ASTON MARTIN - UK ANNUAL SALES

[Jon39]

The 2012 UK new car registration figures have just been released.

These are the Aston Martin UK annual figures.

Year	New Registrations
2004	636
2005	1796
2006	2292
2007	2190
2008	1565
2009	1183
2010	1080
2011	1024
2012	932

The V8 Vantage created a tremendous boost to sales numbers when it was introduced, but that initial excitement is over. For me the Vantage is a wonderful sports car to keep, but most buyers seem to want the latest product, and therefore move on.

Edited by Jon39 on Monday 7th January 21:12

[Jon39]

REMEMBER THIS IS UK ONLY (new registrations).

I think AML now export about 70% / 80% of their production, so that would point towards an overall total of just over 4000 (similar to 2011).

The total production peak of 7300 was back in 2007.

Edited by Jon39 on Monday 7th January 22:07

[Jon39]

snuffy said:

I was amazed when someone on here said ( a few months ago ) there are only about 5,000 V8Vs in the UK.

It was probably me. Is there a medical term for being obsessed with numbers (I nearly wrote figures then)?

When you split the 4.3 and 4.7 Vantages you might also be amazed, at the much lower proportion of 4.7s. The end of the economic boom coincided with the announcement of the 4.7, so that certainly put off some new buyers.

The numbers would obviously be higher now, but at the end of 2011, according to DVLA (whose records are not always precise);

UK Registrations (incl SORNs)

4.3 Coupes = 3301
4.3 Roadsters = 16
4.7 Coupes = 802
4.7 Roadsters = 213

Not sure whether the S is included, or indeed when it was first introduced.

[Jon39]

Yes George, I did give the proviso.

I have experience of their errors myself. From new, my Mercedes has had completely the wrong model description on the DVLA records. I have now given up trying to have it corrected. Even the manufacturer cannot describe the model details properly, in the letter that is required.

[Jon39]

MaverickV12 said:

932 new AM's in the UK, whilst I am amazed it is so low, it does raise the issue of bolstering up second hand values

I was always under the impression that cars went down like lead ballons, not that I'm saying that AM's are appreciating, but I know that that will not happen, but surely the second hand values are more stable than other main stream cars ....

Maverick - It's that old chestnut, supply and demand.
932 sold during 2012 in the UK, but if in a couple of years, perhaps 3000 buyers want them, then happy times. What is more likely though, is that by about 2016, half the new value of those cars will have disappeared.

I wonder how the Vantage Zagato values will move? My own preference on that, is to favour the design of the normal Vantage.

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 8th January 13:01

[Jon39]

George29 said:

I don't believe that one bit! That means over half the 4.3 V8VRs are for sale on PH at this moment in time.

Was the data from Howmanyleft.com?

Good man, well spotted George.
What did Capt. Mainwaring say, "I wondered who would be the first to notice that"

I was puzzled by that low figure too, but assumed (wrongly I realise now) that the Roadster was introduced near the end of 4.3 litre production.

The data in the table at the start of this topic, is issued by the motor industry, and you are right about the model splits, that is from 'howmanyleft?'. They are on a 'hiding to nothing' though, because I think manufacturers initially provide the model information paperwork (might not even be paper these days) to the dealers, who then pass it on to the DVLA with the customer details for registration.

In the case of my own Mercedes mentioned above, the manufacturer introduced a new model, but the registration paperwork being released by Mercedes-Benz UK, continued to show the previous model description.

It is therefore possible that when the Roadster was introduced, perhaps somehow the Roadster description was omitted, and so some of these cars are in the DVLA database as Coupes. Who knows?

If any 4.3 Vantage Roadster PHers are interested, please look on your V5C Registration Certificate, to see what is shown. We might be able to unravel this mystery.

For my own 4.7 Coupe it shows;
D2 Type: Variant C9, Version RZCMCC
D3 Model: VANTAGE V8
D5 Body type: 3 DOOR HATCHBACK

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 8th January 11:02

[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

[Jon39]

Zod said:

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

I would have guessed Vantage, but if correct, it must be due to overseas demand.

The UK new registrations for the Rapide show (rightly or wrongly),

2010 .................... 192

2011 .................... 186

2012 (to 31 Sep) .... 81

[Jon39]

Mako V12V said:

Jon - 31 Sep???? Only in leap years and when Augcember is a month after Janober

There are certainly wide awake people contributing to this topic.
I have been caught out twice now. Sorry Mako.
My excuse - brain fade today, trying to make a Raspberry Pi display video and sound. HELP !

This is the extract from howmanyleft that caught me out.
'Note: the count for 2012 only includes vehicles sold up to Sep 31st'.

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 8th January 23:16

[Jon39]

MaverickV12 said:

Jon39, may I ask what you do for living? You seem very well informed on this subject. I was interested in your views on the way forward for AM.

Let's just say, I allocate long-term capital to businesses. Fortunately some of them have been successful, hence slight justification for an AM, that stayed in the dry throughout December.

I don't think I have expressed any views on the way forward for AM. You must be thinking of someone else. Perhaps Jonby, he wrote a good piece.

I admire the cars, the designers and everyone who has contributed to the company, but the last 100 years have repeatedly shown, as a commercial business it is extremely difficult. Hurrah for each and every rescuer. I do not have a clue about the way forward, or how sustainable long-term growing profits could be achieved. I was sorry to see their UK sales reduce again, in a year when there was some growth in the sector (particularly by private buyers), hence starting this topic.

Remaining on this subject, there was a reference on the forum recently, to Victor Gauntlett's obituary. It does make interesting reading, giving an insight into past Aston troubles.
eg. 'The factory at Newport Pagnell was employing 360 people, producing 3 and a half cars a week'.

One does wonder how many of those 360 people, could be paid at the end of each week, from the profits of just 3 and a half cars.

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 9th January 11:25

[Jon39]

jonby said:

which is the manufacturer attributed with the tale of the customer who was a friend of the owner/chairman and asked for a special deal: to be sold a car at cost price. The reply ? 'Certainly - that will be 20% more than the current retail price !'

I thought it was Mr. Gauntlett, because it is mentioned by Jay Leno in his excellent YouTube review of the V12V.

However, it was pointed out, when I mentioned the reference on this forum, that it is actually attributed to Sir David Brown.

[Jon39]

v8woollie said:

It would be great to see the 7.3 litre V12 in a Vantage. 700+ bhp would be nice.

IS THIS A SECRET ?

There is an Aston Martin Vantage, with an engine 7000cc to 7499cc, on the DVLA database.

Could this be a factory owned development car, fitted with the 7312cc (750bhp/760PS) engine from the One-77, that might become a second generation V12V model?

Wow! Lets form a queue now.

(Disappointedly, it might just be another DVLA error.)

[Jon39]

jonby said:

.... When was it first registered?

I do not think there is a legal way of knowing that.

If anyone knows the registration marks of some AML development cars, then we could use the internet to look up the first registration dates.