New Aston Vantage
Discussion
Good morning,
I went to see the new vantage yesterday at my local dealer. It is a stunning looking car. Even better in the flesh and better than the DB10. However I don’t like the interior. I don’t like the DB11 interior either. Too fussy! The centre consol has too many buttons and the centre Rev counter looks like it is stuck infront of a iPad screen. It looks like TVR put together some German interior components. Really disappointing.
Rolls Royce, Range Rover and McLaren have nailed it when designing a modern interpretation of a British car interior. But stunning exterior.
Maybe I just feel blue because I realised I should not have sold my DB9 Manual.
I went to see the new vantage yesterday at my local dealer. It is a stunning looking car. Even better in the flesh and better than the DB10. However I don’t like the interior. I don’t like the DB11 interior either. Too fussy! The centre consol has too many buttons and the centre Rev counter looks like it is stuck infront of a iPad screen. It looks like TVR put together some German interior components. Really disappointing.
Rolls Royce, Range Rover and McLaren have nailed it when designing a modern interpretation of a British car interior. But stunning exterior.
Maybe I just feel blue because I realised I should not have sold my DB9 Manual.
To give a more verbose counter to all the negativity that keeps getting expressed on here as if it were universal, new Vantage is only the second car I’ve ever felt utterly compelled to buy new. Its exterior form blew my mind upon first viewing, the first Aston since DBS that I truly lusted after, and I think lust is needed for such a car. Voluptuous curves, yet razor sharp in the right places; classical proportions and features in a modern cut; aggressive and bold, but the classical elements keep a lid on the brashness so it doesn’t inspire ire in the public like some of the more ostentatious competition... it felt like very much a new breed stylistically, and that appealed to me - I’m a little anarchist, so in a way I find it satisfying that half of the Old Guard hate it 
Interiors aren’t really something I ever get particularly excited about, but Vantage’s looked just as lovely as I expect from an Aston (especially in my Copper Tan spec as per the red launch car), I remember liking the toggle switches and all controls falling nicely to hand - and all the Mercedes inherited interfaces and electronics give me a confidence that they’ll behave well and won’t feel like a let down, which older Aston stuff could.
I cannot wait to take delivery of mine.
Interiors aren’t really something I ever get particularly excited about, but Vantage’s looked just as lovely as I expect from an Aston (especially in my Copper Tan spec as per the red launch car), I remember liking the toggle switches and all controls falling nicely to hand - and all the Mercedes inherited interfaces and electronics give me a confidence that they’ll behave well and won’t feel like a let down, which older Aston stuff could.
I cannot wait to take delivery of mine.
Venturist said:
To give a more verbose counter to all the negativity that keeps getting expressed on here as if it were universal, new Vantage is only the second car I’ve ever felt utterly compelled to buy new. Its exterior form blew my mind upon first viewing, the first Aston since DBS that I truly lusted after, and I think lust is needed for such a car. Voluptuous curves, yet razor sharp in the right places; classical proportions and features in a modern cut; aggressive and bold, but the classical elements keep a lid on the brashness so it doesn’t inspire ire in the public like some of the more ostentatious competition... it felt like very much a new breed stylistically, and that appealed to me - I’m a little anarchist, so in a way I find it satisfying that half of the Old Guard hate it
Interiors aren’t really something I ever get particularly excited about, but Vantage’s looked just as lovely as I expect from an Aston (especially in my Copper Tan spec as per the red launch car), I remember liking the toggle switches and all controls falling nicely to hand - and all the Mercedes inherited interfaces and electronics give me a confidence that they’ll behave well and won’t feel like a let down, which older Aston stuff could.
I cannot wait to take delivery of mine.
Interiors aren’t really something I ever get particularly excited about, but Vantage’s looked just as lovely as I expect from an Aston (especially in my Copper Tan spec as per the red launch car), I remember liking the toggle switches and all controls falling nicely to hand - and all the Mercedes inherited interfaces and electronics give me a confidence that they’ll behave well and won’t feel like a let down, which older Aston stuff could.
I cannot wait to take delivery of mine.
I saw the new Vantage in Glasgow the other day courtesy of AM Edinburgh.
I actually found it quite underwhelming. From the back it's not a bad looking car but from the front I'm not feeling it. It might grow on me as I start to see them out in the open though.
Two things that caught my eye were:
The vents from the wheel arch into the wing. I'm not convinced that any muck/grit/gravel that travels through there once you're on the road might have a sandblasting effect on the paint on the wing as it's an open space you can put your hand through.
The cup holder inside looks horrendous... it's right in the middle of the centre console and has no lid or anything to cover it. IMO it just looked really cheap and out of place.
The car they had in Glasgow was red with tan leather, that colour combination was nice and the feel of the leather was lovely. The seats were good too.
