New Vantage?

[RobDown]

avinalarf said:

As a teenager I lusted after one of these, what drama !

Oh come on Steve, even the Ford Model T hadn’t come out when you were a teenager

[RichB]

avinalarf said:

RobDown said:

<clip> Did anyone dream of owning a Bentley Continental as a schoolboy (girl)?

As a teenager I lusted after one of these, what drama !

My first computer company was in Chelsea and on my drive into the office I would often see a black Continental parked in Soho. Must say that at 22 I thought it was stunning, so yes, I rather fancied one as a young(er) lad!

[shinjuku]

With today’s regulations, what new cars look better than the new Vantage? Genuine question.

I definitely prefer the looks of the Gaydon original, and by that I mean, the original original. A real modern classic. The newer car could have been smoother for sure, and I quite liked the DB10 as a progression, but understood they couldn’t make that because of impact regulations(?). If that’s not the case, I think they missed a trick.

The interior is another story. I understand that they are difficult o do, and you can’t please everyone. One problem is that he pace of improvement has increased so rapidly. 15 years ago built in sat nav was a luxury. Now it’s actually a pain as it’s not as good as the phone in your pocket, so everyone wants CarPlay etc. Fair enough. I’d design my interior around that. I would however, have actual dials and buttons, and a screen that goes away from view. I love that about my current car. I went for a drive today without needing navigation or music, and didn’t have an ASUS iPad clone sitting in the middle of the dash for no reason.

The new car had to have power. For cold start reasons it “had to be“ the AMG power plant. But the exterior could have been sleeker and the interior more classy.

For me, I’d love one “in a stable” but I’m not giving up my manual 4.3 car for any auto, no matter its ‘Ring time.

[Jon39]

shinjuku said:

With today’s regulations, what new cars look better than the new Vantage? Genuine question.

...... The new car had to have power. For cold start reasons it “had to be“ the AMG power plant.

I am sure that you will have noticed, when someone, particularly politicians, do not know the answer to a question, before the rambling begins they say, "That is a very good question". -

On the engine aspect, it was a surprise to me, but it could be that the Mercedes engine and electronics contract might be temporary.
As you will know, it has been announced that Cosworth are developing a brand new Aston Martin 6 cylinder engine. Perhaps the plan is that engine will be used in most future models. I think the Vanquish will be the first.

[RichB]

shinjuku said:

With today’s regulations, what new cars look better than the new Vantage? Genuine question...

Okay, I'll start the list :-

1) Aston Martin DBSS

[good grief]

shinjuku said:

With today’s regulations, what new cars look better than the new Vantage? Genuine question.

I definitely prefer the looks of the Gaydon original, and by that I mean, the original original. A real modern classic. The newer car could have been smoother for sure, and I quite liked the DB10 as a progression, but understood they couldn’t make that because of impact regulations(?). If that’s not the case, I think they missed a trick.

The interior is another story. I understand that they are difficult o do, and you can’t please everyone. One problem is that he pace of improvement has increased so rapidly. 15 years ago built in sat nav was a luxury. Now it’s actually a pain as it’s not as good as the phone in your pocket, so everyone wants CarPlay etc. Fair enough. I’d design my interior around that. I would however, have actual dials and buttons, and a screen that goes away from view. I love that about my current car. I went for a drive today without needing navigation or music, and didn’t have an ASUS iPad clone sitting in the middle of the dash for no reason.

The new car had to have power. For cold start reasons it “had to be“ the AMG power plant. But the exterior could have been sleeker and the interior more classy.

For me, I’d love one “in a stable” but I’m not giving up my manual 4.3 car for any auto, no matter its ‘Ring time.

Excellent summary, as you possibly know I also have both, and as the days go by l’m appreciating the style, and definitely the performance of the new model and genuinely would struggle if I had t chose between the two.
A pic of my 4.3 for balance.

[RobDown]

I agree entirely about the in-car entertainment bit. I rarely (almost never) use the systems in my cars. So I’d prefer the older fold-away version to the stuck on

Aside from that I don’t really have a huge issue with the interiors. Far more interested in performance, sound and the exterior look. Sure they could put loads of fake chromed plastic in there like a Bentley. But it wouldn’t sell it for me

[shinjuku]

Jon39 said:

As you will know, it has been announced that Cosworth are developing a brand new Aston Martin 6 cylinder engine. Perhaps the plan is that engine will be used in most future models. I think the Vanquish will be the first.

Agree on this. It will be interesting what engines come to fruition. The power and delivery will be amazing, I am sure, but we will not have the screaming 6 litre NA engines possibly (probably) ever again. The cars will be faster, no doubt, handle ‘better’, but for those that love to drive, there’s little pleasure in point and squirt driving.

RichB said:

Okay, I'll start the list :-

1) Aston Martin DBSS

Agreed, except for the rear, imo. I should have said “released before the Vantage”. It’s still a very nice looking car, it just doesn’t have the ability to both press on, and then waft up a gravel driveway in quite the same manner as the outgoing model. Will people want this new Vantage to take them to a wedding?

good grief said:

Excellent summary, as you possibly know I also have both, and as the days go by l’m appreciating the style, and definitely the performance of the new model and genuinely would struggle if I had t chose between the two.
A pic of my 4.3 for balance.

I would love both, too! Enjoy them! The performance and modernistic design of the new model really does bring the Vantage into the present day, no doubt.

But if it’s a sunny day and I want to go out for a drive... I think I know which I would take!
[tbh, it will be competing with my motorbike if the weather’s good!]

