Aston Martin Extended Warranty - Trim
Discussion
Have recently purchased a lovely 2012 Vanquish which the previous owner had an extended Aston warranty. During our short summer the car was left outside, the heat from the sun effected the dash and rear trim by the brake light. I contacted Aston Operations as the local dealer thought the trim was not included in the warranty! To my surprise Aston said it's not covered even though it's an obvious manufacturing fault, as the previous owner did regularly treat and clean the leather trim. I'm grossly disapointed with warranty that fails cover all items that are not wear and tear components!
Has anyone had such trim issues and been able to claim on their warranty?
Has anyone had such trim issues and been able to claim on their warranty?
Edited by phil 5 aston on Friday 16th October 18:30
Edited by phil 5 aston on Friday 16th October 18:33
Sorry to see this. I recently bought an '09 V8V which had been under warranty all of its life, which certainly attracted me to the sale. Having said that - I haven't renewed it either. I figured saving 2k/year goes a long way for potential repairs! Most costs seem to come from consumables, and the common faults (dash/lights etc) have usually been written in to the warranty exceptions anyway....
phil 5 aston said:
With this experience I'm glad I didn't buy a warranty as it appears not fito for purpose!
Oh, come off it; it's an insurance policy. Nobody claimed it covers absolutely anything as if it was an extension of the original AML warranty and if that's what you thought then you needed to read the policy document. There are many warranty policies available on the market - you go and find one that gives you cover like a OEM warranty on a car like an Aston and tell me how much it costs. Mike at Bamford Rose did a video on the Timeless warranty and did a cost-benefit analysis of taking out the Timeless warranty or simply banking the premiums as a hedge against a major failure; his opinion was you're unlikely to spend the premiums over (I think) a 5-year ownership.
In my case I received a one-year Timeless with the V8V which I decided to renew for a further 2 years for piece of mind against mechanical failure. So far the warranty has paid to fix a timing cover oil leak (which involved dropping the subframe, fixing the engine, reassembly and a complete suspension realignment) and a recent complete stripdown of the handbrake system and replacing the cables due to an MOT failure (initial estimate £400-£500). All purely anecdotal, of course. The slight bubble in the leather of the airbag cover I shall either have to live with, or put my hand in my pocket for a trimmer.
I will say that, while I was aware that leather exposed to sunlight can shrink and that this is well-known, the example shown in your photo does look particularly bad. I find it surprising that it survived unscathed for 7-odd years then suddenly shrank on you that badly in a single summer and I can understand why you feel aggrieved. I also winced when I read in your post that "...the previous owner did regularly treat and clean the leather trim...". Would you want to offer a warranty on a natural material like leather if it had been subjected to regular application of some sort of chemical treatment over a 7-year period? More anecdote: I have a cartridge bag where the buckle strap holes have stretched and elongated almost to the point of being unfit for purpose because I once treated the leather with a bridle harness softener to renovate it after it got soaked during a particularly rainy day and went stiff.
Edited by LTP on Saturday 17th October 15:25
Sorry to hear your mechanical issues, glad you had your policy in place to cover your cost. Guess I'm lucky, after 10 years and four astons, touch wood never had any under the bonnet issues. Never had any leather issues till now, other some strange stiletto marks on the passenger dash on a 2nd hand Vantage 😊😊
However still very odd a car warranty doesn't cover the internal panels as well as the external ones for paint and rust!
Even my aircraft warranty covers the leather dash trim. Shame the Aston warranty doesn't live up to the brand!
However still very odd a car warranty doesn't cover the internal panels as well as the external ones for paint and rust!
Even my aircraft warranty covers the leather dash trim. Shame the Aston warranty doesn't live up to the brand!
phil 5 aston said:
Sorry to hear your mechanical issues, glad you had your policy in place to cover your cost. Guess I'm lucky, after 10 years and four astons, touch wood never had any under the bonnet issues. Never had any leather issues till now, other some strange stiletto marks on the passenger dash on a 2nd hand Vantage ????
However still very odd a car warranty doesn't cover the internal panels as well as the external ones for paint and rust!
Even my aircraft warranty covers the leather dash trim. Shame the Aston warranty doesn't live up to the brand!
Does that mean the redarrows special is covered for leather on the dash then However still very odd a car warranty doesn't cover the internal panels as well as the external ones for paint and rust!
