New V12S owner
Discussion
Hi - I just wanted to introduce myself and my first foray into Aston Martin ownership.
Early last year I found myself in the position to be able to realise a dream and own an Aston Martin. My partner and I visited AM Bristol (wow - stunning dealership and an amazing group of people working there) to see a stunning '16 V12S she picked out with me, but for various reasons didn't proceed with the purchase.
Fast forward to a month ago, following a really sh*tty few months, emotionally - that very same car came back up for sale again prompting
another visit and some further soul (and car) searching. I ended up viewing a slightly different spec at AM Sevenoaks, and a week after having a 'f*-it, life's too short' moment, a very nice chap arrived on my doorstep with this stunning machine:
I'm two days into ownership, and just can't believe it! It's such a special feeling to be driving it, and I love the smile it puts on other peoples' faces - both passengers and passers-by.
A quick note on the gearbox - at first, I was very hesitant about the SSIII gearbox. I got the hang of it on the test drives but found it hard work and detracting from the drive. After paying up, I was worried the gearbox would spoil the ownership but actually, once you're used to it, it's just not at all as bad as first impressions or some reviews would suggest. Coming from a modern BMW M-DCT it's certainly very different. However, as other owners have suggested, driven like a manual it's great and the slight throttle lift necessary to smooth the changes soon becomes second nature (and in any case, it certainly changes gear quicker and smoother than I could!).
Obviously, the engine is the real star of the show. I'm not sure I really have the words right now to describe it. Just wow...
Anyway, I've had a good scour of the forum for any common things to look out for during my ownership, but I'd appreciate any advice from long-term owners, particularly anyone who has had to keep theirs outside (clearance issues with the splitter and the path to the garage!).
Thanks,
Rich
P.S. (Hope this isn't against rules) I can highly recommend the sales teams at both AM Bristol and AM Sevenoaks. Both have been great throughout the process - can't fault them.
Early last year I found myself in the position to be able to realise a dream and own an Aston Martin. My partner and I visited AM Bristol (wow - stunning dealership and an amazing group of people working there) to see a stunning '16 V12S she picked out with me, but for various reasons didn't proceed with the purchase.
Fast forward to a month ago, following a really sh*tty few months, emotionally - that very same car came back up for sale again prompting
another visit and some further soul (and car) searching. I ended up viewing a slightly different spec at AM Sevenoaks, and a week after having a 'f*-it, life's too short' moment, a very nice chap arrived on my doorstep with this stunning machine:
I'm two days into ownership, and just can't believe it! It's such a special feeling to be driving it, and I love the smile it puts on other peoples' faces - both passengers and passers-by.
A quick note on the gearbox - at first, I was very hesitant about the SSIII gearbox. I got the hang of it on the test drives but found it hard work and detracting from the drive. After paying up, I was worried the gearbox would spoil the ownership but actually, once you're used to it, it's just not at all as bad as first impressions or some reviews would suggest. Coming from a modern BMW M-DCT it's certainly very different. However, as other owners have suggested, driven like a manual it's great and the slight throttle lift necessary to smooth the changes soon becomes second nature (and in any case, it certainly changes gear quicker and smoother than I could!).
Obviously, the engine is the real star of the show. I'm not sure I really have the words right now to describe it. Just wow...
Anyway, I've had a good scour of the forum for any common things to look out for during my ownership, but I'd appreciate any advice from long-term owners, particularly anyone who has had to keep theirs outside (clearance issues with the splitter and the path to the garage!).
Thanks,
Rich
P.S. (Hope this isn't against rules) I can highly recommend the sales teams at both AM Bristol and AM Sevenoaks. Both have been great throughout the process - can't fault them.
Edited by rtector on Sunday 2nd June 23:30
Congratulations - brilliant car!
I have a very similar 2014 SSIII version, which I bought when it was four months old. Easily the best car I’ve ever owned and will be keeping it long term.
Has been perfect to date except for a paint bubbling issue on the lower edge of the passenger door, plus a water filled rear light. Both fixed under warranty. Also had the headlight misting modification done under warranty by the dealer. They still mist at times.....
To improve the sound I’ve removed fuse 15 from the boot fuse box to keep the valves open. Many fit a switch and keep fuse 15 in.
