Aston Martin tour

[CitySlicker]

Does a factory tour exist which grants better access, service and overall improved experience over an owner’s tour?

[telum01]

What was lacking when you did the owners tour?

[bananarob]

Yes.... get a job there

[RichB]

telum01 said:

What was lacking when you did the owners tour?

Good question, when I toured the factory I felt it was fully comprehensive. Without knowing what you felt was missing it's impossible to say.

[David W.]

RichB said:

Good question, when I toured the factory I felt it was fully comprehensive. Without knowing what you felt was missing it's impossible to say.

Agree, you can hardly expect access all areas.

[CitySlicker]

I have not experienced it yet - how would you rate it? What did they show you?

[Bincenzo]

CitySlicker said:

I have not experienced it yet - how would you rate it? What did they show you?

I’m not really sure about your angle here. You’re asking for a better tour than the one you’re yet to experience. I’ve never met anyone who has come away from a tour disappointed or wanting more.

[IanV12VSRs]

Bincenzo said:

I’m not really sure about your angle here. You’re asking for a better tour than the one you’re yet to experience. I’ve never met anyone who has come away from a tour disappointed or wanting more.

Agree Binz, not quite sure what he is looking for. I have been lucky enough to have six factory tours and have to say each of them has been fantastic, partly because I have seen our car being built, but mainly seeing the passion from the team at AML to make our cars. To me, the only thing that could be added is being taken behind the scenes to see what is happening in the future - and not sure what is in it for AML to do that. I have had a factory tour at McLaren which was also good but never as intimate as at Gaydon. Feel privileged to have been allowed to do it.

[B4rnst4ble]

I think if you are lucky enough to get on one you shouldn’t moan i have tried but failed ! I have only been to McLaren and that was fab and didn’t go with any pre conceptions if the company is gratuitous enough to allow a visit it is something to be cherished

[macdeb]

Bincenzo said:

CitySlicker said:

I have not experienced it yet - how would you rate it? What did they show you?

I’m not really sure about your angle here. You’re asking for a better tour than the one you’re yet to experience. I’ve never met anyone who has come away from a tour disappointed or wanting more.

Equally confused
I've been and it was great and lacked nothing.

[ashway]

I went on the tour a couple of weeks ago and thought it was fabulous. Able to chat with the production workers and all in all a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Tour guide was very informative and attentive. Paint shop was off limits as you’d expect due to potential for contamination and quality control but you were still able to view through the windows. Thoroughly enjoyed the visit.

[Jon39]

Obviously the design studio and the President‘s office are not part of the tour, but I think the chassis construction would be interesting addition. I have seen videos of that, but maybe there are practical reasons for it not being included.

Anyway, it is great tour.

[RobDown]

CitySlicker said:

Does a factory tour exist which grants better access, service and overall improved experience over an owner’s tour?

Calm down - it’s a reasonable (if unusual) question. I don’t think the OP meant it as a huge criticism of the current owners tour so the defensiveness is a little misplaced

To the OP - I think the answer is a basic “no”. There is one standard tour that seems to be done for owners/AMOC members and people who pay money (through the Experience route). It’s pretty comprehensive covering the historical timeline, interior needlecraft, paintshop and assembly lines. Keep in mind that many of the components are brought in from outside; eg engines built in Cologne, ZF gearboxes. So you won’t see someone building an engine but you will potentially see someone installing it

The one thing the tour doesn’t include is the Design studio for the natural reason that future design work is hugely commercially sensitive. So you would need to be someone pretty special to get in there (eg a James Bond film producer).

If you want something more “special”. Then every now and then Andy Palmer has been known to auction off lunch with himself for charity

Ps as well as the factory tour, if you’re interested in Aston Martin, the Works tour (The old Newport Pagell factory) is worth doing and Prodrive (who prepare many of the race cars) also do some tours

[Ed50]

RobDown said:

If you want something more “special”. Then every now and then Andy Palmer has been known to auction off lunch with himself for charity

He's also been known to personally sign Scalextric sets as well if you ask nicely..........

Oh Happy days.....

[Westlondondriver]

Jon39 said:

Obviously the design studio and the President‘s office are not part of the tour, but I think the chassis construction would be interesting addition. I have seen videos of that, but maybe there are practical reasons for it not being included.

Anyway, it is great tour.

I think I did see the chassis construction when I went in 2017. All the pieces are bought in from suppliers so they were just bonding them together so not too much to see.

[RobDown]

Ed50 said:

He's also been known to personally sign Scalextric sets as well if you ask nicely..........

Oh Happy days.....

Still got it 😜

[flow99]

Have a tour booked early May and looking forward to it.

[nickv8]

The “standard” tour is ace! You really get to see much of the process. Loved it so much first time around, I’ve taken every advantage to book myself on a repeat tour

[Viahuerto]

I went on tour 2 years ago and thought it was a great experience. I'd go again in a heartbeat. I found the work crews in each area easy to talk to and felt a much better understanding of the specificity and complexity involved with hand building a car. The tour piqued my interest in Aston and now I am seriously considering buying a Vantage. In part the tour made me fond of the brand. Also, I'm in minority, but I think the Vantage looks incredible.