Anyone else not really dig Aston Martins?
Discussion
I know some people will try to have me shot for this, but I've never really loved Astons. I have never thought they look nice, yet I know many think they're the best looking machines on the road. However yesterday on the M4 I passed a DB7 Vantage cabrio (volante?) and a new shape Hyundai Coupe next to each other, and I swear the Hyundai looked better! 
. I think the fact that they are always in drab colours doesn't help.
They also seem to be a very confused company. Looking at the price of a Vanquish (£174,000 !!!) alarmed me, when I am led to believe a DB9 is largely the same. I see it as them saying "we dont care about our customers who paid all that for a Vanquish, here's the same thing much cheaper so we can sell some more."
If I had bought a Vanquish, I would not feel like a valued customer...
I have heard the Vanquish, and it does sound fantastic and I don't care if the engine is related to a Mondeo's, but it just doesn't seem like £170k of car, especially compared to a Murcielago or even a non-VW Bentley. And I can't work out whether it's a finely crafted perfectionists car (Bentley), performance car (Ferrari) or luxo saloon (Mercedes), but an Aston doesn't seem to do any of these things as well as any of them. You certainly don't imagine people driving them fast.. more just cruising round London and parking up at polo matches. In addition I get the whiff of Fiat levels of reliability, which is only rumour and speculation, but would not make you feel like you're driving a special, well engineered car continent-crushing GT deserving of the name or price tag.
I have even been in a very rare 2001 V8 Volante (a customer of our family garage), but it was an odd-looking tank, and the best bit about it was the badge - without it it could be just some huge American car. Mostly it reminded me of a Jag, although there's nothing wrong with that as such.
So anyway no offence to owners, I am just young so perhaps it is that I've missed out on the history etc. I want them to challenge Ferrari and Bentley, but to me they miss this level and mentally sit alongside the Mercedes SL or 911 turbo. This is just my totally negative view - someone slap me with the positives!! I like James Bond so there's one...
Am I missing something completely? Do I have any followers or am I going it alone?
Russell
. I think the fact that they are always in drab colours doesn't help. They also seem to be a very confused company. Looking at the price of a Vanquish (£174,000 !!!) alarmed me, when I am led to believe a DB9 is largely the same. I see it as them saying "we dont care about our customers who paid all that for a Vanquish, here's the same thing much cheaper so we can sell some more."
If I had bought a Vanquish, I would not feel like a valued customer...
I have heard the Vanquish, and it does sound fantastic and I don't care if the engine is related to a Mondeo's, but it just doesn't seem like £170k of car, especially compared to a Murcielago or even a non-VW Bentley. And I can't work out whether it's a finely crafted perfectionists car (Bentley), performance car (Ferrari) or luxo saloon (Mercedes), but an Aston doesn't seem to do any of these things as well as any of them. You certainly don't imagine people driving them fast.. more just cruising round London and parking up at polo matches. In addition I get the whiff of Fiat levels of reliability, which is only rumour and speculation, but would not make you feel like you're driving a special, well engineered car continent-crushing GT deserving of the name or price tag.
I have even been in a very rare 2001 V8 Volante (a customer of our family garage), but it was an odd-looking tank, and the best bit about it was the badge - without it it could be just some huge American car. Mostly it reminded me of a Jag, although there's nothing wrong with that as such.
So anyway no offence to owners, I am just young so perhaps it is that I've missed out on the history etc. I want them to challenge Ferrari and Bentley, but to me they miss this level and mentally sit alongside the Mercedes SL or 911 turbo. This is just my totally negative view - someone slap me with the positives!! I like James Bond so there's one...
Am I missing something completely? Do I have any followers or am I going it alone?
Russell
I agree, the old Bond ones I get 
, but the new ones don't float my boat even with Clarkson drooling all over the styling and calling them the "prettiest car ever" etc. Nice, yes, but don't do much more than that for me. Same with the current Jag XK whatevers - too big or something - just not quite right.
