RE: Driven: Aston Martin Vanquish
Discussion
kayzee said:
why did they go to Halfords to get the wheels though!? 
They don't suit do they, I'm interested to know whether any AM fans actively like them? Plus that huge front splitter, does anyone think that looks right on a car like this? For me some of these detail are a shame as the overall shape is great, albeit a small evolution on that of the DB9. fbrs said:
sgq89 said:
fbrs said:
sgq89 said:
It certainly doesnt look better. There is a man down my road who works for Aston Martin and he actually has a dark blue one of these frequently on his drive (much to my suprise, its been on his drive for months, he also had one covered in a disguising tape, but it is 100% the new vanquish) and I can tell you now that its actually shocking how plastic and cheap it looks up close.
sounds like a development car. i used to get them when i worked in the industry. they range from 50% complete cars with interiors, parts and even engines from other models hacked up to fit with fiberglass panels to 99% 'production' evaluation cars... if it looks shockingly plastic it probably isThey used development cars at Goodwood and in the recent photo shoots/filming, maybe someone should have saved Aston the effort and told them your neighbour had a finished car when they didn't?
Who is your neighbour, I can find out exactly what he had? As for not liking it, I know people that actually drive for Aston and they would not agree.
What is his name?
Sexual Chocolate said:
DonkeyApple said:
Sexual Chocolate said:
So the old vanquishes weak spot was its gearbox and the new vanquishes weak spot is the gearbox. Is this progress?
Is it though? Logically, the more gears you add the less the driving experience in some regards for a sports car. You want to work it up through the gears but you don't want to be changing gear all the time or when cruising having it pop in and out. There is an argument to be had that Aston are correct and others are wrong and just adding tech because they have it from their economy ranges?
My issue with the old one was that you always got a faint whiff of clutch in traffic. Hopefully yhis has been addressed in the new one.
Well done Aston on keeping with the styling, these are tough times and you still make great looking cars. Albeit I cannot pick out the differences between the family members.
Lovely front engined GT
BUT
Why no weight loss
Lets try a stripped out TYPE R based on some racing heritage .
Even at my age (60) Aston's are too old school , mind you they were when I was 25 too.
Greater technology is the way ahead
Had any offers from BMW.?
Lovely front engined GT
BUT
Why no weight loss
Lets try a stripped out TYPE R based on some racing heritage .
Even at my age (60) Aston's are too old school , mind you they were when I was 25 too.
Greater technology is the way ahead
Had any offers from BMW.?
I'm rather fond of the current breed of Aston. Having recently spent a couple of thousand miles driving and passengering a V8V around Europe, it has helped solidify their reputation for me.
They're not leading the way with technology but I don't necessarily think they need to. Whether you like the slowly evolving styling is a personal choice, but an Aston is a personal kind of car. I don't think you buy one without knowing the Ferrari in the showroom next door is faster. But you consciously choose something which suits you. My dad bought a V8V because of the noise, handling, looks and image. He could have afforded a Ferrari but he felt it didn't fit his image - he's a retired gentleman these days. That's a preference and you make a decision to spend a little extra on an Aston because you glow when you're around it. I get a sense of well-being being in his car I don't get in anything else - and the general public seems to agree.
That's not to say comparisons with rivals aren't valid or that AML shouldn't be working hard to keep up with development, but McLaren and Ferrari are in all-out supercar war at the moment. It's great if you want to go faster, but if you want to enjoy a great GT car which can hold its own on a back road then the new Vanquish makes a pretty compelling argument for itself.
They're not leading the way with technology but I don't necessarily think they need to. Whether you like the slowly evolving styling is a personal choice, but an Aston is a personal kind of car. I don't think you buy one without knowing the Ferrari in the showroom next door is faster. But you consciously choose something which suits you. My dad bought a V8V because of the noise, handling, looks and image. He could have afforded a Ferrari but he felt it didn't fit his image - he's a retired gentleman these days. That's a preference and you make a decision to spend a little extra on an Aston because you glow when you're around it. I get a sense of well-being being in his car I don't get in anything else - and the general public seems to agree.
That's not to say comparisons with rivals aren't valid or that AML shouldn't be working hard to keep up with development, but McLaren and Ferrari are in all-out supercar war at the moment. It's great if you want to go faster, but if you want to enjoy a great GT car which can hold its own on a back road then the new Vanquish makes a pretty compelling argument for itself.