I'm reserving judgement until I've seen it in the open but at present, I'm not sold
David.
I actually found it quite underwhelming. From the back it's not a bad looking car but from the front I'm not feeling it. It might grow on me as I start to see them out in the open though.
Two things that caught my eye were:
The vents from the wheel arch into the wing. I'm not convinced that any muck/grit/gravel that travels through there once you're on the road might have a sandblasting effect on the paint on the wing as it's an open space you can put your hand through.
The cup holder inside looks horrendous... it's right in the middle of the centre console and has no lid or anything to cover it. IMO it just looked really cheap and out of place.
The car they had in Glasgow was red with tan leather, that colour combination was nice and the feel of the leather was lovely. The seats were good too.
I'm reserving judgement until I've seen it in the open but at present, I'm not sold
David.
AM can't afford cars that polarize. Big companies can absorb one or two models like that, but I don't see how they can be successful with two of their three-car line-up in that category. I employed some very dodgy 'man-maths' to get into a DBS, and later, a Vanquish because I could never get these models out of my mind. The DB11 and the Vantage don't even enter my thoughts, hence absolutely no scheming on my part how to replace my cars with these newer models. IMO, that is not a good thing for a small firm like AM. They need cars that are universally lusted after.
DB9VolanteDriver said:
AM can't afford cars that polarize.
Permission to disagree 
The worst possible outcome would have been a design that nobody had an opinion about. A close second on the “that wouldn’t be good scale” would be a design that everybody instantly got on with. Sounds counter-intuitive, but if a design gives it all in first first 10 mins, it has no room to grow in opinion over time.
This design will be around for at least 8 years and has to find time to grow in our esteem. For sure, it won’t be a car for all, but nobody has said it mimics the DM11 (as per DB9/Vantage/DBS... etc debate).
It’s brave and proud. I’m personally not 100% sold yet, but the factory tour on Thursday will surely help with that. The old stick sprouting from the transmission tunnel will help further
I do enjoy reading opinions expressed with such forcefulness. But I guess that’s the point; we’re all individual.
AM produce simply beautiful cars, inside and out.
But of course people’s views will differ.
Within minutes of seeing a DB11 for the first time, I knew I had to have one. The exterior is simply beautiful. The interior too, the buttons are different, but not fussy. Anyone who says a LR is more, classically British, has a very different view to me of an iPad being British.
I’ve now driven 6,000 miles in 5 months and get even more excited when walking back to my car and, yes, still look back when walking away.
I love the look of the new vantage, perhaps less so the bonnet join, but I think the interior looks fantastic.
Keep going AM, you’re doing great!
AM produce simply beautiful cars, inside and out.
But of course people’s views will differ.
Within minutes of seeing a DB11 for the first time, I knew I had to have one. The exterior is simply beautiful. The interior too, the buttons are different, but not fussy. Anyone who says a LR is more, classically British, has a very different view to me of an iPad being British.
I’ve now driven 6,000 miles in 5 months and get even more excited when walking back to my car and, yes, still look back when walking away.
I love the look of the new vantage, perhaps less so the bonnet join, but I think the interior looks fantastic.
Keep going AM, you’re doing great!
Edited by fellrunner on Sunday 18th February 16:56
nickv8 said:
Permission to disagree
The worst possible outcome would have been a design that nobody had an opinion about. A close second on the “that wouldn’t be good scale” would be a design that everybody instantly got on with. Sounds counter-intuitive, but if a design gives it all in first first 10 mins, it has no room to grow in opinion over time.
This design will be around for at least 8 years and has to find time to grow in our esteem. For sure, it won’t be a car for all, but nobody has said it mimics the DM11 (as per DB9/Vantage/DBS... etc debate).
Lucky for us the outgoing Vantage didn't need 8 years to "grow" on us. AM knocked it out of the park at the starting gate.The worst possible outcome would have been a design that nobody had an opinion about. A close second on the “that wouldn’t be good scale” would be a design that everybody instantly got on with. Sounds counter-intuitive, but if a design gives it all in first first 10 mins, it has no room to grow in opinion over time.
This design will be around for at least 8 years and has to find time to grow in our esteem. For sure, it won’t be a car for all, but nobody has said it mimics the DM11 (as per DB9/Vantage/DBS... etc debate).
DB9VolanteDriver said:
AM can't afford cars that polarize. Big companies can absorb one or two models like that, but I don't see how they can be successful with two of their three-car line-up in that category.
IMO, that is not a good thing for a small firm like AM. They need cars that are universally lusted after.
IMO, that is not a good thing for a small firm like AM. They need cars that are universally lusted after.
Unfortunately this may become a problem for AML.
I was very disappointed to look up figures, and discover that the early sales of the DB9, appear to exceed those of the DB11. We have probably all recently received dealer emails, offering financing discounts promoting the DB11. Whether that means anything, I don't know. Obviously we won't find out about new Vantage sales for quite a while.
