Hello all. After years of looking, I finally made the leap and (pending the PPI) will be picking up my new to me 2015 V12 Vantage S sometime in the next few weeks. From what I can tell, the car looks very nice, though it’s only been driven about 100 miles in the last 2-3 years.

From what I’ve read, these cars are pretty reliable, but when something does go wrong, it’s not cheap. Considering this is an older car now, to try and limit my expenses I’m looking for a reputable service center in the twin cities areas that’s less expensive than the Dealership in Golden Valley. Does anyone have any suggestions? I know there’s a well reviewed Eurocharged location in Minneapolis, and they do list AM as a brand that they can service, but I don’t see much in the reviews or elsewhere mentioning AM work. Any idea if they or someone else have a diagnostics tool for the inevitable clutch replacement? If not then, anyone else? Any info on price would be appreciated as well, for Eurocharged or any other recommended shops.

As an aside - I’ve been reading this forum for years while I was searching for the right car, there was tons of useful info here. I’m glad to finally be a member, and hopefully down the line I can help someone else by contributing some of my own knowledge. Thanks all, any info is appreciated!

 

Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the v12S club! I have owned mine for 5 years and have only had a timing cover gasket leak during that time. I have had it as well as my last Aston serviced at the dealership for lack of better local alternatives. Luckily, it has mostly been routine maintenance (the oil leak was covered under the warranty I had during the first year).

 

Bolo: I've had Astons for exactly half of my 72 years and head of Midwest Aston Martin Group (facebook) which has about 50 member - mostly Vantages. I've had a 2007 (new) V8, a 2009 (used) V8, a 2015 V8GT (new) a 2015 V12S which was a deceptive Timeless Certified (search this forum for that nightmare) tracked car, a 2015 V12S from the settlement against Aston Martin (flawless), upgraded to a new 2017 V12S. I panicked during covid thinking I'm about to go broke and sold the V12S (huge mistake) and paid cash for a C8. Turns out Covid was great for my business (designing new land developments) and I could have easily kept the V12S! The C8 is about as perfect of a fantastic deal as you could imagine, but lacks sole. Wanting an Aston again to supplement the C8, I bought a 2011 V8 I significantly upgraded (currently on Bring a Trailer up on Monday). If Monday comes and I get my reserve, I'll be on the lookout for a V12S again. There is a significant difference between a V8 and a V12S - both are incredible cars, but everything about a V12S is simply more special, as if Aston made a better effort in production.

If you have the $$$ to get a V12S absolutely do not take your car to anyone other than Morries. They have ALWAYS been more than honest with me, and a while ago they had a terrible General Manager that turned off a ton of people, but with the current group they are trying. Morries has the staff and technology to properly service the car - I've had nightmarish experience with Eurocharged as well as Eurotech Medina on my SLK32. I felt way overcharged by Imola. I've never felt overcharged nor had service that was botched at Morries Aston Martin. Can't say that about the others.

Anyway, if not too late, this is what you need to make sure on the PPI: Condensation in tail or headlights is a big ticket item. The Clutch? Only an Aston Martin dealer has the technology to measure clutch life. I've never had to replace a clutch and Morries measured my current V8 Vantage estimated 1/2 life at 27K miles, although shortly after Morries sold my 50+k mile 2009 V8 the next owner had to put a new clutch in. My 2017 had 50 miles on it when I bought it from Beverly Hills AM and in the pre-delivery inspection they found the clutch was bad, replaced of course at no charge. The massive items you need to inspect are the carbon fiber brakes - figure $20K if those need replacing. Two reasons for replacing: A. The car was abused big time and run away. B. Someone used cleaning chemicals that got on the disks and that can destroy them! Leather shrinkage along the dash or elsewhere will be $$$ to fix. Make sure ALL the switches work. PM me to talks if you want. Two glass keys. If you have just one and want another figure $1,500 if your very lucky (Morries will be the only option to program it ($400). Other than the above - these are rock solid cars, if not abused.

