Aston seeking funding for new models article, SUV .......

[Jon39]

cardigankid said:

I have been thinking about a Morgan, but struggle with the idea, because however many good things there are about them, the technology is a bit basic, and why would you buy a car which can't be sold in the USA because it can't pass the safety tests?

Although the Morgan 4 wheelers cannot be sold in the USA, the Morgan 3 wheeler is apparently perfectly safe there. Remember too, that the Vantage and DB9 have worried those US safety people.

[Yes, I know these strange circumstances arise, because 3 wheelers are thought to be 'motor bikes.']

[cardigankid]

I think that the point is that Aston, for financial reasons, seems to reach those points in its history where (like Morgan) it trades on its quaint characteristics, rather than being at the leading edge. Morgan have made an art of it, and I admit, I'm not sure that I totally get it. But for a range of reasons that is not somewhere Aston can afford to hang around. They cannot sell variants on the DB9 and V8 Vantage for 25 years. They have got to be in competition with Ferrari, Bentley , Porsche and McLaren. Nostalgia is fine, but it is not going to pay the wage bill, because it attracts loads of people who love the marque but who are never going to be in a position to buy a car. IMHO, most people who are going to lash out between £100 and £150k on a car want cool, style, tech and rock solid quality. They won't put up with poor paintwork, unreliable electrics etc because its 'character'. I'm not sure Morgan don't expect people to do just that.