Thanks and Hello...
Discussion
So.
After hanging around like a bad smell and reading this forum everyday for the past 18 months, I collected the car of my dreams yesterday.
An N400 Roadster in lightning silver. I know the rules well enough by now and I took some photos to upload but the file size appears to be too big....
What can I say? What an amazing car. It has such road presence and even in London everyone just gapes.
The dealer told me that he had manually bypassed the exhaust valves and so there was no need to remove fuse 22. However, i'm not sure - everytime it goes over 4000rpm, it sounds like there is a banshee in the boot. He told e that dealers did not like it since they got hundreds of error messages from the ECU at service time if the fuse is removed but i'm less inclined to worry too much about that, I think i'll pop it out this afternoon and see what difference it makes...
I am now very glad I went for a manual and a roadster. Because you sit so low, the wind noise and outside temperature hardly distract you at all. And that noise is just so much better.
It is obviously still very new to me, but the only negative thing at the minute is that I am completely paranoid about leaving it on the road or in an NCP. Hopefully that will lessen as time goes on but as it is, if it is not in a garage i am perpetually on edge.
Anyway, it feels very different posting on this forum now - less like im a little boy peering through the window of somewhere very swanky. As has been said many time before, this forum is so very helpful and there have been a lot of posts and a lot of people who have contributed to me making this decision and without whom I probably would not have taken the leap. I am so glad I did and its comforting knowing that there is such a valuable resource for any issues and such a dedicated group of people who are never too busy to give advice and help. So thank you.
Its off to Scotland this week to take in some roads/scenery and give the old girl a chance to stretch her legs...
Just a couple of things from one day of driving:
1. First gear seems to 'stick' a lot. I'm often at traffic lights and it can take two or three goes for me to engage it otherwise the stubborn thing just wont move. First to second seems fine though (although my gearchange timing need improving!)
2. At slow speeds (speed bumps) there seems to be a very funny noise from the fuel tank area. It sounds like sand travelling through an hourglass. The car also takes a moment or two before it then really 'engages' and 'pulls'. Is this the same 'throttle flap clean' issue which was posted very recently?
3. I never realised just how much I 'ride' the clutch in reverse in a car before. However in this, the smell is just heart-wrenching (and makes me think I am dropping £20 notes all over the floor). Even in a flat NCP i'm quite reluctant to let the clutch out fully for fear the damn thing will just shoot back into a wall. Any tips/advice?
Pics soon.
Promise.
OS
After hanging around like a bad smell and reading this forum everyday for the past 18 months, I collected the car of my dreams yesterday.
An N400 Roadster in lightning silver. I know the rules well enough by now and I took some photos to upload but the file size appears to be too big....
What can I say? What an amazing car. It has such road presence and even in London everyone just gapes.
The dealer told me that he had manually bypassed the exhaust valves and so there was no need to remove fuse 22. However, i'm not sure - everytime it goes over 4000rpm, it sounds like there is a banshee in the boot. He told e that dealers did not like it since they got hundreds of error messages from the ECU at service time if the fuse is removed but i'm less inclined to worry too much about that, I think i'll pop it out this afternoon and see what difference it makes...
I am now very glad I went for a manual and a roadster. Because you sit so low, the wind noise and outside temperature hardly distract you at all. And that noise is just so much better.
It is obviously still very new to me, but the only negative thing at the minute is that I am completely paranoid about leaving it on the road or in an NCP. Hopefully that will lessen as time goes on but as it is, if it is not in a garage i am perpetually on edge.
Anyway, it feels very different posting on this forum now - less like im a little boy peering through the window of somewhere very swanky. As has been said many time before, this forum is so very helpful and there have been a lot of posts and a lot of people who have contributed to me making this decision and without whom I probably would not have taken the leap. I am so glad I did and its comforting knowing that there is such a valuable resource for any issues and such a dedicated group of people who are never too busy to give advice and help. So thank you.