Lucky I'm unlikely to ever be in a position to have to umm and aah over buying one, so one less thing to worry about!
, but the new ones don't float my boat even with Clarkson drooling all over the styling and calling them the "prettiest car ever" etc. Nice, yes, but don't do much more than that for me. Same with the current Jag XK whatevers - too big or something - just not quite right. Lucky I'm unlikely to ever be in a position to have to umm and aah over buying one, so one less thing to worry about!
Dunno really. Would probably never own any Aston even if I could afford it.
However, from my point of view, the Vanquish is worth the extra for the looks alone. That may sound silly to say, but if your buying that kind of car anyway, and you have the money, then it doesn't matter what else you can get for £xyz etc.
That kind of purchase shouldn't be justified against other cars, if you are, then you may as well go get a 911 Turbo and have done, as it's the best of them all in one or so it seems.
A Vanquish is a purchase that any owner will love, just because the DB9 is so much cheaper doesn't de rate the Vanquish in my eyes, it compounds the Vanquish's exclusivity over the DB9.
I've seen 1 (ONE) Vanquish since they came out, yet I've seen a good 10 DB9's already, so that says it all really for exclusivity.
Fair arguement for not liking them, but like I said at those kind of prices, it's about what YOU want and what YOU like, and it's not about value for money, reliability or percieved image etc.
To be honest the DB9 looks gay when it's parked next to the Vanquish S!
Dave
However, from my point of view, the Vanquish is worth the extra for the looks alone. That may sound silly to say, but if your buying that kind of car anyway, and you have the money, then it doesn't matter what else you can get for £xyz etc.
That kind of purchase shouldn't be justified against other cars, if you are, then you may as well go get a 911 Turbo and have done, as it's the best of them all in one or so it seems.
A Vanquish is a purchase that any owner will love, just because the DB9 is so much cheaper doesn't de rate the Vanquish in my eyes, it compounds the Vanquish's exclusivity over the DB9.
I've seen 1 (ONE) Vanquish since they came out, yet I've seen a good 10 DB9's already, so that says it all really for exclusivity.
Fair arguement for not liking them, but like I said at those kind of prices, it's about what YOU want and what YOU like, and it's not about value for money, reliability or percieved image etc.
To be honest the DB9 looks gay when it's parked next to the Vanquish S!
Dave
pentoman said:
I've never really loved Astons.
Me neither. Ideal for folks who think Jags are too downmarket,
it seems.
pentoman said:
Looking at the price of a Vanquish (£174,000 !!!) alarmed me,
174K is house money, not car money. I think that even
if I won the lottery, I wouldn't spend money like that on a car.
pentoman said:
continent-crushing GT deserving of the name or price tag.
This really gets my goat. For example, there are about 700
miles from Calais to Marseille.
In any car, that's going to take at least seven hours.
An Aston won't get you there any faster.
Lots of cars will cruise all day every day that fast.
The only exception across the whole of Europe to this rule
is the German autobahn, where it might, if the road isn't too busy.
dcb said:
I've never really loved Astons.
Me neither. Ideal for folks who think Jags are too downmarket,
it seems.
pentoman said:
Looking at the price of a Vanquish (£174,000 !!!) alarmed me,
174K is house money, not car money. I think that even
if I won the lottery, I wouldn't spend money like that on a car.
pentoman said:
continent-crushing GT deserving of the name or price tag.
This really gets my goat. For example, there are about 700
miles from Calais to Marseille.
In any car, that's going to take at least seven hours.
An Aston won't get you there any faster.
Lots of cars will cruise all day every day that fast.
The only exception across the whole of Europe to this rule
is the German autobahn, where it might, if the road isn't too busy.
Agreed - although even for the autobahn bit, an M5 will cope easily as well at the same speeds for a third of the price!
Yes, me.
Over priced, underwhelming to drive by all accounts (esp. Evo mag's opinion - which to me counts for a lot) I'm not keen on their design - the Vanquish looks slightly 'unfinished' at the rear in my opinion and the DB9 looks ugly to me. The V8 Vantage is better but is RUINED by the UK numberplate - as a 'British' car, the designers should have thought about this - if I owned one, I'd have no front plate.
The V8 Vantage seems to be the best, but I think some of the interior looks cheap, I dislike that 'Power, Soul etc' lcd display (so naff, so footballers wives) and it just doesn't really excite me. At least it has a manual gearbox unlike the Vanquish which has had to put up with that paddle nonsense throughout its life - a manly car, which surely an Aston is, should involve a bit of effort to drive, should demand to be driven and reward accordingly.
I like the DB4, it is a very pretty car. The DB4 Zagato is a work of genius, the 80s Zagato has a strange appeal much like the Alfa SZ and I like the thinking behind the 'proper' Vantage - the Virage based 600bhp monster.
Here's my view - Astons have always been old money, for the seriously rich, or, as they would likely describe themselves, well heeled. Merely rich people would respect and admire Astons, in the same way in years past, they would have Bentleys. Now, much like Bentleys, I feel they are aimed to low - aimed slightly more to the golf club set in a bid to increase profit margins, sales and turnover - the influence of their parent companies.
Obviously there are exceptions to the golf club buying set, there are those who appreciate the history of Aston, the occasion of the thing, it's just I think Aston themselves (the management, not the staff) have forgotten or, worse, never knew of it.
Over priced, underwhelming to drive by all accounts (esp. Evo mag's opinion - which to me counts for a lot) I'm not keen on their design - the Vanquish looks slightly 'unfinished' at the rear in my opinion and the DB9 looks ugly to me. The V8 Vantage is better but is RUINED by the UK numberplate - as a 'British' car, the designers should have thought about this - if I owned one, I'd have no front plate.
The V8 Vantage seems to be the best, but I think some of the interior looks cheap, I dislike that 'Power, Soul etc' lcd display (so naff, so footballers wives) and it just doesn't really excite me. At least it has a manual gearbox unlike the Vanquish which has had to put up with that paddle nonsense throughout its life - a manly car, which surely an Aston is, should involve a bit of effort to drive, should demand to be driven and reward accordingly.
I like the DB4, it is a very pretty car. The DB4 Zagato is a work of genius, the 80s Zagato has a strange appeal much like the Alfa SZ and I like the thinking behind the 'proper' Vantage - the Virage based 600bhp monster.
Here's my view - Astons have always been old money, for the seriously rich, or, as they would likely describe themselves, well heeled. Merely rich people would respect and admire Astons, in the same way in years past, they would have Bentleys. Now, much like Bentleys, I feel they are aimed to low - aimed slightly more to the golf club set in a bid to increase profit margins, sales and turnover - the influence of their parent companies.
Obviously there are exceptions to the golf club buying set, there are those who appreciate the history of Aston, the occasion of the thing, it's just I think Aston themselves (the management, not the staff) have forgotten or, worse, never knew of it.
ADDYBOY1982 said:
I've never really loved Astons.
Me neither. Ideal for folks who think Jags are too downmarket,
it seems.
pentoman said:
Looking at the price of a Vanquish (£174,000 !!!) alarmed me,
174K is house money, not car money. I think that even
if I won the lottery, I wouldn't spend money like that on a car.
pentoman said:
continent-crushing GT deserving of the name or price tag.
This really gets my goat. For example, there are about 700
miles from Calais to Marseille.
In any car, that's going to take at least seven hours.
An Aston won't get you there any faster.
Lots of cars will cruise all day every day that fast.
The only exception across the whole of Europe to this rule
is the German autobahn, where it might, if the road isn't too busy.
Agreed - although even for the autobahn bit, an M5 will cope easily as well at the same speeds for a third of the price!
We drove from England to Spa twice this year. Once in a DB9 and the other in a Freelander.
All it did for me is prove your comment to be a load of rubbish, lol....
Do you really think the journey in the Freelander was anywhere near the ride, luxury, comfort, style, etc, etc of a DB9, lol......
What is the definition of an old man ?? I am not even 30 yet and I really like Astons ??
Also, how can you possibly say that a car is underwhelming to drive just on the say so of a mag, I read Evo, but that is a bit of a big comment from you. Why don't you try it yourself before making such comments !!!
>> Edited by :J: on Monday 21st November 15:34
:J: said:
I've never really loved Astons.
Me neither. Ideal for folks who think Jags are too downmarket,
it seems.
pentoman said:
Looking at the price of a Vanquish (£174,000 !!!) alarmed me,
174K is house money, not car money. I think that even
if I won the lottery, I wouldn't spend money like that on a car.
pentoman said:
continent-crushing GT deserving of the name or price tag.
This really gets my goat. For example, there are about 700
miles from Calais to Marseille.
In any car, that's going to take at least seven hours.
An Aston won't get you there any faster.
Lots of cars will cruise all day every day that fast.
The only exception across the whole of Europe to this rule
is the German autobahn, where it might, if the road isn't too busy.
Agreed - although even for the autobahn bit, an M5 will cope easily as well at the same speeds for a third of the price!
We drove from England to Spa twice this year. Once in a DB9 and the other in a Freelander.
All it did for me is prove your comment to be a load of rubbish, lol....
Do you really think the journey in the Freelander was anywhere near the ride, luxury, comfort, style, etc, etc of a DB9, lol......
What is the definition of an old man ?? I am not even 30 yet and I really like Astons ??
Who's comment was rubbish? YOu seem to have quoted 3 people
Yes and no, on the ‘Yes’ front I loved the proper V8 Vantage from the 80’s, these to me were wonderful cars, quintessentially British and very much the choice of the cognoscenti albeit bloody wealthy ones.
I thought the Lagonda had a charm and appeal all of its own as well, lets face it there has been nothing like it since! Since then the Virage derived cars had the same sort of appeal albeit the Virage itself was something of a lemon.
The DB7 range was undoubtedly beautiful but frankly I’d have saved the money and bought an XKR, my real gripe lies with the current offerings.
The Vanquish just doesn’t do it for me, Astons of old were of course damn expensive but some how you were getting something different and more importantly something bespoke, the Vanquish is just to much Premiership footballer and just not good enough or indeed sufficiently bespoke to warrant the money
As for this new V8 thing, far to much of a new Volvo look about the inside and more importantly far to much of the steroidal progeny of a Ford Probe about them, not for me in a million years.
I thought the Lagonda had a charm and appeal all of its own as well, lets face it there has been nothing like it since! Since then the Virage derived cars had the same sort of appeal albeit the Virage itself was something of a lemon.
The DB7 range was undoubtedly beautiful but frankly I’d have saved the money and bought an XKR, my real gripe lies with the current offerings.
The Vanquish just doesn’t do it for me, Astons of old were of course damn expensive but some how you were getting something different and more importantly something bespoke, the Vanquish is just to much Premiership footballer and just not good enough or indeed sufficiently bespoke to warrant the money
As for this new V8 thing, far to much of a new Volvo look about the inside and more importantly far to much of the steroidal progeny of a Ford Probe about them, not for me in a million years.
Every AM I've ever driven (v8 Vantage, Virage Vantage, DB7 & Vantage, DB9, and Vanquish) has left me cold - they are definatley an acquired taste I'm afraid. Undoubtedly beautiful to look at - but in a very clinical way - they lack passion/emotion - and I'm afraid they drive in a similar way.
Wouldn't the world be a boring place if we all liked the same cars though! So good look to them and those that love 'em!
Wouldn't the world be a boring place if we all liked the same cars though! So good look to them and those that love 'em!
I'm 34 years old and on my 3rd Aston and have a V8 coming next month.
