RE: Aston Martin revives DB9

[Carnnoisseur]

CurvaParabolica said:

I see they're taking the Porsche approach to revisions; it is still a beautiful car to look at though.

This....

[mark3man]

LuS1fer said:

Also, DB8 sounds like a regression and a DB double-digit sounds a bit long in the tooth though arguably a DB8 with a V8 and a DB12 with the V12 is at least logical.

DB13 could be the problem - esp if linked to 2013 as well as bad luck..

[LuS1fer]

Teddye4687 said:

...and Porsche is rinsed for their "lack of imagination" for all things new?

The 911 was never a beauty, more a constant daytime TV makeover contestant. The danger is Aston could ruin their USP design.

I still prefer the old XJ design to the XF though that was a gamble that paid off but only came about due to poor sales which isn't a prolem Aston have as far as I am aware. It's still one of the few classically beautiful designs out there.

[Zod]

HeavySoul said:

Zod said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

What's the deal with who owns aston these days? Are they totally independant?

It would appear there's no money to reinvest in building any successors to the current line up which is a shame.

I hate to say it but it would appear they need a 4x4 platform for a premium SUV to bring some coin in, but if they have no other manufacturer they can borrow the platform from I guess they can't afford to develope one themselves?

Er, they've just launched a completely new model, the Vanquish.

Is it really that new? Or just a new body on roughly similar platform as the rest of the range (genuine question, I am not up to speed on it)?

Is certainly doesn't look new to me, just a bit of a tidy up of the skin.

From the outside, it seems as if Aston are lacking major backing to develop a truely new, ground up range redesign.

Heavily revised engine with VVT. Completely new body with every panel in CF. Same chassis concept, but that's the case with most manufacturers. The VH chassis is still up to date. Completely new interior.

I'd call that a new model.

[HeavySoul]

Zod said:

HeavySoul said:

Zod said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

What's the deal with who owns aston these days? Are they totally independant?

It would appear there's no money to reinvest in building any successors to the current line up which is a shame.

I hate to say it but it would appear they need a 4x4 platform for a premium SUV to bring some coin in, but if they have no other manufacturer they can borrow the platform from I guess they can't afford to develope one themselves?

Er, they've just launched a completely new model, the Vanquish.

Is it really that new? Or just a new body on roughly similar platform as the rest of the range (genuine question, I am not up to speed on it)?

Is certainly doesn't look new to me, just a bit of a tidy up of the skin.

From the outside, it seems as if Aston are lacking major backing to develop a truely new, ground up range redesign.

Heavily revised engine with VVT. Completely new body with every panel in CF. Same chassis concept, but that's the case with most manufacturers. The VH chassis is still up to date. Completely new interior.

I'd call that a new model.

Thanks.

Trouble I have is that they do all look very similar in design, I would have trouble telling new Vanquish from a line up of older models from ten paces. Guess that just makes me an uneducated oik though

[George H]

HeavySoul said:

Thanks.

Trouble I have is that they do all look very similar in design, I would have trouble telling new Vanquish from a line up of older models from ten paces. Guess that just makes me an uneducated oik though

They're obviously going to look similar. There is a brand theme going on as with every manufacturer. The difference is Aston makes mainly front engined GTs, therefore they will look fairly similar. It is very easy to tell the differences between them though.

[JaseB]

AV12 said:

I generally approve of Astons despite obvious design similarities. This looks good. this is a proper GT, but please tell me, why the hell does it have a track mode.

Another car with an identity crisis. What's wrong with being a rapid, comfortable and beautiful GT car without sporting pretentions?

Have to add my 2p worth here, even the old DB9 (like mine) is a car with huge sporting ability especially with the paddle shift in operation, it's not just a comfortable GT.

To be fair it was a genuine suprise to me how quickly it can be hustled round the lanes and I've seen a few on track being given serious beans too - I guess it's all about making options available plus track setting might be suited to smooth euro roads?!

[PILCH 23]

had ham said:

Yawn.

Am I the only one who is now totally bored with this generic AM design?

Agreed. No changes for years now. I was really impressed when I saw the first shots of the DB9 so many years ago. It was a leap forward from the DB7 V12 Vantage but it is time for real change or they'll suffer financially. The thing that really limits the brand is their dependence on the V12 and the Jag V8. They need a variety of powerplants as well as a variety of platforms (TVR died this way). Also they need to talk about quality and not just design trinkets. The DB9 has suffered with less than German quality and they should look to perfect this area too.

