Aston Martin Virage.

Aston Martin Virage.

Author
Discussion

cardigankid

8,849 posts

214 months

Thursday 3rd March 2011
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You have seen it in the flesh, and I haven't, but I reckon that there is going to be a big difference between a DB9 and a Virage on the road.

To the extent that it is an organic development, it is going to cost more, and this may result in the DB9 being gradually phased out. A base Aston GT model is then going to be £145k, and in times of inflation, we just have to deal with that.

anonymous-user

56 months

Thursday 3rd March 2011
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Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

Knights of Aston

311 posts

180 months

Thursday 3rd March 2011
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Virage may just be a DB9 upgrade. They seem to be moving away from the DB names. Vantage, Rapide, Virage. Times are changing!

Aston will always do Evolution and not Revolution. You can always recognise an Aston from over the past 50 years, same can't be said of something like a Ferrari.

Speedraser

1,658 posts

185 months

Saturday 5th March 2011
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Why no manual gearbox choice? Nothing to do with the manual vs auto debate -- but why not have the choice?

silverspeed

1,505 posts

232 months

Saturday 5th March 2011
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Should have been called DB9S in the same way the V8S was given a few body tweaks and a few more bhp. Think giving it the Virage name was a marketing manoevour to get more press coverage. May as well have called it a DB10! It must however be difficult to keep the brand fresh with limited funds. Any chance a DB9 Zagatto?

Murph7355

37,946 posts

258 months

Saturday 5th March 2011
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Speedraser said:
Why no manual gearbox choice? Nothing to do with the manual vs auto debate -- but why not have the choice?
I would guess that it's cost. Having bundles of casings and other parts (or more likely, whole units from Graziano or whomever) sitting round in case someone wants one, when you've not sold a manual car in moons, makes no sense.

To offset the cost of making and storing the bits for so few cars, you'd end up having to crank the price up to the point where even fewer would choose it. Ever decreasing circles.

Speedraser

1,658 posts

185 months

Sunday 6th March 2011
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But they do sell manual cars. They sell manual DB9s (not many, but they do) and they certainly sell manual DBSs -- a minority, yes, but a not-insignificant minority. And they sell lots of manual Vantages. The manual 'box is already used with the Virage structure and engine, so it wouldn't be difficult. Given that they already use the parts, why would it be so costly to attach the manual 'box? Seems a shame not to have the choice when it wouldn't be difficult.

Murph7355

37,946 posts

258 months

Sunday 6th March 2011
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Speedraser said:
But they do sell manual cars. They sell manual DB9s (not many, but they do) and they certainly sell manual DBSs -- a minority, yes, but a not-insignificant minority. And they sell lots of manual Vantages. The manual 'box is already used with the Virage structure and engine, so it wouldn't be difficult. Given that they already use the parts, why would it be so costly to attach the manual 'box? Seems a shame not to have the choice when it wouldn't be difficult.
They *currently* sell all those models with a manual box...

Also, is the manual box in the DBS and V8V the same as that used in the std DB9 (sorry, Virage)?

Not 100% defending it, but rationalising big options like this would seem to be a good way of reducing costs maybe...?

DJC

23,563 posts

238 months

Sunday 6th March 2011
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Got to say chaps I had a look at the Virage on Sat at the show and was distinctly underwhelmed. By distinctly I mean I didnt even bother going on the stand. Very disappointed if Im honest. I spent equally as little time with Lambo, that was a bit "meh" aswell.