Automotive

pfang56
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Two month update with the Aston Martin DB11

Definitely an extraordinary experience and I don't regret at all getting the AM DB11. However, a mix of good and not so good and reminds me of some recent watch collecting experience with some watches.

First the good -
1) The car is incredible. I actually did not test drive the car and went to the AM dealer after visiting the Porsche dealer on a bit of a whim. Following the post on the site I was pretty convinced that my whim was one of those decisions that followed the heart more than general logic would follow. Little did I know that driving the car has been pure enjoyment, and exceeding many times the relative enjoyment I've received on purchasing certain timepieces at the same price range Love the V12, the incredible leatherwork and interior details, and appreciate the practicality of the Mercedes infotainment and camera system.

2) The service experience (reasons why I experienced service below in the ugly section) has been tremendous. Personal one-on-one concierge like service, reasonable turnaround, and frequent communications in terms of what's going on and what's been done. And of course, a willingness to please and support my questions and concerns to my satisfaction. Very similar to my experience with Patek Singapore.

3) The uniqueness of driving an AM. Living in Germany, you do see a fair share of nice cars, but primarily leaning towards famous marques associated with the Volkswagen group (Audi, Porsche), BMW, and Mercedes. I had considered a 911 Targa earlier but I guess after observing more I realised they are quite prevalent in the area. Beautiful cars but like with watches, there's something special about having something different than on other's wrists.

Now the bad-
1) I've gotten two speeding tickets already driving in roads and towns I've never driven before. I guess it comes with the territory of driving for driving's sake and being unfamiliar with local speed traps. It's definitely an incremental cost of ownership - but thankfully the rules in Germany are relatively transparent and relatively easy to manage. Just need to be careful not to go to fast and risk losing privileges to drive!

2) I had to quickly change the stock tires. The original tires are Bridgestone Potenza S007's which are supposedly made for this car, but have suboptimal grip and noise relative to what you would expect. I've changed them to Michelin PS4 Sport tires and the difference is incredible in terms of improved grip and noise. Maybe this is a little bit like changing straps on an AP

And finally the ugly...
1) One month in, I experienced a check engine light whilst driving at higher speeds! After taking this in to AM service, it turned out my ignition coils needed replacement. Thankfully, it took just a few days and after a proper re-inspection, test drive, and wash, all things seem to be working well. After hearing so many comments on reliability, I actually set expectations lower - and lo and behold it happens. Funny enough, I feel a little relieved that one of the more serious issues was identified now - as I hope at some point to drive the car longer distances when we are allowed to travel! Ugh this reminded me as well of a relatively recent purchase from Patek - while the problem was an issue the after service was flawless.

2) Finally, I caught a few teenagers purposely scratching the roof of the car - which I got to polish out at the same service. Kids these days - have nothing else to do - and I've decided to buy some mini cameras to record any activity whilst parking in the future

So, all in transparency an extraordinary experience - good bad and a little bit ugly, but a purchase ultimately I'm extremely happy with. I finally get a little bit more the fascination of buying a highly depreciating asset like a car, but all the pain, the cost, and the worry has been 10000% worth it every time I take the car around the neighbourhood.

For those considering an AM - and especially a pre-owned one - I would highly recommend getting an AM if you are close to a top rated full service AM dealer, and if you have access to a proper AM warranty. Also, seriously inspect whether you are happy with your tires - I found the swap to Michelins to be well worth the difference in grip and road noise.

Again, many thanks to the many experts who weighed into the original post here. Take care and be safe and healthy!!

Cheers

Peter

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