Potential V12S Purchase
Discussion
I am considering getting a 2013-2017 V12S to scratch the lifetime itch of both owning an Aston Martin and owning a V12 (before it is no longer possible). I've struggled a bit to find much buying advice online.
a) any suggestions for online reading up on the subject beyond youtube videos, PH buying guides etc?
b) I am looking only at cars with an AM warranty. Is this sensible or do any of the specialist dealers have warranties that are worth the paper they are written on?
c) There don't seem to be any must-have options particularly, with carbon seats both rare and desirable and personally I prefer the similarly rare carbon dash insert. Am I missing any really nice options?
Is there a ballpark figure for annual maintenance costs? I've had Porsches before where the rule of thumb was £2k a year (some years much more, some years less). Is there a guide figure for an AM V12 (I know it will be more than this!)
a) any suggestions for online reading up on the subject beyond youtube videos, PH buying guides etc?
b) I am looking only at cars with an AM warranty. Is this sensible or do any of the specialist dealers have warranties that are worth the paper they are written on?
c) There don't seem to be any must-have options particularly, with carbon seats both rare and desirable and personally I prefer the similarly rare carbon dash insert. Am I missing any really nice options?
Is there a ballpark figure for annual maintenance costs? I've had Porsches before where the rule of thumb was £2k a year (some years much more, some years less). Is there a guide figure for an AM V12 (I know it will be more than this!)
This usually gets recommended:- The Definitive Guide to Gaydon era Aston Martin: The Ultimate Aston Martin Guide - Grant Neal
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Definitive-Guide-Gaydon-A...
(physical copies turn up fairly regularly on eBay but can be quite expensive).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Definitive-Guide-Gaydon-A...
(physical copies turn up fairly regularly on eBay but can be quite expensive).
Re AM Warranty, a timeless extended warranty is nice to have for the first year but Ive never renewed after that. Since 2007 Ive had 3 (used) Vantages, most recent a V12S and they have proven very reliable over >160k miles. The expensive things have been wear items like clutches, brakes. You would need a few common faults per year in order to offset the £2500 per year warranty cost so I self insure.
Most V12s I've seen have all the options already (premium audio, cruise etc) and its just a case of finding a car in the right colour/trim/age/price. I must be one of the few people that prefer the "standard" seat option.
Running costs can vary depending on where you get caught in the consumable replacement cycle. Thankfully on a fairly low mileage V12 you shouldn't be replacing ceramic brake discs and the V12 clutch is robust, so its just yearly service and tyres/pads when you need them.
Fixed price dealer servicing is here https://www.sytner.co.uk/aston-martin/aftersales/f...
I had my V12S service earlier this year and it was £1100, but then I needed a new battery and decided to get the wheels refurbed. I might need a pair of rear tyres before end of year, £500 so probably £2500 this year.
At the optimistic end of the scale if you bought a well maintained example with warranty, you could hopefully drive it for a couple of years and just have a £1k service each year. Longer term £2k to £2.5k a year on average should suffice for routine service and consumables.
BillyB said:
I am considering getting a 2013-2017 V12S to scratch the lifetime itch of both owning an Aston Martin and owning a V12 (before it is no longer possible). I've struggled a bit to find much buying advice online.
a) any suggestions for online reading up on the subject beyond youtube videos, PH buying guides etc?
b) I am looking only at cars with an AM warranty. Is this sensible or do any of the specialist dealers have warranties that are worth the paper they are written on?
c) There don't seem to be any must-have options particularly, with carbon seats both rare and desirable and personally I prefer the similarly rare carbon dash insert. Am I missing any really nice options?
Is there a ballpark figure for annual maintenance costs? I've had Porsches before where the rule of thumb was £2k a year (some years much more, some years less). Is there a guide figure for an AM V12 (I know it will be more than this!)
Firstly, welcome to (likely) Aston ownership when you finally purchase your car. a) any suggestions for online reading up on the subject beyond youtube videos, PH buying guides etc?
b) I am looking only at cars with an AM warranty. Is this sensible or do any of the specialist dealers have warranties that are worth the paper they are written on?
c) There don't seem to be any must-have options particularly, with carbon seats both rare and desirable and personally I prefer the similarly rare carbon dash insert. Am I missing any really nice options?
Is there a ballpark figure for annual maintenance costs? I've had Porsches before where the rule of thumb was £2k a year (some years much more, some years less). Is there a guide figure for an AM V12 (I know it will be more than this!)
As a V12 S owner of several years I'd say the following.
Servicing varies from about £800 to £1600 per annum based on which service is due. These are main dealer prices. Aston dealers generally have a good reputation - I use Nottingham which is very very good indeed.
Tyres aren't horrific. Many of us switched to MPS4s and think the car is better on those compared to the OE Pirellis.
I also keep an AM Timeless Warranty on the car - some people don't bother. Depending on the actual age of the vehicle its between 1200 and 2k per year.
There are specialists out there, and some are very good indeed, but often buyers like to see main dealer stamps all the way through when you come to resell - although, you probably won't want to ever sell it because the driving/ownership experience is fantastic. (The engine is just epic)
Manuals are rare compared to SS3 (flappy paddle) and command quite a premium. The SS3 box though is the final and best interaction of the flappy paddle of this type and to be candid its bloody excellent - you just have to learn how to drive it properly. Its not a PDK box, so its not idiot proof, so the satisfaction from getting it right is immense.
