Discussion
Jon39 said:
This is amusing.
I used to read on here, 'remove the plinth, to reveal the whole of that beautiful grille'.
Something has changed.
Now, 'it looks better with the plate on'.
Edited by codieskid on Wednesday 22 November 08:55
I can't tell you how excited I've been for this car. The original Vantage made such an impression on me back in 2003 as a young 21 year old and I held onto the dream of owning one for over 10 years until I finally bought myself a V8 Vantage. The original Vantage was such a classic design with perfect proportions and just the right amount of muscle and aggression that it still looked beautiful and fresh right up till the end of it's production run.
I think the new car is not what I was expecting. It doesn't have that timeless quality good designs have. I think it's gone too aggressive and missed the mark. Aston has always had that understated quality to it's designs and it feels like they've thrown that away. Marek Reichman also seems to have forgotten his rule/ratio of Aston proportions of 1 to 2 thirds. The grill has for the past 10 years been 1 third to 2 thirds the height of the cars face which in his own words gives the car perfect proportions.
Finally when I look at the car it doesn't scream quality. I'll have to wait to see one in the flesh but the laser cut rear panels housing the exhaust look thin and cheap as do the optional side gill perforated vents. Also the exhaust finish looks terrible.
I had everything crossed that Aston would nail this as it's a car as I've been considering parting with my Jaguar E-type series 1 in order to purchase one but I am now thinking for the price of a highly spec'd new Vantage I could buy a Vanquish and with the change go and buy an original Vantage.
Trev
I think the new car is not what I was expecting. It doesn't have that timeless quality good designs have. I think it's gone too aggressive and missed the mark. Aston has always had that understated quality to it's designs and it feels like they've thrown that away. Marek Reichman also seems to have forgotten his rule/ratio of Aston proportions of 1 to 2 thirds. The grill has for the past 10 years been 1 third to 2 thirds the height of the cars face which in his own words gives the car perfect proportions.
Finally when I look at the car it doesn't scream quality. I'll have to wait to see one in the flesh but the laser cut rear panels housing the exhaust look thin and cheap as do the optional side gill perforated vents. Also the exhaust finish looks terrible.
I had everything crossed that Aston would nail this as it's a car as I've been considering parting with my Jaguar E-type series 1 in order to purchase one but I am now thinking for the price of a highly spec'd new Vantage I could buy a Vanquish and with the change go and buy an original Vantage.
Trev
Initially I wasn't so sure.. On repeat viewing it's growing, in fact I actually really like it.
The original vantage was always going to be a tough act to follow.. If Aston had came out with the similar design they'd have been slated for not being original enough. I think this looks different enough to not be classed as an evolution, but still similar enough to look like the rest of the range (DB11).
The original vantage was always going to be a tough act to follow.. If Aston had came out with the similar design they'd have been slated for not being original enough. I think this looks different enough to not be classed as an evolution, but still similar enough to look like the rest of the range (DB11).
Well....what a strange launch day.
I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
Oh dear, after all the waiting aston have served up car that will sell, but its not going to worry the competition. It will need to be seen in the flesh for a proper opinion, but judging from the reveal pics and videos its not exactly gone down very well.I would imagine a bit of head scratching at aston hq this morning. I think also that £135k ish with spec is really pushing it in to mclaren territory as well, and as someone who got a new 540c recently and had a surprising exerience including generous trade-ins an new car discounts, the hard sell may be approaching for Aston. Its subjective i know, but its just not as special a design as i was hoping for.
Nothingspecial said:
Well....what a strange launch day.
I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
Lets be honest, could AM ever win with the 'new' Vantage, on the basis that the previous design is considered by most, the best looking car ever.....I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
I'm going to reserve judgement until I go and see the unveil at AM Bristol next Thursday.
Yes, the front and rear are a little marmitey, and it has a generic Merc console screen. But over time, I am sure AM will create a bumper upgrade kit with horizontal slats and tidy up a few areas.
Overall, I think they have done a great job and its always too easy to slate a new design. In this day and age where everyone can have an opinion, you will always get the negative comments.
