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Well I got a call from Steel Wings today and picked it up. After changing all the coils (they were original at 37K miles), spark plugs, associated gaskets, antifreeze, oil change, differential change, transmission fluid, pollen filters and brake fluid, the car feels great - better than when I bought it. Jon at Steel Wings did a great job. Glad to get the car back - and open it up a little on the turnpike.
My 2018 DB11 V8 in Magnetic Silver
Just picked up my dream car! Has two years left on the warranty, and 32k gentle miles. Can't wait to drive more once this global health crisis is over!
I have used Steel Wings many times...even attended AMOC show Jon sponsored.
i would bet during these trying times Jon was happy for your job!
Safe driving...
They don’t make it any longer. It wouldn’t be hard for a good shop to fab up a system. The hard part is being able to tune it. It took me years to reverse engineer the code and reprogram it properly. The stock engine will not reliably live above 525 hp and 425 lbft torque. The rear two cylinders are the vulnerable ones.
525RWHP? Good to know. The GMR car had a good bit of miles on it, but im not sure it pushes over 500RWHP?
1. Replaced mid section exhaust pipe with velocity AP x-pipe. made huge difference to exhaust tone, nice exotic sound happy with results.
2. Replaced front & rear brakes pads with Porterfield RS-4 pads.
3. Flushed brake fluid
4. Replaced manual transmission /rear axle fluid
5. Replaced thermostat & seal
6. Flushed cooling system
7. Replaced driver door shock
8. installed red carbon fiber radiator cover
Looks really nice Didn't have any issues with thermostat, just replaced it as preventive maintenance with coolant flush puller used to push new thermostat in to housing. Used 3/8 ID clear tube to drain coolant from radiator. removed oil drain tube & oil catch a can out of the way to replace thermostat. Pretty easy job. Velocity AP X-Pipe
Traded my V12S for a C8 Corvette yesterday. This was one of the hardest decisions I ever made - lost a ton of sleep over this one.
About 10% of the decision was financial - 90% because of the direction of the brand in the Palmer era, the abuse of the dealer network demanding dealers inventory and purchase more cars than they could sell that adversely reflected in the actual selling price vs. the window sticker. My problems with the 2015 V12S, and the purchase of my 2017 V12S have been documented here - but the actual story was much worse than what I documented, so much so in the 2017 purchase, I never regained the passion I once had. To make matters worse - Aston Martin corporate did nothing. There were very bright spots though. The service at Morries Aston Martin in Minneapolis was so good, I take all my cars there for service - they are amazing. But dealers have been severely injured, and other than the (over priced) DBS, there is nothing competitive that Aston is making today. The last great Aston Martin was the V12S and I had one of the best in the nation which should be listed at Morries soon. It's pristine - and un-abused and seen the rain just once. If you are looking for elegance I cannot recommend enough this car.
Another factor was that the C8 I ordered was not supposed to be made until next summer - but for some reason it was made last Thursday! With Covid my business was down a bit, but not enough where I could not easily afford the V12S. Since the equity I had in the V12S allowed me to pay cash for the C8, I'll save about $20K a year (payments, inspections, tabs, insurance),
I drove the C8 a few evenings - it may look completely different than the V12S, but seems to also feel much like the V12S driving it. Less exhaust noise (I will miss that) - about the same overall handling - smoother ride, about the same power (overall feel of power) - overall impressive. The rear is 'butt ugly', but the rest OK. Plastic interior, even with the leather bits.
After 33 years of Aston Martin ownership - is this my last one? Maybe. Would I buy an older Vantage - maybe a 4.7 I could pick up later - maybe. If my business gets to a point where I could buy a new exotic again - I'd buy the Roma, but that's a few years from now for sure. Hopefully by that time Aston comes up with a new model that out-'Astons' the Roma, and their policies between them and their dealer network as well as customer treatment improves, I'd consider a change.
I'll still ride with the Aston Martin group I founded, a great bunch of guys and their families - being a passenger in one of their cars or maybe joining with the C8. The past Astons, most of you own are the most beautiful and elegant cars ever made - timeless. The C8 in a few years will be commonplace - nothing special. Mine is blade silver with a tan interior - being held up at the factory because of the 'frunk' issue (why there did not hinge the thing at the front is beyond me.
Sorry to see you go but an understandable choice. Appreciate your posts over the years and the notable 928 and Lagonda sagas. Congrats on the Vette and good luck ahead!