I also drive it with the rear tray flat in the boot. Adds a bit more effect.
Finally, I’ve had the secondary cats replaced with straight through Quicksilver pipes. Done at AM Cheltenham for about £600.
Really transforms the car and it now howls like a V12 should.
Highly recommended modification, although you might want to think about your neighbours! I’m ok as I live in a rural location.
I had Paddy on here detail it and apply Gtechniq Crystal Serum when I bought it. Still going strong with very few swirl marks to date. I fix any stone chips with Chipex. I’ve not had many.
Others use PPF. Not for me, but I can see the attraction.
No issues with scraping the front splitter. I’m lucky and keep mine in a garage, if you have to leave yours outside, I’d look seriously at the ceramic coating or PPF and remove any bird poop as soon as you see it!
Have fun, you will
I have a very similar 2014 SSIII version, which I bought when it was four months old. Easily the best car I’ve ever owned and will be keeping it long term.
Has been perfect to date except for a paint bubbling issue on the lower edge of the passenger door, plus a water filled rear light. Both fixed under warranty. Also had the headlight misting modification done under warranty by the dealer. They still mist at times.....
To improve the sound I’ve removed fuse 15 from the boot fuse box to keep the valves open. Many fit a switch and keep fuse 15 in.
I also drive it with the rear tray flat in the boot. Adds a bit more effect.
Finally, I’ve had the secondary cats replaced with straight through Quicksilver pipes. Done at AM Cheltenham for about £600.
Really transforms the car and it now howls like a V12 should.
Highly recommended modification, although you might want to think about your neighbours! I’m ok as I live in a rural location.
I had Paddy on here detail it and apply Gtechniq Crystal Serum when I bought it. Still going strong with very few swirl marks to date. I fix any stone chips with Chipex. I’ve not had many.
Others use PPF. Not for me, but I can see the attraction.
No issues with scraping the front splitter. I’m lucky and keep mine in a garage, if you have to leave yours outside, I’d look seriously at the ceramic coating or PPF and remove any bird poop as soon as you see it!
Have fun, you will
Rich
Welcome from down under. Like you and Phil all I can add (having had my 17 V12VS for 4 months after aV8VM is that they never get old - to look at, to listen to, to drive!
I was a little worried about the SSIII gearbox too but it is just brilliant when driving the car hard
Many happy years for you and your incredibly astute partner.
Maybe a car cover if it's outside?
Look forward to hearing more about the car
Graeme
Welcome from down under. Like you and Phil all I can add (having had my 17 V12VS for 4 months after aV8VM is that they never get old - to look at, to listen to, to drive!
I was a little worried about the SSIII gearbox too but it is just brilliant when driving the car hard
Many happy years for you and your incredibly astute partner.
Maybe a car cover if it's outside?
Look forward to hearing more about the car
Graeme
Great car - congrats! I recall the initial (3 year!) dithering process. No turning back once on the drive 
Best advice after secondary de-cat? Max the mileage permitted by your insurance policy! It’ll devalue like any car, but to not make 110% use of it whilst in your ownership would be a crime.
I’m limited to 5k miles/year and did 1k in the past two weeks as I started to realise I wouldn’t be using the full quota. Did the various 200-odd mile journeys with better half, young son, friend and colleague + solo (not all at once - they didn’t stack well).
Each journey reminded me why I’m one of the luckiest guys on the road! After a couple of years, I still get a warm glow to glance down and see the wings on the steering wheel...
All that, and more, will apply to you!
Best advice after secondary de-cat? Max the mileage permitted by your insurance policy! It’ll devalue like any car, but to not make 110% use of it whilst in your ownership would be a crime.
I’m limited to 5k miles/year and did 1k in the past two weeks as I started to realise I wouldn’t be using the full quota. Did the various 200-odd mile journeys with better half, young son, friend and colleague + solo (not all at once - they didn’t stack well).
Each journey reminded me why I’m one of the luckiest guys on the road! After a couple of years, I still get a warm glow to glance down and see the wings on the steering wheel...
All that, and more, will apply to you!