[jamespink]

had ham said:

Yawn.

Am I the only one who is now totally bored with this generic AM design?

Yep!

[Zod]

PILCH 23 said:

The DB9 has suffered with less than German quality and they should look to perfect this area too.

That was ages ago. The quality is at the same level of the Germans now and has been for several years. I've owned two Astons (a 56 and a 61) and plenty of German cars and had no more issues with Astons than with BMWs.

[JaseB]

PILCH 23 said:

The thing that really limits the brand is their dependence on the V12 and the Jag V8

Why would you want anything other than a V12 or V8, seems the perfect combo to me, not convinced a 4 pot would cut it...

[NGK210]

Considering Aston clearly can't afford a 'pot to tinkle in', not a bad effort.

A separate DB9 and Virage had to be one of Dr Bez's dumbest ploys - did Ferrari keep the 550 in production when it launched the 575M?

And for Gawd's sake, Bez, never mind new spangly knobs 'n' dials for the centre console - find replacements for those 'orrible, naff-looking, cheap-feeling, grey plastic column stalks, which are Jag cast-offs last seen in the S-type.

[sjc]

Beefmeister said:

mugwump00 said:

So I want an elegant, long-legged GT. If not this, then what?

So many seem to think AM have dropped the ball - what are the alternatives?

There's the Maser GranCabrio, but despite it being gorgeous, it looks far too long from the side:

But it's got decent room in the rear, not two seats that might as well be shelves.To my ears,having driven one very recently,not only is it better built, it sounds even better than the Aston as well.

[Zod]

Yes, the column stalks are very poor. I just don't understand why they persist with them.

[George H]

sjc said:

But it's got decent room in the rear, not two seats that might as well be shelves.To my ears,having driven one very recently,not only is it better built, it sounds even better than the Aston as well.

Better built? Gaydon era Astons are built to a very high quality, I have had no build quality issues with mine. Same with the vast majority of the AM forum I would bet.

Sound is subjective, but I disagree with it sounding better.

[Doofus]

Article said:

The key upgrades are at the front, though. The wider grille now gets a five-bar design with ‘chamfered’ design that Aston says creates an aero design similar to that on the One-77. The lower design is also much more contemporary and includes a sharper splitter that eliminates the slightly blunt and kit-car look of the current car.

That's what I love about PH; top quality copy!

[sjc]

George H said:

sjc said:

But it's got decent room in the rear, not two seats that might as well be shelves.To my ears,having driven one very recently,not only is it better built, it sounds even better than the Aston as well.

Better built? Gaydon era Astons are built to a very high quality, I have had no build quality issues with mine. Same with the vast majority of the AM forum I would bet.

Sound is subjective, but I disagree with it sounding better.

Can only go by my experiences in test driving 4.7 Vantages and DB9's over last 6 months in my quest for another car.Having driven the Granturismo S as well,I can only go by what I experienced.Obviously sound is subjective, but the Astons ( especially in V8 form) sound contrived to me, the Maser to my ears sound more pure.I've driven many Aston's over the years, none have grabbed me as a "must have" car ( the test being do I want to jump back in it straightaway).I alway look or turnaround if I see one,( and quite likely smile )but maybe the whole ownership experience is better than the driving one.

[Trommel]

CampDavid said:

Zod said:

Er, Bristol made weird, wilfully ugly cars that cost silly money and wouldn't let the press near them. That's why Bristol went bust.

Bristol managed to completely reduce their market and alienate potential customers

Bristol spent too much developing the Fighter. Aston Martin faces a not entirely dissimilar similar problem in that developing new models costs a fortune.

Anyway, the "new" DB9 is still an attractive car but the original version was far more elegant.

[paranoid airbag]

F1GTRUeno said:

Virage front with DBS rear and engine?

Still looks good though to be honest, I'd be quite happy with the original DB9 pre-every-facelift.



Best wheels, best design pre-agressive bodykits, simply and pretty.

Yup. I can't think of a single car post-db9 (with the possible exception of the v8 vantage/vantage roadster) that beats it on looks. Including later astons. Is novelty really worth ruining that?

[XJR500bhp]

To the above ^

The Virage is better looking for sure, it's much sharper. Just need to find a new boot