Its off to Scotland this week to take in some roads/scenery and give the old girl a chance to stretch her legs...
Just a couple of things from one day of driving:
1. First gear seems to 'stick' a lot. I'm often at traffic lights and it can take two or three goes for me to engage it otherwise the stubborn thing just wont move. First to second seems fine though (although my gearchange timing need improving!)
2. At slow speeds (speed bumps) there seems to be a very funny noise from the fuel tank area. It sounds like sand travelling through an hourglass. The car also takes a moment or two before it then really 'engages' and 'pulls'. Is this the same 'throttle flap clean' issue which was posted very recently?
3. I never realised just how much I 'ride' the clutch in reverse in a car before. However in this, the smell is just heart-wrenching (and makes me think I am dropping £20 notes all over the floor). Even in a flat NCP i'm quite reluctant to let the clutch out fully for fear the damn thing will just shoot back into a wall. Any tips/advice?
Pics soon.
Promise.
OS
The N400 was my first introduction to AM so I salute you for a fantastic choice. Conversely I am not a silver/black/dark blue fan when it comes to colours (despite my N400 being Black and my GT3 before that being silver). However the lightning silver on the AM is terrific so again I salute you. I have been fortunate with gearboxes so far so don't recognise the 1st gear problem although others have experienced it judging from other discussion topics. I am sure someone will be along to advise. My suggestion is that you work closeley with your dealer as, in my experience, they are the best in the industry and will generally work with you to resolve any outstanding niggles. What sort of mileage have you got on the car ?
With the good weather beginning to peep over the horizon you are in for some great driving over the next few months. Just don't forget the pics.
With the good weather beginning to peep over the horizon you are in for some great driving over the next few months. Just don't forget the pics.
Old Skool said:
1. First gear seems to 'stick' a lot. I'm often at traffic lights and it can take two or three goes for me to engage it otherwise the stubborn thing just wont move. First to second seems fine though (although my gearchange timing need improving!)
2. At slow speeds (speed bumps) there seems to be a very funny noise from the fuel tank area. It sounds like sand travelling through an hourglass. The car also takes a moment or two before it then really 'engages' and 'pulls'. Is this the same 'throttle flap clean' issue which was posted very recently?
3. I never realised just how much I 'ride' the clutch in reverse in a car before. However in this, the smell is just heart-wrenching (and makes me think I am dropping £20 notes all over the floor). Even in a flat NCP i'm quite reluctant to let the clutch out fully for fear the damn thing will just shoot back into a wall. Any tips/advice?
Pics soon.
Promise.
OS
Congrats on the car. Enjoy it.2. At slow speeds (speed bumps) there seems to be a very funny noise from the fuel tank area. It sounds like sand travelling through an hourglass. The car also takes a moment or two before it then really 'engages' and 'pulls'. Is this the same 'throttle flap clean' issue which was posted very recently?
3. I never realised just how much I 'ride' the clutch in reverse in a car before. However in this, the smell is just heart-wrenching (and makes me think I am dropping £20 notes all over the floor). Even in a flat NCP i'm quite reluctant to let the clutch out fully for fear the damn thing will just shoot back into a wall. Any tips/advice?
Pics soon.
Promise.
OS
On your issues...
1) Shouldn't really happen unless the box is cold, when they can get stiff. I'd ask for it to be looked at - there were service bulletins for stiff boxes, and I believe there's an additive that helps matters (Rick advised).
2) No idea...worth getting it checked out.
3) Reverse gear's very high in the V8, so what you're experiencing's not totally uncommon (as is stalling it in reverse trying to avoid this!). You need to be careful with it as, as you suspect, clutches aren't cheap. You'll get used to it in time I think.
Congratulations on the car - we are awiting pictures. 
Re the parking - in my case (2 years) no it doesn't get easier. Avoid public car parks if at all possible, but luckily have a battered Range Rover for those types of trips. Can still hear the noise as I ever so slightly grazed a wheel by mis-judging the distance to the kerb.
