US reviewer bashes the V8 Vantage Roadster

[Alwin]

This is an older video (May 2012) but it's suddenly appearing everywhere (I think because of a recent link on Reddit):

CNET Car Tech: James Bond would never drive this Aston Martin Vantage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi0yXeuqBjU

I must admit it got my blood boiling... so to get it off my chest I wrote this little review of his review :-)
http://www.aston-martin.com/2012/08/12/cnet-car-te...

What do you think? Valid points or bashing for the sake of bashing?

[aryastark]

"This car is for little men"

I really enjoyed that, thought he had alot of valid points, What are you getting your knickers in a twist about !?

[NixP]

LOL this guy gives me jokes,
"sex toy" he even tried to put it in the cup holder and failed that,

and how can you not see the markings on the fuel gauge, looks pretty clear too me, ( what colour dose he want it to be Bright Orange) I just don't think he understands that aston martin make a more elegant car sports car then a standard sports car

[aryastark]

"This car is for little men"

I really enjoyed that, thought he had alot of valid points, What are you getting your knickers in a twist about !?

[Jockman]

Alwin - just read the US review - no probs with it !!

There are some items that Aston do take the piss on and there are some areas that they need to improve, just like any company with a learning culture.

Sure some comments were a bit petty, maybe tongue-in-cheek, but his job is to critique the car and I think AM have broad shoulders.

BTW, sales remain at record levels

[yeti]

AML are a small independent car maker and part of their appeal is quirkiness, silly little things like the rev counter anf the elbow rest. If you care >so< much about the satnav/stereo/infotainment system, this probably isn't the car for you, but some plasticky crap with lots of toys in it. Cars are or driving, not for pressing buttons in...

His review isn't much more than a frothing rant, well done for putting a few points straight.

[BingoBob]

Good reply, Alwin. Always good to present the other side of the coin.

I'm also interested in your seat mods, but I'll ask you another time.

[Jockman]

Just read your reply now Alwin and it addresses the points well.

Glad it's off your chest matey

[yeti]

aryastark said:

"This car is for little men"
I really enjoyed that, thought he had alot of valid points, What are you getting your knickers in a twist about !?

Knickers are twisted because the review is piss-poor, biased and incorrect.

Have you ever driven one for any length of time - so that you have an actual idea whether his points are valid or not? Or are you just 'really enjoying' a poorly done review by a biased fool of a car you don't actually know anything about?

BTW, always suspicious of someone taking the name of a 10 year old girl as well to post on the internet, fictional or not... Just sayin'...

[Lunablack]

Who cares what Americans think about anything

[hartley]

Lunablack said:

Who cares what Americans think about anything

Er Aston probably do !

The guy's in show business and obviously does not get the beauty before function Aston thing but he does have a point on the auto and the sat nav they are old tech and Aston should have done a deal with Toyota long before now to update rather than try and leather line an IQ and call it an Aston.

[X7LDA]

Love how he rants how impossible it is for him to fit in the car with the roof up and therefore would need to drive it in the rain the whole time......

.....then does the entire interview with the roof up.

The only thing I agree with is that for the money there really shouldn't be any bangs/rattles/wind-noise but that's hardly a massive issue, particularly for something that looks as good as that.

Tw@t

[mikey k]

Old news
Not found the thread in Gassing I guess

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

Edited by mikey k on Sunday 12th August 17:21

[AWV12]

Good comments Alwin.

CNET is right imho about the terrible sportshift gearbox, the bumpy ride and the overly expensive B&O (I have it, but would pay extra to get the Alpine Premium system back, see other threads!)

The design and exhaust note are however ..........priceless!

[Alwin]

mikey k said:

Old news
Not found the thread in Gassing I guess

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

Edited by mikey k on Sunday 12th August 17:21

Sorry, must have missed that one.
Oh well, at least my review of the review is new :-)

[mikey k]

No probs
BTW the car he is driving has 7 speed ASM2 not 6 speed ASM1

[pggroves]

Sorry, but anybody with facial hair like that and wearing a shirt that colour, obviously needs to drive a KIA.
Yes, the Vantage isn't perfect and yes, the Sat Navs old tech, but I still get goosebumps everytime I press the starter button.

[Alwin]

mikey k said:

No probs
BTW the car he is driving has 7 speed ASM2 not 6 speed ASM1

I wasn't sure about that. Does the new regular Vantage (no S) also have the Sportshift II now?

It's beyond me what the difference still is between the Vantage and the Vantage S nowadays. Is that just the 20hp and some carbon bits?

[Alwin]

aryastark said:

"This car is for little men"

I really enjoyed that, thought he had alot of valid points, What are you getting your knickers in a twist about !?

I agree, he makes valid points.
What got to me most is that he completely skipped over, or just briefly mentioned, the main attractions of this car. The engine, the noise, the looks, which IMO completely overshadow the little annoyances he focussed on.

I mean, I just arrived home from a great day driving my V8VS Roadster. With an awesome car like that, do you think I care about the toolbox behind my seat? Or the rev counter going anti-clockwise? :-)

[CPBRI]

Lunablack said:

Who cares what Americans think about anything

So much for that "special relationship" that is supposedly shared.