Hmmmm not really. a clutch going at 25k being the norm is rubbish and we all know it. We live with it cause the car is worth the inconvenience.

 

I've set aside a $5k slush fund figuring if I don't need it for a clutch other things will probably arise.

 

Not sure you got my point, otherwise I can't see how you can disagree. If your clutch went too soon, there are only two possible causes: 1) a manufacturing defect (usually rivets snap and the springs pop out; or 2) the (previous) owner abused it. There are literally hundreds of Astons with 40K, 50K and 60K+ miles on the original clutch.

Anyone can destroy the clutch on any car be it Aston or any other brand if they set their mind to it or are completely ignorant. I give you exhibit A:

 

FYI: A clutch job at my dealership costs only $3,500. This being done by Craig Newton who was chosen as the top Aston Martin tech in the USA.

 

That was funny! classic braindead!!

your point (and mine) are hopefully well made! these are not bad clutches... clutches go bad because people dont know how to drive them. these clutches are fine.... but when you ride the clutch, especially with softer clutch material, used on single disc clutches to reduce the grabbiness of the higher pressure , pressure plates, you can cook them and they will come apart.
if you drive the car right, dont burn the clutch, put it in neutral when approaching stop with pedal out (coast). not depress clutch pedal unless you are actually starting out or shifting, you will alllow the clutch to service you for many many years and lots of miles. 100k for sure

 

what is involved in the job... just drop the exhaust, torquue tube and then bell housing, and then remove the clutch and TOB ?

 

Hahaha awesome. What a tool.

The issue with the clutch might be true in manual cars but I don't know much you can do to protect the clutch in a SS, other than not reversion on hills or using crawl all the time.

 

Yet another reason why I don't like automated manuals.

 

Well, I love a good automated manual system like BMW's DCT. After a month and so with a SS car I still can't get used to it and will probably be the reason I won't keep this car for more than a couple of years. Live and learn.

 

If you haven't had a chance to drive a Vantage with a manual gearbox, I suggest you give it a try. It's actually a really good feeling, solid shift.

 

nothing battery then a good manual gearbox............

 

I have been lucky so far... my AMV8 has 50k miles on the clock and the clutch still feels good. Another friend of mine has one with nearly 70K miles on the original clutch. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can get another 10-20k on mine!

 

I would like to see an Aston with a 100,000 mile clutch. I doubt one exists. A 100k clutch life is not a reasonable expectation in any car let alone an Aston.

 

if you know how to drive a clutch, yes its more than realistic. I drove my Porsche for 150,000 original miles with the same clutch. used parts of that clutch for a race car. ran the race car for 8 years and the clutch discs still had the serial numbers visible on the clutch disc surface. basically no wear and used for racing for 10 years and used 20,000 on the street.
most people just don't know how to drive a clutch . most all just don't

 

I have more than 93,000 miles on the original clutch of my daily driver Maxda MX-5