My first year anniversary - A year of Aston Martin ownership
Discussion
Today is my first-year anniversary. It is hard to believe I drove the Vantage out of the AM dealer showroom, a year ago, after dreaming for over 4 years of getting one. It was such hard work, but well worth it. I always wanted a Vantage S, because of the embroidered seats, and a colour of Cobalt Blue or White, but all that went out of the window when I spotted this one by mistake. Who doesn’t love silver!
Car has been great, and now after its first year, I am pleased with how it has gone, sure there have been a lot of costs, but I am now in a position of knowing that it is in a great place. It came with the Timeless warranty but a lot of the items are more consumables but i wanted them sorted out before they came a problem.
So, my first year of ownership has resulted in;
New clutch, and new ASM pump, pump covered by the Timeless warranty.
New battery
All new wheel nuts
All filters changed
Serviced and MOT passed, last health check was a great report all round.
It’s a great base line, as I had no knowledge of what had or had not been done prior. It has therefore not been a cheap year, far from it, but having an Aston Martin in the garage is just wonderful.
Here are some highlights
Taking the car to the AM Heritage Trust Festival at Brooklands was great, no longer a spectator but going as an owner.
Having it detailed and ceramic coated. It looks stunning
Everyone loves the car, the look, the sound, and people ask me how the car is, and when are you bringing it in to work.
The noise of a cold start.
The quirky features, like the vanity mirrors on the sun visors! the way the petrol cap may or may not pop open, the little clock in the dash.
Its quick, I mean it’s really quick.
It makes me smile, when you walk back to the car, from the garage, my wife says it’s the only thing that makes me smile.
Negatives
Scratching the wing getting it out of the garage.
Scratched the dashboard waterfall, how I just cannot fathom.
The famous Emission System Service thingy.
There has been a lot of additional cost in the first year, many of which are one of a one-off cost, such as the battery conditioner, replacement of the tyre repair kit fluid, a NOCO booster charger thing, OBD reader, new fuel cap tether, engine oil, AMOC membership and lots of other small items which all add up. Plus, a lot of Aston Martin clothing and magazines.
But I came into this with my eyes wide open as to the cost, some days the costs have brought tears to my eyes!!!! but hopefully it will calm down.
So going forward, I have no intention of modifying it, but rather start on tidying up some things such as the door seals are a little worn, the sill plaques are scratched, and I want to get that little elbow support. I really want a new front windscreen, as it’s got a lot of tiny scratches and imperfections.
Lastly, a thank you to all of you, many of you have answered my most ridiculous questions over the last year, and I have even met a couple of you which has been great too.
Thanks folks
Kevin
Car has been great, and now after its first year, I am pleased with how it has gone, sure there have been a lot of costs, but I am now in a position of knowing that it is in a great place. It came with the Timeless warranty but a lot of the items are more consumables but i wanted them sorted out before they came a problem.
So, my first year of ownership has resulted in;
New clutch, and new ASM pump, pump covered by the Timeless warranty.
New battery
All new wheel nuts
All filters changed
Serviced and MOT passed, last health check was a great report all round.
It’s a great base line, as I had no knowledge of what had or had not been done prior. It has therefore not been a cheap year, far from it, but having an Aston Martin in the garage is just wonderful.
Here are some highlights
Taking the car to the AM Heritage Trust Festival at Brooklands was great, no longer a spectator but going as an owner.
Having it detailed and ceramic coated. It looks stunning
Everyone loves the car, the look, the sound, and people ask me how the car is, and when are you bringing it in to work.
The noise of a cold start.
The quirky features, like the vanity mirrors on the sun visors! the way the petrol cap may or may not pop open, the little clock in the dash.
Its quick, I mean it’s really quick.
It makes me smile, when you walk back to the car, from the garage, my wife says it’s the only thing that makes me smile.
Negatives
Scratching the wing getting it out of the garage.
Scratched the dashboard waterfall, how I just cannot fathom.
The famous Emission System Service thingy.
There has been a lot of additional cost in the first year, many of which are one of a one-off cost, such as the battery conditioner, replacement of the tyre repair kit fluid, a NOCO booster charger thing, OBD reader, new fuel cap tether, engine oil, AMOC membership and lots of other small items which all add up. Plus, a lot of Aston Martin clothing and magazines.
But I came into this with my eyes wide open as to the cost, some days the costs have brought tears to my eyes!!!! but hopefully it will calm down.
So going forward, I have no intention of modifying it, but rather start on tidying up some things such as the door seals are a little worn, the sill plaques are scratched, and I want to get that little elbow support. I really want a new front windscreen, as it’s got a lot of tiny scratches and imperfections.
Lastly, a thank you to all of you, many of you have answered my most ridiculous questions over the last year, and I have even met a couple of you which has been great too.
