather range - only available in 3 colours, Obsidian Black, Sandstorm and Lords Red.
http://www.astonmartin.com/en/colour-and-trim/pale...
Its not as bad as is perhaps being made out, but for sure its a obviously lower grade than the Contemporary Caithness Leather range (which 99% of cars have), which in turn is not as good as the top of the range Balmoral Leather (3 colours - Obsidian Black , Chancellor Red and Sahara Tan).
Thank you for your explanation Adam.http://www.astonmartin.com/en/colour-and-trim/pale...
Its not as bad as is perhaps being made out, but for sure its a obviously lower grade than the Contemporary Caithness Leather range (which 99% of cars have), which in turn is not as good as the top of the range Balmoral Leather (3 colours - Obsidian Black , Chancellor Red and Sahara Tan).
Which leather would the 2009 MY Vantage cars have had, and what would the leather name be. I don't recall there being a choice, although it might have been a Q option.
Jon39 said:
Purely personal taste, but I would not buy it because of the colour.
Recently Aston have been encouraging brighter colours, but many owners do still seem to stay with the more traditional understated colours. If too many share my opinion, then the car has a problem finding a new owner.
However, if this is the colour you love, go for it and just ignore me.
Shame about the leather on this one when it has such an effect on the interior.
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