New arrival... but it's bittersweet
Discussion
Slightly delayed posting as I haven't been on the forum for the past few weeks. Having been trawling used Aston ads for months, I finally found one that was just what I was looking for - good colour combo, the options I wanted and the right price. Plus wasn't far away, only about half an hour drive. Went for a test drive on the Saturday, loved it, and paid the deposit with the plan to pick it up the following Sunday. By Friday morning I was giddy and unable to sit still at the thought that I'd be picking up my dream car in 2 days. Then at lunchtime my manager called me in to a meeting to tell me that my services would no longer be required due to financial issues. Talk about deflated. Anyway, checked finances and discussed with dealer, and decided to go ahead, even if I can only afford to keep it for a few months. So enough about my woes, here's the car!
I know two-tone interiors can be a bit Marmite, but I think black car with black wheels and all black interior is a bit too black so the cream lightens it a bit.
For the driving experience, what can I say, it feels a totally different beast to my old DB7. On my drive after picking it up, someone decided to try to beat me away from a set of lights, rolling before the lights even changed. As soon as the lights did change I floored it... and nearly s**t myself! I know some find the Power Beauty Soul thing on turning the key a bit cheesey but I like it, and the way the starter button glows red!
I can see why the satnav is unpopular. On my first night out I lost faith in it and got the TomTom out. On a day trip yesterday I didn't even bother and went straight to the TomTom. It's a shame there's no way to pull out the screen and be able to install your own cos the whole Bond-esque pop-up thing is a lovely gimmick.
I'm still getting to grips with the Sportshift. It's a bit unnerving at times when in slow moving traffic (and since I live in central London I get stuck in traffic a LOT) it feels like it's about to stall but manages to hold it and there are times when it's very juddery. I'm ok with how it won't hold you on a hill the way a normal auto box would, but that's when it gets annoying when you see the driver behind you has left absolutely no space between the cars. Regarding modes, I'm experimenting a bit, mostly Sport flappy paddle, then Comfort Auto when in slow moving traffic.
As noted in a couple of other threads, reverse is awful! It's fine reversing into the parking place in my flat's car park, but I abandoned trying to get it into my parents' garage... wide car, narrow garage, slight incline and round a corner with a low brick wall on the offside. I'd come off the brake, the car would roll forward, then as soon as the clutch hit biting point the car would shoot back so I'd have to brake again, and so on. I was dreading what this was doing to the clutch... and then it stalled. Gave up at that point. Not looking forward to parallel parking... I've done so on one night out and it was ok but hard work.
Final point, the noise. Oh. My. Days. I haven't removed Fuse 22 yet and probably will do so soon, but when I find an open stretch of road that lets me hit the 4,000 rpm mark and the exhaust note kicks in... wow! I went for a drive in the Ascot area yesterday... hope nobody around there was trying to have an afternoon kip!
I know two-tone interiors can be a bit Marmite, but I think black car with black wheels and all black interior is a bit too black so the cream lightens it a bit.
For the driving experience, what can I say, it feels a totally different beast to my old DB7. On my drive after picking it up, someone decided to try to beat me away from a set of lights, rolling before the lights even changed. As soon as the lights did change I floored it... and nearly s**t myself! I know some find the Power Beauty Soul thing on turning the key a bit cheesey but I like it, and the way the starter button glows red!
I can see why the satnav is unpopular. On my first night out I lost faith in it and got the TomTom out. On a day trip yesterday I didn't even bother and went straight to the TomTom. It's a shame there's no way to pull out the screen and be able to install your own cos the whole Bond-esque pop-up thing is a lovely gimmick.
I'm still getting to grips with the Sportshift. It's a bit unnerving at times when in slow moving traffic (and since I live in central London I get stuck in traffic a LOT) it feels like it's about to stall but manages to hold it and there are times when it's very juddery. I'm ok with how it won't hold you on a hill the way a normal auto box would, but that's when it gets annoying when you see the driver behind you has left absolutely no space between the cars. Regarding modes, I'm experimenting a bit, mostly Sport flappy paddle, then Comfort Auto when in slow moving traffic.
As noted in a couple of other threads, reverse is awful! It's fine reversing into the parking place in my flat's car park, but I abandoned trying to get it into my parents' garage... wide car, narrow garage, slight incline and round a corner with a low brick wall on the offside. I'd come off the brake, the car would roll forward, then as soon as the clutch hit biting point the car would shoot back so I'd have to brake again, and so on. I was dreading what this was doing to the clutch... and then it stalled. Gave up at that point. Not looking forward to parallel parking... I've done so on one night out and it was ok but hard work.
Final point, the noise. Oh. My. Days. I haven't removed Fuse 22 yet and probably will do so soon, but when I find an open stretch of road that lets me hit the 4,000 rpm mark and the exhaust note kicks in... wow! I went for a drive in the Ascot area yesterday... hope nobody around there was trying to have an afternoon kip!
Lovely hunk of metal old boy. 2 tone interior not my thing but it doesn't look too bad actually. Enjoy it without worrying too much about the job thing. You live in central london, there are a tonne of companies hiring e.g. Mine. If you let us know what you do, somebody on here may know someone that could help. Congrats and enjoy!
Really like the car. They really do look cool in black I would have gone for black but given my last car was black and a nightmare to keep clean i went a shade lighter....
Best wishes on the job front, couple of friends been let go from their jobs just before Xmas, both straight back in work in Jan so dont worry too much.
And along with other comments, this forum is full of friendly, helpful sincere people....
Best wishes on the job front, couple of friends been let go from their jobs just before Xmas, both straight back in work in Jan so dont worry too much.
And along with other comments, this forum is full of friendly, helpful sincere people....
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff