Agreed

 

Thanks for all the advice. Very helpful. I have to learn about the differences between the years,both body and drive train.

 

I am getting the same $1500/yr service quote from Palm Beach FL Aston as well for a V8V... Whats the DIY cost of that same service?

 

The $1500 is an average calculated over the ownership through a period of time. Some years maybe higher and some lower.

Aston will run you no higer than a Ferrari or Lambo and on average per year cost lower to own. The v12 Astons are more costly to maintain than the V8.

 

Aston Martin recommends a oil change and brake fluid flush every year on my DB9. My local dealer quoted me about $850 for the oil change and another $4-500 for the brake fluid flush. My cost - $65 for the oil filter, $60 for the oil, and about $12 for the Super DOT 4 brake fluid. The brake fluid flush is so easy my wife could do it. The oil change is more challenging but is very do-able, just time consuming. Hope this helps. I also recommend getting the diff fluid and coolant changed every 5 years or 40k miles which ever is first.

 

Understood that if something breaks on an expensive car... its expensive. BUT the DIY maintenance costs are sounding like... dare I say... a 'normal' car? I wanted EXOTIC! Haha.. Kidding.

This is EXACTLY why I am not getting into a 355!

 

I bet the Aston is more reliable and cheaper to maintain than a 335i after my BMW experience! I had a bimmer 7 series and it was the worst car experience I have ever had! I have never owned a car so unreliable before until I owned a BMW. That car was constantly breaking down and leaving my wife stranded. Car drove great and had a real nice interior but way to much plastic in the engine bay. I was shocked that the drive pulleys were made of plastic!! Drove nice but once the warranty was up it fell apart fast!

 

I'm getting an Italian car to add to the stable next...maybe 430 or Lambo G or murci.

Not too worried about the maintenance, if the car has been upkept well that goes a long way...I really like the service package in the 458 Italia BUT the 430 is the last of the gated shifter manual trans cars, which I really want. Also on the list is one of my favs, the Ferrari CS. It's a cult car though, more of a collectors item car. Fun to drive though!

 

Sunir,

Nice choices! I too love the gated shifter so if Ferrari is your think, 430 all the way. Fantastic car!

 

Thanks buddy...I can always count on your judgment...your taste is very similar to mine. Nice color DB9 by the way ... see what I mean

 

Not easy to find, but what about a manual 599?

 

Thanks man! Yea, I wanted something different than the usual silver you see all the time.

 

You have excellent taste also bud...I really love the 599. I just don't want another mid-front engined big v12 GT car, already have my DB which is perfect for what it was made to do. For adding to the stable I'd be looking for a mid-rear engine with transaxle out back, Italian this time around - So that leaves Ferrari CS, 430, scud, 458 or Lambo G, Murci ... I really want the gated shifter so that narrows my choices a little bit to 430, G, or Murci...this car would see duty maybe once or twice a week in rotation with the Porche GT2, and the Aston DB, relieving my daily driver VW 337 GTI of a few days of cummuting (assuming I sell my Mercedes SL55 AMG sometime soon) I like driving my cars, especially on nice days... the excersize plus careful and timely maintenance keeps them in tip top shape...what I really need to drive is my dag gawn race car, I haven't had that one out on the track in a long while !!!!

 

Don't forget about insurance. With my carrier, an AM V8V was about twice what a 911 was. It was also slightly more than an Audi R8 V10!

As an aside, I paid $1000 for Audi Care for my R8 - covers all scheduled maintenance for 4 or 5 years! Talk about a reasonable cost for a supercar! Also a great DD and available with a gated 6-speed.

 

Just out of curiosity, what kind of oil did you put in for $60 that gave you a full change?