Finally found the spec I wanted and I think I am going to pull the trigger on a 2020 with 18600 miles. Car is one owner in excellent shape. Unfortunately the warranty is up. Coming from the 911 world, do you all recommend an aftermarket warranty.

I loved the way the 2020 drove, felt very tactile in the correct suspension mode. Very direct steering. Car felt very nimble compared to the AMG GT i was also looking at. Pretty pyched as it its my first Aston.

 

Hi @ljp997tt

I, essentially, made that move going from an AGM GTS to a DB11, my first AM.

The AMG is a very solid, serious performance car (in any of its variants) that looks good. The Vantage you're looking at performs well too, but adds another layer to style and class (and quirkiness). The AMG gets a little bump over the Vantage with the DCT, which I found to be a very solid gearbox.

Being "out there" the AMG is pretty exclusive and not likely you'll run into another one unless maybe at car shows and CCs. With the Vantage, it is more guaranteed you won't see another one. And since the car is no question a looker, people will look...a lot! A lot more than the AMG.

I have a bucket list of cars I want to own before I am unable to drive them anymore so I typically don't repeat cars. If I did, two cars I've owned I'd definitely consider again was the AMG GTS and the Bentley Continental GT.

Good luck with your decision. I am thrilled with mine, albeit not that much time into it yet.

 

Are you buying private party or am dealer. AM will certify and AM up to 12 years. I am on my second Vantage now. One a 2015 and one a 2019. Each car with the first year warranty coverage I found great value in ironing out bugs. I did not extend beyond the first year but I really like being covered on items that would have been pricey to repair. I was feeling like the 2019 was solid and it is much more so than the 2015 as it has an AMG backbone then last week I lost all use of the nav and infotainment system. Glad I have a warranty.

 

Thanks for the responce. Buying it from a private person. Any idea if the AM dealer will offer an extended warranty or do I go to a third party. Also, any ideas on cost. Yes, I think the new drivtrains with the ZF tranny are pretty bullet proof.

 

You have to own the car a minimum amount (I think 3 months) before AM will do a certification on the car. Once you get your '20 Vantage, introduce yourself to the local dealer. Are there any services coming up? If you got the car to the dealer to perform any lagging services, the car will be on the lift and you can have a look around with one of the techs.

When I bought my Rapide, it was the 3rd car that the local AM-Lotus serviced that I owned. The service manager actually talked me out of the Timeless warranty. He said "it's insurance, but looking at your car and our history with Rapide's you most likely won't need it." He was right on that, 5 years later.

 

I had the "Timeless" warranty on my 2019 Aston Vantage in the US and decided it was not worth the money. Yes repairs are stupid expensive but I found the warranty, when I went to use it was full of loopholes and didn't cover that much. Aston also claimed it wasn't a real "Aston" product and that a third party makes all decisions regarding what to cover. The whole thing left a really bad taste in my mouth.

I've had many Porsche CPO warrantees It is comprehensive and I have never had an issue with the Porsche warranty. Don't use your experience with Porsche to think Aston will be the same.

In terms of non-Aston sold, third party warrantees...I looked into those too. They seem so cheap it was had to believe that even if they turned down 90% of the repairs, I still wouldn't get my money back. (Just as an aside, my best guess is that everything done on my Aston costs 2-3 times what it costs on a 911. Dealer to dealer comparison)

I asked my dealer who they had a good experience with for third party warranty and they said I was going to be "unhappy" with any third party. Maybe a self serving statement, maybe reality. I don't know but in the end I "self insured" so to speak. 1 year warranty was about $4100, oil change about $1000, minor service with brake flush about $1900.... So I figure if I do my own maintenance...like oil change which is very easy on the car...then I can put about $5000-$5500 a year in the repair kitty to breakeven. ( Yeah, I could do my own service even under the warranty but it's potentially one more thing to be hassled about during a claim, IMO)

YMMV

 

Great info, since the car has only 18500 miles, I will skip trying to get an aftermarket warranty. As the prior posted stated just maintain the car and set some funds to the side for repairs. Thanks again

 

Does it look like a lease? That math means it was a daily driver... If you're a DIY GUY then..

are the tires good?
Brakes?
Driver seat
was it ever in a hot climate?
belly scrapes

 

Make sure the dash is not deformed and leather has not shrunk of pulled away anywhere.

 

Sage advice....I found two DB11s with seriously separated leather dashes while searching for mine.

When I found mine, first trip was to purchase a large black bath towel (black interior). Entire dash gets covered (and top of steering wheel) when the car is out anywhere in the Florida sun.

 

Ya the leather dash is something to keep a mind about when parking outside in the sun for sure

 

Folding sun shield does wonders; fancy car or regular. We have one for each car.

 

Thanks for all the responses. This is my first Aston so pretty boosted.. Picked up the car yesterday. It was a lease return with 18600 miles. Car came with both keys in the box, manuals, original window sticker. Unreal the car with options was 202k, it's crazy that 2 emblems cost 8k. Got to love AM option prices and I thought Porsche was bad.

Anyways, the car is in really nice condition just needs tires and noticed a tiny crack on one of the lower center stack plastics. The dash has zero lift of leather. It was a California car. The persopn tinted the entire car even a light tint on the front window. Based on the interior condition 9.5 of 10 it was probably garaged all its life.

Driving home car was incredible on the highway. Felt alot more planted than my 997 TT that i just sold and that was 4 wheel drive. A few things popped up suddenly while i was driving. The warning light came on that i had back tail lights out. I had my buddy check the top strip is working the lower ones on the bumper are not coming on. Debating to just change the battery out for starters just to eliminate any gremlins that might be associated with an old battery.

If anyone has owned a 19 and up Vantage for a few years and would not mind speaking. I have a few general questions. I will probably encounter little issues here and there but i was expecting that, also trying to locate a decent shop manual that at least gives the basics of the car. Will post some pics later as the weather here in Florida is ugly this week.

Thanks all