RE: Aston Martin 'not lazy' - official

[RichB]

The Pits said:

...Trouble is, the stories of British sportscars problems are greatly exaggerated. As are the stories of Porsche infallibility. Look deeper and there are endless issues reported with flat-6's and BMW straight 6's among others but they get glossed over whereas the stigma about British cars sticks like glue...

How true, you've only got to keep an eye on the Porsche Boxster 981 forums to see they have poor quality issues like people not being able to start their cars due to £5.00 brake pedal/ignition switch lock out micro switches failing. Or handbrake warning lights coming on, demister switches failing or people moaning about the sat-navs (where have we heard that before)

[RichB]

897sma said:

I drive an Audi and an Aston, what does that make me?

An understated cock?

Mind you I've got a Porsche and an Aston

[Zod]

The Pits said:

C
Trouble is, the stories of British sportscars problems are greatly exaggerated. As are the stories of porsche infallability. Look deeper and there are endless issues reported with flat-6's and BMW straight 6's among others but they get glossed over whereas the stigma about British cars sticks like glue.

The reality is, from personal experience, that British sportscars really aren't that bad and german ones really aren't that good. You mention Lotus leaking and TVRs breaking down. Have you had personal experience of either? If not, why present hearsay as the truth?

Couldn't agree more. I've owned twoAstons and six BMWs in the last decade and a bit and my , but experience is that there is no difference in reliability. I've had problems with both and the worst electrical problems were with my M5 (the iDrive simply died and needed to be replaced in its entirety), but no serious problems with Astons.

[Guycord]

Interesting read.

All I can say...is when I walk up to, get into and drive this Baby....and then should you see me at the traffic lights, please ask me if I really give two-fifths of F/A about anything VW, Fiat, Audi, Mercedes or whatever make and how they make it?

At the end of the day, there are a few of us in here who decided to stop reading Top Gear Magazine et al and slap some wodge on a Dealers table. The purchase was more than likely done with the heart and not the head. Ultimately it is a very nice place to be, a very nice drive, not shabby or lacking for what it is intended to be and a privilage to own.

Edited by Guycord on Saturday 20th October 21:10

[DJRC]

Guycord said:

Interesting read.

All I can say...is when I walk up to, get into and drive this Baby....and then should you see me at the traffic lights, please ask me if I really give two-fifths of F/A about anything VW, Fiat, Audi, Mercedes or whatever make and how they make it?

At the end of the day, there are a few of us in here who decided to stop reading Top Gear Magazine et al and slap some wodge on a Dealers table. The purchase was more than likely done with the heart and not the head. Ultimately it is a very nice place to be, a very nice drive, not shabby or lacking for what it is intended to be and a privilage to own.

Edited by Guycord on Saturday 20th October 21:10

Which is when you realise the codswallop talked about g ratings in corners, 'Ring times and ability on track are completely irrelevent.


Brits and Italians build slightly fallible cars you buy with your heart. Germans build ones you buy with your head.

I will forever and a day be a heart over head man with regards to motors that matter and not white goods.

[Donkey62]

VH option on the photocopier is fine but the problem is they they haven't learnt or applied what they should have learnt eg revising some bushes some trim bits ect does not make a new model designation imho The technical stuff they should have done they have ignored like aluminium to steel corrosion, engine leaks, sketchy electrics...

The other problem is DB9 shape onwards more a fashion statement than anything else and more a product of marketing which amplified reluctance to change style to differentiate between models tbh its difficult for non car types to tell difference between cheapest and 0ne 77 let alone quantify prices.

[Cerbieherts]

Donkey62 said:

VH option on the photocopier is fine but the problem is they they haven't learnt or applied what they should have learnt eg revising some bushes some trim bits ect does not make a new model designation imho The technical stuff they should have done they have ignored like aluminium to steel corrosion, engine leaks, sketchy electrics...

The other problem is DB9 shape onwards more a fashion statement than anything else and more a product of marketing which amplified reluctance to change style to differentiate between models tbh its difficult for non car types to tell difference between cheapest and 0ne 77 let alone quantify prices.

There have been many many upgrades to this platform. The earliest version used an entirely different front and rear end setup, different crash cells, a-pillars etc etc. bushings engines electrics have all had a range of updates over many years. The trouble is nobody sees the oily bits! They (correctly) see the same old instrument panel, dash and seats across the whole range, and wonder what the differences are.

