The Bez legacy
Discussion
quite a lot of similarities between the two IMHO 
jonby said:
Answer is to have 3 very different levels of performance in Vantage replacement.
... if they do an entry level 6 cylinder with less equipment, a mid/top range V8 (whether turbo or N/A) and then an out & out barnstormer (V8 turbo or V12) with more power & semi stripped out, so not just faster but leaner & more hardcore too, that could create meaningful performance differentials & in turn, meaningful price differences, say £75/80k, £100/110k & £125/135k in todays money for the 3 models
Seems commercially sensible. At present there are effectively two distinct models, 4.7 and the 205mph V12VS. As of course you know Jonby, there are so many car buyers in the market, who will only buy the latest kit. That always amuses me, but manufacturers and dealers obviously earn most from the customers who keep changing their cars frequently. To retain those customers requires frequent new models, and for AML that will never be possible.... if they do an entry level 6 cylinder with less equipment, a mid/top range V8 (whether turbo or N/A) and then an out & out barnstormer (V8 turbo or V12) with more power & semi stripped out, so not just faster but leaner & more hardcore too, that could create meaningful performance differentials & in turn, meaningful price differences, say £75/80k, £100/110k & £125/135k in todays money for the 3 models
You mention the DB9 / Vanquish price difference. Is that mostly due to using the expensive carbon fibre panels?
I think the close models confusion lesson might be understood now, following the DB9 / Virage / DBS period.
We now know that the replacement DB9 arrives first. Do you think the Vantage replacement due the following year, will once more be a smaller look-alike car?
I notice the replacement models should be out a year before, the Company debt repayments are due. Phew.
Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 16th April 14:16
Perhaps DB9 will be retired rather than replaced by 2016. Current Vanquish which is already US compliant replaces DB9 and a vanquish s appears.
If so prepare for various run out DB9 specials.
Vantage replacement could surface in the UK, I wonder, September 2015 deliveries q1 2016 in UK, later in the US.
Launch V12s roadster late 14, Geneva 2015?
Various vantage minor upgrades and cheap finance deals until the new model?
Repeat tourists will always buy a city guide if you change the cover and update the pictures even if the text is the same, might work for these models??
Just more amateur musings, no doubt someone with better logic than me will correct me.
If so prepare for various run out DB9 specials.
Vantage replacement could surface in the UK, I wonder, September 2015 deliveries q1 2016 in UK, later in the US.
Launch V12s roadster late 14, Geneva 2015?
Various vantage minor upgrades and cheap finance deals until the new model?
Repeat tourists will always buy a city guide if you change the cover and update the pictures even if the text is the same, might work for these models??
Just more amateur musings, no doubt someone with better logic than me will correct me.
Perhaps DB9 will be retired rather than replaced by 2016. Current Vanquish which is already US compliant replaces DB9 and a vanquish s appears.
If so prepare for various run out DB9 specials.
Vantage replacement could surface in the UK, I wonder, September 2015 deliveries q1 2016 in UK, later in the US.
Launch V12s roadster late 14, Geneva 2015?
Various vantage minor upgrades and cheap finance deals until the new model?
Repeat tourists will always buy a city guide if you change the cover and update the pictures even if the text is the same, might work for these models??
Just more amateur musings, no doubt someone with better logic than me will correct me.
If so prepare for various run out DB9 specials.
Vantage replacement could surface in the UK, I wonder, September 2015 deliveries q1 2016 in UK, later in the US.
Launch V12s roadster late 14, Geneva 2015?
Various vantage minor upgrades and cheap finance deals until the new model?
Repeat tourists will always buy a city guide if you change the cover and update the pictures even if the text is the same, might work for these models??
Just more amateur musings, no doubt someone with better logic than me will correct me.
The report to the US authorities doesn't make happy reading, but being the pragmatist that I am, I can see that the company has had to make a rather simple decision - either invest £20million on re-engineering the 2 models and then get 670 sales - noting these 670 sales wouldn't return the additional £20million that had been spent. or face the potential of not selling the 670 cars. From the financial point-of-view, I would support not spending the £20million and loose the sales - but then that doesn't take account of the impact the reduced production numbers will have on the factory costings, so hopefully a positive response from the US will be forthcoming. Is this the responsibility of Dr Bez - well he was in the driving seat whilst this was maturing, as he was with the ghastly decision to produce the Cygnet. What a shame - as our Aston Martin Lagonda cars are such a pleasure drive.
hashluck said:
Thats "quality plastics" for you...hashluck said:
Eyewatering sums of money.
Perhaps if we were all prepared to pay twice as much for our cars, then the models would be replaced more frequently. However, for us pre-owned buyers, we would no longer have cars that look brand new for a long time.
Re. the U.S. safety requirements. The Vantage seems to have airbags wherever you look, I don't no how many, but the U.S. people want even more. I wonder now what happens when the Vantage airbags reach ten years old. Next year, one of my daily driver cars will be 20 years old. It has one airbag and that has not exploded yet.
jonby said:
the other thing they need to sort out is the twin GTs (DB9 & Vanquish) - there is simply too much price difference for cars that perform so similarly. Especially true when one considers IMO it appears power on Vanquish is overstated & on DB9, understated. I bet the difference on paper of 55bhp is closer to 25/30 bhp if measured in the same way. I'm not sure there is room for 2 GTs with such narrow performance differences, especially when one costs 50% more than the other. It must confuse buyers
I am not a big fan o the new Vanquish, but drove it for 60 miles, along with the (new) DB9.5 and despite the small power difference (I agree with you on that) it feels a totally different car to drive (in handling, steering, suspension, engine sound, etc). The DB9.5 did not do it for me (too "lazy", too much GT), were the Vanquish at least gave me a sportscar feeling (in handling, sound). However, when I drove back in my manual(!) DBS, I got a real smile on my face, so in the end I hope AM wil come up with a real good successor in a few years!
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