ASTON MARTIN - UK ANNUAL SALES

[Vantagefan]

MaverickV12 said:

BUGGER .......

Is it really only 1000 this year and 1000 last ? Surely that can't be right, these cars are way rarer than I thought .......

Is that total sales of AM's or just Vantages or just DB9's etc ?

I was expecting around 7000 per annum .......

7000 per annum would be global sales in a good year.

[Chris P Bacon]

Vantagefan said:

7000 per annum would be global sales in a good year.

I'm interested to know if production will increase dramatically with the half a billion cash injection announced last month to 'upgrade its production'. I wonder what upgrade production means? I would assume that means build more cars, so does that mean they will bring the cost down to sell them?

[jonby]

I've heard similar figures on a number of occasions, namely that peak global production across all the models was 7-7.5k and in the last few years, it's been 4-4.5k give or take

The reason Rapide production was subbed out to an Austrian plant was that Gaydon was operating at peak capacity and couldn't cope with adding Rapide to the plant. Immediately arfter the 3 yr agreement was entered into, total sales fell off a cliff but Aston had, I believe, to pay a penalty for pulling out of the Austrian deal early. Now the deal is over, Rapide production is in-house but there is still surplus capacity

I don't see how the new deal with the investors can lead to increased production as surely that's demand led, unless the factory can't cope with current demand, which in fact it can right now

The big change over the last 2-3 yrs is that global production has been reasonably static but overseas sales have increased, thus meaning UK sales have gone down. The beauty of all that is fewer cars being forced on the UK dealers, so in time, hopefully helps with lack of discounts - I know some people disagree, but the reality is, we are all better off, whether as buyers of used or new Astons, if no discounts are available on new cars because all other things being equal, all Astons then depreciate less

Also, as others have said, in 2- 3 yrs time the trickle down effect of fewer UK registrations of Astons now should theoretically change the supply/demand ratio in favour of firmer prices

[Chris P Bacon]

jonby said:

I don't see how the new deal with the investors can lead to increased production as surely that's demand led, unless the factory can't cope with current demand, which in fact it can right now

Could demand be stimulated by more affordable cars? Seems unlikely any investor would plough in 500 million to just carry on building a small number of cars not many people can afford. (I can afford one btw, I'm just too tight.

[yeti]

Chris P Bacon said:

jonby said:

I don't see how the new deal with the investors can lead to increased production as surely that's demand led, unless the factory can't cope with current demand, which in fact it can right now

Could demand be stimulated by more affordable cars? Seems unlikely any investor would plough in 500 million to just carry on building a small number of cars not many people can afford. (I can afford one btw, I'm just too tight.

I would imagine that money will be earmarked for the Vantage replacement, if indeed they make one (Mike put an idea forward about AML going way upmarket which would rule that out).

That's how they need to sell more cars, make them desirable again. And desirable = new car. Also the Rapide needs to be re-engineered for the Chinese market and AML: need the Merc ML platform to make an SUV, again for China.

And the 310quish needs the ZF 8spd transmission or a manual box

[mikey k]

yeti said:

And the 310quish needs the ZF 8spd transmission or a manual box

It seems that box is a bit good

http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=26...

[yeti]

mikey k said:

yeti said:

And the 310quish needs the ZF 8spd transmission or a manual box

It seems that box is a bit good

http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=26...

I saw that

Looks like a very viable alternative to a robotic manual for the 310quish and so on. ZF just can't make them quickly enough!

[Jockman]

yeti said:

...Also the Rapide needs to be re-engineered for the Chinese market...

Already done - they called it the Cygnet.

Not that I've got anything against small people, mind you

[yeti]

Jockman said:

Not that I've got anything against small people, mind you

Apologies for sounding like a complete stereotypical racialistic type but if you were to produce offspring with a lady of Chinese decent... would they be green?

[Jockman]

yeti said:

Apologies for sounding like a complete stereotypical racialistic type but if you were to produce offspring with a lady of Chinese decent... would they be green?

How offensive !!

Dost thou know of a decent Chinese Lady...surely green offspring would be deemed spring onions

[Zod]

mikey k said:

yeti said:

And the 310quish needs the ZF 8spd transmission or a manual box

It seems that box is a bit good

http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=26...

Been using it in X5s for a coupel of years now. It is the first auto I've ever both liked and with which I've never felt the need to change gear manually. The new X5 has paddles. I don't see the point of them. In an Aston with an autobox, I use the paddles all the time.

[mikey k]

Jockman said:

yeti said:

...Also the Rapide needs to be re-engineered for the Chinese market...

Already done - they called it the Cygnet.

So that's what's floating down the river in front of the house!

[Jockman]

mikey k said:

So that's what's floating down the river in front of the house!

Not again !!

[jonby]

mikey k said:

yeti said:

And the 310quish needs the ZF 8spd transmission or a manual box

It seems that box is a bit good

http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=26...

great minds think alike, was thinking exactly the same thing when I read that

[jonby]

yeti said:

Chris P Bacon said:

jonby said:

I don't see how the new deal with the investors can lead to increased production as surely that's demand led, unless the factory can't cope with current demand, which in fact it can right now

Could demand be stimulated by more affordable cars? Seems unlikely any investor would plough in 500 million to just carry on building a small number of cars not many people can afford. (I can afford one btw, I'm just too tight.

I would imagine that money will be earmarked for the Vantage replacement, if indeed they make one (Mike put an idea forward about AML going way upmarket which would rule that out).

That's how they need to sell more cars, make them desirable again. And desirable = new car. Also the Rapide needs to be re-engineered for the Chinese market and AML: need the Merc ML platform to make an SUV, again for China.

And the 310quish needs the ZF 8spd transmission or a manual box

Of course increasing the range and updating Vantage could lead to an increase in production. I may have mis-read, I thought someone was suggesting the factory couldn't cope and thought the investment could help increase capacity

I suspect that Vantage will remain in a similar segment if not slightly cheaper, because at one stage the real world price difference between vantage & DB9 got way way too close. But I don't see them doing a sports car in a cheaper bracket so can see why it makes sense to go more upmarket in general - look at how expensive the entry level ferrari has gradually got compared to the rest of the market

SUV is surely a given - it's only when, not if

Rapide needs re-packaging completely for chinese market at some stage, but in the mean time, the facelift/refresh is due very soon

But I still think on top of all this, even taking into account the rapide refresh & vanquish volante both launching this yr, AM have a surprise up their sleeve for 2013 - I have no idea what, I just can't see them not announcing a new sports car in the centenary year with greater impact than a drop top version of an existing model or a mild referesh of rapide

[Zod]

Do people realise, by the way, that the Rapide is Aston's biggest seller?

[Jockman]

Zod said:

Do people realise, by the way, that the Rapide is Aston's biggest seller?

Nope...I didn't realise !!

I thought it was the Vantage.

[mikey k]

Jockman said:

mikey k said:

So that's what's floating down the river in front of the house!

Not again !!

I'll save the Septic tank stories for when we next eat out

[Zod]

Jockman said:

Zod said:

Do people realise, by the way, that the Rapide is Aston's biggest seller?

Nope...I didn't realise !!

I thought it was the Vantage.

Read that in Evo last month.

[Jon39]

jonby said:

Unfortunately howmanyleft, whilst incredibly interesting and sometimes a lot of fun, as others have said is also incredibly inaccurate.

....... It get's better. There are 75 licenced 'DB9 Volantes'. Only 64 of them list an engine size. 61 of them are in the section for 5750cc - 5999cc capcity. One is in 6000cc - 6249cc. One is in 4250cc - 4499cc. And one is in 500cc - 749 cc !!!!!

A DB9 with 749cc on the Registration Certificate.
There is also a V8 Vantage with a 1299cc engine.

Just great - with the amount saved on road tax, it must be drinks all round in the pub.

Perhaps the the lucky owners have 'forgotten' to tell the DVLA about the errors.

...................

Your subsequent contribution Jonby at 13:25, is excellent.

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 8th January 17:46