Pre-purchase walkaround
2020 Aston Martin Vantage (AM6)
30,000 miles
Five-year cost to own, maintenance and fuel
~$23,400
The AM6 Vantage is Aston's bonded-aluminium two-seater running an AMG hot-vee V8 and a ZF eight-speed transaxle, so the hard mechanical parts are Mercedes-durable while the body, electronics and trim are hand-built Gaydon. Ownership money goes to consumables (tyres, brakes, the annual service) and to electrical and ancillary gremlins, not to grenading engines, and every hour of that labour is billed at franchised-specialist rates.
The roadmap
30k → 90k mi · 12k a yearYear 1The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel.~$3,929
Year 2Tires and the ordinary rhythm.~$5,577
Yrs 3-5Brakes and consumables. · The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel.~$13,919
Five years, all in~$23,400
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote
What to look for on this one
Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 30,000 miles.
Ignition coil failure from water in the plug wells$250-$800 if not done
0typical window 10k-60k · this car: 30k, inside the window150k mi
The M177's early coil design lets water track into the spark plug shafts and short the coil; Mercedes revised the coil with a sealing collar, and Aston uses the same part. Check engine light, rough idle and a stumble under load, often after washing the car or heavy rain.
Electronic rear differential whine$710-$2,210 if not done
0typical window 15k-70k · this car: 30k, inside the window150k mi
The e-diff in the rear transaxle is a known noise source on this chassis, and buyers guides flag it specifically; it is a unit-out job when it needs attention. A steady gear whine at motorway cruise that rises and falls with road speed, not engine speed.
sources:Autocar reliability guide ↗
windows from 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and community service data · · profile researched with cited sources, review pending
1 recall + 45 service bulletins →
Recalls (verify completion by VIN)
AIR BAGS · 20V604000
Service bulletins by area
EQUIPMENT (20) · STRUCTURE (8) · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7) · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (5)
Hand this to your inspector
A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Scan per-cylinder misfire counters with a proper tool, then pull at least one coil to check the plug well for moisture, corrosion or a previously replaced coil (look for the newer sealed collar design).
02Look through the front intake with a light for a stone-peppered or weeping A/C condenser, then verify the A/C blows genuinely cold at idle after ten minutes.
03Drive at a steady 60 to 80 mph on a quiet road with the radio off and listen for diff whine that tracks road speed, then lift off and listen again.
04Crawl the car in traffic and feel the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts; ask the dealer for a printout of completed software campaigns and recalls before blaming the hardware.
Walking into a negotiation?
This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.
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typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quotecheck another car →