Discussion
It's not for me.........When the original V12V came out in 2009 I think it retailed at £135k (prepared to be corrected if I am wrong), with a fairly short list of options. At that time, I was two years in to ownership of my first Aston Martin, a 2007 4.3 V8 Coupe which I bought new. It came in at around £90k and was the most expensive car I had ever bought. I took a V12V for a test drive, couldn't get on with the lightweights due to my lardy frame, but distinctly remember thinking at the time, the cost to change was circa £55k and I couldn't justify it. It was an itch that I knew would ultimately need scratching, as the V12V was just better in so many ways. Three years ago I managed to track down an 18 month old car, pretty much to the exact specification that I wanted, with 4,000 miles on the clock. I paid £92k for it, which to my eyes was good value. I know there are plenty for sale now, but to get a good one you will still need to pay north of £80k. What does the new V12VSM retail for now before options? Close to the same as the original V12V I think. Add the options that we have all taken for granted and it must come in close to £150k. As rare as it may end up being, I can't help but feel in some respects it could end up being an inferior product (performance and adaptive suspension excepted) and to my eyes does not warrant a change from what I have now. The older cars just look so much classier. The fish mouth, the splashes of lipstick and the coloured sills do it no favours at all. The carbon fibre louvres are a key part of it's identity too and it's a shame they are extra. I know everyone has differing opinions of value for money and many just want the latest/last cars but I can envisage many people in my position adopting the same attitude as me. PS sorry for being so vulgar and talking specific values but there was no other way to explain it. (Awaiting to be shot down as soon as I submit this)
Best Regards
Minglar
Best Regards
Minglar
Minglar,
One aspect that is relevant to your comments, is the depreciation in the value of our money. We do not think so much about UK inflation, now that it is much lower than during the late 20th century. However, inflation is still 'nibbling' and gradually making each Pound worth less. The following therefore might come as a surprise.
You stated a V12V was listed at £135,000 in 2009.
In the money of today (adjusting by RPI) that car was for sale at £165,000.
My own 4·7 was bought as keeper, so values obviously then become irrelevant. It is pleasing though, to occasionally have a sneaky look, and to see that the retail value has hardly changed, from my purchase cost 5 years ago ( in depreciated Pounds of course
). Probably therefore, lower overall ownership costs for these cars, than an everyday £20,000 hatchback.Oh, and it has a work of art under the petrol filler cap, lots of badges, and lovely leather.
Who thinks the run out special edition Vantage, might have all the 'low rent' items replaced, with the 'real deal' articles within the total price?
Edited by Jon39 on Friday 4th November 12:21
I wouldn't be put off, I think we're guilty of 'Picking pepper out of fly sh*t'!
The essential dynamics of what makes a great car are there in spades & a test drive will probably confirm that. As the well-respected motoring journalist Chris Harris said in his comparison with the 911R & I quote, 'Anyone who has bought one should be very pleased with their purchase, it's an instant classic! Nuff said!
The essential dynamics of what makes a great car are there in spades & a test drive will probably confirm that. As the well-respected motoring journalist Chris Harris said in his comparison with the 911R & I quote, 'Anyone who has bought one should be very pleased with their purchase, it's an instant classic! Nuff said!
SFO said:
Perhaps the price increase (comprising actual RRP increase, deletion of standard equipment and no manual being same price as SSIII) is to recoup the costs of developing the 7 speed manual?
can't have been that complicated though, can it? simply removing the automated bits of SSIII?
Nope, the price increase is across the whole range, not just the V12VSM - and indeed also applies just to the V12VS SSIII, so most definitely not to recoup the cost of the dogleg manual.can't have been that complicated though, can it? simply removing the automated bits of SSIII?
The cost of all the german bits has gone up a lot post-brexit.. that will affect UK profitability. However the movement of the pound will have improved export profitability a lot. Just in the US the movement of $ means they get 18% more for every car since the Summer. I am waiting for price reductions over here but will probably get very old in the process.
The Vantage seemed to be so much tighter and better put together. Not so many rattles and bumps and the dash is a massive improvement in my opinion. It also seems to have more room !!Dont get me wrong, I love the DBS and would never change it, but is is a bit of a Dinosaur compared to the Vantage ( A very Characterful Dinosaur though). And I really do love the manual gears on the V12S
I think Aston Martin are simply wising up to the fact that most other prestige manufacturers offer fairly "basic" spec cars with stupidly long options list.
