Discussion
Had a test drive in the new Vantage last Friday, very impressed. Loved the "S" button for "Track Mode", when pressed the speedo turns to red, no.of gears drops from 8 (I think) to 5 and it morphs into a ballistic missile 
It feels more of a sports car than our present Vantage, I still think the sports exhaust on our present Vantage sounds the best but ... the sound of the new boy on the block kind of grows on you. The only thing that niggles is the grill, it looks a bit cheap and nasty, especially the shiny black plastic "lips" surround, which looks like a boy racer go faster stick on accessory from Halfords
It feels more of a sports car than our present Vantage, I still think the sports exhaust on our present Vantage sounds the best but ... the sound of the new boy on the block kind of grows on you. The only thing that niggles is the grill, it looks a bit cheap and nasty, especially the shiny black plastic "lips" surround, which looks like a boy racer go faster stick on accessory from HalfordsI just can’t get my head around the looks. IMHO it’s ugly, in fact beyond ugly. The previous Vantage has been a looker from the outset - a beautiful beast of a car!
The new one just looks like it’s a Japanese car that has been modded to look ‘a bit’ Like an Aston.
I love Aston’s - always have, but they have to be good to look at - I can’t see this selling particularly well to existing AM owners.
The new one just looks like it’s a Japanese car that has been modded to look ‘a bit’ Like an Aston.
I love Aston’s - always have, but they have to be good to look at - I can’t see this selling particularly well to existing AM owners.
It’s hideous. Why they didn’t create a modernised evolution of the ‘old’ shape beggars belief. Works for Porsche. I’ve given up on Aston. I’ve had a Vantage (Beautiful), R8V10 (Boring at legal speeds), several 911’s (997 characterful, 911 boring). The truth is most performance cars can’t be driven anywhere near what brings them to life. Driving a 911 is like driving a Fiesta 90% of the time. Aston’s niche was ‘classy and beautful’. They’ve lost that now. Bentley for me next I think.
Snozzer said:
It’s hideous. Why they didn’t create a modernised evolution of the ‘old’ shape beggars belief. Works for Porsche. I’ve given up on Aston. I’ve had a Vantage (Beautiful), R8V10 (Boring at legal speeds), several 911’s (997 characterful, 911 boring). The truth is most performance cars can’t be driven anywhere near what brings them to life. Driving a 911 is like driving a Fiesta 90% of the time. Aston’s niche was ‘classy and beautful’. They’ve lost that now. Bentley for me next I think.
Bentley is definitely not classy, and none of them are beautiful either. Plus, probably boring at legal speeds - and all the other failings cited above.Tend to agree there I'm afraid, Bentley is not classy these days. Just reminds me of poncie footballers. Just trying to think of a brand that as classy as an aston and it's not easy. I'd have to go for something totally different like an older car like a ferrari 355 etc. Its not always about horsepower and keeping up with the Jones'. I'm not a fan of the new Vantage though. The 2009-2012 range of DBS still looks stunning. The new DBS looks good too as long as it's not gangsta'd up with black wheels, windows, vents.....yawn yawn etc etc....
mylam said:
Comparing a Vantage to a Bentley??? I’m finding that a bit odd. One is a small fish like sports car, the other is a massive boat of a car
Ps. Vantage does look a bit like a new MX5 Mazda
You’ve spent 9 years lurking on PistonHeads and that’s really the best contribution you can make? See you again in 2028 Ps. Vantage does look a bit like a new MX5 Mazda
mylam said:
Comparing a Vantage to a Bentley??? I’m finding that a bit odd. One is a small fish like sports car, the other is a massive boat of a car
Ps. Vantage does look a bit like a new MX5 Mazda
As far as general statements go about "it just looks like one of those", I'd direct the jury to this:Ps. Vantage does look a bit like a new MX5 Mazda
A TVR Griffith - Resembles an MX5, with headlights from a McLaren, but these things are of course subjective.
Current gen MX5 for reference.
And finally, new Vantage, which to my eyes looks quite wonderful (my pics from Marek's recent design tour), and doesn't look like an MX5, unless a coupe, with 4 wheels and an engine in the front is the only criteria:
You can then see how we can all subjectively decide that this looks like that, that looks like this... the MX5 comparison crops up a lot, but this is PH, which loves MX5's and TVR's, so it's a big no-no to say the Griff looks like the out of wedlock offspring from a Mazda and a McLaren
Not really the right forum for this, but since you have mention the new TVR, I just wondered what might be happening with that project?
Have not seen any recent news about it. There was such enthusiastic Welsh motoring talk, about a new TVR factory in Merthyr Tydfill, and a new multi-million Pound purpose built F1 grand prix circuit in the same area (surely a financial fantasy from the outset).
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