[waremark]

RobDown said:

I agree entirely about the in-car entertainment bit. I rarely (almost never) use the systems in my cars. So I’d prefer the older fold-away version to the stuck on

So having changed from a V12V to a DB11, for my use one of the most significant improvements is the infotainment. Now I can listen to the radio (reception in the V12 and also in my son's Vanquish was atrocious) and the nav map is improved enough that I don't have to use my phone.

RobDown said:

Aside from that I don’t really have a huge issue with the interiors. Far more interested in performance, sound and the exterior look. Sure they could put loads of fake chromed plastic in there like a Bentley. But it wouldn’t sell it for me

I don't understand the fashion for making the nav screens look like stuck on tablets - so many manufacturers are doing it but most people who comment don't like it. My preference is neither for the stuck on look nor for the foldaway system but for the screen to be integrated into the dash. If I had a new Conti with the rotating panel in the dash I expect I would have it on screen view all the time.

But apart from that feature I like the interiors of the new Astons - the DB11 feels luxurious and the Vantage maintains the quality while having a slightly more sporty appearance. I like that if it looks like metal it feels like metal, and if it looks like leather it is leather.

[AlexT]

Having spent almost an hour at Strathstone AM comparing both the Xenon Grey & China Grey DBSS & new Vantage respectively, I have to conclude that the new Vantage actually can hold its own. Especially if it were presented in the same Xenon Grey as the DBSS. This was my 2nd viewing of the new Vantage and, this time around, I was actually more impressed.

Special mention to Dan who was wonderful.

[Beefmeister]

The ‘stuck on’ screen comes down to cost. Not just of development for this car, but for future generations of the car too. The stuck on nature of the screen means that it can be easily made bigger, thinner, wider, whatever if required, very cheaply. If it was a built in screen or even a flip out one it would cost a lot more.

AM needed to save money wherever it could with these new models.

[macdeb]

I personally don't like stuck on top (awful) nor integrated screens, much prefer fold away (more 007). I understand the cost point made, but we are talking about 'Aston Martin' a premium brand and not Ford/Peugeot and the like.

Edited by macdeb on Monday 30th September 08:32

[Venturist]

I’ve heard stylists say they go for the stuck-on-ipad design because it allows you to have a big screen up high in the eyeliner without blocking the view too much. Have it down lower integrated into the existing dash and it’s lower than ideal for usability; bring the dash up to encase it in a nice high location and the dash becomes huge.

Interestingly AML had this right on the Gaydon cars years before anyone else, with the flip up screen!

[shinjuku]

With such huge bezels, these stuck on screens are not "stuck on iPads" they are "stuck on iPad clones", like some cheapo ASUS you'd buy in Aldi on a whim, for your mum, or for the company Christmas raffle. I've never seen a nice looking screen like this, and it has genuinely put me off a few cars.

I agree that an integrated screen looks nice, but I still like the fold away even more. My F-type had a nice layout, but as I said earlier, the future is CarPlay, or at least phone connectivity. The screen will just be a screen to display your maps/media of preference.

The other problem, though, is touch-panel screens. Idiocy that cars are all starting to look the same due to impact regulations, and that we couldn't have the DB10 front, but that fiddly touch-screens are a non-issue. Cars with lane assist to keep you straight whilst you poke a screen to select your next song. At least this is not the case in the Vantage, I believe.

I can rant for hours.

In all honesty, the interior of the Vantage lets it down more than the exterior, for me. I would definitely consider one, if I had the money, as I think the car is mega. But I would like a manual, with a more refined [smoother lines] interior. Lamborghini do crazy interiors, and Ferrari have their steering wheel, but Aston should be an exercise in design and restraint. Quality over quantity. But I guess they have to compete.

Give me 100 fewer BHP and a manual, and I'll be happy.

Oh wait, that's what I have

[cayman-black]

For me the pop up screen as in my old girl is the one i like the best. I do not like the look of the tablet stuck on the dash.

[cayman-black]

RichB said:

Okay, I'll start the list :-

1) Aston Martin DBSS

Absolutley.

[Buster73]

cayman-black said:

For me the pop up screen as in my old girl is the one i like the best. I do not like the look of the tablet stuck on the dash.

Can’t remember the last time I drove my N430 and had the screen up, I make a point of keeping it down , looks far better glancing over at a nice bit of carbon fibre instead of a sat nav that should be in Beamish Museum.

As for the radio , if I want to hear music I just open the window.

[Bincenzo]

Buster73 said:

cayman-black said:

For me the pop up screen as in my old girl is the one i like the best. I do not like the look of the tablet stuck on the dash.

Can’t remember the last time I drove my N430 and had the screen up, I make a point of keeping it down , looks far better glancing over at a nice bit of carbon fibre instead of a sat nav that should be in Beamish Museum.

As for the radio , if I want to hear music I just open the window.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the new cars and I have to be honest, once you get used to the Merc infotainment, it works pretty well (standing by for the CarPlay debate). Significantly better than the older Gaydon era cars, anyway. As for the screen, I can safely say that when driving, I simply don’t notice it’s there, save for the odd glance at the map or to change the awful music that my son seems to have put on my iPhone! I actually find the fold away screen in my V12 a little awkward, and very dated. Each to their own, as ever.

[shinjuku]

Stuck-on screens will appear even more dated when everything goes HUD. They can never be hidden, which is my bug bear.

[RobDown]

shinjuku said:

Stuck-on screens will appear even more dated when everything goes HUD. They can never be hidden, which is my bug bear.

Better still - maybe the hidden screen can be replaced with two small cans of gin&tonic, that can be rotated up when required?