Re the parking - in my case (2 years) no it doesn't get easier. Avoid public car parks if at all possible, but luckily have a battered Range Rover for those types of trips. Can still hear the noise as I ever so slightly grazed a wheel by mis-judging the distance to the kerb.
Guys, am I losing the plot?!
Both on this site and in the manual, the boot fuse box is said to be in the left hand side of the boot in a roadster.
In my N400 there is a removable panel on the right hand side which appears to contain some sort of yellow box which looks vaguely electrical but I know it's not the battery. There is no black fuse box of the type described.
On the right hand side, I can see a few holes in the carpet and the White fuel cap emerency pull which can be reached with some deft fingerwork. That is it. There does not appear to be anything which 'pulls away' on the left hand side.
So. I can't find fuse 22! Are N400's different to the usual setup?!
To answer a previous query, I was (un)lucky to find a really low mileage example so this one has done circa 3000 miles.
Thanks
OS
Both on this site and in the manual, the boot fuse box is said to be in the left hand side of the boot in a roadster.
In my N400 there is a removable panel on the right hand side which appears to contain some sort of yellow box which looks vaguely electrical but I know it's not the battery. There is no black fuse box of the type described.
On the right hand side, I can see a few holes in the carpet and the White fuel cap emerency pull which can be reached with some deft fingerwork. That is it. There does not appear to be anything which 'pulls away' on the left hand side.
So. I can't find fuse 22! Are N400's different to the usual setup?!
To answer a previous query, I was (un)lucky to find a really low mileage example so this one has done circa 3000 miles.
Thanks
OS
Congratulations and welcome.
My V8V Roadster definately had the fuse box in the left hand side of the boot, I cant see it being different on an N400. It is recessed and access to the fuses is from above. Its a long time since I did mine but I think the carpet there has to be lifted. The yellow box on the other side is something to do with tyre inflation I believe.
I had issues with reverse gear into 1st which led to a new gearbox after just a couple of thousand miles. I emphasize this was a rarity but definately worth talking to your dealer. The gearboxes are known to be stiff when cold.
Di
My V8V Roadster definately had the fuse box in the left hand side of the boot, I cant see it being different on an N400. It is recessed and access to the fuses is from above. Its a long time since I did mine but I think the carpet there has to be lifted. The yellow box on the other side is something to do with tyre inflation I believe.
I had issues with reverse gear into 1st which led to a new gearbox after just a couple of thousand miles. I emphasize this was a rarity but definately worth talking to your dealer. The gearboxes are known to be stiff when cold.
Di
Wellcome to AM and congratulations. The parking issue will not go away. I am just as bad now as when we first took delivery. Please let us know how you get on in Scotland we plan to go in May. Each and every hotel we plan to stay at has been Googled to check the parking!
I have not encountered any gear change problems so cannot comment though agree that reverse is very tall which does lead to slipping and the inevitable smell of burning. I hardly use any revs because there is so much torque, that seems to help.
Regards Rob
I have not encountered any gear change problems so cannot comment though agree that reverse is very tall which does lead to slipping and the inevitable smell of burning. I hardly use any revs because there is so much torque, that seems to help.
Regards Rob
Have you seen this link for Fuse 22 on the roadster -
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=832...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=832...
Okay.
So first of all:
Di - Thank you. I was being a tad too caring. Once I started to aggressively rip out various combinations of carpet I found the box. As you said, accessed from above. Pulled out the damn thing after fiddling with it for an age. Oh what a difference...
Tony Russell/robgt - thank you. I find that as long as i move the clutch up quite slowly, i don't need any throttle at all for the reverse gear except for when I am on a pronounced incline. It has made a real difference to my happiness to use the reverse gear!
So I have just spent the last week putting nearly 1000 miles on the car and getting to know her a bit... Went through the yorkshire dales on some amazing roads, then up towards Edinburgh and backe out west towards Loch Lomund, through Stirling and along the A84/A85. What marvellous stretches of road. I couldn't recommend Scotland enough but I would say beware of how long the schlep is. Some routes took me CONSIDERABLY longer than I thought. Its a combination of the wonderful scenery, the desire to stop at least a few times, general tiredness and the fact that it is a bigger country than given credit for! For those planning a trip, there is a LOT of useful information in the "roads" section of Pistonheads (just look for any topics with the word scotland in the title) and this especially was very helpful :
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...
The promised pictures!
A few 'personality' traits seem to have come through the last week. The only one which is in the 'annoying' category is the fact that first gear sticks. Very annoying at traffic lights etc. Of the others:
1. I thought i was repeatedly getting flashed until i realised that the surround around the gearstick reflects a lot of light from above!
2. I hate the way the subwoofer 'pops' back into sound when the satnav has finished barking instructions
3. The satnav. Hmmm....
4. I was ruing the lack of carpets when i saw the state of the floor after a week. Time to get on ebay...
5. There is a lack of 'pull' a strange whooshing noise at low revs. Maybe just needs the throttle flap cleaning.
6. In 6th gear, on motorways, after it has been 'idling' for a while, if you put the foot down, it really seems to be startled and after a second or two jumps forward. Only happened a few times but quite odd. Especially at 70mph.
7. I got a 'tire warning error' a few times. Once I stopped, turned the engine off and then on, it disappeared. Has happened a few times and is quite disconcerting. Especially at 70 (+10%) mph.
8. Oh she can drink!
But on the whole what a machine. Nothing but positive comments and admiring glances. Whenever I stopped at a service station or for fuel, I would turn around and be in shock as to (1) how unbelievably pretty it is (2) that it is mine to drive.
As someone on this forum once said (and whose words I never forget) if anyone out there is considering one,
Get.
It.
Bought.
OS
So first of all:
Di - Thank you. I was being a tad too caring. Once I started to aggressively rip out various combinations of carpet I found the box. As you said, accessed from above. Pulled out the damn thing after fiddling with it for an age. Oh what a difference...
Tony Russell/robgt - thank you. I find that as long as i move the clutch up quite slowly, i don't need any throttle at all for the reverse gear except for when I am on a pronounced incline. It has made a real difference to my happiness to use the reverse gear!
So I have just spent the last week putting nearly 1000 miles on the car and getting to know her a bit... Went through the yorkshire dales on some amazing roads, then up towards Edinburgh and backe out west towards Loch Lomund, through Stirling and along the A84/A85. What marvellous stretches of road. I couldn't recommend Scotland enough but I would say beware of how long the schlep is. Some routes took me CONSIDERABLY longer than I thought. Its a combination of the wonderful scenery, the desire to stop at least a few times, general tiredness and the fact that it is a bigger country than given credit for! For those planning a trip, there is a LOT of useful information in the "roads" section of Pistonheads (just look for any topics with the word scotland in the title) and this especially was very helpful :
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...
The promised pictures!
A few 'personality' traits seem to have come through the last week. The only one which is in the 'annoying' category is the fact that first gear sticks. Very annoying at traffic lights etc. Of the others:
1. I thought i was repeatedly getting flashed until i realised that the surround around the gearstick reflects a lot of light from above!
2. I hate the way the subwoofer 'pops' back into sound when the satnav has finished barking instructions
3. The satnav. Hmmm....
4. I was ruing the lack of carpets when i saw the state of the floor after a week. Time to get on ebay...
5. There is a lack of 'pull' a strange whooshing noise at low revs. Maybe just needs the throttle flap cleaning.
6. In 6th gear, on motorways, after it has been 'idling' for a while, if you put the foot down, it really seems to be startled and after a second or two jumps forward. Only happened a few times but quite odd. Especially at 70mph.
7. I got a 'tire warning error' a few times. Once I stopped, turned the engine off and then on, it disappeared. Has happened a few times and is quite disconcerting. Especially at 70 (+10%) mph.
