Hi guys, I'm new to the forums. I've been an AM admirer for quite some time and been looking to become an owner for a little while. I recently have decided to pull the trigger and am about to purchase a 2009 V8V with 24k miles. If you guys wouldn't mind sharing your experience I have a few questions...

1. Any common problems or little things that I should be on the look out for when I go to test drive the car? PS: It's a 6-speed manual.

2. It says it has a Premium Linn Audio system. I thought B&O made the premium sound system? Can you guys let me know the "levels" available to the audio system?

3. The seller (an independent) said he recently replaced the clutch, not because anything was wrong with it, but because he likes to be thorough. Does this seem a little odd at 24k miles?

4. Did they also upgrade the nav system between 2008 and 2009? The pictures of the images look a little better on the screen so I was just wondering. I used to own a Porsche and they have an excellent navi... I of course don't expect the same level of tech since AM is a smaller brand but just wanted to ask.

5. I think the V12V rims are AMAZING and want to get a pair for this car. Any idea on OEM price or does anyone have a pair they want to sell? Or any aftermarkets that look similar to those?

Thanks for the help guys and look forward to becoming an active member here on the forums.

 

I have an 09, but with the Sport Shift. So I should be able to answer these.

1. The common problems I've run into are the clutch, the radio, and the leather separating on the dash. I'll talk about the clutch in answer #3. For the radio, check to make sure AM works, a lot of people have had that stop working (including me) and the fix is to replace the whole system. Its also common for the leather to come loose on the top of the dash in various places because of heat's effect on the glue. I've only had one spot with the problem.

2. The premium system in the 09 is an Alpine. There was no B&O option in 09, only base and premium. When you turn on on it will say "Premium" (it never actually says Alpine anywhere).

3. To me the clutch is the weak link of this car. It seems to wear fast and have a high failure rate. Having said that, the Sport Shift seems to cause it to wear faster than someone with a regular manual who doesn't abuse it, so you would have a bit more control over it. So yes, I would be concerned that a car at 24k miles on its original clutch would need a new one. Thus getting a brand new clutch is a good thing.

4. Yes, the Nav system was upgraded for 09. The newer system runs off the hard drive whereas the older one ran off the DVD. So the new one operates faster. Everyone complains about it, but, while not super fancy, gets the job done.

5. Can't help you with wheels. On the 09's, there were 3 different original wheel choices: base, 20 spoke, and sports pack.

 

Thanks a lot for the reply Jay... very nice of you to be so detailed and you definitely gave me some great info. Really appreciate the insight!

 

Jay's advice sounds right on point. I have a manual '09. I haven't had any issues with the clutch, but it is one of the items that gets a fair amount of discussion on the forums. The main issue seems to be that reverse gear is quite tall -- its ratio is closer to 2nd than to 1st, so it can suffer if you slip it reversing up a hill, such as into a driveway. Some people go through clutches very quickly -- it's probably not that unusual for a clutch to be worn after 24K miles -- but others have gone past 60K and are still on the original clutch. I would be surprised, though, if the seller changed the clutch just as a precaution -- it's not cheap!

Regarding the test drive, keep in mind that these cars handle extremely well, but they are sensitive to alignment -- make sure it's set up properly.

My car had the AM radio failure -- it simply went silent one day, though everything else worked. It is the only failure my car has had (I've had it from new).

I don't know if the V12V wheels will fit. They are the same diameter, but they're wider: V8 wheels are 8.5"F/9.5"R, V12 wheels are 9"F/11"R.

BTW, to clarify Jay's post, there were 3 wheel choices, but only two wheels available in '09. The 20 spoke cast wheels in a silver finish were the base wheels, and these were also optionally available in a graphite finish. The Sports Pack came with 5-spoke forged wheels which, IMO, are the best-looking wheels yet used on any Vantage. Which wheels does the car have?

These are wonderful cars.

 

.....

 

<sniff> ... my world...DASHED! I'm driving an entry level car!! Oh - my. What will the neighbors say? Will the guys at CarMax make fun of me when I pull up? Will Ferrari of Washington even let me park in their lot?

I'm crushed now....

 

your missing the point, but CarMax will make fun of you if you pull up in a Honda Goldwing or the equivalent, lol. Sometimes the truth hurts. I would still own a Vantage if it wasn't for the idiotic clutch! It almost ruined AM for me, DB9 saved me. Cheers

 

I hate to add in but I was told at european used car dealer that the V8V was an entry level Aston. I remember it hurting my opinion of the car but took it home overnight to show it to the wife. It was not what i thought it was, it was much more of a raucous race car. I was also warned about clutches in that car by the mechanic out back. I still like the car and my daughter loved it.

