Hello All -

Just about to close the deal on a 2009 DBS manual - were there any major issues or problems with this production year? Also - would you recommend getting the AM dealer extended warranty? Thanks fellas.

 

I read a lot about problems with high speed shudder. Probably something to do with the (very expensive) ceramic discs, but I'm not sure if it was ever fully resolved on the 2009 cars. I recall reading about repeated trips to the dealer that didn't ever resolve the problem........

Apart from that, I suspect that the DBS is probably as bullet-proof as the regular DB9; check the trim carefully and you should be good.

FF

 

As FF stated issues with the carbon ceramic brakes are the what I've heard of...where in Maryland are you? there are a few Aston owners here, are you buying from Aston of Washington over off Rt 7 in Tysons?

 

Thanks guys - I'm in the Baltimore area - but I'm down towards Tysons fairly often - so let me know if you guys are getting together. I'm getting the car from the AM dealer in Atlanta. What do you guys think about paying for an extended factory warranty?

 

I don't buy extended warranties for my cars. They wanted $ 3,900 for a one year on my Vantage emphasized with horror stories about a new engine being $ 50,000. (to which I quipped, 'Well if the engine is going to blow up, perhaps I should be going across the street to the Porsche store"...).

And a new engine is only like $ 26,000.

I'm very comfortable working on my own cars though - so I think some of that is whether or not you are, and also you have to read what the coverage is exactly. Most are not equal to a new car warranty. Read the policy before you buy and realize that is all it covers and nothing more. They usually go to the very letter of the policy on any repairs.

I didn't buy any of the extras. Not the extended warranty. Not the Clear Bra. Not the Paint Armor. Not the wheel rash guarantee. Nothing. Just the car. Got a lot of 'tsk-tsk's ... you may be sorry". But I'm not . So Far.

But you have to do what's comfortable for you, of course.

 

Thanks - will read the fine print and decide what the price of peace of mind is.

 

Where in the Baltimore area are you? I'm in the Baltimore area too, I'm in the city over in Canton! There are not too many AML owners here, more up in NoVA and Tysons. I'd love to get together sometime...do you go to any of the cars & coffee events there are a few in our area. There is also a pretty active enthusiast community and car scene here in the DC/MD/VA area.

I didn't get the extended warranty myself but to each their own if it helps you sleep at night so be it, to me it wasn't feasible based on my terms I negotiated, and I didn't really feel it worth it in terms of what it offered, period of issue, and exclusions...and this was a factory extented warranty programme. Are you leasing or buying? I bought my DB9 but was considering buying or leasing a 2009 DBS prior to finding my DB9 with sport pack and manual gearbox, silver meshes upgrades, and an offical autoshow press car plaques, all very rare qualities, so couldn't pass it up with the manual and the sport pack the car felt like as nimble as a Vantage with damn near the same performance of DBS cars I'd come accross back to back in my search process.

 

Listen to this guy! $3900 for a 1 year extended is just stupid, IMO!! These cars are pretty bullet proof, however make sure the ceramic brakes have been fixed before taking delivery, those things are stupid money!

 

For years 4 & 5 it is nowhere near the level of comprehensive cover that the factory original warranty provides, but after reading the small print it still seemed pretty good to me. Others on here don't think it's worth the trip as the cars are generally bullet proof with the exception of trim which the extended warranty does not cover. I just purchased my warranty extension last week, you can read some of the comments concerning that on this forum, including some other owners dissatisfaction with rejected claims (Dr C) - although I do not know the specifics.

Years 6 & 7 do not really seem to cover much beyond piece of mind against catastrophic failure.

BTW, if I were buying a car from the dealer, I'd ask them to throw in the extended warranty as part of he deal, or at Least offer it at a significant mark-down as I'm sure they have at least some water in the sales price...

 

I was quoted a little over $4k for 1 year and almost $8k for 2 years for my 2010 DBS. Absurd, in my opinion. Coverage is also significantly reduced as compared with the original warranty.

 

Get a PPI! Also, Aston in Tysons is pretty good. Their service department is pretty new but Peiter is a good guy.

 

BTW you really need to enact the warranty extension before the original factory warranty expires - otherwise you'll be forced to pay to fix anything that's spotted at the warranty inspection before the extension can take effect.

I only mention that because the DBS you're after is an 09 which means its got to be out of original factory warranty or close to it.

My 09 was first registered 12/23/09 hence my just purchasing the extension.

If you plan it right your PPI and warranty pre-inspection could be one and the same.

Edit add: Here are the 4/5 and 6/7 year warranty details if anyone would like to digest the nitty gritty!

FF

 

Appreciate everyone's input.

Quick thing - is there a discussion elsewhere about the high speed brake shudder? I test drove the car briefly and didn't notice it - but I didn't try to elicit it specifically since I wasn't aware. I may be screwed at this point - since I'm purchasing the car out of state and I can't go drive it again. My only hope is that since the car already has 12k miles on it - somebody addressed this issue along the way.

@FF - thanks for the PDF - very helpful.

@Sunir - I'm over in Fed hill right by the Inner Harbor. There's a couple other guys that I do some Sunday morning drives with every once in awhile - when I get settled with the new car we should catch up for sure.

@RossL - what's a PPI? Yes - I spoke to Peiter on the phone yesterday, he seems like a pleasant guy

@ Dr.C, Dan, MikeD - Thanks for trying to keep some $$ in my pocket and the sucker in me at bay


I will keep you guys posted on what I decide, and I'll put up some pics when I take delivery off the truck. I'm hoping the east coast winter stays away for just another couple weeks so I can enjoy her a little bit before hibernation has to set in.

 

PPI = Pre-Purchase Inspection

 

What model year is the car (you can tell from the 10th digit of the VIN)?
If it's 09MY the early car's didn't have the B&O system fitted, although in honesty this isn't that much better than the 700Watt Alpine system, it is best for re-sale as most buyers want the high end audio in the flagship car.

With regards to the vibration felt through the steering wheel here is a link to the Service Bulletin covering this point -
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/atta...-vibration.pdf