Hi guys,

Well, I thought it might be helpful to share some information on my Vantage on reaching the 40k milestone. I've had the car for about 2 years and it is definitely a daily driver. For those of you that own a Vantage or are thinking about getting one, here are some data points on my experience with the car.

Specifications

• 2006 AM V8 Vantage
• Tungsten Silver/Obsidian Black
• Premium Sound System
• Manual transmission
• No Nav
• No integrated phone/bluetooth
• Extended warranty

Service/Warranty

• Annual: Approximately $1,500 per visit
• Extended Warranty: Paid $4,400 for 2 years


Here's how I would categorize the mechanical items I've experienced:

Major

• Clutch: As of a few weeks ago, it started slipping on aggressive heel to toe moves (not noticeable during normal driving). I guess after 40k miles, it's reasonable for a clutch to wear down. This will probably run about $3,000


Minor

• Passenger door lock issues: (warranty item but not yet addressed as AM is looking into the root cause)
• Cracked washer fluid container: (warranty)
• Trunk ripples: Subtle waves on left and right side of trunk lid surface (warranty)
• Tires: Last about 15k miles and run about $300 each


Annoying

• Dash Rattle: Loose snaps (warranty - corrected)
• Emergency Control System: Issue went away after a few restarts
• CD: Occasionally fast forwarding/skipping
• Left Turn Indicator: Warning message (warranty)
• Brakes: Squeaky at slow speeds (replaced rear at about $500)
• Squeal: Noticeable at slow speeds (warranty - corrected by adjustment to the emergency brake cable)
• Smell: After giving it some juice, I smell a strange odor
• DSC Service Required: Saw this a few times after a few aggressive turns (went away on its own)
• Door handle arm: The driver-side door handle arm has a couple of chips from contact with the seat-belt buckle

The car is comfortable for short to medium distance trips with only slight discomfort on really long trips. It handles very well and moves when you want it to. It's easy to keep clean, and the Tungsten Silver specifically, keeps the car looking great even with some dirt/dust on the surface.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to rate this car a 9. It's the best car I've ever had in all categories (looks, performance, stability, engine note, quality, exclusivity…). I'm reserving the 10 for when I get my hands on the DBS. I may be setting myself up for disappointment, but I'll take that chance.

Hope this helps.

 

thanks for the info! i was actually wondering about this just a day or two ago, thinking of this exact type of post. i'm considering an AMV8V for a DD, and this is exactly what i wanted to know.

 

I'm curious about your dash rattle. What are the loose "snaps" you mentioned? Where are these snaps and can you get to them without taking the dash apart?

I had a dash rattle too. I realized it was coming from the vents near the windshield. Apparently, the screws that hold the plastic vent pieces down tend to loosen over time. You can fix the problem by tightening the screws, but it's tricky to get in there due to the angle of the windshield.

 

Thanks for the wonderful write up, I'm 10k miles behind you and this guide definitely helps.

I also have a subtle rattle on the dash, and when making aggressive right turns, hear this light squealing sound. Any idea what that might be?

 

I had two different dash rattle issues with the car:

One of the rattles was coming from the right front corner near the AC vents (passenger side). It turns out that some snaps had come loose (meant to hold the leather dash in place). The dealer took care of it but I never saw them do it. They said it was a common issue.

The most recent issue sounded like it was coming from the right side of the center console near the windshield. This time, the issue turned out to be a loose cable in the glove compartment used to "slow" the lowering of the door when opening it. The cable was snapped back in place by the dealer but, again, I did not watch them perform the fix.

I am happy to report my dash is now rattle free.

 

I am a big fan of the Vantage but when I test drove it at the dealer it had the dash issues you have experiened. Nothing irritates me more than squeaks and rattles so I passed on the car. Glad that you are very happy with yours. They are beautiful cars.

 

Great Post! I have those dang trunk ripples and they just jump out @ me

 

Not sure if your car is still under warranty but I do believe that the issue is covered. I was told that a certain batch of Vantages had the trunk ripples and it is fairly easily addressed. My understanding is that there is a mesh made of metal or some other material that was bonded to the inside of the trunk lid for extra strength, unnecessarily. Slowly but surely, the ripples, on both corners of the trunk, get worse and worse. The fix is to detach this mesh from those points on the trunk (by a professional). Once it was done, I was told that exposure to the Sun would allow the ripples to settle back down to the normal flat surface that was intended. It did! The trunk surface is 99.9% back to normal now.

 

Unfortunately I am out of warranty but I am familiar with removing the trunk liner Thanks Bud I may give it a shot next time I am bored

 

It is a pretty quick fix and is worth it IMO to pay service hourly to remove it.

Regarding the rattles, I also had the dealer tighten the screws in both vents by the windshield and they disappeared!

 

I have a rattle that is the nav vibrating when its in closed position. if I hold my finger down on the nav when its down the rattles end. any way of tightening? any one else have this issue.

also one of my AC vents in the middle dash is loose on one side, how are they removed/tightened?

 

Thanks for the update. No major issues, which is nice to hear.