RE: Aston Martin to make V12 Vantage Roadster

[George H]

renorti said:

yes a very nice aston..again ,trouble is every new one looks like the one just being replaced.
bit like the 911 really.

This isn't a new model and it isn't replacing anything. Obviously it's going to look the same if it's a new variant on an existing car

[Vantagefan]

t1grm said:

That’s platform sharing. I’m talking about the age of the platform not what cars it’s shared with. I don’t think the RR Ghost shares the same chassis as a 10 year old 7 series.

So just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t matter? Presumably you could say the same about the engine. So let’s all put 1950’s big block V8’s in every sports car. The platform has a key effect on handling and chassis dynamics. As other manufactures replace their platforms Aston will be left behind if they don’t replace theirs.

But that's where I don't see where all the fuss is about. I haven't read a single article that says the car feels anything other than well balanced, rigid and sporty - even with the roof chopped off. Whenever I've driven one it has felt a lot more planted than something like an SLS.


I'd see your point if the platform felt dated when driving the car but there are a lot of cars with newer platforms that don't feel as well engineered as Aston's 8 year old one. If anything I see that as a sign of superior engineering than of a lack of development.

[B.J.W]

Beefmeister said:

B.J.W said:

I've never really liked the Vantage - don't understand all of the fuss; looks quite ordinary to me.

Same with the Roadster....

Take a look at my profile......

[gl20]

George H said:

renorti said:

yes a very nice aston..again ,trouble is every new one looks like the one just being replaced.
bit like the 911 really.

This isn't a new model and it isn't replacing anything. Obviously it's going to look the same if it's a new variant on an existing car

Therein lies the problem though. Seems they only have the resources to come up with variants or, at best, 'new' models that borrow heavily from old models.

[Ungarsee]

I could of been mistaken but I'm 95% sure I saw a white one of these on Cheapside in the City today. It had the V12 AML plate on it which is Aston Martin's own plate from memory. Looked absolutely stunning but was pretty much stop start traffic so didn't get to hear them open the taps on it sadly.

[t1grm]

Vantagefan said:

But that's where I don't see where all the fuss is about. I haven't read a single article that says the car feels anything other than well balanced, rigid and sporty - even with the roof chopped off. Whenever I've driven one it has felt a lot more planted than something like an SLS.


I'd see your point if the platform felt dated when driving the car but there are a lot of cars with newer platforms that don't feel as well engineered as Aston's 8 year old one. If anything I see that as a sign of superior engineering than of a lack of development.

Fair comment. At the moment it's probably not that out of date but, sooner or later it will be - compared to the competition - and I can't see where the money for the next one is going to come from.

[polar8]

Ungarsee said:

I could of been mistaken but I'm 95% sure I saw a white one of these on Cheapside in the City today. It had the V12 AML plate on it which is Aston Martin's own plate from memory. Looked absolutely stunning but was pretty much stop start traffic so didn't get to hear them open the taps on it sadly.

Yep, saw it too on Bayswater Road yesterday. I was coming the other way in my carbon V12 coupe and gave him a flash... nothing back. It looked pretty good though.

[Vantagefan]

I do agree with most comments that these black fronted polished inner wheels look horrific. Didn't like them on the Zagato either.

[XJ40]

I hear AM have specced these for their next model, for a premium look.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Krikkit]

XJ40 said:

I hear AM have specced these for their next model, for a premium look.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Damn you! Now all the targeted ads on the front page are telling me about Ripspeed this, and chrome wiper that...

[HandsomeBob]

I really do not think this will do well. 3 years too late!

In fact most circa £130k convertibles are looking a bit dated..R8 especially!

[jonby]

HandsomeBob said:

I really do not think this will do well. 3 years too late!

In fact most circa £130k convertibles are looking a bit dated..R8 especially!

As I'm regarding this as a keeper, I don't see your point as an issue. In 3 yrs time, it may look a bit more dated again. In 5-7yrs +, I see this as a true classic

It is rather late. But there will be another R8 convertible, a later better posche/ferrari/etc. There will most likely never be another 'proper 2 seat' (as opposed to DB9/S/Vanquish with rear seats removed) manual gearbox V12 Aston, or indeed any marque, which is what makes this, for some of us anyway, so special

[Zod]

B.J.W said:

Take a look at my profile......

Which Vantage do you have?

[monthefish]

Beefmeister said:

B.J.W said:

I've never really liked the Vantage - don't understand all of the fuss; looks quite ordinary to me.

Same with the Roadster....

I agree.

I love the DBS, and quite like the DB9 and Virage, but there's something just not quite right about the design of the Vantage.

[gaucimiura]

What is it with Aston's wheels these days? They look like the cheapo aftermarket ones you see on every pimped hot-hatch. Prefer the DBS any day over this. Preferably with the early wheels like the 'Casino Royale' spec DBS. Actually, saw a DB7 the other day and it still looked pretty good too.

[Camlet]

Too old, too heavy, too bling, too few horses. Sadly feels desperate.

[P2BS]

Reviving an old thread here - I saw one of these on Saturday around Newport Pagnell with a local 'K' (Kettering) plate, 62 reg so pretty fresh. It was in the Reddy/Orange colour, and looked stunning. It was pootling down the motorway at a sedate 45mph (in the everlasting 50mph roadworks section).