RE: Driven: Aston Martin Vantage prototype

[PhantomPH]

DonkeyApple said:

Such a good looking car but that cabin looks terrible. No elegance or style. Very odd.

I don't think they are going for traditional 'style or elegance' with the Vantage. They are going for modern sports car. If you want style and elegance, the DB11 is perhaps more appropriate.

To me, the Vantage is all about the younger, more modern sportscar buying market. And to that end, I really don't think it's bad at all. It's the quality of the materials and the feel of the interior that will matter.

I was not a fan of the Merc GT interior (thought the same as others - too busy/fussy/bling) but then experienced one for myself and it's actually rather lovely in the flesh. Quality feel, well nailed together etc. Any fussiness or blingy feeling just goes away. Even more so if you spec a dark colour instead of chrome for the 'jewellery' pack.

[NJJ]

The exterior has grown on me, still prefer the DB10 headlamp design though. But the interior is neither one thing nor the other, certainly not special or wow and far too busy. It should have more elegance.

Still a much more desirable proposition than a 911 turbo though, even though the quality of that interior shines in spades.

[DonkeyApple]

PhantomPH said:

I don't think they are going for traditional 'style or elegance' with the Vantage. They are going for modern sports car. If you want style and elegance, the DB11 is perhaps more appropriate.

To me, the Vantage is all about the younger, more modern sportscar buying market. And to that end, I really don't think it's bad at all. It's the quality of the materials and the feel of the interior that will matter.

I was not a fan of the Merc GT interior (thought the same as others - too busy/fussy/bling) but then experienced one for myself and it's actually rather lovely in the flesh. Quality feel, well nailed together etc. Any fussiness or blingy feeling just goes away. Even more so if you spec a dark colour instead of chrome for the 'jewellery' pack.

I’m sure you’re absolutely right. For me, being terribly, terribly old at 45 I like simple elegance in my premium products and from the images on this thread the interior looks like a chavvy dogs dinner of buttons, screens and things sticking out incongruously like a people’s VW.

Contrast the cabin experience of this and the Volvo Polestar1 thing and you can really see that one of them has absolutely nailed the traditional Aston Martin cabin ethos of sophistication and elegance.

It’s such a stunning car on the outside but just not what I expected on the inside. I really am taken aback with the nasty germanness of it all.

[anonymous-user]

David87 said:

I didn't realise this. How much wider is it than the outgoing car? My garage may need surgery in the future!

Minus wing mirrors, some numbers:

Old Vantage: 1865mm
New Vantage: 1942mm

For some perspective...
Gen 2 Vanquish: 1910mm
DB11: 1940mm
991.2 GTS: 1852mm
Audi R8: 1940mm
Merc AMG GT (variant dependent): 1939mm - 2007mm

So the new car is at the wider end of the spectrum, but with the wheelbase and overhangs as they are, is unlikely to feel that big on the road (with the DB11 you're always aware of its size, unlike the Vanquish that seems to shrink and wrap around you).

[brightbluesmurf]

NFC 85 Vette said:

The leather seats look cheap and already badly creased on the right bottom bolster. The seats in my Audi look far better quality.

[anonymous-user]

brightbluesmurf said:

The leather seats look cheap and already badly creased on the right bottom bolster. The seats in my Audi look far better quality.

Quality wise, I've sat in 2 examples of the new Vantage, both of which were pre-production, and have been sat in by hundreds of potential customers since mid October last year (there were very few complete cars available so they were being transported to and from dealers across the UK once the confidentials at Gaydon had finished). IMO the quality was a match for the DB11 and exceeded the previous Vantage, namely in the tactile feel of all the switch gear, the quality of leather, and quality and consistency of the stitching. Small points perhaps, but it makes a difference. I wouldn't judge it based on my quick snap shots last week (I jumped in the car while it was quiet and snapped away).

Given the number of people spending time in the car, I'd expect some wear and tear, especially on a pre-production car. Production examples will be finished to a higher standard, so perhaps it's wiser to wait for dynamic cars to arrive in showrooms and assess the quality at that point.

[anonymous-user]

DonkeyApple said:

PhantomPH said:

I don't think they are going for traditional 'style or elegance' with the Vantage. They are going for modern sports car. If you want style and elegance, the DB11 is perhaps more appropriate.

To me, the Vantage is all about the younger, more modern sportscar buying market. And to that end, I really don't think it's bad at all. It's the quality of the materials and the feel of the interior that will matter.

I was not a fan of the Merc GT interior (thought the same as others - too busy/fussy/bling) but then experienced one for myself and it's actually rather lovely in the flesh. Quality feel, well nailed together etc. Any fussiness or blingy feeling just goes away. Even more so if you spec a dark colour instead of chrome for the 'jewellery' pack.