Edited by Cerbieherts on Sunday 21st October 10:38

[j_s14a]

P4ROT said:

Elegant and simple

Elegant and simple

Elegant and simple

Elegant and simple

Elegant and simple


What in the name of holy Jesus.....

As above. How can Aston not see that simplicity is beauty where their models are concerned. Every Aston with a complicated design has been ugly (ie Lagonda, new models) where the simpler ones (DB5, DB7, DB9 etc) are timeless beauties.

A particular Alan Partridge quote comes to mind when discussing Aston Martin:

"Stop getting Bond wrong!"

[needham]

The Pits said:

Drives me mad the hypocrisy and double standards of the motoring press when it comes to Aston Martin.

Porsche churn out the same old recipe and styling since the '60's and they can do no wrong. Suddenly the new 991 is 'mostly' aluminium and is pronounced the second coming of the messiah. By 'mostly aluminium' you can read, not yet up to where Aston Martin were ten years ago. Or the Lotus Elise from 16 years ago.

Not even the pig ugly Panamerde or deeply cynical Cayenne receive much in the way of criticism to my continued astonishment.

What do Aston have to do to get a break? All this groundless scoffing and mis-information for the sake of a story is under mining confidence in one of the truly wonderful and life-affirming car makers. To what end?

If there's one thing that's lazy it's automotive journalism when it comes to Aston Martin. Please will somebody change the record?

Here,here.

[needham]

DJRC said:

Guycord said:

Interesting read.

All I can say...is when I walk up to, get into and drive this Baby....and then should you see me at the traffic lights, please ask me if I really give two-fifths of F/A about anything VW, Fiat, Audi, Mercedes or whatever make and how they make it?

At the end of the day, there are a few of us in here who decided to stop reading Top Gear Magazine et al and slap some wodge on a Dealers table. The purchase was more than likely done with the heart and not the head. Ultimately it is a very nice place to be, a very nice drive, not shabby or lacking for what it is intended to be and a privilage to own.

Edited by Guycord on Saturday 20th October 21:10

Which is when you realise the codswallop talked about g ratings in corners, 'Ring times and ability on track are completely irrelevent.


Brits and Italians build slightly fallible cars you buy with your heart. Germans build ones you buy with your head.

I will forever and a day be a heart over head man with regards to motors that matter and not white goods.

Couldn't agree more...that's why I've had 3 Astons.

[Digga]

Saw one of these in the car park of the local shoot on Sat and was reminded that not every Aston is pure Blittish Bulldog:



Never seen one before.

[Gorbyrev]

Aston Martin have never made a car that I would not be pride of place on my drive. The VH platform has enable mechanical developments to be rolled out and keep a wonderful marque in business - good for them. The Porsche comparison comparison is an artificial one because they are at the top of the mass manufacture market. If the Cayenne helps keep things that way so be it. Aston make fine cars for discerning and wealthy drivers. The V8V makes a wonderful sound that always raises giggle as it overtakes, as nothing I have regular access to can fend off 420+hp. And every time I see a DB9 it makes me smile that somewhere someone is making cars so beautiful. The one concern expressed by the only Aston owner I know were the residuals of his DB9 Volante. But that was in the depths of the slump when the DBS was first released. It is vital that small volume manufacturers have their engineering sorted out and Aston are to be applauded for doing so. As Gordon Murray what is going to change about cars in the next decade and he will talk about moving away from the steel intensive factories of the past into something more like what Aston and McLaren are doing at the moment. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out for more humble vehicles and it is interesting to note that VAG are doing this with the new A3, Golf and one imagines the next Leon and Octavia.

[Dblue]

Guycord said:

Interesting read.

All I can say...is when I walk up to, get into and drive this Baby....and then should you see me at the traffic lights, please ask me if I really give two-fifths of F/A about anything VW, Fiat, Audi, Mercedes or whatever make and how they make it?

At the end of the day, there are a few of us in here who decided to stop reading Top Gear Magazine et al and slap some wodge on a Dealers table. The purchase was more than likely done with the heart and not the head. Ultimately it is a very nice place to be, a very nice drive, not shabby or lacking for what it is intended to be and a privilage to own.

