Another AM question

The Vantage will probably be cheaper than a Ferrari and a DB7 will probably be more expensive than a Ferrari...the DB7 is basically a XJS V12 only more dangerous and more expensive to fix. My friend had two DB7s the supercharged V6 and the V12, both were a complete nightmare.

 

I have had a 355 and have a DB7 GTA at the moment. The V12 in the DB7 is actually pretty bulletproof and it's built in Cologne and shipped to Aston in the UK. The main issue is coil packs which are prone to failure after about 5 years and can cause uneven running. The car does have character just like the 355 and problems can occur just like with any car. If you are a diy type then its an advantage. A lot of parts are interchangeable with Jaguar as the DB7 is based on the XJS running gear. If you get one pm me and I will send you a list of interchangeable parts. The cars are stunning to look at and the V12 rumble makes every trip a thrill no matter even if its to the grocery store.

The 355 got a lot of attention but the DB7 gets about as much and it's not even bright red. If you want a reliable car that's just the same as everyone else then you can go buy a lexus or bmw but the Aston will always give you individuality on the road. I have added some pictures to demonstrate )
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Any chance of enlightening us with some facts to back up your statements? If you have ever owned a a Ferrari especially a 355 then things can go downhill fast as far as money spent on problems. 355's have check engine light issues constantly and mine turned out to have the dreaded valve guide issue at below 10k miles. My Aston has 25K miles and most owners and people I know and from forums do not have the same fragility feeling that 355 owners do. I use mine as a daily driver but would never have used the 355 as such. Are Aston's perfect, well no it's like dating a super model there are going to be issues from time to time. I know people who have all kinds of cars that have turned out to be nightmares.

Why would you state that the DB7 is more dangerous than a XJS? The XJS doesn't even compare to the DB7 V12 in power or handling. Go look on youtube where someone is hurtling a DB7 around a wet track, an XJS would have never made the first corner (search:Aston Martin DB7 Vantage).

At least post something to backup your statements if you are going to pitch in on dissuading someone from a potential purchase.

 

Yes I think that there is higher use than before on the more exotic cars especially with the latest lower prices. The problem is they seem to suffer from irritating little problems like any hand built machine might. The advantage of mass production should always mean a better product than more bespoke machines. The big guys have their issues too, just look at Mercedes for instance whose reputation and quality took a real beating in the past few years. Maserati too, who have suffered horrendous amounts of issues in the last few years but people love them and use them daily.

I used to own a Jaguar restoration business in UK back in to 80's and although I loved Jags with a passion they were always troublesome. They had a following that were loyal and seemingly willing to overlook the downside for the pure pleasure of having a jag for whatever reason it floated their boat. Since 2001 Jag engines have been really good and I have had numerous cars that haven't cost me any real money to maintain. I understand there are the lemons and troublesome cars but careful buying and knowing what to do to avoid problems helps a lot with these cars.

My advise is not to own any car like a Ferrari or Aston if it means you have to rely on it as a sole source of transportation. In the UK public transportation abounds but in Los Angeles you are going to be stuck without a backup. In this mode then even if there are issues then you are not being deprived and obviously delays in parts or service schedules don't matter as much. I do my own work where I can and then leave it to the experts when it counts. I replaced the coil packs in the Aston (2003 DB7 GTA) and it took me a weekend as all the injection and intake manifolds have to come off to get to the heads. This did make the car run really well though so even if you paid a dealer it would have been worth it. I have also had issues like a wire coming off on the light switch which I had to find an re solder. The door handle linkage came adrift too so there was another project. Brake pads, oil changes and small service items like air filters are a snap and parts are on ebay or online if you want to get a better deal than the dealer. I put these down to part of the experience but others may see them as a reason to sell the car immediately.

If you are to go down the road of buying something that's different from the ordinary then a pre purchase inspection (PPI) is a must and this will at least give you a shot at knowing what you're getting into. For a couple of hundred bucks its a cheap investment and could save you a fortune. I also like warranties if possible, Jaguar has a select edition warranty that I think is superb.

That's my 2cents, good luck with whatever route you choose.

 

Well I had a '95 355 Berlinetta and while I only put about 11k miles on it the only issue I had was an air leak. So I emailed my friend about his issues with his DB7s and here is his list:

2003 DB7 GT:
5 coolant tanks cracked
Fuel contaminated by water on 3 occasions
New starter motor
Frequently accelerated by its self
New differential
Loads of sensors needed replacement
Battery went flat every month despite it being used as my daily driver
Engine began leaking oil after only three years...the deal said I needed a new engine and that it would cost £20k to replace.

1999 DB7 Volante:
Roof was out of alignment
Accelerated by its self
Brake failure on two occasions
Interior trim started falling apart since new

He totaled his '99 DB7 because of a combination of the car accelerating by its self and brake failure...I have no idea what could have possibly possessed him to buy another one...I do not believe that all of these issues are completely typical but I am sure some of them have to be.

 

Wow BlazinBWF, looks like the British car gods really didn't want your friend to own one. Just goes to show how crazy we are about some cars, look at the hassle this guy had and he still went back for more. I should explain some of these so-called issues though:

2003 DB7 GT:
5 coolant tanks cracked (This is obviously the owner using incorrect "low class" fluids).
Fuel contaminated by water on 3 occasions (Come-on this fellow was obviously abusing the vehicle by putting wrong fluids in wrong holes too)
New starter motor (This is a safety feature to stop the accident that would of occurred if the vehicle had been driven).
Frequently accelerated by its self (This is a special feature option on the GT)
New differential (The DB7 is fitted with a special sensor that determined the ratio's were unsuitable for the owners driving)
Loads of sensors needed replacement (Probably due to the wrong fluids being spilt on sensors by careless owner)
Battery went flat every month despite it being used as my daily driver (Owner left interior light on intentionally, probably seeking attention from tow truck driver)
Engine began leaking oil after only three years...the dealer said I needed a new engine and that it would cost £20k to replace. (Oil leak is a factory fitted option on most models, this guy was lucky)

1999 DB7 Volante:
Roof was out of alignment (Oh sure blame the car for this, probably a shipping incident)
Accelerated by its self (yes they do this when either the driver is accidentally pressing the right hand pedal or in need of an excuse for the insurance adjuster)
Brake failure on two occasions (This is just another excuse for poor driving).
Interior trim started falling apart since new (Factory fitted added value item on ALL cars to let owner touch and feel the fine crafted wood and leather interior)

 

...I do not think most of these issues were his fault. It is my understanding that his Astons were regularly serviced by the AM dealer in Edinburgh and that apart from the engine replacement all repairs and attempted repairs were covered under warranty.

 

Oh Dear BlazinBWF.... Sorry I should have warned that even though I live in the USA I am actually British, and we have this thing there called Humor.

 

...well even though I live in the USA I am actually German...so I do not understand "humor"...but because there is no tone over the internet it is hard to tell what is suppose to be humorous and what is not.

 

Ha, now that's funny!

Good luck to you and to JTranfield with his car choice.

Mark

 

2 years ago I helped my friend to buy a used '97 Volante with the Jaguar 6 cyl. engine. Now after 12 year and 20k km total mileage of HK tropical daily driving, failures included recent coolant leak due to a faulty hose, replacement of the heater matrix. The top is used frequently and the car is serviced once a year with oil change. When he bought it 2 years back, we did a complete checkup and replaced all hoses, check vital fluids. Therefore the reliability of Aston is dependent on luck, maintainence and the way these are driven. This particular Aston travel up/down the Peak daily and not a weekend driver. I have heard many horror stories of the V 12s and the recent DBs as well.

 

The car didnt need maintenance; it needed an Exorcism.