356Speedster said:
It's 4th gen VH, so it's the latest evolution of the technology. I believe VH is still a very advanced manufacturing process, but I'm no engineer! From what I've read it's still a very advanced process that's really only bettered by the likes of full carbon tubs, which AM have reserved for the One-77. Can you elaborate on what's wrong with VH and why AM's evolution of the technology is somehow behind the times?
Not saying it's wrong, just that it's not largely carbon fibre a la, say, McLaren. Aston Martin gave a very convincing explanation of VH to me a while back: http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=104&i=265...
richardaucock said:
356Speedster said:
It's 4th gen VH, so it's the latest evolution of the technology. I believe VH is still a very advanced manufacturing process, but I'm no engineer! From what I've read it's still a very advanced process that's really only bettered by the likes of full carbon tubs, which AM have reserved for the One-77. Can you elaborate on what's wrong with VH and why AM's evolution of the technology is somehow behind the times?
Not saying it's wrong, just that it's not largely carbon fibre a la, say, McLaren. Aston Martin gave a very convincing explanation of VH to me a while back: http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=104&i=265...
There are a lot of comments about the competing products and why someone would buy one of these as opposed to, say, a Ferrari or a Bentley. A number of people (with the means to buy one) have explained for themselves the decision making process they went through,and the factors that people take into account seem pretty subjective. That highlights the foolishness of making generalisations - but, hey, it's just a forum, so I'll do it anyway.
There will be a group of potential buyers out there who will only consider the most powerful/fastest/whatever in their price range. They won't buy the Aston.
It follows that those who might buy it are looking for something other than headline power, speed or acceleration figures. They obviously wouldn't look at the Aston if it did 0-60 in 7 seconds and topped out at 140 (unless it was a DB5..) but as long as the performance is "adequate" they will look at the other characteristics of the car.
Some might genuinely be interested in the practicality of the thing - can you really drive it with four people and their luggage down to the villa in Tuscany or the ski chalet in Verbier? But that demographic probably exists more in our imagination than in reality - and to the extent there are people like that, in my experience they have a FFRR or an E-class diesel estate for those types of drives (which, let's be honest, are likely to be motorway schleps not cross country, apex-to-apex odysseys).
The answer in most cases is more likely to be that people are pulled in by the image. We see in the previous comments some of the brand perceptions that exist even amongst PHers - Ferraris are flash, Astons are cars for gentlemen, and so on. Somebody spending this sort of cash is likely to buy the car most closely aligned with their own self-image - or more subtly, perhaps, to not buy a car because of the message that may send about them.
Finally, you have to take price into consideration. From time to time you see posts suggesting that if someone can afford a car like the Vanquish, they are fairly price indifferent. I am sure there are some people like that, but it is far from universal, and just because you can doesn't eman you will if you think the price can't be justified.
My own buying experience draws on all of these elements to some extent, I guess. In choosing my car, I wanted something I could use as a daily driver (because I spend an inordinate amount of time at work, and I want the trip back and fore to the office to put a bit of enjoyment into the day) and that would fit four people properly (I have 2 kids). I also wanted something that wouldn't make me a target of abuse (my friend bought a new 430 which he sold after 4 months because of the level of hatred it generated from other drivers and pedestrians). In the end a Granturismo seemed to fulfil all my criteria, and was also remarkably good value compared to the other things I looked at, and I just get a huge amount of pleasure looking at it and, perhaps rather childishly, listening to the noise it makes. I did consider a DB9 (at the time I bought the first GT), but it wasn't very practical given how big it is, and I wanted to avoid all the Bond baggage. I also saved a small fortune which I have been able to "invest" in the restoration of something a little bit different.
FWIW, I think that the lines on the Vanquish are spolied by the, aptly named, rear spoiler. And it does seem mightily expensive. It won't be on my list when it comes time to change.
There will be a group of potential buyers out there who will only consider the most powerful/fastest/whatever in their price range. They won't buy the Aston.
It follows that those who might buy it are looking for something other than headline power, speed or acceleration figures. They obviously wouldn't look at the Aston if it did 0-60 in 7 seconds and topped out at 140 (unless it was a DB5..) but as long as the performance is "adequate" they will look at the other characteristics of the car.
Some might genuinely be interested in the practicality of the thing - can you really drive it with four people and their luggage down to the villa in Tuscany or the ski chalet in Verbier? But that demographic probably exists more in our imagination than in reality - and to the extent there are people like that, in my experience they have a FFRR or an E-class diesel estate for those types of drives (which, let's be honest, are likely to be motorway schleps not cross country, apex-to-apex odysseys).
The answer in most cases is more likely to be that people are pulled in by the image. We see in the previous comments some of the brand perceptions that exist even amongst PHers - Ferraris are flash, Astons are cars for gentlemen, and so on. Somebody spending this sort of cash is likely to buy the car most closely aligned with their own self-image - or more subtly, perhaps, to not buy a car because of the message that may send about them.
Finally, you have to take price into consideration. From time to time you see posts suggesting that if someone can afford a car like the Vanquish, they are fairly price indifferent. I am sure there are some people like that, but it is far from universal, and just because you can doesn't eman you will if you think the price can't be justified.
My own buying experience draws on all of these elements to some extent, I guess. In choosing my car, I wanted something I could use as a daily driver (because I spend an inordinate amount of time at work, and I want the trip back and fore to the office to put a bit of enjoyment into the day) and that would fit four people properly (I have 2 kids). I also wanted something that wouldn't make me a target of abuse (my friend bought a new 430 which he sold after 4 months because of the level of hatred it generated from other drivers and pedestrians). In the end a Granturismo seemed to fulfil all my criteria, and was also remarkably good value compared to the other things I looked at, and I just get a huge amount of pleasure looking at it and, perhaps rather childishly, listening to the noise it makes. I did consider a DB9 (at the time I bought the first GT), but it wasn't very practical given how big it is, and I wanted to avoid all the Bond baggage. I also saved a small fortune which I have been able to "invest" in the restoration of something a little bit different.
FWIW, I think that the lines on the Vanquish are spolied by the, aptly named, rear spoiler. And it does seem mightily expensive. It won't be on my list when it comes time to change.
DMC2 said:
I've no idea how they can they justify a car of that value with a gearbox that is cr@p.
Erm, it isn't crap, I have a similar 'box in my car and it's perfectly suited to a big engined GT. I have to ask, Have you driven it?I'm guessing they're holding out for a bit more development time on the 8-speeder to drop into a facelift at some point.
Consider that within, say, a couple of years, Jag will launch an all-new XK R.
Because it'll be all-aluminium, it should weigh around 1750kg and its supercharged 5.0-litre V8 will probably have c. 600bhp.
And it'll have the 8-speed ZF 'box and, pertinently, a three-pedal manual option.
And because it'll be styled by Ian McCallum, it should be quite a handsome beast. And because it'll be chassis-engineered by Mike Cross, it should also be a fine steer/ride.
And because it's a Jag, it'll cost considerably less than £190k.
Let's hope Aston has plenty of upgrades planned for the Vanquish...
Because it'll be all-aluminium, it should weigh around 1750kg and its supercharged 5.0-litre V8 will probably have c. 600bhp.
And it'll have the 8-speed ZF 'box and, pertinently, a three-pedal manual option.
And because it'll be styled by Ian McCallum, it should be quite a handsome beast. And because it'll be chassis-engineered by Mike Cross, it should also be a fine steer/ride.
And because it's a Jag, it'll cost considerably less than £190k.
Let's hope Aston has plenty of upgrades planned for the Vanquish...
IMO Aston's problem is that they are persisting in the wrong market sector. 'Powerful and Elegant' does not cut much mustard in the £200k class anymore. You need space-age tech and daft numbers for class honours.
Sure there are customers out there who are old-school gentry types and don't care about such vulgarities; but no where near enough of them to keep the now bloated AM alive.
Powerful and Elegant speaks more saloon language nowadays. It's no surprise that the Rapide has done pretty bloody well.
I think they should drop the whole 2-seater range for now - their 'shape' was ball-meltingly desirable when launched and they've ridden a good wave, but they've taken it all the way now, the Wow factor is absent - AM should carve out a new line of grown-up high-end transportation from the Rapide. If they then want to throw in another sporty number off the back of that fine, but as a bit of fun and NOT a mainstay.
Sure there are customers out there who are old-school gentry types and don't care about such vulgarities; but no where near enough of them to keep the now bloated AM alive.
Powerful and Elegant speaks more saloon language nowadays. It's no surprise that the Rapide has done pretty bloody well.
I think they should drop the whole 2-seater range for now - their 'shape' was ball-meltingly desirable when launched and they've ridden a good wave, but they've taken it all the way now, the Wow factor is absent - AM should carve out a new line of grown-up high-end transportation from the Rapide. If they then want to throw in another sporty number off the back of that fine, but as a bit of fun and NOT a mainstay.
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