I’m sure you’re absolutely right. For me, being terribly, terribly old at 45 I like simple elegance in my premium products and from the images on this thread the interior looks like a chavvy dogs dinner of buttons, screens and things sticking out incongruously like a people’s VW.

Contrast the cabin experience of this and the Volvo Polestar1 thing and you can really see that one of them has absolutely nailed the traditional Aston Martin cabin ethos of sophistication and elegance.

It’s such a stunning car on the outside but just not what I expected on the inside. I really am taken aback with the nasty germanness of it all.

I have to agree, it's all to German on the inside, I have a new MB and an old AM, one is glitzy with mucho plastic chrome / buttons and looks rather modern albeit the iPad stuck on the top and a facade of elegance = plether; the other is simple, with lots of leather, real metal details and a lovely gloss black centre console that is non-intruding on the whole cabin experience, especially when you fold the screen away (mine always is).

I always gawp at the (manual) DBS that seems to be in the dealer or at the service garage when I am there (telling myself maybe one day) and I just don't feel the same about any of the new line-up and I am a huge AM fan. They seem to have lost their class, but as a business it is only want the new customer wants and I hope they do extremely well from it!

[PhantomPH]

DonkeyApple said:

PhantomPH said:

I don't think they are going for traditional 'style or elegance' with the Vantage. They are going for modern sports car. If you want style and elegance, the DB11 is perhaps more appropriate.

To me, the Vantage is all about the younger, more modern sportscar buying market. And to that end, I really don't think it's bad at all. It's the quality of the materials and the feel of the interior that will matter.

I was not a fan of the Merc GT interior (thought the same as others - too busy/fussy/bling) but then experienced one for myself and it's actually rather lovely in the flesh. Quality feel, well nailed together etc. Any fussiness or blingy feeling just goes away. Even more so if you spec a dark colour instead of chrome for the 'jewellery' pack.

I’m sure you’re absolutely right. For me, being terribly, terribly old at 45 I like simple elegance in my premium products and from the images on this thread the interior looks like a chavvy dogs dinner of buttons, screens and things sticking out incongruously like a people’s VW.

Contrast the cabin experience of this and the Volvo Polestar1 thing and you can really see that one of them has absolutely nailed the traditional Aston Martin cabin ethos of sophistication and elegance.

It’s such a stunning car on the outside but just not what I expected on the inside. I really am taken aback with the nasty germanness of it all.

All about personal taste, my man. Given we are roughly the same age, I would like to hope that 'getting old' has nothing to do with that, but it may do...a tiny bit.

What will be interesting to see, will be if they piss money away in value after the first year. I am not an Aston market expert, but I get the impression that the regular cars tend to drop money quite fast in the early years. Given that the new one is likely fo be galloping towards £150k with a decent spec in place, 12-18month old values will make interesting watching.

Hopefully by the time I come to buy, the first cars will be hitting that age and I will have a better handle on just how much of my money I will be setting fire to by buying one. I don't think any car in that segment is depreciation proof (911, R8...), but as I am legendarily tight (says my OH) I will still shop with my head as much as my heart.

[Thorburn]

NFC 85 Vette said:

IMO the quality was a match for the DB11 and exceeded the previous Vantage, namely in the tactile feel of all the switch gear, the quality of leather, and quality and consistency of the stitching.

I'd be very surprised if anything related to the leather has actually changed from the previous (or other) models, other than stitching patterns - its all going to be done on the same machinery in the trim shop using the same grade leather they use across the whole range?

[spagbogdog]

sidesauce said:

spagbogdog said:

Go sit in the new RR Velar..and ask...tell.. Aston’s designers to wake up.

Actually I have - fingermarks (and, I suspect, scratches over time and use) left all over the touch screens when they're turned off are hideous too.

As if the fact that touch-screens themselves are not the way forward as I believe they're more of a distraction when you're driving as there's very little to 'feel'; one has to look away from the road to really confirm what they're doing...

Fingermarks are easily wiped clean (just as you do with ur IPhone etc)..to me the interior looks very elegant and completely uncluttered. I get what you mean about being distracted..but that soon passed once I got accustomed to all the screens functionalities. I’d also go so far to say that they’re a lot easier to navigate than my prior BMWs IDrive system.
It’s a far more pleasant interior ‘space’..although there are ‘blind-spots’ above both front wheel arches which cause me to want to shift about the drivers seat at times

[ChilliWhizz]

DonkeyApple said:

For me, being terribly, terribly old at 45 I like simple elegance in my premium products..........the traditional Aston Martin cabin ethos of sophistication and elegance.

