The “Aston Martin Experience”

[GreasyHands]

I was looking at another thread and noticed that a couple people mentioned buying their used Aston through an AM dealer because the wanted, in part, the “Aston Martin experience”. I have to say I find this curious because I have neither seen nor heard a peep from AM since purchasing my car and nothing I would refer to as an experience.

As a little background:

I purchased my slightly used AM Vantage about two years ago from an AM dealer. It included the “Timeless Warranty”. The car showed up. End of story. I have never received a single email, letter, anything acknowledging that I am an Aston customer from Aston corporate. After a few months, I didn’t receive my Aston Martin magazine that I was told was included as part of the timeless warranty. I called the folks at Aston and eventually got through to the people who publish and mail the magazine. Their response was “ We decided not to send it out anymore to Timeless Warranty owners”. I said the docs say it’s part of the TImeless Warranty package. Their response was “ Well..We used to send it out but decided to stop..sorry.”

That has been my interaction. I did find it a bit strange since my prior purchases fro Porsche, even CPO ,have always included some type of thank you and acknowledgement. My wifegot a carbon fiber pen and some other swag sent after her last Porsche CPO purchase. ( Heck, after she got the pen she was so excited I thought she was going to buy another car!) Not to mention, I also get a copy of the Porsche magazine and occasional announcement of new cars…

On the one hand I’m happy AM hasn’t gone belly up yet. On the other, I’m curious if there is some acknowledgement or swag one would expect as an Aston customer. At one point, I did call the national Aston Martin After Sales Manager forI North America about what I thought was a petty move reneging on the magazine promise and all I got from that conversation was, “Sorry, not my department.”

So, on to my questions:

Is there an Aston Martin sales experience away from getting your car repaired under warranty, as one would expect with any brand? Anybody even get a thank you for your purchase from AM corporate? Is Porsche just that much better communicating with customers?

Edited by GreasyHands on Tuesday 17th May 20:35

Edited by GreasyHands on Tuesday 17th May 21:39

Edited by GreasyHands on Tuesday 17th May 21:40

Edited by GreasyHands on Tuesday 17th May 21:40

Edited by GreasyHands on Tuesday 17th May 21:41

Edited by GreasyHands on Tuesday 17th May 21:45

[GreasyHands]

It appears that much of the “ experience” is driven ( pun intended) by dealers and not necessarily by corporate.

My local AM dealer has been great although I didn’t buy the car from them. However, I’ve been invited to multiple driving events, gratis, by my local Porsche dealers even though I have never bought a car from those specific dealers

My local Ferrari dealer invited me to personalized test drives regularly and I’ve also never bought from them

I do feel that being from the US, I am a little spoiled. I expect my cars to be picked up for service and delivered back to my driveway. I expect loaner cars for servicing. Yeah, I even expect coffee, donuts and free chit chat from any “upscalish” dealer. I get birthday greetings from everybody.

I guess I expected some modest thank you from corporate. Maybe a pen, maybe a calendar or notebook. Just some acknowledgement that I even exist and a perfunctory “ welcome to the family”

I’ve received nada… not even junk mail…seems like that’s just how Aston operates and I am not unduly neglected.

Just been curious for the last couple years. Thanks everyone for your input.