RE: David Brown Speedback GT: Review
Discussion
Janesy B said:
gigglebug said:
This happens every single time, why don't people get it?? Do you think that anyone who can afford to pay 600K for a car hasn't got the money to buy another at the same time??? Why on earth would they worried about the fact they could get 3 other cars for the same price and have some change??? What's the change for anyway, to do the weekly shop at Tesco's?? You could buy 30 ford Focuses for the same money but they aren't going to do that either are they? What the mega rich want is to be seen as being individual with impeccable taste so limited volume, high quality cars appeal to them regardless of cost. It's why Bugatti had no problems selling out the more limited but hugely more expensive Super sport version of the Veyron but struggled to shift the regular car in the end. Anyone buying this car won't have forgotten that they need to buy a house, a daily driver, a sports car or any other comparison you can make for the same money will they??
"impeccable taste"
Okay, lol.
1) The platform upon which this vehicle is based, is ordinary. Yes it is a Jaguar platform, but one which is due to expire, if not one which has already done so in the recent past.
2) The engine and transmission. Although good if considered on their own, the unit is nothing truly special (i.e. in the sense one would consider the RSR block in the 4.0 RS or the numerous Ferrari units that are coming out these days...)
3) The design of the vehicle does have some merit. It is a good effort and I actually think the car has a nice stance with some very nice touches to some of the panels (delicately flared wheelarches for example) but to ask £600k for a body that looks dangerously close to a DB5/6 is too derivative to garner much respect or applause. You only need to look at some of Pininfarina, or Zagato's creations to realize that there are better bespoke designs out there based on some pretty special machinery, going for less.
4) David Brown...who?? Who is this guy, what has he achieved in the past?
I've probably just consolidated what 99% of posters here have said. If this car was worth £150k maybe. But at this asking price, I fear it will be one of only a 2-3 built at best.
I wish DB best of luck but he needs to come back down to earth and get real.
I certainly don't think it's perfect - that front photo reminded me of ford, not aston - but it's got something to it. The side profile looks quite classic, as does the rear.
I find it odd that, with the financial climate being what it is, all the design houses (italian) are closing down - take this concept another 20% towards bespoke and you'd something quite lovely. If someone created a modern car, but with the delicacy of a classic (thin A pillars, delicate feel to every control) they wouldn't be able to build enough.
Quite nice anyway. If I was very wealthy I probably just might... Wheels are all wrong though. They need much more tyre, and they need a slight dish, and for the tyre to be a little wider in relation to it. As it is it looks like a horrible pastiche of a classic, in that area anyway.
I find it odd that, with the financial climate being what it is, all the design houses (italian) are closing down - take this concept another 20% towards bespoke and you'd something quite lovely. If someone created a modern car, but with the delicacy of a classic (thin A pillars, delicate feel to every control) they wouldn't be able to build enough.
Quite nice anyway. If I was very wealthy I probably just might... Wheels are all wrong though. They need much more tyre, and they need a slight dish, and for the tyre to be a little wider in relation to it. As it is it looks like a horrible pastiche of a classic, in that area anyway.
gigglebug said:
This happens every single time, why don't people get it?? Do you think that anyone who can afford to pay 600K for a car hasn't got the money to buy another at the same time??? Why on earth would they worried about the fact they could get 3 other cars for the same price and have some change??? What's the change for anyway, to do the weekly shop at Tesco's?? You could buy 30 ford Focuses for the same money but they aren't going to do that either are they? What the mega rich want is to be seen as being individual with impeccable taste so limited volume, high quality cars appeal to them regardless of cost. It's why Bugatti had no problems selling out the more limited but hugely more expensive Super sport version of the Veyron but struggled to shift the regular car in the end. Anyone buying this car won't have forgotten that they need to buy a house, a daily driver, a sports car or any other comparison you can make for the same money will they??
look even rich people appreciate value - if it was 6 million would that raise one of your eyebrows?It's hard to see what they have done to a 60k jag to justify the price IMO. it looks nice enough but it's not jaw-droppingly beautiful. It's not an original design really either is it? and as for build quality it's hard to see it beating a Roller for less than half the price.
djneils98 said:
look even rich people appreciate value - if it was 6 million would that raise one of your eyebrows?
It's hard to see what they have done to a 60k jag to justify the price IMO. it looks nice enough but it's not jaw-droppingly beautiful. It's not an original design really either is it? and as for build quality it's hard to see it beating a Roller for less than half the price.
