So what made you fall in love with Astons and when?

[Loose_Cannon]

DB4DM said:

April 1979 when I bought the rotbox I still have

You sentimental old thing! The DB4 has occupied my waking thoughts and dreams these last 40 odd years, so I'll swap you a nice rust free DB9 for it

[dbs2000]

Trexthedinosaur said:

I know you said no Bond but ... that was it for me

Same here. I then sat in the Vanq that was at the Gaydon Motor Museum and thought that was as close as I'd get. The Vantage was then released and being 22ish I thought that was well out of my range... at 28 I put a plan together

[RichB]

RobDown said:

CharlieB said:

Ill use this thread as a timely means of introduction..At circa 10 years of age I remember seeing and then hearing a Vantage X pack start up at a mini rugby tournament in Bath. Aston then released the Virage Vantage and a Clarkson video (unleashed on cars) on repeat in my teens featuring the same compounded the desire further. A trip to Earls Court at 16 with some all access Aston passes saw me on the stand sat in the V600 Le Mans and I can pinpoint that exact moment in time that I truly fell in love.

Into my 20's and the fascination of the marque continued further with the arrival of a classic into the old mans stable, being the first Aston I had the pleasure of driving. Into my 30's an invite to works with him (and plenty of others from here) saw me out for a spin in a new Vanquish, after an extensive tour of the heritage centre. After Burghley last summer it was clear that at some stage I had to own an Aston Martin, my fate well and truly sealed.

Fast forward to yesterday and that dream became a reality, rather sooner than anticipated after a test drive of a gleaming black Vantage. The week until next Saturday when I collect my first Aston Martin after 25 odd years is going to be tough!

Congrats Charlie, but you (and Rich) know the rules; pictures please!

Indeed, congratulations to you Charlie, she's blooming lovely! Now, post a picture or two (I sent you some), as they say here, "If there's no pictures it didn't happen!" ;-)

Edited by RichB on Sunday 9th April 21:04

[CharlieB]

Well if you insist ...

[Robbo1969]

Well someone had to!

[12pack]

Over the long Easter weekend, took advantage of the nice weather to have several test drives. DB11, Vanquish 8sp, 488, 570s. Made me realize why I'm in the Aston I am in (V12V) - even though the others were certainly faster - if not quicker

1. The excellent manual gear box
2. Instant throttle response (noticeably sharper than even the other NA motor - the Vanq )
3. The compact size and the still (to me) perfect dimensions.

P.S. the 488 was epic. Hated the interior - but the drive was sublime.

Edited by 12pack on Thursday 20th April 13:38

[Loose_Cannon]

Going back to childhood memories and influences, this thing also had a big effect on me. From a golden time when no-one have a fck about the Nurburgring;



This might be at odds with most peoples ideas of an Aston these days, but back in 1976 this was like a roadgoing Concorde. I still remember having my nosed pressed against the 26" TV as Bob Wellings introduced it on Nationwide. If only there had been a VCR to record it;



It was a feelgood car for Britain at a time when our national assets were dwindling. And what better than Royal approval .







Time might have been a bit unkind to it but it cemented the love for me. If only its spiritual successor the Rapide had been christened "Lagonda"; I wonder why AM bottled out of that whilst still using it's christian name?

I've been bowled over by AM ownership, the next might well be a Rapide and it owes a lot to this car.

Edited by Loose_Cannon on Tuesday 25th April 09:53

Edited by Loose_Cannon on Tuesday 25th April 16:55

[Ken Figenus]

Agree with everything about the Lagonda. Just seminal and still has delicious shock value. I'd love one - but would it bankrupt me?! So, why haven't you bought one - same price as a Range Rover - and the force is clearly strong in you young one