So, the most experienced and best mechanics can only be those currently employed by an Aston Martin dealer?
I'm going to guess you've never had a chat with John Ryan.

 

I have not had the pleasure, nor have I ever heard the name mentioned. AM techs move on to found their own shops, or go to indi's all the time. Thankfully I don't have to find good service because I have authorized service 20 miles away.

 

Hi Sonnyd....H-O and I are lucky as there are many dealers and one GREAT independent in our area. Many people have little choice for getting theircars worked on by people they trust. The NJ-PA-NY-DC area has many choices.

The main dealer in our area is FCkerbeck that services most high end cars. Steel Wings an independent is known world wide for rebuilding and restoring Aston Martins of Vintage ages etc... besides servicing the newer models.

But a clutch job is not to be taken lightly as the cost is crazy high. A dealer or good independent shop will make your your replacement less stressful.

 

With the shutdown of "E-town" where's the clutch testing grudge match going to be at?

 

Exactly, if you live in Timbuck Idaho then finding an indi or a Jag/LR dealer would be about your only options. Or, shipping your car to somewhere that does have good reliable and cost effective service. And among Authorized Dealers the service quotes can vary widely, with Newport Beach and Orland both quoting $3400 to do a factory clutch, while places like Miller Motorsport quoting $5500 [and I had an indi evidently we shouldn't talk about quote me $5200]. So even if you live in a service rich area it's always a good idea to shop around.


But bottom line is if you have reasonable pricing from an Authorized Dealer why would you go indi anyway? The indi may know how to do the job and may have done it several times, while the Dealer tech has probably done it enough he could do it with his eyes closed. I appreciate it when he keeps them open though!


Now if Miller was your only option and there was a British specialist that quoted $2000 less for the same job, it would be difficult not to take advantage of it, but be sure to fully investigate the indi for reviews, search this board, etc, and make sure you're putting your $200,000 car into hands that you can trust.

 

Englishtown? Shut down?


Atco is the same distance for both of us, but, both of us have to be willing to put their cars on the line

 

Got it, saw this the other day in the news.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/histo...s-drag-racing/

 

OH NO!!!


You could argue that's one of the most historic drag strips in the US. Why would they just discontinue drag racing and keep everything else open though?! Odd!

 

Yep, don't understand it. Now I just have to forget everything I know about staging deep and pick my favorite drifter!

 

As close as I am I never went to Englishtown. They used to have some heavy hitter events at Atco way back in the day when I'd go, but never made my way up for a Nationals.


Now if Aldv would just stage deep we could get this over with, before Atco closes!

 

Haha, I think you've gotten into his head early on and it's not going to happen.

 

I think it's more a case of,,,,, BWACK, BWACK BWACK, BWA, BWACK!

 

Wow, thread about clutch, good a place as any.


I was just in LA and first stop was Newport Beach to get a new plate surround, hit it off with Tom and couple minutes we're in his office chatting away and of course my car came up and he said they were just talking about my car 2 weeks before, they had a Mako V12 come in, Tom went to Chris [master tech] and told him Daniel Craigs car is back! And Chris told him no, that's a V8 and is in Jersey. [He reads this board!!] LOL So he tells me "you know Chris taught Craig how to drive a stick in that car?" so that might explain why the clutch was fried at 5700 miles


A little nugget I didn't know before meeting Tom, and Chris. Then Tom says "let me take you out in that V12 [2015 V12S], did he just say that? Damn, Just the sound of that car on startup, holy smokes. He starts out slow warming it up, then pulls over and say lets swap. Holy smokes, OK, I "GET" paddle shifters now, it was not a horrible experience at all, and no way I got to master shifting, I had a huge smile and my right foot got some open places to get a bit itchy and that bolt to the seat [cry] makes me want a V12S!! I'll still take the stick though

 

If I had a dealer quoting $3400 for a factory clutch, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat. That's less than half what I've been quoted in Seattle. Heck, that's what it costs to have the job done on my WRX!

 

My cost a year and a bit ago for a clutch (not including a new flywheel) from HVM was about 2200. 3400 from a dealer is a steal.