RE: Driven: Aston Martin Vantage N420
Discussion
Having had an N420 parked in my drive for the past 2 nights I can make the following observations:
I don't find the seats very comfortable (similar to my CSL seats), and would prefer some form of seat back angle adjustment - it's not as if the car has been on a serious diet anyway - so why spec uncomfortable seats for the sake of a bit of carbon fibre (which is very hard to see)? It's probably my build - 5' 8" and stocky apparently. The shape of the seats across the shoulders appears quite dished and as a result it forces your shoulders forwards. Not too bad if you have both hands on the wheel, not too good if you don't.
There have been a few comments about the wheels being bling or chavvy, and I have to concur. Why are Aston adorning their cars (cooking V8 vantage apart) with such heavy-handed chunks of aluminium which show absolutely zero sympathy to the flowing curvaceous form and surfaces of the car to which they are fitted? The V12V wheels are simply hideous - the half-wit responsible for their design must have taken a full 20 minutes to knock a drawing out using nothing but a straight edge, a protractor, and a blunt Crayola. I can only assume that this latest batch of wheels have been rail-roaded through by the same guy that thinks re-badging a Toyota IQ, painting it in cammo colours or lipstick pink, and trying to flog it for upwards of £30k is just what the Aston brand needs!
On the plus side the N420 sounds very very good indeed.
Oh, and having been to Silverstone yesterday, I can verify that the N420 does make it back from track days under it's own steam.
I don't find the seats very comfortable (similar to my CSL seats), and would prefer some form of seat back angle adjustment - it's not as if the car has been on a serious diet anyway - so why spec uncomfortable seats for the sake of a bit of carbon fibre (which is very hard to see)? It's probably my build - 5' 8" and stocky apparently. The shape of the seats across the shoulders appears quite dished and as a result it forces your shoulders forwards. Not too bad if you have both hands on the wheel, not too good if you don't.
There have been a few comments about the wheels being bling or chavvy, and I have to concur. Why are Aston adorning their cars (cooking V8 vantage apart) with such heavy-handed chunks of aluminium which show absolutely zero sympathy to the flowing curvaceous form and surfaces of the car to which they are fitted? The V12V wheels are simply hideous - the half-wit responsible for their design must have taken a full 20 minutes to knock a drawing out using nothing but a straight edge, a protractor, and a blunt Crayola. I can only assume that this latest batch of wheels have been rail-roaded through by the same guy that thinks re-badging a Toyota IQ, painting it in cammo colours or lipstick pink, and trying to flog it for upwards of £30k is just what the Aston brand needs!
On the plus side the N420 sounds very very good indeed.
Oh, and having been to Silverstone yesterday, I can verify that the N420 does make it back from track days under it's own steam.
DMC2 said:
Completely different cars. The GT3 can be hammered on track and driven home. The Aston could be hammered on track but you'd be going home on the back of an AA truck.
Maybe you should go to an Aston Track Day and have a watch, then you can come back and eat humble pie for being so wrong 
Edited by :J: on Friday 27th August 20:23
pd86 said:
if i'm right the 6.0 from 2 ford v6s??
No, you're not quite right.Lincoln Division of Ford designed a V12 (big engine to lug around a very heavy car) taking some geometry from the European V6. They got the engine up to casting stage but there was a change of plan.
So the V12 Lincoln block got developed (with heads, pistons, crank, ancillaries) into a V12 Aston Martin engine. When Astons say there is another generation in the V12, probably right. Will depend, as always on a large number of factors, not least the revenue stream to make the changes. way
DMC2 said:
Completely different cars. The GT3 can be hammered on track and driven home. The Aston could be hammered on track but you'd be going home on the back of an AA truck.
You are very wrong indeed. My last two porsches had more minor ailments than either of my Astons. I am not making out that a porsche is a poorly built car, far from it, but the Aston is every bit as good and with all due respect I have to say that you are talking out of your a**e.I note from your profile that your notes read : "Porsche back in the garage AGAIN"
Somewhat ironic when you posted this twaddle!
DMC2 said:
Completely different cars. The GT3 can be hammered on track and driven home. The Aston could be hammered on track but you'd be going home on the back of an AA truck.
You are absolutly wrong here. Our group here has only had one ever taken off on a truck and that was because he misjudged the apex going 100+.This car is an outstanding track preformer especially once I fitted the suspension upgrade.
EBruce said:
DMC2 said:
Completely different cars. The GT3 can be hammered on track and driven home. The Aston could be hammered on track but you'd be going home on the back of an AA truck.
You are absolutly wrong here. Our group here has only had one ever taken off on a truck and that was because he misjudged the apex going 100+.This car is an outstanding track preformer especially once I fitted the suspension upgrade.
You guys are all very touchy about the reliability of your Astons...
Murph7355 said:
Dagnut said:
its pretty much exactly like a GT3...apart from it hasn't had any engine tuning....hasn't been lightened...hasn't had the brakes upgraded...but yeah I can see the comparisons.
It's not meant to be a GT3 as I understood it. Poor journalism that one, as it'll inevitably draw these sort of comments.