These options are expensive hence I would guess profitable, and a lot of customers end up ticking many boxes, either because they want to or because they are advised it will hurt resale value if certain things are not specced.
Look at the options list for a Ferrari Cali, 488, McLaren 540/570/650 etc.
AM is merely jumping on the bandwagon and trying to make a bit more money.
Agree though that the plastic fuel filler cap is just petty...
These options are expensive hence I would guess profitable, and a lot of customers end up ticking many boxes, either because they want to or because they are advised it will hurt resale value if certain things are not specced.
Look at the options list for a Ferrari Cali, 488, McLaren 540/570/650 etc.
AM is merely jumping on the bandwagon and trying to make a bit more money.
Agree though that the plastic fuel filler cap is just petty...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Can't believe the seat buttons are still the plastic ones
Can't believe the seat buttons are still the plastic ones
spyker138 said:
The cost of all the german bits has gone up a lot post-brexit.. that will affect UK profitability. However the movement of the pound will have improved export profitability a lot. Just in the US the movement of $ means they get 18% more for every car since the Summer. I am waiting for price reductions over here but will probably get very old in the process.
The supply chain in different currencies must be a nightmare.
DB11 Engine Blocks - Made now in Bridgnorth (Sterling)
- then sent to Germany.
Engine assembled in Cologne (Euros)
- then sent back to Gaydon
I love my car which is a late model V12 Vantage with a lot of options in storm black. I have normally bought cars new and to be honest I would of considered buying a new to my exact specification V12s manual. But and its a big but I prefer the older cars styling and it would drive me mad to notice all of the downgrading of the spec. The new manual box is in my opinion not as good as the original one and as someone else commented the car does not feel as raw. So for me it's a NO
Jon39 said:
Who thinks the run out special edition Vantage, might have all the 'low rent' items replaced, with the 'real deal' articles within the total price?
Me, and I've added the lot and yes it's frustrating but not enough so to stop me wanting the car. There's a lot of things frustrating about owning an Aston Martin but they're not significant enough to make me want to go and buy a 991 Turbo or an R8 or a...Jon39 said:
spyker138 said:
The cost of all the german bits has gone up a lot post-brexit.. that will affect UK profitability. However the movement of the pound will have improved export profitability a lot. Just in the US the movement of $ means they get 18% more for every car since the Summer. I am waiting for price reductions over here but will probably get very old in the process.
The supply chain in different currencies must be a nightmare.
DB11 Engine Blocks - Made now in Bridgnorth (Sterling)
- then sent to Germany.
Engine assembled in Cologne (Euros)
- then sent back to Gaydon
But Aston Martin will probably have to prove "country of origin" (ie UK) in Any trade deal the UK negotiates with other countries on its own (as they won't be able to say "it's all EU". With the engine made in Germany, and the electronics (and i suspect other components - brakes, gearbox?). So the more that can be shifted to the UK the better
AMDBSVNick said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Can't believe the seat buttons are still the plastic ones
They're taking the rise with that price, more or less zero options, not even the CF vents !Can't believe the seat buttons are still the plastic ones
This is what I don't get, why would somebody go and pay full list for a base spec car from a non-AM dealer, when they can walk into any dealer, do a little bit of a deal and get a better spec for the same money.
Horses for courses I guess.
matrignano said:
I think Aston Martin are simply wising up to the fact that most other prestige manufacturers offer fairly "basic" spec cars with stupidly long options list.
These options are expensive hence I would guess profitable, and a lot of customers end up ticking many boxes, either because they want to or because they are advised it will hurt resale value if certain things are not specced.
Look at the options list for a Ferrari Cali, 488, McLaren 540/570/650 etc.
AM is merely jumping on the bandwagon and trying to make a bit more money.
Agree though that the plastic fuel filler cap is just petty...
This is true but only as much as the fact that the competition is doing that to new models and not 10 year old one's on their swansong tour. There it is normally the opposite that you throw everything at it at a competitive price (GTS as an example) but at STG 160k the V12VS '16 is not competitively priced and that is even before the brand enhancing small bits and pieces are extra. These options are expensive hence I would guess profitable, and a lot of customers end up ticking many boxes, either because they want to or because they are advised it will hurt resale value if certain things are not specced.
Look at the options list for a Ferrari Cali, 488, McLaren 540/570/650 etc.
AM is merely jumping on the bandwagon and trying to make a bit more money.
Agree though that the plastic fuel filler cap is just petty...
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