The AM premium Audio system is very good. You don't need the full monty upgrade to enjoy it. Earlier cars have the traditional type centre console with the buttons. Later ones have the haptic type touch thingies. It's a matter of personal choice. That internal consul trim can be swapped quite easily if it doesn't already have Carbon fibre.
The Carbon seats are rare, but the normal sports seats are pretty good anyway. It literally costs thousands to retrofit the carbon seats and probably isn't worth it.
Colour choice is entirely personal. Most cars were black or silver, but there were some colourful ones built too with blues, yellows, greens, reds and oranges all out there. My own car is morningfrost white (pearl) with the black lightweight wheels, black roof, and lots of exterior carbon fibre. It looks epic.
Reliability wise they are pretty good, but with any (nearly) 600hp supercar you can and should budget for the occasional issue. Clutch life is really dependant on who has been driving it!
Lastly they all have Carbon brake discs, and you need to make sure that these are in tip top condition. Smooth, bright and shiny, no scores or damage of any kind to the surface. Looked after properly the discs and pads will do 80k miles. Abused ones are 10k + to replace!!!!
Good luck with your search, and don't dither, just do it!
Not sure where you're based, but a set of four pilot sport 4s including fitting in the south-east at a reputable place, dealing regularly with high-end cars was £950.
I did it a few weeks ago on my V12 vantage s. Main Dealer wanted £1300 fitted.
Just one example of where you can save a bit of money on running costs. However, as mentioned above, personally I wouldn't get the annual service done outside of main dealer network...if ever were to sell. Hoping to never have to...epic car, exciting times!
I did it a few weeks ago on my V12 vantage s. Main Dealer wanted £1300 fitted.
Just one example of where you can save a bit of money on running costs. However, as mentioned above, personally I wouldn't get the annual service done outside of main dealer network...if ever were to sell. Hoping to never have to...epic car, exciting times!
If buying outside the dealer network get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
I bought mine just over a year ago, and despite having a strong history, I missed a failed windscreen washer pump, a dodgy coolant cap. I also have a problem with the SS3 at the moment which I think is due to sticky gearshift paddle. Admittedly this has only come on this year, but I do recall some missed upshifts in the early days of ownership that I thought were user error, but were probably the start of this and a pre existing problem.
Most importantly, make sure you get it tested for any signs of a misfire [at various rpms] as this can be fatal for the engine if neglected.
CCB rotors can be a problem. They need to be clean and shiny and only washed with water - wheel cleaning products can prematurely age CCB rotors..
ASM pipes are common problem with SS3 - they were replaced on mine at 9 years old..
Get clutch wear numbers - there should be available from service history
Consider putting aside money for a headlight venting kit [AM Upgrades]
Rear lights are common problem on VH cars - mine leak but are fine in the dry. Poss MOT fail
TPMS sensor can be a problem [Poss MOT fail] - I have this issue too - it may not be the sensors themselves but one of the control modules.
Apart from that they're amazing cars
ooh - consider putting aside some money for a AppleCar play upgrade as the infotainment interface is pants - see Aston Instalations for this.
I bought mine just over a year ago, and despite having a strong history, I missed a failed windscreen washer pump, a dodgy coolant cap. I also have a problem with the SS3 at the moment which I think is due to sticky gearshift paddle. Admittedly this has only come on this year, but I do recall some missed upshifts in the early days of ownership that I thought were user error, but were probably the start of this and a pre existing problem.
Most importantly, make sure you get it tested for any signs of a misfire [at various rpms] as this can be fatal for the engine if neglected.
CCB rotors can be a problem. They need to be clean and shiny and only washed with water - wheel cleaning products can prematurely age CCB rotors..
ASM pipes are common problem with SS3 - they were replaced on mine at 9 years old..
Get clutch wear numbers - there should be available from service history
Consider putting aside money for a headlight venting kit [AM Upgrades]
Rear lights are common problem on VH cars - mine leak but are fine in the dry. Poss MOT fail
TPMS sensor can be a problem [Poss MOT fail] - I have this issue too - it may not be the sensors themselves but one of the control modules.
Apart from that they're amazing cars
ooh - consider putting aside some money for a AppleCar play upgrade as the infotainment interface is pants - see Aston Instalations for this.
BillyB said:
Thanks all. Are there any specialist dealers you would trust to not have to do a PPI with, or just AM main dealers?
There are a number of Great independent specialist dealers [Nicholas Mee, Chiltern Aston to name but two] and they will normally cover you with a warranty of some type. If buying from non specialist beware! I looked at a lovely manual car, it did have that one inspected. It had problems so I walked away.
One other thing I forgot to mention is corroded rear subframe. Even low milage cars can suffer with this depending upon where they've been living. This is something like a 3k restoration IIRC. The subframe is steel and had a very thin coating of paint at factory and is the one area on the car susceptible to rust.
If you buy from the dealer network you should be fine. That said I looked at a very expensive dealer car that had 10 year old rubber on it and they told me it would be fine.. I walked away at that point.
Edited by CatalystV12V on Thursday 8th May 16:48
n12maser said:
On the point around looking after the carbon discs, are owners washing their alloys with just water or using some kind of mild car shampoo?
No brake dust but they still get dirty after a while
Lots of water and a little very mild shampoo. Nothing corrosive and nothing that even suggests "alloy wheel cleaner" on the packaging, no matter what it says it is "safe for"....No brake dust but they still get dirty after a while
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