The new Vantage?

[raceboy]

mogg said:

Mmmm....looking at those photos, I'm definitely seeing echoes of the One-77 which cannot be bad at all ! :-)

You're not the only one, looking at the white Vantage posted earlier that had a lot of One-77 about it.

[Ken Figenus]

I am so happy for Aston that this is being received so well on looks. Look forward to road test as that is a lot of power to put to the rear axle with the engine up front - even on 325's. But it is undoubtedly a great bit of progress - I remember all our chats and that seismic sense of disappointment after all the corporate briefed talking up pre launch of the previous model...

I'm really struggling on the cost mind as its likely 50% more in real matched terms over the cost of VH Vantage? VH was simply FAR more affordable. But I don't blame them for trying as, if it retains the residuals, then everyone's a winner. Well, other than those who cant cashflow a £200k car but might manage a £140k one...

I think its priced very similarly to, say, a Mc GT - although some of the options costs are sillier still on the AM given what they actually cost in reality. So if Mac can charge £200k for a carbon tubbed, sub 1500kg, flat plane crank, mid-engined, 2 seater with much carbon bits and CCB I wish Aston the very best of British too!

I have driven its big bro of a DB12 and it was and absolute utter total winner btw. As a driver (that's an adjective now right?) I say Go Aston - we never want to lose you as we Stroll lovingly along your winding road of charismatic heritage bound by a honed ride of virtuous vigour!.

[Jon39]

Ken Figenus said:

As a driver (that's an adjective now right?) I say Go Aston - we never want to lose you, as we Stroll lovingly along your winding road of charismatic heritage, bound by a honed ride of virtuous vigour!.

Impressive.

You should be writing the marketing material for Aston Martin.
At least we can understand your message.

We think only 12 year olds, have any idea what AML are on about.
Perhaps prospective customers, just about to splash £250,000 on a weekend motoring toy, are finally persuaded to say, "Yes, I will buy the car", by the subliminal powers of all those muddled messages.

[BenAstonV12]

Watch, 27 mins and 44 seconds in, folks might enjoy this, given previous conversations: Chris Harris and friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxIF2S7XuGE Great car, terrible verbiage.

[steveamv8]

ram_g said:

Their latest spiel on social media is getting even more cringeworthy

Nose hairs twitching with burning rubber.
Tyres shooting traction into your ear canal.
Welcome to the limit.
Vantage. Engineered for real drivers.

Ewww...

Im sure they are using AI to write this crap

[Kerniki]

BenAstonV12 said:

Watch, 27 mins and 44 seconds in, folks might enjoy this, given previous conversations: Chris Harris and friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxIF2S7XuGE Great car, terrible verbiage.

Be great when most of those guys fek off, chris was great, he takes the piss and laughs at it for what it is, as soon as its passed over to those other twits? yaaaaaaawn..

[LTP]

BenAstonV12 said:

Watch, 27 mins and 44 seconds in, folks might enjoy this, given previous conversations: Chris Harris and friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxIF2S7XuGE Great car, terrible verbiage.

Thanks for the link - and especially for the time. The idea I'd have to watch over an hour and a half of this....well my life is pretty dull, but not that dull.

I rarely look at the comments in YouTube videos, as that way lies a journey to the very depths of hell, but my eye caught a comment that said "Guys, don't worry about the length of the episode, I bet all of us could listen to you guys for hours on end.. I'd take that bet. It also says something about the fans of the Honda NSX :

[RichB]

LTP said:

BenAstonV12 said:

Watch, 27 mins and 44 seconds in, folks might enjoy this, given previous conversations: Chris Harris and friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxIF2S7XuGE Great car, terrible verbiage.

Thanks for the link - and especially for the time. The idea I'd have to watch over an hour and a half of this....well my life is pretty dull, but not that dull.

I rarely look at the comments in YouTube videos, as that way lies a journey to the very depths of hell, but my eye caught a comment that said "Guys, don't worry about the length of the episode, I bet all of us could listen to you guys for hours on end.. I'd take that bet. It also says something about the fans of the Honda NSX :

indeed...

[Wafu7]

BenAstonV12 said:

Watch, 27 mins and 44 seconds in, folks might enjoy this, given previous conversations: Chris Harris and friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxIF2S7XuGE Great car, terrible verbiage.

”Guffology … methane from the colon.”

Priceless.

[LTP]

RichB said:

indeed...

Just finished listening to it and I think there was a bit of a pile-on going on, as I seem to recall Chris Harris extolling the virtues of the VH Vantage chassis in one of his videos where he actually drove a car rather than his mouth.

Anyhoo, as I got to the end of the segment on Aston and the Vantage, for reasons unknown I didn't immediately close the tab and Harris then started talking about his M5 not being all he'd expected. Setting aside that I thought he drove a 911 he then detailed how he'd had the rear suspension rebuilt, the front suspension rebuilt, and the car had then let him down on the sliproad onto (or off, I can't recall) a motorway, I found myself thinking "Hang on, you've just been pillorying the various Aston models, you have one of the alleged gods of German saloon dynamics in an M5 and you've concluded it's so unreliable you need an Audi as well for when it's not working."

Rant over

[AlexT]

Had a good look at a 2019 Vantage today with the old front bumper in magnetic silver and the DB10-esque wheels. Made me remember one of the main reasons why I never bought one then: that front end design with the cheap mesh just lacked class. Wheel selection with those cars was also very uninspiring.
Updated front actually did well to improve the look. However, latest iteration is much more traditional AM and comparing now to the 2018 version, is far superior.

[Jon39]

LTP said:

Just finished listening to it and I think there was a bit of a pile-on going on, as I seem to recall Chris Harris extolling the virtues of the VH Vantage chassis in one of his videos where he actually drove a car rather than his mouth.