I do have to agree that 10-20K miles for a clutch is unacceptable. What other super car needs clutches like that?

 

.....

 

I think you will find Ferrari F1, Maserati and other auto manual transmissions suffer from poor clutch life. This is much exacerbated by owners that do not have extensive experience with manual shifting. If you treat the car like it is a manual where the computer does the clutching for you the clutch will last much longer. You have to be ham fisted to only get 5k miles. That said, the clutch is largest a Achilles heel of the vantage. But not nearly as significant or costly as am IMS in a Porsche or oil starvation and crankcase venting issues with DB9 and DBS.

 

......

 

I to am not bashing the AM of any model, I lust for them. I had to buy a Bentley because I am a car moron and needed a, push the right pedal go and left one stop type car. I put a lot of miles on a car that I like.

With all weaknesses' I still see why you fellows bought DB's and Vantage's.

Thanks for letting an outsider post.

 

mokushiroku,

You posted rather anti-Vantage DB9-is-better prose in a thread started by a man who is very excitedly looking forward to taking delivery of a V8 Vantage

I own a 4.7 V8 Vantage with a manual gearbox. Drcollie did not miss your point (unless you failed to make it) and you most certainly did belittle the Vantage. Much of what is discussed on these forums is opinion, but much of what you wrote is opinion presented as fact.

The notion that an automatic transmission is by definition better and more reliable than a manual is simply untrue. Automatics have many things that can and do go wrong (hydraulics generally, pumps, torque converter, control valves, clutches and bands, electronics, etc). In fact, while I was on a tour with the AMOC a few years ago, the only Aston to suffer a breakdown (the cars ranged from ‘30s Astons to new ones) was a DB9 – and the problem was its automatic transmission.

Properly driven, the manual ‘box in the V8V (same 'box as in a manual DB9/DBS) should be very durable. While the clutch may be a “weakness” in what is generally a robust car, the clutch is no more of an issue than in other exotics. Further, most clutch issues involve Sportshift cars – most people with a manual (gear lever and clutch pedal) have not had any issues with the clutch, and many people have over 60K on their original clutch.

The notion that an automatic DB9 will be less costly to run than a V8 because it doesn’t have a clutch is rather amusing. The V12, wonderful though it is, is more expensive to run, to maintain and to service. According to numerous sources, including several Aston techs I’ve spoken with, the V8 is the more reliable engine. It’s highly unlikely that a DB9 will cost less to own.

The DB9 was introduced earlier than the V8V, so there are older DB9s for sale than there are V8Vs. Prices for early DB9s are very comparable to prices of early V8Vs – both are becoming “more accessible to the mainstream” . Your Vantage felt like an Elise??? The Elise is a great car, but that’s truly funny. So an "entry level Aston Martin" isn’t prestigious enough? A Ferrari 458? Sure wouldn't to be seen in one of those! What about a McLaren MP4-12C? Oh, the embarrassment. The Conti GT (take note, Dr.Disaster)? Too plebeian, apparently.

Many V8 Vantage owners chose it over the DB9 because they prefer the V8V. Both are wonderful, but they’re different cars. The V8 is much more the sports car, the DB9 much more the GT. Some prefer the looks of the Vantage, some prefer the looks of the DB9 or DBS. I prefer the bias to be on the sports car side, so after test-driving both, I bought my V8V. BTW, it’s every bit as quick as a DB9 – you just have to use the gearbox (which I really enjoy) – and the V8 is faster around a track (and would leave your E55 far behind as well). Some roads have curves.

The DB9 and the V8V are both wonderful cars with very distinct characters -- one isn’t “better” than the other. Which car suits someone better depends on what one wants from the car.

 

What he said!!

 

Looks like you were one of the unlucky ones (or didn't do clutch learns)
There is a lot of "myth" surrounding V8 clutch failures, have a look at this failure poll we did on PH.

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/t...hes!&mid=61237

The Vantage V8 clutch (V12 is different) is common on all the gear boxes
The highest failures are on manuals as people are more inclined to slip the clutch (especially in reverse) ASM1 does suffer if you don't do clutch learns and try to fight "creep" mode. ASM2 loses creep mode and has a "normal" reverse gear ratio.