8. Oh she can drink!
But on the whole what a machine. Nothing but positive comments and admiring glances. Whenever I stopped at a service station or for fuel, I would turn around and be in shock as to (1) how unbelievably pretty it is (2) that it is mine to drive.
As someone on this forum once said (and whose words I never forget) if anyone out there is considering one,
Get.
It.
Bought.
OS
Lovely looking car welcome to the roadster owners 
Some feed back for you;
1. I thought i was repeatedly getting flashed until i realised that the surround around the gearstick reflects a lot of light from above! iti s not a true roadster. it's a very stiff coupe with the roof removed. This is one of the things that shows it, along with the dim instruments, the lack of rain guide at the top of the roof and general buffeting at high speed.
2. I hate the way the subwoofer 'pops' back into sound when the satnav has finished barking instructions don't use the sat nav its crap even with the DVD upgrade
3. The satnav. Hmmm.... see 2
4. I was ruing the lack of carpets when i saw the state of the floor after a week. Time to get on ebay... I got some cheap £30 ones as over mats
5. There is a lack of 'pull' a strange whooshing noise at low revs. Maybe just needs the throttle flap cleaning. worth a try
6. In 6th gear, on motorways, after it has been 'idling' for a while, if you put the foot down, it really seems to be startled and after a second or two jumps forward. Only happened a few times but quite odd. Especially at 70mph. maybe related to 5
7. I got a 'tire warning error' a few times. Once I stopped, turned the engine off and then on, it disappeared. Has happened a few times and is quite disconcerting. Especially at 70 (+10%) mph. common problem because the sensing unit it sat in the passenger footwell. I'm going to swithc mine off and put standard valves in when I next need tyres. I'd rather check them myself with a good gauge
8. Oh she can drink! it great though!
Some feed back for you;
1. I thought i was repeatedly getting flashed until i realised that the surround around the gearstick reflects a lot of light from above! iti s not a true roadster. it's a very stiff coupe with the roof removed. This is one of the things that shows it, along with the dim instruments, the lack of rain guide at the top of the roof and general buffeting at high speed.
2. I hate the way the subwoofer 'pops' back into sound when the satnav has finished barking instructions don't use the sat nav its crap even with the DVD upgrade
3. The satnav. Hmmm.... see 2
4. I was ruing the lack of carpets when i saw the state of the floor after a week. Time to get on ebay... I got some cheap £30 ones as over mats
5. There is a lack of 'pull' a strange whooshing noise at low revs. Maybe just needs the throttle flap cleaning. worth a try
6. In 6th gear, on motorways, after it has been 'idling' for a while, if you put the foot down, it really seems to be startled and after a second or two jumps forward. Only happened a few times but quite odd. Especially at 70mph. maybe related to 5
7. I got a 'tire warning error' a few times. Once I stopped, turned the engine off and then on, it disappeared. Has happened a few times and is quite disconcerting. Especially at 70 (+10%) mph. common problem because the sensing unit it sat in the passenger footwell. I'm going to swithc mine off and put standard valves in when I next need tyres. I'd rather check them myself with a good gauge
8. Oh she can drink! it great though!
Edited by mikey k on Sunday 13th March 13:48
Couple of nice photos there - a few with waaayyy to much background and not enough Aston!
Re the tyre pressure warning, have you looked at the control box under the glovebox and seen which tyre it thinks is down on pressure? It may actually be warning you one of the tyres is low. The only time mine has flashed up I had a screw in the tyre and yes it was losing pressure slowly.
Satnav is a waste of money!
Like a drink? Don't we all
Glad you enjoying it.
Re the tyre pressure warning, have you looked at the control box under the glovebox and seen which tyre it thinks is down on pressure? It may actually be warning you one of the tyres is low. The only time mine has flashed up I had a screw in the tyre and yes it was losing pressure slowly.
Satnav is a waste of money!
Like a drink? Don't we all
Glad you enjoying it.
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