Congratulations on your purchase! Had mine for almost 2 years now, put about 22k extra miles on it. As others, I have replaced the secondary cats with AM replacement pipes, and find this very pleasing to my ear! My car is kept outdoors too. I have a outdoor cover for the very worst of the weather when it’s not being used, have had the front end ppf’d, and car detailed and ceramic coated. Under warranty have had both tail lights and a headlight changed due to water ingress, and currently having some body corrosion corrected on the two doors (so will need to get ceramic coated again!) No mechanical issues to date. Love the SS3. Added a few options I’d of liked if I had originally spec’d it too like lightweight seats, premium audio, interior car carbon. Enjoy it is the best advice I can give!
Edited by yellow_tang on Monday 3rd June 20:19
Congrats and welcome. They are sublime cars.
My 2p on some of the points you raise:
- I was told AM paint is relatively soft and that the lead faces of the rear wheel arches are vulnerable to stone chips. Think about some form of protection, whatever it is.
- the splitter. This is going to take some hits. It can be repaired or replaced - in the end view it as an expensive consumable.
- outdoor cover: Specialised Stormshield Plus. I had to have the wing mirror socks adjusted but it’s a great piece of kit if your car will live outside. With practice it will go on and off in a couple of minutes.
- the ICE system. If your car doesn’t have it already look at the Satnav update that adds Apple CarPlay. Expensive but (I think) worth it.
- exhaust upgrades: speak to Bamford Rose. Interesting info about the pros of deleting the primary cats rather than the secondary cats, and fitting high flow secondary cats.
- get the little leather thing to protect the glass key!
My 2p on some of the points you raise:
- I was told AM paint is relatively soft and that the lead faces of the rear wheel arches are vulnerable to stone chips. Think about some form of protection, whatever it is.
- the splitter. This is going to take some hits. It can be repaired or replaced - in the end view it as an expensive consumable.
- outdoor cover: Specialised Stormshield Plus. I had to have the wing mirror socks adjusted but it’s a great piece of kit if your car will live outside. With practice it will go on and off in a couple of minutes.
- the ICE system. If your car doesn’t have it already look at the Satnav update that adds Apple CarPlay. Expensive but (I think) worth it.
- exhaust upgrades: speak to Bamford Rose. Interesting info about the pros of deleting the primary cats rather than the secondary cats, and fitting high flow secondary cats.
- get the little leather thing to protect the glass key!
Well done! That's a lovely looking car. I like them in black but I find it too much of a pita to keep looking fantastic. Mine's a 2016 Stratus White and like others I've had the secondary cats removed (Bamford Rose, done on the way home from collecting the car), a ccharger switchable valve thingy and PPF on the front and (black) roof as well as carbon-ceramic coating, courtesy of Dub Customs and F1 Wax.
I've learned that special order 3-pack pearl paint is a devil to repair if you get stone-chips, hence the PPF.
Warranty work has been the headlight condensation, bubbling paint on the inside leading edge of the driver's side door and a badly fitted rattling rear screen which was replaced. That's about it. An annoying 'Emission System Service Required' warning and CEL will be dealt with by replacing one or more lambda sensors at the next service, again under warranty. For now, it turns itself off after a while and a few on/off cycles.
I'm still running PZeros but will switch to Contis when I'm down to sub-3mm after Le Mans. Although the rain-dominated forecast might reduce the chances of spirited driving.
The music side of things is pretty good and iPhone connectivity is perfectly fine. The satnav looks like it's from the 90s (perhaps it is) so I invested a fiver on a windscreen mount for my phone. Wave / Google Maps are fine and much cheaper than the £3k+ CarPlay update, even if it does have excellent maps.
It's a wonderful, wonderful car.
I've learned that special order 3-pack pearl paint is a devil to repair if you get stone-chips, hence the PPF.
Warranty work has been the headlight condensation, bubbling paint on the inside leading edge of the driver's side door and a badly fitted rattling rear screen which was replaced. That's about it. An annoying 'Emission System Service Required' warning and CEL will be dealt with by replacing one or more lambda sensors at the next service, again under warranty. For now, it turns itself off after a while and a few on/off cycles.
I'm still running PZeros but will switch to Contis when I'm down to sub-3mm after Le Mans. Although the rain-dominated forecast might reduce the chances of spirited driving.
The music side of things is pretty good and iPhone connectivity is perfectly fine. The satnav looks like it's from the 90s (perhaps it is) so I invested a fiver on a windscreen mount for my phone. Wave / Google Maps are fine and much cheaper than the £3k+ CarPlay update, even if it does have excellent maps.