Until you own one or drive one across Europe or down to Le Mans you have no idea on the fealing it gives or impression it makes!
It's not flash, it's not pretentious, just class.
I love everything automotive, but dissagree strongly that they are an old mans car. The straight six DB7 was a tad soft and yes would have probably suited my Grandad, but how can you say the same about a 420bhp V12 DB9 ?
Just my two penneth worth.
ASTON'S ROCK !
>> Edited by shadytree on Monday 21st November 15:48
Until you own one or drive one across Europe or down to Le Mans you have no idea on the fealing it gives or impression it makes!
It's not flash, it's not pretentious, just class.
I love everything automotive, but dissagree strongly that they are an old mans car. The straight six DB7 was a tad soft and yes would have probably suited my Grandad, but how can you say the same about a 420bhp V12 DB9 ?
Just my two penneth worth.
ASTON'S ROCK !
>> Edited by shadytree on Monday 21st November 15:48
I had an AMV8 on order, but as more and more details came out about it I went off it to the level that I canned the order.
Whilst the sound is apparently great, it's slow, very slow when you think it's 80k, and IMHO pug ugly from the front 1/4 view with that great big gaping mouth.
I can't see the "point" of the AMV8, a DB9 isn't that much more expensive, and if I wanted a soleless over developed, compromised car (to coin the phrase book of the last few weeks magazines) then I'd stick my money on a 911.
Astons of old are everything an Aston should be, the new Aston is almost just another medium volume european taste driven car producer.
J
Whilst the sound is apparently great, it's slow, very slow when you think it's 80k, and IMHO pug ugly from the front 1/4 view with that great big gaping mouth.
I can't see the "point" of the AMV8, a DB9 isn't that much more expensive, and if I wanted a soleless over developed, compromised car (to coin the phrase book of the last few weeks magazines) then I'd stick my money on a 911.
Astons of old are everything an Aston should be, the new Aston is almost just another medium volume european taste driven car producer.
J
Thank goodness everyone has different tastes! 
Aston Martins are an event; it is a real experience driving them from the technology and craftsmanship that goes into them to the reaction and respect from everyone who sees it.
They're not the fastest, lightest, niblest or sportiest car out there but they have real soul. For me they epitomise everying a Grand Tourer should be.
I'd recommend every true petrolhead tries an Aston Martin at least once in their motoring lifetimes, preferable when you're young enough to sample it to the max.
'Old Man' Jeremy
>> Edited by jeremyc on Monday 21st November 16:16
Aston Martins are an event; it is a real experience driving them from the technology and craftsmanship that goes into them to the reaction and respect from everyone who sees it.
They're not the fastest, lightest, niblest or sportiest car out there but they have real soul. For me they epitomise everying a Grand Tourer should be.
I'd recommend every true petrolhead tries an Aston Martin at least once in their motoring lifetimes, preferable when you're young enough to sample it to the max.
'Old Man' Jeremy
>> Edited by jeremyc on Monday 21st November 16:16
ADDYBOY1982 said:
I've never really loved Astons.
Me neither. Ideal for folks who think Jags are too downmarket,
it seems.
pentoman said:
Looking at the price of a Vanquish (£174,000 !!!) alarmed me,
174K is house money, not car money. I think that even
if I won the lottery, I wouldn't spend money like that on a car.
pentoman said:
continent-crushing GT deserving of the name or price tag.
This really gets my goat. For example, there are about 700
miles from Calais to Marseille.
In any car, that's going to take at least seven hours.
An Aston won't get you there any faster.
Lots of cars will cruise all day every day that fast.
The only exception across the whole of Europe to this rule
is the German autobahn, where it might, if the road isn't too busy.
Agreed - although even for the autobahn bit, an M5 will cope easily as well at the same speeds for a third of the price!
We drove from England to Spa twice this year. Once in a DB9 and the other in a Freelander.
All it did for me is prove your comment to be a load of rubbish, lol....