Even my aircraft warranty covers the leather dash trim. Shame the Aston warranty doesn't live up to the brand!
On a more serious note - that is a very disappointing look on the dash - I would be rather upset about that also.
oilit said:
Does that mean the redarrows special is covered for leather on the dash then
On a more serious note - that is a very disappointing look on the dash - I would be rather upset about that also.
I have an appointment at my local Aston dealer to restore that awful sight, surprised the previous owner didn't get it sorted in the summer, not a good look 😭😭😭On a more serious note - that is a very disappointing look on the dash - I would be rather upset about that also.
phil 5 aston said:
oilit said:
Does that mean the redarrows special is covered for leather on the dash then
On a more serious note - that is a very disappointing look on the dash - I would be rather upset about that also.
I have an appointment at my local Aston dealer to restore that awful sight, surprised the previous owner didn't get it sorted in the summer, not a good look ??????On a more serious note - that is a very disappointing look on the dash - I would be rather upset about that also.
Sorry to say but its the same in any private sale, buyer beware. I did exactly the same, i bought private with an extended warranty and there were a few bits in that car that needed looking at by AM, i called AM before i bought the car and was told by them that trim was not covered. I used that information as part of the negotiation in buying mine. I must say the state of your dash trim panel is quite bad but if youre in love with the rest of the car i suggest finding a good car trimmer and get them to fix it for you, rather than going to Aston as they certainly know how to charge on those dash panels, they wont want to fix/repair it they will re-new it.
phumy said:
What did the seller tell you when you asked him about the poor state of the dash when you went to look at the car?
Sorry to say but its the same in any private sale, buyer beware. I did exactly the same, i bought private with an extended warranty and there were a few bits in that car that needed looking at by AM, i called AM before i bought the car and was told by them that trim was not covered. I used that information as part of the negotiation in buying mine. I must say the state of your dash trim panel is quite bad but if youre in love with the rest of the car i suggest finding a good car trimmer and get them to fix it for you, rather than going to Aston as they certainly know how to charge on those dash panels, they wont want to fix/repair it they will re-new it.
The previous owner left the car out on his drive for a couple of days during July with no shade, dare say the temperature must have been hight to cause that damage! How do the cars cope In hot climates like LA? Sorry to say but its the same in any private sale, buyer beware. I did exactly the same, i bought private with an extended warranty and there were a few bits in that car that needed looking at by AM, i called AM before i bought the car and was told by them that trim was not covered. I used that information as part of the negotiation in buying mine. I must say the state of your dash trim panel is quite bad but if youre in love with the rest of the car i suggest finding a good car trimmer and get them to fix it for you, rather than going to Aston as they certainly know how to charge on those dash panels, they wont want to fix/repair it they will re-new it.
Mind you, did get a good few pennies off the asking price of this beautiful car 😉😉
phil 5 aston said:
The previous owner left the car out on his drive for a couple of days during July with no shade, dare say the temperature must have been hight to cause that damage! How do the cars cope In hot climates like LA?
Mind you, did get a good few pennies off the asking price of this beautiful car ????
Mine stays garaged and covered. Never leave in the sun with windows up and no sun shade protection. That damage had to take much more than a few days. That damage looks like it was left out for months/years out in the sun.Mind you, did get a good few pennies off the asking price of this beautiful car ????
AstonV said:
Mine stays garaged and covered. Never leave in the sun with windows up and no sun shade protection. That damage had to take much more than a few days. That damage looks like it was left out for months/years out in the sun.
The previous owner only had the car for 5 months before selling it to me. With the UK weather generally being pants with a few sprints of hot days, I'm surprised about the damage, especially as it's only in one location on the dash. Why wasn't other areas of the front dash affected, hence my conclusion it was a manufacturing fault!Now the car will be shielded from such things
phil 5 aston said:
phumy said:
What did the seller tell you when you asked him about the poor state of the dash when you went to look at the car?
Sorry to say but its the same in any private sale, buyer beware. I did exactly the same, i bought private with an extended warranty and there were a few bits in that car that needed looking at by AM, i called AM before i bought the car and was told by them that trim was not covered. I used that information as part of the negotiation in buying mine. I must say the state of your dash trim panel is quite bad but if youre in love with the rest of the car i suggest finding a good car trimmer and get them to fix it for you, rather than going to Aston as they certainly know how to charge on those dash panels, they wont want to fix/repair it they will re-new it.