BUT, and it's a big but, there are hundreds of rollers in every major city worldwide. They're common. This is not. It's hard to see what they have done to a 60k jag to justify the price IMO. it looks nice enough but it's not jaw-droppingly beautiful. It's not an original design really either is it? and as for build quality it's hard to see it beating a Roller for less than half the price.
Z28DUNC said:
I'd like to see it without the wire wheels. Somehow they just don't work and look out of place (too big, too little tyre), alloys of some type would look better.
I totaly agree. The wire wheels are revolting, the type of shiny tat I'd expect to see on a pimped up Cadillac. The rest of it looks ok, though 600k seems way OTT for what is effectively a re-bodied Jag.Janesy B said:
"impeccable taste"
Okay, lol.
I actually quite like it from that angle. I'm not 100% on the wire wheels but at the same time wouldn't want it fitted with modern alloys either.Okay, lol.
Not a massive fan of the interior either, a more bespoke dash and steering wheel would go a long way.
Don't forget this is low volume, hand made car - that body alone would be massively labour intensive. Doesn't take long for production costs to stack up, paint finish won't be cheap either.
In addition to what's been said, I can't help thinking that if you are a "person who owns a superyacht, seeking a usable, easily-drivable piece of what they consider classic Bond-inspired auto design art", you'd be perfectly happy to spend the money getting something properly custom. This seems to be both miles more expensive than a lot of much more competent supercars and also much less desirable that a one-off project.
Personally, I'd seek out MSO, JSO, Eagle or an actual classic.
Personally, I'd seek out MSO, JSO, Eagle or an actual classic.
Long time reader/fan...first time "poster"...
Cars like this disappoint me. Clearly a great deal of time, thought, passion and energy has gone into this to craft something nearly brilliant.
But just think if the designer/s were allowed to think more freely, and interpret a spiritual successor influenced by, but not copied from British motorcars of the 60s - an E-Type was ground breaking at the time - this really isn't, at least not aesthetically - and there is so much talent and new thinking out there.
The Ford GT worked as it was a nod to the GT40; but more importantly it had providence and history - and it was a thoroughly modern take on the dance with contemporary volume and stance (There have been the Miura and Stratos concepts too of course). DB certainly has a wonderful history - but this is not Aston Martin, so why not carve your own language? Fisker did some good work based on the 6-Series, and SL and spawned it's own design language and marque from there. Eagle E-Types, Singer 911s, and Brabus SL300s are making vintage wonders a little more drivable, safer and reliable, but you know what they are about.
I LOVE the ambition for projects like this; but tradition is passing on the flame, not worshipping the ashes - it's so like a DB5 as to look flawed next to one, and not original enough as it so deserving could be.
If I won the Euromillions perhaps I'd ask them to re-body it. And definitely change the wheels.
Cars like this disappoint me. Clearly a great deal of time, thought, passion and energy has gone into this to craft something nearly brilliant.
But just think if the designer/s were allowed to think more freely, and interpret a spiritual successor influenced by, but not copied from British motorcars of the 60s - an E-Type was ground breaking at the time - this really isn't, at least not aesthetically - and there is so much talent and new thinking out there.
The Ford GT worked as it was a nod to the GT40; but more importantly it had providence and history - and it was a thoroughly modern take on the dance with contemporary volume and stance (There have been the Miura and Stratos concepts too of course). DB certainly has a wonderful history - but this is not Aston Martin, so why not carve your own language? Fisker did some good work based on the 6-Series, and SL and spawned it's own design language and marque from there. Eagle E-Types, Singer 911s, and Brabus SL300s are making vintage wonders a little more drivable, safer and reliable, but you know what they are about.
I LOVE the ambition for projects like this; but tradition is passing on the flame, not worshipping the ashes - it's so like a DB5 as to look flawed next to one, and not original enough as it so deserving could be.
If I won the Euromillions perhaps I'd ask them to re-body it. And definitely change the wheels.
MrTappets said:
In addition to what's been said, I can't help thinking that if you are a "person who owns a superyacht, seeking a usable, easily-drivable piece of what they consider classic Bond-inspired auto design art", you'd be perfectly happy to spend the money getting something properly custom. This seems to be both miles more expensive than a lot of much more competent supercars and also much less desirable that a one-off project.
Personally, I'd seek out MSO, JSO, Eagle or an actual classic.