He does not dislike Aston Martins though.

Raced one more than once with an Aston Martin team, in the Nurburgring 24 hours events.
Spoke out critically about the Ferrari Roma, having a closely copied Aston Martin body design.

[cayman-black]

I cant watch that!

[nickv12]

Must admit, I have been listening to Harris & Co in the Collecting Cars podcast (simply the audio version of what they post on YouTube) when I have to wait until Smith and Sniff release their next instalment of their much more excellent 'cast.

I have yet to listen to this episode, but I am getting bored with this group of commentators. If it's not a Porsche or BMW, or occasionally a Bentley of recent, they rarely give the car the time of day. It's tedious. Really tedious.

What's more frustrating is that Ed Lovett is one of the family members who own AM Bristol, which is a great dealership. I understand Ed was there are the start of the AM Bristol development and even ordered the first batch of cars from the factory on their behalf. Until he found his new fortune with Collecting Cars.

As for Chris, when he wrote for EVO, I thought of him only second to Henry Catchpole. And he continued to do the best he could with Top Gear. But he's now a stuck record.

So, why do I still listen to it?

Erm... good question. Habit. And a habit I need to break very soon.

[quench]

nickv12 said:

What's more frustrating is that Ed Lovett is one of the family members who own AM Bristol, which is a great dealership.

Interesting that such an individual would say "it just needs to be rebodied AMG cars with beautiful interiors and lovely design bodies".

There you have it: the Lexus or Infiniti of AMG, that's what we need, heritage be damned. I mean, we're way more than halfway there already, aren't we?

[AstonV]

Ken Figenus said:

I am so happy for Aston that this is being received so well on looks. Look forward to road test as that is a lot of power to put to the rear axle with the engine up front - even on 325's. But it is undoubtedly a great bit of progress - I remember all our chats and that seismic sense of disappointment after all the corporate briefed talking up pre launch of the previous model...

I'm really struggling on the cost mind as its likely 50% more in real matched terms over the cost of VH Vantage? VH was simply FAR more affordable. But I don't blame them for trying as, if it retains the residuals, then everyone's a winner. Well, other than those who cant cashflow a £200k car but might manage a £140k one...
.

Ken, yes it’s a lot of money, but it looks closer in price to the 2005 VH Vantage than you would think. According to what I researched, in US $’s. No doubt it’s different in pounds.

2005 V8 Vantage base price was $110,000. Adjusted for inflation over time the same amount in 2024 is $174,000. So not as far off as one would think.

For me no way I could afford one back in 2005, but really wanted one. Fast forward 20 years later, I can afford one, but no plans to buy one. I love my 2015 V8, unfortunately or fortunately it spends most of its life cloistered in its garage. Gets brought out a few times a year to stretch its legs, get washed, waxed, annual service etc.

No doubt the new model is light years ahead of the VH Vantage. Would be a great stable mate, I’d have to have both.

[Jon39]

AstonV said:

Yes it’s a lot of money, but it looks closer in price to the 2005 VH Vantage than you would think.
According to what I researched, in US $’s. No doubt it’s different in pounds.

2005 V8 Vantage base price was $110,000.
Adjusted for inflation over time the same amount in 2024 is $174,000. So not as far off as one would think.

Here is the UK calculation.


Consumer Price Index







The UK government like to use the Consumer Price Index for the payment of benefits, but the Retail Price Index for taxes and other government incoming receipts. It is thought that they get away with that trick, because an opinion poll established, that 50% of the UK adult population cannot explain what 50% means. -

£90,000 would buy a reasonably well specced V8V in 2009.
The new Vantage of course has more standard equipment, some of it required by subsequent regulations.

[Nbgring]

Did you consider comparing the new Vantage with a V12S?
Inflation rate adjusted prices are an interesting concept to talk about,
but in reality the new 665 PS Vantage is technically way superior compared to the historic 4.3 Vantage.

Income and prices for all other goods have increased more than automotive prices. Is there actually any product that remained so affordable as an entry Aston Martin based on working hours needed to fulfill the dream?

[Calinours]

Nbgring said:

Did you consider comparing the new Vantage with a V12S?
Inflation rate adjusted prices are an interesting concept to talk about,
but in reality the new 665 PS Vantage is technically way superior compared to the historic 4.3 Vantage.

Income and prices for all other goods have increased more than automotive prices. Is there actually any product that remained so affordable as an entry Aston Martin based on working hours needed to fulfill the dream?

^^^ this

Definitely needs to be compared to V12V not the old 2005 pared down 80k base 4.3 V8. As the later V12s it is competing in much more rarified air, 911 turbo not C2/C2S.

I think the new iteration is a lovely thing with finally a fitting interior and with all that power it’s likely it’s going to be a weapon, if still a little heavy to really compete with the true track day masters. For an AM, looks matter more and in this alone it is surely going to sell quite a few, even at the new price point.

The only small issue I see is that there isn’t really much differentiation between Vantage and DB now, technically it’s even less than the Bez era, though at least these days they do look different from both front and rear which must count for a lot.

[Jon39]

Nbgring said:

Did you consider comparing the new Vantage with a V12S?

I suppose there are various possible comparisons.
Andy made a starting point in the range comparison, by using the lowest price Aston Martins.
My figures above selected the 2009 4.7 litre V8V (with options), so the entry point in the range is indeed now more expensive (after inflation adjustment), but Mr. Stroll did say something about prices being increased appropriately for an ultra-luxury product (whatever that means).

There is an interesting comparison, involving similar engine power.

2022 V12 Vantage 690bhp - Think £300,000 list new. A few have been on sale for some time. Two now advertised, under 2,000 miles at £210,000 and £220,000.

2024 V8 Vantage 665bhp - Think (£225,000 with options).

Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 18th February 12:21