The new Vantage?
Discussion
Jon39 said:
Good to see so much Aston Martin DNA returning to this model, including the wheels.
nathwraith1 said:
I have noticed that Aston Martin have overlooked an extra revenue opportunity.
If you want your new Vantage to have the roof painted, there is no extra charge. -
I certainly don't disagree that Aston Martin's prices on options are very high and there's probably an element of "because they can get away with it".
That said, I don't think there's enough appreciation of the true cost to the manufacturer of "non standard" options. There have been questions on why a different color brake caliper or contrast stitching on the seats should cost much more because the difference in material costs should be insignificant. But there's much more than materials costs involved. AM will have to have a separate specification document and quality process of some sort, then there is the supply chain costs of procuring multiple "SKUs", and finally the production and assembly costs of bringing together non-standard items at specific points in the assembly process. All of which are probably harder (more expensive) for niche manufacturers like Aston.
That said, I don't think there's enough appreciation of the true cost to the manufacturer of "non standard" options. There have been questions on why a different color brake caliper or contrast stitching on the seats should cost much more because the difference in material costs should be insignificant. But there's much more than materials costs involved. AM will have to have a separate specification document and quality process of some sort, then there is the supply chain costs of procuring multiple "SKUs", and finally the production and assembly costs of bringing together non-standard items at specific points in the assembly process. All of which are probably harder (more expensive) for niche manufacturers like Aston.
ram_g said:
I certainly don't disagree that Aston Martin's prices on options are very high and there's probably an element of "because they can get away with it".
That said, I don't think there's enough appreciation of the true cost to the manufacturer of "non standard" options. There have been questions on why a different color brake caliper or contrast stitching on the seats should cost much more because the difference in material costs should be insignificant. But there's much more than materials costs involved. AM will have to have a separate specification document and quality process of some sort, then there is the supply chain costs of procuring multiple "SKUs", and finally the production and assembly costs of bringing together non-standard items at specific points in the assembly process. All of which are probably harder (more expensive) for niche manufacturers like Aston.
Undoubtedly some of this may well apply to some of the option prices for some of the more esoteric options but as has already been said thread stitch colours and things like those Q yellow strips for instance for seats and things like the door cards are literally piled up next to whoever is doing that particular task at the factory. Relative to the carbon seats option cost this option is farcically priced. That said, I don't think there's enough appreciation of the true cost to the manufacturer of "non standard" options. There have been questions on why a different color brake caliper or contrast stitching on the seats should cost much more because the difference in material costs should be insignificant. But there's much more than materials costs involved. AM will have to have a separate specification document and quality process of some sort, then there is the supply chain costs of procuring multiple "SKUs", and finally the production and assembly costs of bringing together non-standard items at specific points in the assembly process. All of which are probably harder (more expensive) for niche manufacturers like Aston.
Previously calliper paint ( for iirc 4 option colours ) was £995 so that’s a new 30% increase alone.
Even Works “ only “ used to charge £1,300 I think for custom painted colours.
Paint perhaps is still the largest element of “ made up because “ and they try to tell you it needs “ testing “ etc.
As I have said previously this is one element you can negotiate on previously although you need to have the dealer on side when you spec.
Whether you can do this on the new Vantage / DB ,I very much doubt though.
alscar said:
Undoubtedly some of this may well apply to some of the option prices for some of the more esoteric options but as has already been said thread stitch colours and things like those Q yellow strips for instance for seats and things like the door cards are literally piled up next to whoever is doing that particular task at the factory. Relative to the carbon seats option cost this option is farcically priced.
Previously calliper paint ( for iirc 4 option colours ) was £995 so that’s a new 30% increase alone.
Even Works “ only “ used to charge £1,300 I think for custom painted colours.
Paint perhaps is still the largest element of “ made up because “ and they try to tell you it needs “ testing “ etc.
As I have said previously this is one element you can negotiate on previously although you need to have the dealer on side when you spec.
Whether you can do this on the new Vantage / DB ,I very much doubt though.
Every paint colour does require testing in the AML lab. You also have to think of the changeover costs in the paint booths; flushing out the old colour, putting in the next. I appreciate that short-run painting technology has advanced and they no longer have to paint in batches of bodies in the same colour. Plus every live part number costs money to administer - believe it or not, may years ago, as a Systems Engineer for Ford, I could add a small amount to the cost of every car if I could eliminate a part number from the BoM - it went under the name of "complexity reduction".Previously calliper paint ( for iirc 4 option colours ) was £995 so that’s a new 30% increase alone.
Even Works “ only “ used to charge £1,300 I think for custom painted colours.
Paint perhaps is still the largest element of “ made up because “ and they try to tell you it needs “ testing “ etc.
As I have said previously this is one element you can negotiate on previously although you need to have the dealer on side when you spec.
Whether you can do this on the new Vantage / DB ,I very much doubt though.
Am I suggesting that Aston and other OEMs aren't extracting the urine? No, but some additional costs are real. What grinds my gears is when I order a spare and get a small plastic moulding in a bag with a part number and a bill for £25, when the part cost pennies.