Same here, but then again I feel this product is patently not aimed at the PH'er with £600K to spare. To us it has all the attraction of a mock-Tudor mansion... Personally, I'd seek out MSO, JSO, Eagle or an actual classic.
but the global balance of economic power has changed considerably over the past decade or two and by the looks of it, this car might be more designed to satisfy an outsider's view on 'a quintessentially British luxury product' IYKWIM.
djneils98 said:
gigglebug said:
This happens every single time, why don't people get it?? Do you think that anyone who can afford to pay 600K for a car hasn't got the money to buy another at the same time??? Why on earth would they worried about the fact they could get 3 other cars for the same price and have some change??? What's the change for anyway, to do the weekly shop at Tesco's?? You could buy 30 ford Focuses for the same money but they aren't going to do that either are they? What the mega rich want is to be seen as being individual with impeccable taste so limited volume, high quality cars appeal to them regardless of cost. It's why Bugatti had no problems selling out the more limited but hugely more expensive Super sport version of the Veyron but struggled to shift the regular car in the end. Anyone buying this car won't have forgotten that they need to buy a house, a daily driver, a sports car or any other comparison you can make for the same money will they??
look even rich people appreciate value - if it was 6 million would that raise one of your eyebrows?It's hard to see what they have done to a 60k jag to justify the price IMO. it looks nice enough but it's not jaw-droppingly beautiful. It's not an original design really either is it? and as for build quality it's hard to see it beating a Roller for less than half the price.
Perhaps the Speedback GT an expensive wine that needs a few years to mature? The Jaguar XJS was slated for failing to emulate the style of the E-Type but over time (a lot of time, admittedly!) it came to be accepted.
Low profile tyres on wires seem to be generating adverse comment but, again, is that because we're not accustomed to the concept? I happen to agree at the moment and feel perhaps those old GKN alloys from the Aston DBS V8 might suit the Speedback better but, in time, who knows?
Like others, I'm glad it's out there, so to speak, and that it's British. Otherwise we'd have to find something else to throw stones at. As an Italian car fan I'd like to see a few magazine face-offs between this and Touring's Alfa 8C-based Disco Volante. I get the impression both cars are aimed at similar buyers.
Low profile tyres on wires seem to be generating adverse comment but, again, is that because we're not accustomed to the concept? I happen to agree at the moment and feel perhaps those old GKN alloys from the Aston DBS V8 might suit the Speedback better but, in time, who knows?
Like others, I'm glad it's out there, so to speak, and that it's British. Otherwise we'd have to find something else to throw stones at. As an Italian car fan I'd like to see a few magazine face-offs between this and Touring's Alfa 8C-based Disco Volante. I get the impression both cars are aimed at similar buyers.
BarbaricAvatar said:
It doesn't look too bad. But £600,000 might buy you an actual DB6, so what is the point in this imitator?
Besides, it looks too much like:
Would you really want someone to make that mistake if you'd just spent £600k?
Was just about to post that very car. Don't mind the rear three-quarter view (mainly because it looks most like a real DB6 from there) but the rest? No thanks. I'm all for companies demonstrating real craftsmanship but this really isn't something I would choose.Besides, it looks too much like:
Would you really want someone to make that mistake if you'd just spent £600k?
I think I'd rather buy this 1971 DBS V8 for £75K and spend some of the rest on fettling and updating it and keeping it running:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C503794
Anyway, I don't think we're really the target market for this - I would guess 90%+ would be exported.
Edited by geezerbutler on Friday 1st August 15:20
gigglebug said:
It's not 6 million pounds though is it? 600K is now well within what the very richest of car fanatics are willing to pay for a single vehicle, it's no longer a figure that shocks when you see it. I'll point out for the second time that I'm not defending this particular car just questioning why people would assume that just because they don't like it or think it doesn't represent good value that it is a complete waste of money for anyone. I would love to own some of the classic cars as they can be simply beautiful but I'd rather have one which has all the benefits of modern technology added in (safety, performance, reliability and quality) I'm sure I can't be the only one who would think like this otherwise companies like Singer etc wouldn't have a leg to stand on. This car might well be the perfect solution to someone and only they will decide if it worth the outlay or not
i hear what you're saying but I just think 600k is too much too justify what's on offer here. With Singer you're getting the "perfect" 911 but with this? It's a pastiche based on cheap underpinnings. Sure there are people rich enough to think of 600k as small change but the fact remains there is nothing about this car to justify it's price tag in absolute terms let alone relative. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff