2016 Aston Martin Vanquish 5.9L Petrol · AW11 LDE

The second-generation Vanquish introduced a capacitive glass centre console with haptic feedback and a motorised pop-up 6.5-inch infotainment display. Early 2012–2014 vehicles frequently suffer from unresponsive glass buttons, erratic touch vibrations, and motorized screen gears sticking or jamming in the dashboard. Additionally, physical push-buttons for the PRND transmission controls can loosen or collapse behind the centre console fascia due to failing plastic retainers, requiring centre stack removal.

Every exterior body panel on the second-generation Vanquish is constructed from lightweight carbon fibre mounted to the VH generation IV aluminium architecture. Because carbon composite cannot be panel-beaten or pulled like steel or aluminium, even minor impacts cause delamination, structural cracking, or splintering. The low front splitter and rear aero diffuser are especially vulnerable to UK speed cushions, steep driveways, and high kerbs, with replacement OEM splitters costing thousands.

The AM310 Vanquish features third-generation Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes as standard equipment, utilizing massive 398mm ventilated discs up front and 360mm discs at the rear. While ceramic rotors can last in excess of 100,000 road miles, careless wheel changes without guide pins easily chip the fragile rotor edges, rendering them an MOT failure. Furthermore, track driving causes thermal oxidation and surface pitting, requiring disc weighing rather than simple thickness measurement to assess wear.