Picking the car up from a dealer, what to check?

[jason61c]

Hopefully picking my car up this week from an Aston dealer. Anything in particualr to check or expect?

I've had a few emails which have been great as the car's been prepped(2 new tyres etc etc), what should I look for while there(vanquish).

I'm a little excited.

[anonymous-user]

Don't bother as you'll be too excited. Drive it for a week and write stuff down to take it back to them with.

[Simpo Two]

First Aston? I was here 18 months ago. You go in trying to remember a list of clever questions, but then see the car, just go wibble and pay up.

I think for the next one my brain will hold together longer.

[Import]

Thats tooo funny..awesome…and correct..flew in to collect my Aston..saw it hiding behind locked gates and rang the Mrs all giggly…enjoy..

[Astontony]

Congratulations what an exciting time for you. General things I would check would be, Paintwork for swirls or damage, front splitter underneath for damage,check boot and fuel buttons work and bonnet release. Check tyres, age and damage. Run through the buttons on the dash and the aircon. check the infotainment has been updated with new firmware as if not you will find it just cuts out every now and then. Check for full set of keys, accessories ie tyre kit for a flat tyre, umbrella. triangle. log books.
If all good just drive the wheels off it.
I am not sure what yours has but I would recommend at least a half car PPF which includes the roof and as an extra the rear spoiler if you can part with the $$ as stones can chip it on their way rearwards.

[Mark V GTD]

And declare the PPF to your insurer as a mod if you go down that route.

Enjoy!

[pschlute]

jason61c said:

Anything in particualr to check or expect?

Before you leave home, check you have credit/debit cards, and practice wide grin in mirror.

When I picked up my first AM (a DB9) , the dealer, HWM, had put a bottle of gin and a big bunch of flowers in the boot.

I had test driven the car, but the salesman spent half an hour with me going through all the controls/buttons, getting seat set up and all mirrors adjusted. Then said " I am not going to watch you drive away, just take your time."

[AMTony]

Check how to open the fuel cap.
Had to get manual out in petrol station with my first AM - embarrassing

[Longy00000]

You're committed to buying it now do wouldn't worry so much about checking it over.
Just enjoy the moment and bask in your own glory

As mentioned above any proper issues can be remedied later but I would double check the fuel filler and seek out where rhe mechanical.back up is in the boot.....you will need this at some point , it's design issue deliberately used to keep Aston owners humble.

[Longy00000]

Oh, some pics would be nice

[alscar]

Don’t be afraid to write down the advice given on a piece of paper otherwise it will all go out of your head the moment you arrive !
Longy’s comment on the fuel flap operation is probably the most important so far although as long as you’ve still got a credit card you should be able to open it.
Enjoy the pick up.

[LTP]

alscar said:

Longy’s comment on the fuel flap operation is probably the most important so far although as long as you’ve still got a credit card you should be able to open it.

Not if he doesn't know where the button is

Enjoy the car, Jason

[alscar]

LTP said:

Not if he doesn't know where the button is

Enjoy the car, Jason

Very fair point.
Button and emergency release location both required on your list Jason.

[Simpo Two]

AMTony said:

Check how to open the fuel cap.
Had to get manual out in petrol station with my first AM - embarrassing

Fortunately I had the wit to ask the dealer that before I left.

Unfortunately I forgot to ask how to release the handbrake, so I spent rather a long time at the pump reading the handbook...

[jason61c]

I'll check software updates before.

Its going through the warranty stuff and requirements for the 'timeless'.

Front painted part of the splitter is being repaired today
factory PPF on the arch's being replaced today.
Missing factory umbrella is being replaced

Its had a Mot, service, 2 new tyres and secondary de-cats fitted.

For pickup:

General quality
how the fuel filler works
How it works when it doesn't work
Handbrake familiarisation
boot and bonnet release
tyre kit's


I've a 300 mile drive home to get use to it

[Simpo Two]

jason61c said:

Missing factory umbrella is being replaced

The geezer who sold mine (with no umbrella) said 'You can pick them up for a fiver on eBay'. Right....

jason61c said:

secondary de-cats fitted.

Not sure you can fit a de-cat...!

jason61c said:

I've a 300 mile drive home to get use to it

I would make sure you have decent breakdown cover, just in case it has an issue you don't know about.

Also, if you need satnav to get home, figure out how to put in your address before you leave. If it's an early (Volvo) unit you have no chance of working it out!

[RichardAP]

Probably worth getting a trickle charger straight away. We had a few issues with warning lights with my wife’s DB11 until we got one.

[alscar]

RichardAP said:

Probably worth getting a trickle charger straight away. We had a few issues with warning lights with my wife’s DB11 until we got one.

Especially if not being regularly driven.
CTEK MXS5 - plus all the connections you could want - Amazon is your friend.

[jason61c]

Simpo Two said:

jason61c said:

Missing factory umbrella is being replaced

The geezer who sold mine (with no umbrella) said 'You can pick them up for a fiver on eBay'. Right....

jason61c said:

secondary de-cats fitted.

Not sure you can fit a de-cat...!

jason61c said:

I've a 300 mile drive home to get use to it

I would make sure you have decent breakdown cover, just in case it has an issue you don't know about.

Also, if you need satnav to get home, figure out how to put in your address before you leave. If it's an early (Volvo) unit you have no chance of working it out!

secondary de-cats, fitted by aston and under warranty. As its from Aston it comes with recovery etc. 2015 car so satnav should be functional

[jason61c]

alscar said:

Especially if not being regularly driven.
CTEK MXS5 - plus all the connections you could want - Amazon is your friend.

I've got a CTEK MXS 7.0 already. What connector would a vanquish have? straight to battery or is there a connector somewhere?