RE: Aston Martin Vantage: Driven

[kambites]

Bill said:

The front is, well, bland. I would say it reminds me of an MX5, but it's duller than that.

I was thinking "tesla", possibly because it looks like there's no grill (at least on my phone screen).

[RudeDog]

Bill said:

Rawwr said:

It's an amazing thing alright but from some angles it does look a bit of an anonymous amorphous blob:

The front is, well, bland. I would say it reminds me of an MX5, but it's duller than that.

Its definitely got a look of a 10-15yr old Japanese car in this pic (above).

In some of the other pics (particularly the one below) I think it looks a bit life an F-Type Coupe with a mini Porsche ducktail:

[MDUBZ]

Great to see manufacturers selling cars with preinstalled parking dents in the side panels. Despite that little detail, i looks epic.. I think they'll fly out of the show rooms (sadly not in my direction)

[Tuvra]

Cold said:

But, wow, that's now an expensive car. Are there really almost £40k of options on the test car? Blimey.

£4k for the lime green graphics pack? Surely you could get the parts taken off and wrapped/painted for 1/4 of that price?

The outside of mine would be all black, orange calipers and the trim done in Carbon. Inside then black leather with an orange contracting stitch and CF trim, basically this:-

[E65Ross]

2 GKC said:

Blame an 80kg weight difference for the fact it's worse on track than a 911. Really?

If you read that line again, it says the Porsche is a weight with fluids, and the Aston is dry, so that 80kgs probably becomes nearer 150kgs, now that's fairly significant.

[Buffy d]

article said:

and there's a shorter final drive for the eight-speed auto than in the DB11 (now 2.7:1, down from 2.9) for more excitement through the gears.

Actually that's the wrong way round - a higher ratio indicates a shorter final drive, so 2.7:1 is actually a longer final drive than 2.9.

Edited by Buffy d on Wednesday 11th April 10:00

[Onehp]

E65Ross said:

If you read that line again, it says the Porsche is a weight with fluids, and the Aston is dry, so that 80kgs probably becomes nearer 150kgs, now that's fairly significant.

Still need to see a GTS that actually weighs 1450kg with fluids, more like 1500kg+. I really don't like the dry weight thing, I guess they have to compete with Ferrari numbers... but to able to drive, one needs fliuds. Just give us all the numbers: dry, wet (fuelled) and EU weight. Not that hard...

[Europa1]

I just can't bring myself to like the interior: I don't doubt it's beautifully put together from quality materials, but it just seems way too busy/trying too hard to be funky, and ends up looking a bit naff as a result. Interiors of the previous generation cars seem much more restrained and classy.

[E65Ross]

Onehp said:

E65Ross said:

If you read that line again, it says the Porsche is a weight with fluids, and the Aston is dry, so that 80kgs probably becomes nearer 150kgs, now that's fairly significant.

Still need to see a GTS that actually weighs 1450kg with fluids, more like 1500kg+. I really don't like the dry weight thing, I guess they have to compete with Ferrari numbers... but to able to drive, one needs fliuds. Just give us all the numbers: dry, wet (fuelled) and EU weight. Not that hard...

Totally agree. I think all manufacturers should quote weights to a certain standard (ie full of oil, coolant etc and, say, 50L of fuel (differing fuel tank sizes meaning quoting with a full tank could give different figures)

[bp1]

Some of those pics make it look like an F-Type with the nose of an MX-5 grafted on. Old car looks much better to my eyes.

[suffolk009]

I'm a dinosaur, and it's all subjective, but...

The side profile would be the best and most likeable feature of the car if it wasn't for those silly holes behind the front wheel.
I'm not a fan of the rear (unlike many on here), but at least it's not as bad as the front (does anybody actually like the front?).
The interior is a mess.
It's got a turbocharged engine.
It doesn't have a manual gearbox.

If I was in the mood for an Aston would I have this or a V12 Vantage with a stick? Easy.

[davidc1]

front grill is far too open. very expensive as well. need to see it with a uk plate on,maybe this breaks it up. 911 gts for me.

[matrignano]

Options list doesn't include the ceramic brakes so that's another handful of £££s to add to the total specced price.

I can't wait to see a head to head comparison against the Merc AMG GTC (same list price more or less)

[Macboy]

suffolk009 said:

I'm a dinosaur, and it's all subjective, but...

The side profile would be the best and most likeable feature of the car if it wasn't for those silly holes behind the front wheel.
I'm not a fan of the rear (unlike many on here), but at least it's not as bad as the front (does anybody actually like the front?).
The interior is a mess.
It's got a turbocharged engine.
It doesn't have a manual gearbox.

If I was in the mood for an Aston would I have this or a V12 Vantage with a stick? Easy.

Turbo engine and no manual are both fine for me but I agree with everything else you've said - the back is questionable, the front's a complete mess - grille is too big and low, the headlights too pinched and the interior is a total mess of shapes and finishes - in the flesh as well as in pictures. It may be good to drive but it's everything I feared it would be after the Bond DB10.

[BJWoods]

2019 is going to be interesting..

The new TVR Griffith, will also have ~500 BHP, and be 250-300 kgs lighter.. and naturally aspirated vs turbo charged

I like the styling of the Vantage, as I do the Griffith.. but the price difference is £30k, before you add on 20-40k of options..

expecting Griffith to be £89,995 (ie keeping the under 90k promise)

(both cars 1st year of production are sold out, I believe.... premiums to get hold of either?

[BJWoods]

Macboy said:

Turbo engine and no manual are both fine for me but I agree with everything else you've said - the back is questionable, the front's a complete mess - grille is too big and low, the headlights too pinched and the interior is a total mess of shapes and finishes - in the flesh as well as in pictures. It may be good to drive but it's everything I feared it would be after the Bond DB10.

I think you can have a manual (maybe not initially, anyone know?)

"....the Vantage is expected to be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox. ‘The manual gearbox remains an integral part of our product plans and will do for many years to come,’ Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer has said"
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/aston-mart...

[BJWoods]

BJWoods said:

I think you can have a manual (maybe not initially, anyone know?)

"....the Vantage is expected to be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox. ‘The manual gearbox remains an integral part of our product plans and will do for many years to come,’ Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer has said"
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/aston-mart...

found the answer:


"Each car comes with an eight-speed semi-automatic transmission as standard, says Autocar, with a manual option “due to follow next year”."
http://www.theweek.co.uk/sports-cars/86048/aston-m...

[RSbandit]

Possibly in the mkt for 3/4 yr old V12 Vantage S this seems v expensive by comparison ...the front grill is a copy of the Vulcans but it seems too big to my eyes...side profile lovely and rear nice too but what's with the tiny exhausts ?? Needs bigger pipes for sure

[Davey S2]

Rawwr said:

It's an amazing thing alright but from some angles it does look a bit of an anonymous amorphous blob:

Front lights look way too small there. They seem lost.

[thecremeegg]

Hard to please people on here, it's ridiculous!