Given your advanced years DA and the number of ex/current TVR owners that have entered Aston ownership I sense your time is near

[Cold]

This is set to be a splendid car if all PH can find to whinge about is the dashboard and the possibility of slightly suspect leather on the seat of a prototype.

[DonkeyApple]

ChilliWhizz said:

DonkeyApple said:

For me, being terribly, terribly old at 45 I like simple elegance in my premium products..........the traditional Aston Martin cabin ethos of sophistication and elegance.

Given your advanced years DA and the number of ex/current TVR owners that have entered Aston ownership I sense your time is near

This is obviously something that I’m fully aware of. I had to buy some glasses last month and as soon as I start talking about the war and shouting at the television before settling in to an afternoon nap then the Aston is in.

But, we know it’s going to happen at some point. Like a prostate exam.

[David87]

NFC 85 Vette said:

Minus wing mirrors, some numbers:

Old Vantage: 1865mm
New Vantage: 1942mm

For some perspective...
Gen 2 Vanquish: 1910mm
DB11: 1940mm
991.2 GTS: 1852mm
Audi R8: 1940mm
Merc AMG GT (variant dependent): 1939mm - 2007mm

So the new car is at the wider end of the spectrum, but with the wheelbase and overhangs as they are, is unlikely to feel that big on the road (with the DB11 you're always aware of its size, unlike the Vanquish that seems to shrink and wrap around you).

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

[EclypseDesigns]

NFC 85 Vette said:

... but the use of materials in the new car is a noticeable upgrade; higher quality materials throughout the cabin, so it feels more premium than the outgoing car.

Utterly disagree here. The cabin materials felt like a step backward to me. The leather in the car that Nottingham was showing was not as soft and did not feel as 'premium' as my MY10 vantage. There were 'painted to look like metal' parts in the cabin made of plastic.

The interior felt like a cheap 5 series BMW to me and not what i would've expected for a proper premium brand.

[anonymous-user]

EclypseDesigns said:

Utterly disagree here. The cabin materials felt like a step backward to me. The leather in the car that Nottingham was showing was not as soft and did not feel as 'premium' as my MY10 vantage. There were 'painted to look like metal' parts in the cabin made of plastic.

The interior felt like a cheap 5 series BMW to me and not what i would've expected for a proper premium brand.

Please accept my apologies, I was only commenting about pre-production cars, I've not spent time in the production one yet.

[jonnyhorsfield]

I don't mean to knock the car but why does the article compare the new vantage only to the DB11 but not the existing Vantage? id suggest one reason might be that the existing vantage was a usable £85k car but this new one is, in reality, a £130+k car with any extras so perhaps that's why you are comparing it to the DB11? I own a beautiful N430 vantage and went to the factory to view the new one with the idea of placing an order but was disappointed that they didn't have a manual option and staggered at the 'actual' cost once specced up... I have an order for the new TVR which I hope will be the spiritual replacement for my existing vantage?

[PhantomPH]

jonnyhorsfield said:

I don't mean to knock the car but why does the article compare the new vantage only to the DB11 but not the existing Vantage? id suggest one reason might be that the existing vantage was a usable £85k car but this new one is, in reality, a £130+k car with any extras so perhaps that's why you are comparing it to the DB11? I own a beautiful N430 vantage and went to the factory to view the new one with the idea of placing an order but was disappointed that they didn't have a manual option and staggered at the 'actual' cost once specced up... I have an order for the new TVR which I hope will be the spiritual replacement for my existing vantage?

Perhaps the comparisons are just for this article. Once the proper reviews start, the car will be pitted against similar rivals - the R8, 911 Turbo, 540S...perhaps even the F-Type SVR.

You are dead on, tho - the new Vantage is not in the same market segment as the old Vantage. Not anymore. So comparisons perhaps should not really be drawn.

Edited by PhantomPH on Friday 16th March 08:58

[jonnyhorsfield]

yes , and it had to be more expensive than the hideous donor Merc GT presumably? it will be interesting to see how many sales they can make at this price point as its pretty competitive as your list shows and the number of punters must be less than at the 90k mark? . Im keeping my existing vantage now as people are waking up to the fact they have real character and represent great value and their prices are stable ....

[DonkeyApple]

jonnyhorsfield said:

yes , and it had to be more expensive than the hideous donor Merc GT presumably? it will be interesting to see how many sales they can make at this price point as its pretty competitive as your list shows and the number of punters must be less than at the 90k mark? . Im keeping my existing vantage now as people are waking up to the fact they have real character and represent great value and their prices are stable ....

I think the outgoing model will become quite a popular used car over the coming years. It’s a good NA engine, an attractive car and a nice interior. I don’t think it’ll date as much as the DB9 for some reason.