Green/Yellow launch colour is terrible, but maybe a very clever trick by AM so that it gets lots of attention..............I think the red/grey renders look far better and get my thumbs up.
David W. said:
This is from Twitter, (sorry if its been posted already).
CSK1 said:
The guy who photoshopped this deserves a designer job at Aston Martin. It looks much better than the original!
And the number plate hints at a V12 under the bonnet, that's even better!
This is simply brilliant and much better than the original AM design. And the number plate hints at a V12 under the bonnet, that's even better!
Edited by rossyl on Wednesday 22 November 09:59
Nothingspecial said:
Well....what a strange launch day.
I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
If you consider the new car 'not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage' , do you know you could have a V12 Vantage and also a V8 Vantage for the same money ?
Possibly the difference re. comments here vs press - most here have knowledge of and enjoy the traditions and history of AML.
Magazines etc often use manufacturer's press release material for their articles. Also, too many negative comments might result in press cars becoming mysteriously unavailable.
Only my speculation, but what do you think ?
Exactly the same debate raged on Ferrarichat over the 812 Superfast.
Owners of F12s and "traditionalists"initially hated it.
Design is now accepted and order books are closed because whole production run is sold.
New Vantage will be a resounding success and will outsell old Vantage if in production for anything like the same amount of time.
Owners of F12s and "traditionalists"initially hated it.
Design is now accepted and order books are closed because whole production run is sold.
New Vantage will be a resounding success and will outsell old Vantage if in production for anything like the same amount of time.
ajr550 said:
Exactly the same debate raged on Ferrarichat over the 812 Superfast.
Owners of F12s and "traditionalists"initially hated it.
Design is now accepted and order books are closed because whole production run is sold.
New Vantage will be a resounding success and will outsell old Vantage if in production for anything like the same amount of time.
These are my thoughts too. I think that once front plates are on the front will look much more cohesive. The interior, whilst not as 'classy and simple' as the outgoing model, is a lovely modern environment.Owners of F12s and "traditionalists"initially hated it.
Design is now accepted and order books are closed because whole production run is sold.
New Vantage will be a resounding success and will outsell old Vantage if in production for anything like the same amount of time.
When buying my Vantage a few of the "SELLING POINTS" seem to have vanished...
One in particular was that the bonnet went all the way to the front of the car. I remember being told proudly how the car has no HORRIBLE nose cone as that is an inferior design.
I agreed.
Now they have a NOSE CONE!! Not only that but a nose cone that looks like the FAST & FURIOUS 9
If it looks like metal will it be metal, if it looks like leather will be leather? I hope they haven't ditched that ethos along with the nose cone.
One in particular was that the bonnet went all the way to the front of the car. I remember being told proudly how the car has no HORRIBLE nose cone as that is an inferior design.
I agreed.
Now they have a NOSE CONE!! Not only that but a nose cone that looks like the FAST & FURIOUS 9
If it looks like metal will it be metal, if it looks like leather will be leather? I hope they haven't ditched that ethos along with the nose cone.
Could Aston Martin be trying to distance themselves from their rape by Ford copying the grille design?
Even as an Aston owner, I have mistaken some new Fords to being an Aston from a distance, from the front, and that was not a great distance.
That front is all Vulcan and the photoshop above looks far better, but maybe not different enough to the DB11?
I am off to the dealer launch before I make a final comment on the design.
Even as an Aston owner, I have mistaken some new Fords to being an Aston from a distance, from the front, and that was not a great distance.
That front is all Vulcan and the photoshop above looks far better, but maybe not different enough to the DB11?
I am off to the dealer launch before I make a final comment on the design.
There was a fork in the road, and the marque could either continue to build traditional, gentlemanly, subtle cars that would have an increasingly small customer base, or it could embrace a change of ethos, do something different to avoid the criticism of all the cars looking similar and bear the cross of upsetting purists immediately afterward. As an engineer at Gaydon said to me yesterday "wait until they see the DBX". Times are changing, and the marque had to turn up the wick to remain a viable alternative to the products that other manufacturer's are coming up with. Pretty isn't enough anymore, it had to be a bit more savage aesthetically.