LTP said:
Every paint colour does require testing in the AML lab. You also have to think of the changeover costs in the paint booths; flushing out the old colour, putting in the next. I appreciate that short-run painting technology has advanced and they no longer have to paint in batches of bodies in the same colour. Plus every live part number costs money to administer - believe it or not, may years ago, as a Systems Engineer for Ford, I could add a small amount to the cost of every car if I could eliminate a part number from the BoM - it went under the name of "complexity reduction".
Am I suggesting that Aston and other OEMs aren't extracting the urine? No, but some additional costs are real. What grinds my gears is when I order a spare and get a small plastic moulding in a bag with a part number and a bill for £25, when the part cost pennies.
Interesting comments on in particular the paint aspect .My previous comment related to getting my GT8 painted which whilst I fully accepted at the time was and remains a one off paint usage for Aston although it was a DuPont paint and successfully used by Porsche previously with all the correct codes given to Aston they still struggled to justify the initial price they wanted to me at least !Am I suggesting that Aston and other OEMs aren't extracting the urine? No, but some additional costs are real. What grinds my gears is when I order a spare and get a small plastic moulding in a bag with a part number and a bill for £25, when the part cost pennies.
Fwiw the changes you mentioned about flushing probably contributed a bit to the cost but £12k probably not.
Ultimately we settled on £4k which was much more acceptable.
AlexT said:
Davil - RRP is $410k plus on roads. On roads would be stamp duty + dealer delivery (approx $25k).
CCBs are $26k. Note 911 Turbo CCBs are $20k are are 10-piston vs 6 for AM CCBs. The above-mentioned B&O sound system is $18k. Signature metallics are $12k.
The centre stack finisher in carbon fibre (which is simply made up for two small pieces of carbon fibre) is approx $8k, making the lower carbon fibre package at $22k seemingly good value.
Personally I feel these prices are excessive, especially if AM want to shift their 'volume' entry-level vehicle.
Hope this gives you an idea. And if you are negotiating let me know your success.
Thanks. I figured about $400k base. CCBs are $26k. Note 911 Turbo CCBs are $20k are are 10-piston vs 6 for AM CCBs. The above-mentioned B&O sound system is $18k. Signature metallics are $12k.
The centre stack finisher in carbon fibre (which is simply made up for two small pieces of carbon fibre) is approx $8k, making the lower carbon fibre package at $22k seemingly good value.
Personally I feel these prices are excessive, especially if AM want to shift their 'volume' entry-level vehicle.
Hope this gives you an idea. And if you are negotiating let me know your success.
that is insane option pricing!
they are really charging 18k for B&O sound system? WTH. that's not realistic for this segment or anything outside something like a RR phantom, hypercar etc.
In fairness with base car pricing, even a 992, C4S is like 160-170 with options, MB SL55am, is 160+ with options. So to get an AM at like 180-190 isn't that far off the other "lesser" brands.
they are really charging 18k for B&O sound system? WTH. that's not realistic for this segment or anything outside something like a RR phantom, hypercar etc.
In fairness with base car pricing, even a 992, C4S is like 160-170 with options, MB SL55am, is 160+ with options. So to get an AM at like 180-190 isn't that far off the other "lesser" brands.
According to the configurator it is now B&W (bowers and wilkins) not B&O.
The old B&O system was the best part of £10k in the UK, and whilst Im not justifying either the old or the new price in terms of wht you get, I would expect a B&W based system to sound better than a B&O system.
B&O home audio has always been over priced for the sonic output, people buy it becuase it looks great unlike most HiFi not because of how it sounds really. You could always get way better sound for less money with other top brands, but they are always less aesthically pleasing.
The old B&O system was the best part of £10k in the UK, and whilst Im not justifying either the old or the new price in terms of wht you get, I would expect a B&W based system to sound better than a B&O system.
B&O home audio has always been over priced for the sonic output, people buy it becuase it looks great unlike most HiFi not because of how it sounds really. You could always get way better sound for less money with other top brands, but they are always less aesthically pleasing.
LTP said:
Every paint colour does require testing in the AML lab.
Ah, that is very reassuring.
Imagine if the testing was not conducted in an extremely thorough and scientific manner, and let's say something went wrong.
If perhaps, taking a example completely at random, some paint bubbles were to subsequently appear.
People might continually be complaining about bubbles on social media and the Aston Martin Lab would not like that.
They may even think about conducting some different lab tests, or alternatively explain that such a ridiculous example could never happen.
Jon39 said:
Ah, that is very reassuring.
Imagine if the testing was not conducted in an extremely thorough and scientific manner, and let's say something went wrong.
If perhaps, taking a example completely at random, some paint bubbles were to subsequently appear.
People might continually be complaining about bubbles on social media and the Aston Martin Lab would not like that.
They may even think about conducting some different lab tests, or alternatively explain that such a ridiculous example could never happen.
Bazziz said:
One of the perks of living near Gaydon is you often see them out and about. Looks amazing in the flesh even when parked next to some smelly wheelie bins.
I tried to think of a humorous comment, but then realised that would be in extremely bad taste, because we can see a neighbour has a single ticket to the cemetary.
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