Edited by Guycord on Saturday 20th October 21:10

Very well put I think. Though we can build totally reliable cars here nowadays , and do.
Is that Whatley Manor?

[DJRC]

needham said:

DJRC said:

Guycord said:

Interesting read.

All I can say...is when I walk up to, get into and drive this Baby....and then should you see me at the traffic lights, please ask me if I really give two-fifths of F/A about anything VW, Fiat, Audi, Mercedes or whatever make and how they make it?

At the end of the day, there are a few of us in here who decided to stop reading Top Gear Magazine et al and slap some wodge on a Dealers table. The purchase was more than likely done with the heart and not the head. Ultimately it is a very nice place to be, a very nice drive, not shabby or lacking for what it is intended to be and a privilage to own.

Edited by Guycord on Saturday 20th October 21:10

Which is when you realise the codswallop talked about g ratings in corners, 'Ring times and ability on track are completely irrelevent.


Brits and Italians build slightly fallible cars you buy with your heart. Germans build ones you buy with your head.

I will forever and a day be a heart over head man with regards to motors that matter and not white goods.

Couldn't agree more...that's why I've had 3 Astons.

Ive gone Brit, Brit, Brit, Italian, Italian for my last few motors. My last 3 white goods have been German, German, German. The Brits and Italians had more money than God lavished on them. The Germans have been used for shlepping up and down the M1, hauling dogs and cats about and crawling to work.

The next motor will either be a Vanquish, a new Exige S Roadster or something with a Trident. The Germans can stay hauling dogs.

[Dblue]

needham said:

The Pits said:

Drives me mad the hypocrisy and double standards of the motoring press when it comes to Aston Martin.

Porsche churn out the same old recipe and styling since the '60's and they can do no wrong. Suddenly the new 991 is 'mostly' aluminium and is pronounced the second coming of the messiah. By 'mostly aluminium' you can read, not yet up to where Aston Martin were ten years ago. Or the Lotus Elise from 16 years ago.

Not even the pig ugly Panamerde or deeply cynical Cayenne receive much in the way of criticism to my continued astonishment.

What do Aston have to do to get a break? All this groundless scoffing and mis-information for the sake of a story is under mining confidence in one of the truly wonderful and life-affirming car makers. To what end?

If there's one thing that's lazy it's automotive journalism when it comes to Aston Martin. Please will somebody change the record?

Here,here.

But Porsche get absolutely hammered for the "evolutionary" styling of the 911. And they have had plenty of flak about the push-me pull-you styling of the Boxster.

[MycroftWard]

Pr1964 said:

AM just fanny about like a bunch of schoolboys playing with daddy's money.

[Guycord]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Get yer ears tested mate....sounds like a Nanny-Goat pissing in a tin to me.

[The Pits]

To the critics I say no car is perfect but at least Astons do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kDJKPu91bk&fea...

[George H]

Pr1964 said:

Sounds good looks the same.

Sales of Aston martins according to the business papers

2007 110,000
2011 62,000

I guess everyone who wanted an Aston has bought one now no point in buying another because they look exactly the same as a 2007 model.

An Austin Westminster from the 60's has more class in one door handle than any recent Aston Martin.

And for a company which loses millions yearly it's pretty good that the share holders have been getting millions in dividends.

Without 007 it would be just another bankrupt British car company.

I sincerely doubt Aston sold 110000 cars in a year. I suspect your figures are a load of bks. Fits in well with the rest of the ste you're talking

[Zod]

George H said:

Pr1964 said:

Sounds good looks the same.

Sales of Aston martins according to the business papers

2007 110,000
2011 62,000

I guess everyone who wanted an Aston has bought one now no point in buying another because they look exactly the same as a 2007 model.

An Austin Westminster from the 60's has more class in one door handle than any recent Aston Martin.

And for a company which loses millions yearly it's pretty good that the share holders have been getting millions in dividends.

Without 007 it would be just another bankrupt British car company.

I sincerely doubt Aston sold 110000 cars in a year. I suspect your figures are a load of bks. Fits in well with the rest of the ste you're talking

Given Aston's record annual sales number is c.6000, pr1964's post, like all his others in this thread is worthless.