Another Booooooring Aston. Aston, Maseratti, Jaguar. I know I am not alone out here but these three have cars that could be from the copy machine in looks.
I am half English and beyond finding English Cuisine blah, English Women all to often Blah in the overly skrawny shoulders slumped forward way, English humor and Lord forgive me for this embarassing that Humanoids concocted such CRAP (Monty Python, Benny Hill and others. I do despise the numerous Americans doing the same comedy) Piston Heads and TOP GEAR are two of the best.
Aston has pedigree, please produce something for the indulgent rich to buy that also looks as startlingly fabulous as these lines did when they were introduced.
I am half English and beyond finding English Cuisine blah, English Women all to often Blah in the overly skrawny shoulders slumped forward way, English humor and Lord forgive me for this embarassing that Humanoids concocted such CRAP (Monty Python, Benny Hill and others. I do despise the numerous Americans doing the same comedy) Piston Heads and TOP GEAR are two of the best.
Aston has pedigree, please produce something for the indulgent rich to buy that also looks as startlingly fabulous as these lines did when they were introduced.
Edited by ducati916rdr on Tuesday 31st August 22:20
ducati916rdr said:
I am half English and beyond finding English Cuisine blah, English Women all to often Blah in the overly skrawny shoulders slumped forward way, English humor and Lord forgive me for this embarassing that Humanoids concocted such CRAP (Monty Python, Benny Hill and others. I do despise the numerous Americans doing the same comedy) Piston Heads and TOP GEAR are two of the best.
Would help if you let us know what the other half is so we could put this into BableFish to translate it. 
the other half is Italian
Bablefish. I like that barb.... The italian translation is, across so many brand name, lets change up a little more than the grille. Even the pathetic american company of past, Chrysler made the masserati bi-turbo and TC by maserati look as different as Cromagnon man and neaderthal. The Mercedes SLK and Chrysler Crossfire..... Ford and Jaguars, Chrysler and Lambo...
As a minor note to a very early poster, how many of us had SUPER CARS. I must admit guilt at not having owner one. I do flog the 916 in my garage, 8 other bikes, three trucks, two cars and a lorry for personal heavyweight errands to the lumber yard or fetching the next car.
I prefer the affordability of the ULTIMA and not to forget its SUPERCAR spanking performance at a major fraction of the cost. Put a few extra quid in the upholstery and audio to make is a driving cacoon for real drivers who want to afford finer things for their ladies and themselves.
Bablefish. I like that barb.... The italian translation is, across so many brand name, lets change up a little more than the grille. Even the pathetic american company of past, Chrysler made the masserati bi-turbo and TC by maserati look as different as Cromagnon man and neaderthal. The Mercedes SLK and Chrysler Crossfire..... Ford and Jaguars, Chrysler and Lambo...
As a minor note to a very early poster, how many of us had SUPER CARS. I must admit guilt at not having owner one. I do flog the 916 in my garage, 8 other bikes, three trucks, two cars and a lorry for personal heavyweight errands to the lumber yard or fetching the next car.
I prefer the affordability of the ULTIMA and not to forget its SUPERCAR spanking performance at a major fraction of the cost. Put a few extra quid in the upholstery and audio to make is a driving cacoon for real drivers who want to afford finer things for their ladies and themselves.
ducati916rdr said:
the other half is Italian
Bablefish. I like that barb.... The italian translation is, across so many brand name, lets change up a little more than the grille. Even the pathetic american company of past, Chrysler made the masserati bi-turbo and TC by maserati look as different as Cromagnon man and neaderthal. The Mercedes SLK and Chrysler Crossfire..... Ford and Jaguars, Chrysler and Lambo...
As a minor note to a very early poster, how many of us had SUPER CARS. I must admit guilt at not having owner one. I do flog the 916 in my garage, 8 other bikes, three trucks, two cars and a lorry for personal heavyweight errands to the lumber yard or fetching the next car.
I prefer the affordability of the ULTIMA and not to forget its SUPERCAR spanking performance at a major fraction of the cost. Put a few extra quid in the upholstery and audio to make is a driving cacoon for real drivers who want to afford finer things for their ladies and themselves.
50% English,50% Italian....100% pompous tw@t Bablefish. I like that barb.... The italian translation is, across so many brand name, lets change up a little more than the grille. Even the pathetic american company of past, Chrysler made the masserati bi-turbo and TC by maserati look as different as Cromagnon man and neaderthal. The Mercedes SLK and Chrysler Crossfire..... Ford and Jaguars, Chrysler and Lambo...
As a minor note to a very early poster, how many of us had SUPER CARS. I must admit guilt at not having owner one. I do flog the 916 in my garage, 8 other bikes, three trucks, two cars and a lorry for personal heavyweight errands to the lumber yard or fetching the next car.
I prefer the affordability of the ULTIMA and not to forget its SUPERCAR spanking performance at a major fraction of the cost. Put a few extra quid in the upholstery and audio to make is a driving cacoon for real drivers who want to afford finer things for their ladies and themselves.
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