The task of replacing the Vantage was the toughest the marque has had, and it would divide opinion either way. Produce a car that's a subtle refresh of the outgoing car with some modern internals and innovation and some would feel it wasn't a big enough step change for a car that's over a decade old (how many other cars have had as long a production run with so few major overhauls?). The original car was just that damn good, it made the task of improving on it that much more difficult.
Conversely, starting from scratch, some would feel it's too big a departure from tradition. It's certainly the most radical looking production Aston to date, and has been received as I thought it might - where it's liked, it's loved, and where it's disliked, it's detested and described as an MX5, GT86 etc.
With the focus very much being on aesthetics and price in the last 24 hours, the actual performance data and handling have been somewhat forgotten about. Even as a 'basic' launch model, it's likely to be the most potent car this side of (I guess) a GT12. As a driver's car, I'm told it will be utterly wonderful. The S is some way off (2021, perhaps), the manual option and roadster slotting in before that.
With the majority of imagery of the new Vantage insisting on being from low angles, looking up its nostrils, it makes the front end look much bigger than it is in the metal. Like the DB11, it doesn't look as good in photos as it does in the metal. Perhaps that's why (as shown in the old Vantage? thread) the original is so loved, you couldn't take a bad photograph of that car.
There's some very very good things happening at Gaydon, it might upset the traditional views of many, but some of it's necessary to allow Aston to keep pace with its rivals. The DBS will be something special (someone who's driven it described it to me as being like to a Group B car, quite crackers), and the new Vanquish will be another level again (in both looks and performance).
I'm looking forward to the Bristol launch evening next week
The task of replacing the Vantage was the toughest the marque has had, and it would divide opinion either way. Produce a car that's a subtle refresh of the outgoing car with some modern internals and innovation and some would feel it wasn't a big enough step change for a car that's over a decade old (how many other cars have had as long a production run with so few major overhauls?). The original car was just that damn good, it made the task of improving on it that much more difficult.
Conversely, starting from scratch, some would feel it's too big a departure from tradition. It's certainly the most radical looking production Aston to date, and has been received as I thought it might - where it's liked, it's loved, and where it's disliked, it's detested and described as an MX5, GT86 etc.
With the focus very much being on aesthetics and price in the last 24 hours, the actual performance data and handling have been somewhat forgotten about. Even as a 'basic' launch model, it's likely to be the most potent car this side of (I guess) a GT12. As a driver's car, I'm told it will be utterly wonderful. The S is some way off (2021, perhaps), the manual option and roadster slotting in before that.
With the majority of imagery of the new Vantage insisting on being from low angles, looking up its nostrils, it makes the front end look much bigger than it is in the metal. Like the DB11, it doesn't look as good in photos as it does in the metal. Perhaps that's why (as shown in the old Vantage? thread) the original is so loved, you couldn't take a bad photograph of that car.
There's some very very good things happening at Gaydon, it might upset the traditional views of many, but some of it's necessary to allow Aston to keep pace with its rivals. The DBS will be something special (someone who's driven it described it to me as being like to a Group B car, quite crackers), and the new Vanquish will be another level again (in both looks and performance).
I'm looking forward to the Bristol launch evening next week
Nothingspecial said:
Well....what a strange launch day.
I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
I don't think AM will be worrying too much, as others have said, seeing it at the factory 2 weeks ago with a group of current owners (not random internet folk who are yet to see and sit in it) we all left very impressed and a few of us are thinking about how we can add one to the garage. I'd say the comments on here, coupled with those under every article I've read (autocar, evo, top gear, random newspapers etc) are 60/40 or even 70/30 against the new design.
Will this really be a flop? I can't remember a car getting this much negative attention and going on to be a success....anyone?
I wonder what will happen when they start getting out on the road?
Ps I'm still going ahead with mine as I love it (despite agreeing it's not as classy/beautiful as the last vantage) but maybe because this is my first "supercar" (it's all relative) and therefore I'm new to the brand.
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