The previous owner left the car out on his drive for a couple of days during July with no shade, dare say the temperature must have been hight to cause that damage! How do the cars cope In hot climates like LA? Sorry to say but its the same in any private sale, buyer beware. I did exactly the same, i bought private with an extended warranty and there were a few bits in that car that needed looking at by AM, i called AM before i bought the car and was told by them that trim was not covered. I used that information as part of the negotiation in buying mine. I must say the state of your dash trim panel is quite bad but if youre in love with the rest of the car i suggest finding a good car trimmer and get them to fix it for you, rather than going to Aston as they certainly know how to charge on those dash panels, they wont want to fix/repair it they will re-new it.
Mind you, did get a good few pennies off the asking price of this beautiful car ????
phil 5 aston said:
The previous owner only had the car for 5 months before selling it to me. With the UK weather generally being pants with a few sprints of hot days, I'm surprised about the damage, especially as it's only in one location on the dash. Why wasn't other areas of the front dash affected, hence my conclusion it was a manufacturing fault!
Now the car will be shielded from such things
Yes I agree it is probably poor workmanship/,materials from new. I would just bit the bullet and have it fixed. Now the car will be shielded from such things
That's why I chose not to extend my warranty. First was stupid expensive, plus they wanted $600 dollars on top of the warranty to inspect a car they serviced. Had they waved that fee, I would have purchased for 2 more years. Hind sight it worked out well because I didn't need it. Better to just self insure and save the money.
phumy said:
So if you got money off of the car purchase due to the poor condition of the dash, im wondering why you moaned about the warranty not covering it, your money saving can pay for it hopefully.
I got money off the deal as the leather issue was not fully disclosed untill I viewed the car. The moan is how can you have an extended warranty that does not cover all major none wear and tear items. Had it been a new car, 6 months old with the same issue I'm sure it would have been rectified by the dealer. I would expect a warranty to replicate the same terms and conditions, I guess some of us demand higher standard than most!AstonV said:
Yes I agree it is probably poor workmanship/,materials from new. I would just bit the bullet and have it fixed.
That's why I chose not to extend my warranty. First was stupid expensive, plus they wanted $600 dollars on top of the warranty to inspect a car they serviced. Had they waved that fee, I would have purchased for 2 more years. Hind sight it worked out well because I didn't need it. Better to just self insure and save the money.
They could have inspected the car while they serviced it and may be charged you an extra hours labour looking at areas they don't normally check. Guess they were too greedy! That's why I chose not to extend my warranty. First was stupid expensive, plus they wanted $600 dollars on top of the warranty to inspect a car they serviced. Had they waved that fee, I would have purchased for 2 more years. Hind sight it worked out well because I didn't need it. Better to just self insure and save the money.
phil 5 aston said:
I would expect a warranty to replicate the same terms and conditions, I guess some of us demand higher standard than most!
As I said before, Phil, it isn't a warranty, it's an insurance scheme to cover against mechanical failure, and trim (plus door seals) aren't covered. If you wanted a full bumper-to-bumper, all items covered warranty equivalent then you could have shopped around to find one; good luck with that. And let us know the annual premium.phil 5 aston said:
They could have inspected the car while they serviced it and may be charged you an extra hours labour looking at areas they don't normally check. Guess they were too greedy!
I asked if they would because the car was in for it's 3 year service at the same time. But they said no because the inspection is very intensive. phil 5 aston said:
phumy said:
So if you got money off of the car purchase due to the poor condition of the dash, im wondering why you moaned about the warranty not covering it, your money saving can pay for it hopefully.
I got money off the deal as the leather issue was not fully disclosed untill I viewed the car. The moan is how can you have an extended warranty that does not cover all major none wear and tear items. Had it been a new car, 6 months old with the same issue I'm sure it would have been rectified by the dealer. I would expect a warranty to replicate the same terms and conditions, I guess some of us demand higher standard than most!
Anyway good luck with getting it sorted, as mentioned before any good leather trimmer should be able to sort that out for you and it will look superb when completed. Try to keep the car garaged or put a screen/dash reflector on your dash if leaving it in the sun for any length of time.
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