Thanks folks
Kevin
Edited by kevin_cambs_uk on Saturday 13th May 08:49
Sounds like a great first year. Be careful though, 9 years ago I started with an impulse buy of a 9 year old DB9 Volante that a friend was selling it off cheap to see what it was like (actually started as an extended test drive since he needed the parking space) and now I am on my 3rd Aston. DB11 and DBX followed. Once you start it’s hard to stop !
Thank you for that write up, really interesting to hear your first years experience! Glad to hear that it’s going well and you’re enjoying it. I’m in a similar position to where you were a year or so ago. I’ve dreamt of a Vantage pretty much since they came out back in 2005, I’m nearly there . . .
Westlondondriver said:
Sounds like a great first year. Be careful though, 9 years ago I started with an impulse buy of a 9 year old DB9 Volante that a friend was selling it off cheap to see what it was like (actually started as an extended test drive since he needed the parking space) and now I am on my 3rd Aston. DB11 and DBX followed. Once you start it’s hard to stop !
I would need a bigger garage!!!Kev
Piston Ted said:
Thank you for that write up, really interesting to hear your first years experience! Glad to hear that it’s going well and you’re enjoying it. I’m in a similar position to where you were a year or so ago. I’ve dreamt of a Vantage pretty much since they came out back in 2005, I’m nearly there . . .
Keep going! any questions please just ask, I have learned so much over the last year, it really is a different ball game.Kev
Krhuangbin said:
Congratulations 
still honeymooning like you after 14 months…. even if mines had a few niggles recently you can’t stay cross with them for long …..
We have one of arguably the prettiest cars of all time in the 2005-2016 Vantage in our grubby mitts.
Your not wrong there! still honeymooning like you after 14 months…. even if mines had a few niggles recently you can’t stay cross with them for long …..We have one of arguably the prettiest cars of all time in the 2005-2016 Vantage in our grubby mitts.
Kev
Davil said:
Congratulations. I have had mine for 1 year and 85 days. The thrill has not worn off in anyway. Such wonderful cars.
That’s good to know!I don’t really know what it is but owning one is just such a great thing, I just love it, even just cleaning it , let alone driving it
Kev
skhannes said:
Hi Kevin,
A momentous first year....what AM ownership should provide.
I am up to 5 whole weeks' ownership of my DB11...and still completely enamored with it! Only 47 more weeks to catch up to where you are now.
All the best and joy of ownership goes to you....
Thank youA momentous first year....what AM ownership should provide.
I am up to 5 whole weeks' ownership of my DB11...and still completely enamored with it! Only 47 more weeks to catch up to where you are now.
All the best and joy of ownership goes to you....
They really are wonderful and enjoy it!
I also recently celebrated a years ownership of my Rapide.
My report on ownership is somewhat boring.... no faults, just a glorious 12k miles. Some tarting up, wheel referb, service, odds and sods but nothing alarming.
I bought a 2003 mini cooper back in September for the school run, taking the dog out and those occasions where the car parks are either unknown or known to be s
te.
I love my Aston, and I love my Mini as it keeps the Aston special.
Don't get me wrong the Rapide gets driven, driven hard, enjoyed and looked after, and the freedom of the Mini is liberating.
My report on ownership is somewhat boring.... no faults, just a glorious 12k miles. Some tarting up, wheel referb, service, odds and sods but nothing alarming.
I bought a 2003 mini cooper back in September for the school run, taking the dog out and those occasions where the car parks are either unknown or known to be s
te. I love my Aston, and I love my Mini as it keeps the Aston special.
Don't get me wrong the Rapide gets driven, driven hard, enjoyed and looked after, and the freedom of the Mini is liberating.
BGB autosport said:
I also recently celebrated a years ownership of my Rapide.
My report on ownership is somewhat boring.... no faults, just a glorious 12k miles. Some tarting up, wheel referb, service, odds and sods but nothing alarming.
I bought a 2003 mini cooper back in September for the school run, taking the dog out and those occasions where the car parks are either unknown or known to be ste.
I love my Aston, and I love my Mini as it keeps the Aston special.
Don't get me wrong the Rapide gets driven, driven hard, enjoyed and looked after, and the freedom of the Mini is liberating.
That’s great My report on ownership is somewhat boring.... no faults, just a glorious 12k miles. Some tarting up, wheel referb, service, odds and sods but nothing alarming.
I bought a 2003 mini cooper back in September for the school run, taking the dog out and those occasions where the car parks are either unknown or known to be s
te. I love my Aston, and I love my Mini as it keeps the Aston special.
Don't get me wrong the Rapide gets driven, driven hard, enjoyed and looked after, and the freedom of the Mini is liberating.
12 k is very impressive!
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff