Aston Martin DB7 - Be glad you went with Dodge

[DocAdam]

A good friend has a DB7 Volante and I just got this e-mail from him:

OMG!!! Plus the $1900 for the check up. Did I just buy a money pit, Adam?





Ryan Heater | Senior Real Estate Analyst

CB Richard Ellis | Valuation & Advisory Group





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Paul Matula [mailto:PMatula@millermotorcars.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 12:32 PM
To: Heater, Ryan @ New York City
Subject: Estimate for Ryan Heater



Estimate for Ryan Heater:



1) 2 Year service – recommended. This includes: oil change, transmission service with filter & gasket, brake & coolant flush, spark plug replacement, air & fuel filters, drive belts, service/lube & adjust items as required on Aston martin maintenance schedule. Replacement of both door pulls, windshield washer caps, convertible top rubber mounts & modify fuel neck drain. $1900.00

2) Heater valve leaking & 3 relevant hoses have dry rot cracks. Cost of replacement is $540.00

3) Both door strikers are cracked, need to be replaced & adjusted $165.00

4) Power steering reservoir is leaking - $588.00

5) Battery - $177.50

6) Front tires worn on inside edge & both rears are dry rotted. $1706.00

7) Alignment - $296.00

8) Front brake pads & rotors are worn. $1290.00

9) Rear shock brackets are bent. Cost to replace them $210.00

10) Rear differential pinion seal is leaking - $950.00

11) R/F rim is bent - $890.74

12) Anti –lock brake light bulb is inoperative. Have to replace the bulb & r/f wheel sensor - $949.00

13) Both rear window channels squeak badly when windows go up – have to remove both rear interior & lubricate channels & motors. Cost is $375.00

14) Drivers door rattling badly, $125.00 to remove door panel & make adjustments



15) l/s blower motor is inoperative, causing low air flow from center vents. $1175.00

16) Low brake fluid warning light comes on & off. Cost to replace the reservoir $300.00

17) The only way to repair the dash is to remove it & send it out to be re-leathered. $2800.00

18) To install battery maintainer is $265.00

19) We don’t have anyone to repair canvas. In the past we have replaced the top only. The cost is $5700.00



I had our Tec. check the entire car over. This way you know where you stand with the car. We can discuss this as in what’s safety, what we can hold off on.



Regards,



Paul Matula

[DocAdam]

This makes it sound like the car is a POS, it isn't. It really looks like it is in good condition, it is a 1998 with 30k miles on it.

[MatchboxMadeMyViper]

Holy [******] that is a lot of money!

[SRTRICKY]

OUCH

[gthomas]

This makes it sound like the car is a POS, it isn't. It really looks like it is in good condition, it is a 1998 with 30k miles on it.

It sounds like you are paying for the previous owners maintenance. Should be good to go after it's done.

What I've done in similar situations, is to use it as a way to get a better deal.

[DocAdam]

Thomas, I think you are misunderstanding. This is the car my buddy Ryan has owned for a few years, there is no purchase here, only upkeep after a few years.

WOW is an understatement.

I've advised him to sell it at a loss and move on with his life. He isn't a car guy, just liked the way it looks and the uniqueness. He also moved to NYC and never drives any more.

My advice was to sell it a buy a nice saab convertible with 2 years and 25k miles on it for 17k. As I said, he is not a car guy, and these level of cars can only be owned by car guys.

[sween]

wow lot of money. any pics of the car?

[gthomas]

yeah, I must of misunderstood. But it doesn't seem excessive for a 7 year old car (except 17, but it can happen).

[onerareviper]

Some quick math, but that looks to be over 20 grand! This is usually when Ferrari owners sell - once they see the first full service bill.

[Mopar426]

A Ferrari or Lamborghini has MUCH high mantaince costs than a Viper, Corvette, Mustangs etc. but what would you rather have.

But at the end of the day it's still a Viper/Corvette, etc where as another is driving a Ferrari/ Lambo/ Aston.

If you can afford one of the big boys you can afford the repair costs.

Though I don't mind having to spend $5,000 for a clutch anymore for the Lambo. LOL

[onerareviper]

I'd rather have the faster car that requires routine economy car maintenance (oil changes, air filter, fuel filter, etc...), that looks every bit as incredible as any car mentioned above, is every bit as fun to drive (if not more), is reliable, and still makes you feel like a rock star while driving. This is why I chose a Viper GTS 'In The Year 2000.... In the Year 2000........'

No other car could give me ALL those things, at least 'In The Year 2000....'

[Mach10]

Mopar is right on this one... I would have to agree since i have been the proud owner of two Ferrari's.. I have driven many other high end exotics and it is a differenct experience altogether... My next exotic is (my childhood dream car) the Ferrari Testarossa...
I love my Viper and it is quite a machine with tons of power but the high end exotics do sit on a different level of the game... (maybe not in sheer raw horsepower like the viper but there is a dramatically different feel to them)

The original concept AMV8 vantage was quite a show stopper!!!!! (Aston changed the wheels on the production -soon to be released version)

[sween]

testarossa, wow nice car. my dads cousin used to have one. now there only 60K on ebay. its a good time to get one

[Godsil Performance]

I'd rather have the faster car that requires routine economy car maintenance (oil changes, air filter, fuel filter, etc...)

The 2006 Z06?

[onerareviper]

The 2006 Z06?

You forgot to read the next sentense....

"that looks every bit as incredible as any car mentioned above"....