Gratuitous meanderings...

[Zuman]

It’s Memorial Day Weekend here in the U.S., and that means some contemplation and gratitude, a three-day weekend for many of us, and the Indianapolis 500, which takes place about 20 miles from my home.
My daughters are home from university, and on Saturday night one of them traveled with me to a pre-race party, filling in for my wife who has injured her knee.
We opened the roof of my 2006 DB9 Volante and drove along a mix of country roads, city streets, and motorways to the party, and it was glorious. During the evening, many people wandered over from the lawn where guests were gathered to gently gaze at my car. Many of them had no idea what it was, but they were delighting in it.
My other daughter had to work yesterday – Sunday – so she and I went to church early, again in the DB9. The roads weren’t busy, and those who were out seemed to be enjoying their drives, not simply trying to reach their destinations. There were a disproportionate number of motorcycles and interesting cars out, and they weren’t all heading to the Speedway. At a traffic light, a man in a 1950s Ford pulled up next to me and asked what kind of car I was driving. “Aston Martin,” I replied. “Austin Martin?” he responded, “I didn’t realize they were so beautiful." Then he said "Thank you for bringing it out!”
Today is Monday and it’s been a little drizzly. But the sun came out an hour ago and I told my wife that I was just going out for a little drive. I opened the roof up and selected “sport” mode, and allowed the wind, the exhaust, and 1970s and 80s classic rock to pummel any remaining complacency out of me.
My goodness, I love this car. No, it’s not a LaFerrari or an Aventador or even a DBS. It will never be as fast or edgy as the flavor of the day, but it wasn’t supposed to be. It was supposed to be timeless.
All Aston Martin road cars are timeless. The reason is that they weren’t designed just to cover a certain distance in a given time, but to move us away from the everyday world to an altogether different state.
Tomorrow’s Tuesday and I’ll be driving my Mini to work. But I’ll gently gaze over at my DB9 as I pull out of the garage and that’ll hold me over for a while.

Edited by Zuman on Monday 25th May 23:25

[W1111AM]

[old phart]

Well said. Almost every time I pass through my garage I think "There's an f'ing Aston Martin in my garage!" When people ask how much it costs I reply - 52 years of my life. I truly enjoy it every time I take it out. Drove a hundred miles round trip the other day to drop off some papers I could have mailed. I'm also a Volante and I'll never get a hard top. Driving in the evening with the top down, around 75 degrees, stars out, magical. I'm thinking we may be close in age as all my favorites are 70's to 80's. 700 watts of Van Halen on a back road where no one can hear me singing/screaming along. A thumbs up from some kids crossing the street. The occasional - what kind of car is that? It bothers me at times that there are many who will never experience this in their lifetime. I'm grateful I've had the opportunity.

[Zuman]

"When people ask how much it costs I reply - 52 years of my life."
Brilliant... that will be my answer going forward (with a couple of extra years!).

[kensilver]

Chiming in with a V8VR... I'm really surprised with the popularity of the James Bond films that so many people don't recognise an Aston Martin. But I'm thinking that maybe because it's lacking the distinctive shape of the hardtop that confuses a lot of people. I still hear a lot of bystanders identify my car as an Aston and I have the roof down most of the time.

[Jon39]

Thank you for posting your topic, Mike.

I jot down some people's complimentary remarks about Aston Martin and their cars. Perhaps a little bit 'trainspotting', but wonderful to read them from time to time. You have provided some excellent quotes for me to include in my collection.


Here are just a few, that I think we will probably all enjoy;


It’s because Astons are thoroughbreds, that people have tried so hard to keep the marque alive.


I can’t help but adore Aston Martins. I’m too old to carry off a mid-engined Ferrari or McLaren. They just look wrong on a man of a certain age, but not an Aston Martin.


Being British and loving cars means I have a special place in my heart for Aston Martin. Maybe it's the fact they're built in the UK, maybe it's the Bond thing... I don't know, but I love them.
The look of an Aston -- strong haunches, swan doors and ‘that’ grille - makes me go all wibbly.
It's so graceful, so beautifully styled and so ... charming.

Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 28th May 11:02

[SELON]

Great descriptions...i think we are all extremely fortunate (and hard working etc) to be able to include these in our lives and it's great to not become complacent to the point where we think these are anything other than exceptional (of course, this goes for all those other great cars out there).

Many happy days of motoring to you all...

More pics from Astons in America please!