Do you really think the journey in the Freelander was anywhere near the ride, luxury, comfort, style, etc, etc of a DB9, lol......
What is the definition of an old man ?? I am not even 30 yet and I really like Astons ??
Who's comment was rubbish? YOu seem to have quoted 3 people
Quoted one comment, mentioned 2 others
In hindsight, I guess all 3 were rubbish
Last Aston I loved was the 1974 V8. Didn't even like the vantage version as it got chavved up and lost the intrinsic elegance that made an Aston a gentleman's carriage - a sort of Rolls Royce GT car. Not that I liked the DB5 or DB6 really which were wannabe Ferraris.
Modern Astons do nothing for me. Even when I tried to win one at Heathrow airport, I was a little underwhelmed and was rather glad when they changed the prize to offer a 997 plus £30k. Academic as i didn't win but you get my drift - I actively didn't want to win it and could only think how I was going to sell it if I did.
Modern Astons are forvever chasing Porsches and it was never a Porsche in concept to begin with.
Modern Astons do nothing for me. Even when I tried to win one at Heathrow airport, I was a little underwhelmed and was rather glad when they changed the prize to offer a 997 plus £30k. Academic as i didn't win but you get my drift - I actively didn't want to win it and could only think how I was going to sell it if I did.
Modern Astons are forvever chasing Porsches and it was never a Porsche in concept to begin with.
The early eighties V8 range especially the Vantage were the only ones that really did it for me. One of these would certainly feature in my dream garage. As for the current and most recent ranges, sorry not my cup of tea.
All of the UK press clamour and the collective attitude of "we like Aston Martins don't we" just smacks of mis guided patriotism and a touch of the Emperor's new clothes to me.
I don't particularly like TVRs or the Tory party either. Will I be drummed out of the PH collective?
pp
All of the UK press clamour and the collective attitude of "we like Aston Martins don't we" just smacks of mis guided patriotism and a touch of the Emperor's new clothes to me.
I don't particularly like TVRs or the Tory party either. Will I be drummed out of the PH collective?
pp
We all have our favourite cars, don't we? I love Ferraris, other people like Porsches, and of course some people like Astons.
I don't think that Clarkson's impressions of the new V8 did it any favours last week, but never the less, the car is beautiful. This is where Aston seem to excel. There cars are just drop dead gorgeous.
They went through a bad period a few years back however, when they did the grotesque Vantage Zagato and how can we forget that awful Lagonda wedge shaped thing.
With an Aston, you are buying into an exclusive club, where you can tell your kids that your car was handbuilt by a craftsman with ancient tools and that each engine is signed by the man who assembled it. Do they still do this on the DB9, V8 etc?
Is the car worth the money? A friend of mine bought a Jaguar XKR after firstly trying an Aston DB7. He reckons that the £20k which he saved, makes the decision worth it.
I have always been intrigued as to what makes someone part with £175k for a Vanquish, when the better looking and almost as fast DB9 costs about £60k less.
One think is certain though. When you see an Aston, doesn't it make you proud to be British?
I don't think that Clarkson's impressions of the new V8 did it any favours last week, but never the less, the car is beautiful. This is where Aston seem to excel. There cars are just drop dead gorgeous.
They went through a bad period a few years back however, when they did the grotesque Vantage Zagato and how can we forget that awful Lagonda wedge shaped thing.
With an Aston, you are buying into an exclusive club, where you can tell your kids that your car was handbuilt by a craftsman with ancient tools and that each engine is signed by the man who assembled it. Do they still do this on the DB9, V8 etc?
Is the car worth the money? A friend of mine bought a Jaguar XKR after firstly trying an Aston DB7. He reckons that the £20k which he saved, makes the decision worth it.
I have always been intrigued as to what makes someone part with £175k for a Vanquish, when the better looking and almost as fast DB9 costs about £60k less.
One think is certain though. When you see an Aston, doesn't it make you proud to be British?
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