It's a wonderful, wonderful car.
Congrats on the new motor you wont regret it very special cars to own and universally loved by the general public.
Had mine for just over a year, no problems of note tbh the emission system service error appeared a couple of times but usually clears after giving the car a proper breeze out. I cant tell if mine has had the secondary cats deleted as it seems pretty loud in sport mode, any way to tell or needs a technician to look at it? Whatever you do just drive the thing and enjoy it, I often go out just for a spin with no destination in mind...one of the great analogue cars for sure.
Had mine for just over a year, no problems of note tbh the emission system service error appeared a couple of times but usually clears after giving the car a proper breeze out. I cant tell if mine has had the secondary cats deleted as it seems pretty loud in sport mode, any way to tell or needs a technician to look at it? Whatever you do just drive the thing and enjoy it, I often go out just for a spin with no destination in mind...one of the great analogue cars for sure.
Congrats and welcome. I bought mine new in 2015 ( China Grey / Lightweight seats ) and have covered nearly 19k - as long as weather not too cold /icy I tend to use as my daily. Secondary de-cat done by Works prior delivery to maintain no warranty issues. Only real issues / niggles -both Taillight clusters replaced due condensation ,silica gel packs replaced twice in headlights ( really doesn't help ) and 4 separate " repairs " to the non opening fuel filler.
The trick I've learnt on this is to appear nonchalant whilst glancing casually around the petrol station when the cable doesn't work but a gently inserted credit card does. Tyres I've always had P Zeros ( non corsas ) and all weighed up have no issue with. Fuel consumption academic concern but has ranged for a low of 7 ( whilst hooning ) to probably a weighted average of around 18.Longest I've ever kept a daily.I've also got an GT8 but have been known to take out the V12 just for fun because its that good.
The trick I've learnt on this is to appear nonchalant whilst glancing casually around the petrol station when the cable doesn't work but a gently inserted credit card does. Tyres I've always had P Zeros ( non corsas ) and all weighed up have no issue with. Fuel consumption academic concern but has ranged for a low of 7 ( whilst hooning ) to probably a weighted average of around 18.Longest I've ever kept a daily.I've also got an GT8 but have been known to take out the V12 just for fun because its that good.
Congratulations Rich - a fantastic car.
I'm not much further ahead of you as I only picked up my 2016 Grigio Titanio V12VS a month ago. Still feel incredibly lucky to be in such a small number who own one and I keep catching myself going out to the garage for 'some reason' just to look at it. And every mile I've driven so far has been special.
I've installed one of the cccharger exhaust remotes instead of removing fuse 15 and it works well. I also found that the steering on mine pulled to the left so have just had 4 wheel alignment completed by AM Cambridge - it certainly needed it looking at the before and after settings. Drives like it should now and the handling is spot on.
I too struggled a bit with the SS3 gear shift to be able to shift smoothly and I just couldn't get the throttle modulation quite right. The last couple of days and I've finally cracked it - it's all in the timing. Now I've got the hang of it I love it!
Really looking forward to just driving for the pleasure of it now - whether that's to drive to work the long way round on the country lanes or taking my children or wife out just for a drive.
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I'm enjoying mine and you and your partner enjoy it in good health for years to come.
I'm not much further ahead of you as I only picked up my 2016 Grigio Titanio V12VS a month ago. Still feel incredibly lucky to be in such a small number who own one and I keep catching myself going out to the garage for 'some reason' just to look at it. And every mile I've driven so far has been special.
I've installed one of the cccharger exhaust remotes instead of removing fuse 15 and it works well. I also found that the steering on mine pulled to the left so have just had 4 wheel alignment completed by AM Cambridge - it certainly needed it looking at the before and after settings. Drives like it should now and the handling is spot on.
I too struggled a bit with the SS3 gear shift to be able to shift smoothly and I just couldn't get the throttle modulation quite right. The last couple of days and I've finally cracked it - it's all in the timing. Now I've got the hang of it I love it!
Really looking forward to just driving for the pleasure of it now - whether that's to drive to work the long way round on the country lanes or taking my children or wife out just for a drive.
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I'm enjoying mine and you and your partner enjoy it in good health for years to come.
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