I'm tracking all of the V12S that are for sale because if I get my reserve I'll pursue one of them, or wait over winter for the right one. There is a Midnight Blue one with a tan 'Q' interior that looks incredible with 27K miles for $85K. All services were Aston Martin Except the current owner the past 3 years. At the 25K mile a Non-Aston dealer replaced the spark plugs. This is a time consuming thing, and while not mandated while everything is apart, most would change the coil packs. This owner did not do that - deferring to the next buyer. The CarFAX from a Bentley dealer showed leaking motor mounts ($4,200) that the owner refused to take care of. So right away I could see $7K out of my pocket. So why did motor mounts go bad in just 27K miles? More than likely being tracked. I'd have to be about $70K to take a chance on this incredibly beautiful car.

Miles matter in V12S values. The 2015 V12S is different than the 2016 and 2017 V12S in the panel (not sure what else). I love the newer panel, but EVERYTHING you do opens and shuts the display which is a bit irritating to me. The 2015 is less finicky. The 2017 has Apple CarPlay. While I'm looking myself, I would spend another $10K to get a 2016/2017 over a 2015 even with the continuous pop-up and down. I'd pay more for the B/O stereo - the standard premium stereo is the best I've owned in ANY car until I experienced the B/O which is like being in a concert hall.

Tires: Only consider Michelin PS4's. Most should have them anyway.

Interiors: My experience is non-black interiors seem to wear more. My 2011 V8 has a Sahara Tan interior in perfect shape (I did have to repair the bolster). That's sort of rare.

Anyway - good luck with the hunt, if I meet the reserve Monday I'll hunt with you!

 

@Prefurbia Thank you very much for the information. All good things to know. I’ll shoot you a PM here in a little bit, I’d love any additional insight you can provide!

Edit: Bad news, looks like I don’t have the ability to PM you yet. I’ll send a message on the FB Group you
mentioned. Thank you for being so willing to help!

 

As an aside for everyone, I am having the PPI done at a local AM dealer near where the car is located, so I feel pretty good about that. With that said, how concerned should I be about a car that’s sat for a few years? The car has only had 100 miles out on it since the last fluid change, however that was done back in 2022. Has roughly 15k miles on it total.

I’ve heard letting these cars sit can be an issue, so any insight is appreciated before I drive it a few hundred miles home. I’m sure the AM dealership will tell me to do the full service during the PPI, is this mandatory before I get it home?

 

Bolo, I hope the PPI goes well!.

I recently bought a 2015 V12VS. These are spectacular cars. I specifically wanted a '15 (the '17 dogleg car aside). I prefer the center stack to the Vanquish-style one in the '16 and '17 car. Also, Aston was looking to cut costs and to offset some added standard equipment, so some of the details that IMO make Astons special started to disappear or become options, such as:2016 MY (during the MY)

• Leather gaiters around the seatbelt latches disappeared
• Lower rear area was carpet rather than leather
• No Aston wings on the engine
• ASTON MARTIN lettering on the intake manifolds left painted rather than brushed
• Standard leather downgraded to Strathmore from Luxmill/Caithness
• Leather shoulder harness guide straps on seatbacks deleted
• Leather pull-down strap on hatch deleted

2017 MY

• Bonnet vents mesh w/ carbon surround rather than all carbon fiber louvers
• Highline center armrest with storage is option
• Alloy fuel cap is option
• Model badge option

That said, they're all awesome.

 

I bought a 2015 DB9 this Spring and will somewhat reluctantly second Prefurbia's dealership reco. I happen to know him and he recommended Morrie's when I asked his advice. This is my first Aston and it's living up (or down) to my expectations of maintenance requirements and cost. I had a couple of Porsche 911s before the Aston and had the work on them done at Imola. Unlike Prefurbia, I was happy with their work and prices. I asked Imola about working on the Aston and they said they probably could do it, but recommended Morrie's and Steve in particular for their expertise and the special tools and programming required. Service on these cars doesn't come cheap, but I would prefer to have mine worked on by someone who does it regularly rather than seeing one or two a year, and then having to take it to Morrie's anyway for any necessary computer programming.