Again, an Andy Palmer change in policy for pricing. When I got my V12S it's one of the rare cars with plastic buttons, a $595 upgrade from the factory but that 'kit' was no longer available from the factory and instead ordering individual buttons from Aston I was quoted from Morries over $3,000! I ended getting it from Aston Martin Bits at $1,100 and Morries installed them at a reasonable price. My previous V12S is now owned by a buddy of which both headlights are condensing (both had been already replaced in the past two years) - the car has an extended warranty for another 1 1/2 years. I said, just have them replaced under warranty - and he said that Aston is no longer making replacement headlights or tail lights for previous Vantages and that's (condensation) now considered normal wear! You would think that's not even legal. I'm guessing increased pricing is a desperate attempt to financially survive. I know in the past a glass key as $1,200 and programming was $200. When I purchased my 2017 V12S from Beverly Hills Aston and it was delivered last year both of the glass keys had not been programmed for the car - a new car! Aston Martin refused to cover the cost of programming ($400) even though i was the first owner and it was certified with an extended 3 1/2 year warranty. After several phone calls taking my time from running my business - Beverly Hills agreed to pay the $400. After 32 years owning Aston Martins - Yesterday I placed my deposit down on the C8 Corvette that should be delivered by July - currently on the fence to keep the V12S or not depending how Aston services their existing user base and what changes are ahead.

 

This behavior from AM is disappointing. The one off cars I can understand but the Vantage was the top seller, how could they pull the plug when the last model year they sold was a 2017? The price gouging is annoying and beyond Ferrari and Bentley. Bentley Key was about 500 plus programming and those are laser cut then shipped. For parts for Bentley the reasonably priced dealer I found for Bentley in the US at least was FC Kerbeck for Maserati and Bentley. Yes apples to oranges but I also remembered Aston Martin was making it difficult to export their parts from the UK to US as it's often cheaper.

 

@MBi I noticed that you are in the NY area. I have purchased 3 Aston Martins (2 Vantages and 1 DB11) from Miller Motorcars in Greenwich, CT (as well as 3 Maseratis from one of their other showrooms across the street). Miller Motorcars is a pleasure to deal with. Very straightforward and pleasant experience, in addition to many post purchase events. My most recent sales associate on the Aston Martin side was Lisa.

 

Thank you for the recommendation. I checked their AM inventory and they didn't have any matching cars unfortunately but their service department was prompt to reply to my question about the AMi 2 to AMi 3 upgrade. I'll send a email to request that they send me a email when a DB9 matching my criteria is in inventory. I have dealt with them only on the service side for other brands, most were good but I'm not sure which of their two Maserati locations you are using but be careful when they drop your car back off the one I used broke the interior trim and mirror switch on a GranTurismo while it was in for service.

 

I would like to add that Miller has been spectacular through my Vantage V12 ownership.
Thanks,
JH

 

Ironically enough I just had my first dealer try to defraud me when inquiring about a vehicle. The car was originally found under Aston Martin's website registered as timeless certified. When the dealer was contacted the response was the CPO warranty of 1 year was several thousand extra! In all the dealers I have ever contacted I have never had this happen.

 

I can vouch for Gary, also James at SD. Seems like someone else here also vouched for them. I bought my previous Vantage from James.

You are never happy, are you? Always posting about your acrimonious experiences either with AM Americas or AM BH in every other thread. I am still very baffled why they are treating you as such.

Either you really annoyed someone at the corporate or you have been blacklisted somehow. When was the last time AM Americas sent you an invite to one of their events?

My rec: Get the C8. Sell the V12VS.

 

Thanks I just looked through it, lots of valuable info.

 

V12Vin: Yes I'm pretty discussed with 'some' of the AM dealers and the overall direction that Andy Palmer has put the company and the dealer network at extreme risk, which is why the company is tanking. And this forum is a great place to make an impact on the board of directors of Aston Martin to vent current and past problems so they can be fixed. Replace the V12S with the C8? Maybe, but that would be more of a financial decision depending how the pandemic plays out with my business. So far the V12S is the most 'Aston', Aston. And what's a shame is the new DB11 and the new Vantage should have been a much better evolution of the car, but was not. Maybe we should have nothing negative in this blog, so that bad dealers can continue to be so and put that nail in Aston's coffin. Maybe I should not have mentioned that my buddy with 1 1/2 years left on the extended warranty on his V12S with both (recently replaced) headlights that have condensation, and he was told Aston's no longer going to replace bad headlights and tail lights - under warranty. I'm really sorry I posted that one! No, I think the factory should know when customers are not pleased when a dealer has not treated a customer right. I've repeatedly praised Morries Aston Martin who has provided nothing but excellent service and respectful sales, despite a showroom full of new Astons they cannot seem to sell. The new DBX actually might just save the financial side of the company if the pandemic does not destroy luxury SUV sales, but Aston's problems can all be traced to the changes since Palmer took over. I saw the DBX last night - that risk Palmer took and the implementation was spot on - in person it's a much different car than on video or in pictures. It's actually a really nice job! The same needs to be done for the Vantage and DB11 - a redo to 'one up' the Roma, which is now the first real competitor in 'elegant sports car' if the pricing stays in that $220K range that they claim.

 

Making my first few posts on this forum...
I had a very good experience with Aston Martin Newport Beach. Shout out to Tim Shelton and the other guys there. They don't do customer service, they do customer "care".
My local dealer, Los Gatos Lux cars, was disappointing. Some of the sales guys were rude, and brushed me off. Apparently I don't give off a rich person vibe... Lead mech for Astons was pretty cool, but the service has so far been trashy. They don't answer calls, or reply to voicemail half the time. They told me they don't have a pick-up and drop-off service, and that I should get myself an Uber. Toyota has better service...
There's a good reason I went down to SoCal to pick up my Vantage...

 

I suggest getting them online AndiTheoPrayoga.com, I just google that part numbers and I already found Aston Martin online part store selling them.

 

I've had great experiences with Orlando for service and some minor repairs. Don Byrd is one of the best service writers I've ever encountered. Everyone at Orlando has been awesome every time I've been out there. Tampa however, will not even respond to calls and emails. It's been worth working with Orlando to drive the 90 miles out and back every time instead of dealing with Tampa, unfortunately.

 

I had to agree, their AM dealership pretty much stinks. Probably because Aston is basically the bottom of the barrel for them, in the line up they sell plus their customer base is very wealthy. Shouldn't be that way, but it's the feeling I have always gotten.

 

4 hours away..so won’t be seeing much of them..lol

 

Aston Orlando has been great and I agree, Don Byrd is a fine service manager.

Unfortunately, I live 255 miles from Orlando and am quite envious of those only driving 90 miles.

I truly wish someone in Jacksonville had AMDS.