Even with a greater range of cars, as before, it is the Vantage and DB11 which must be expected to comprise the majority of the sports car sales.
The difference of course this time, is the undoubted importance of the DBX to the Company financials. When announced, we were probably all shocked that Aston Martin would be making an SUV, but as Dr. P. has explained, the plan is that it will 'pay' for the sports cars. I wish it every success.
Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 18th February 18:55
DB9VolanteDriver said:
AM can't afford cars that polarize. Big companies can absorb one or two models like that, but I don't see how they can be successful with two of their three-car line-up in that category. I employed some very dodgy 'man-maths' to get into a DBS, and later, a Vanquish because I could never get these models out of my mind. The DB11 and the Vantage don't even enter my thoughts, hence absolutely no scheming on my part how to replace my cars with these newer models. IMO, that is not a good thing for a small firm like AM. They need cars that are universally lusted after.
I agree entirely.......Right now, if I had 175 grand burning a hole in my pocket I'd be doing the man maths to get a Vanquish S Volante, not a new Vantage or DB11......that's not a good thing for AML.
AstonV said:
Lucky for us the outgoing Vantage didn't need 8 years to "grow" on us. AM knocked it out of the park at the starting gate.
You guys defending the style on the new Vantage ( specifically the front) reminds me of a parent telling themselves that their kid is really not that unattractive (smile). When really great car designs are greated, the consensus is universal, when viewed from any angle, it’s a great looking car. Examples, the E type Jaguar, the current Vantage, to name a couple.The new Vantage is simply not in that class. From a design point of view, it’s a step backwards. You can’t say it’s an improvement over the current car and then add that the headlights are too small and the grill is too big and the tail pipes should be bigger and the front proportions are not quite right. Any interior that has that iPad thing sticking up above the dashboard pretending to be the navigation screen is not to be taken seriously. IMHO Aston had the opportunity to make a really great looking Vantage by evolutionary design changes. Instead they took a big swing at it and came up with hits and misses.
Big Ry said:
Indeed......I can't help but think they should have followed Porsche's 911 approach...........evolve the existing model that people love.
If it ain't broke............
Or the Mustang. That design has gradually evolved where it’s now considered to be possibly the best looking Mustang ever.If it ain't broke............
Haven’t we already got a Vantage-bashing thread somewhere else on here?!
History has judged it well because it wasn’t just beautiful; it was boldly beautiful.
Closer to home, I can’t help but remember the pitchforks that came out when the Vanquish Mk2 was revealed. It was always going to lose, of course, given it was in the shadow of the DBS and Vanq 1 before it.
But you’d be hard pressed to find somebody on this forum today who wouldn’t bite your arm off for one! It’s a design that was forward looking in 2012 (?) and therefore looks bang up to date even today.
My bet is we’ll be saying the save thing about Vantage 2...
embdenb said:
When really great car designs are greated, the consensus is universal, when viewed from any angle, it’s a great looking car. Examples, the E type Jaguar.,.
I think you’ll find the contemporary reviews of the E-type were not universal in their praise. It was a very bold design for the time, based on a race car, with in particular the front proportions and faired-in headlights coming under criticism (think about the look of the XK series it replaced).History has judged it well because it wasn’t just beautiful; it was boldly beautiful.
Closer to home, I can’t help but remember the pitchforks that came out when the Vanquish Mk2 was revealed. It was always going to lose, of course, given it was in the shadow of the DBS and Vanq 1 before it.
But you’d be hard pressed to find somebody on this forum today who wouldn’t bite your arm off for one! It’s a design that was forward looking in 2012 (?) and therefore looks bang up to date even today.
My bet is we’ll be saying the save thing about Vantage 2...
AdamV12AMR said:
I think you’ll find the contemporary reviews of the E-type were not universal in their praise. It was a very bold design for the time, based on a race car, with in particular the front proportions and faired-in headlights coming under criticism (think about the look of the XK series it replaced).
History has judged it well because it wasn’t just beautiful; it was boldly beautiful.
Closer to home, I can’t help but remember the pitchforks that came out when the Vanquish Mk2 was revealed. It was always going to lose, of course, given it was in the shadow of the DBS and Vanq 1 before it.
But you’d be hard pressed to find somebody on this forum today who wouldn’t bite your arm off for one! It’s a design that was forward looking in 2012 (?) and therefore looks bang up to date even today.
My bet is we’ll be saying the save thing about Vantage 2...
Some really good points Adam. It will be interesting, if you could find them, look back on these threads in three years time to see how the cars is viewed. If it has handling that outguns all its competitors then will people forgive the bits of the styling they don’t like. Or, will the styling become more comfortable. Will be interesting to see.History has judged it well because it wasn’t just beautiful; it was boldly beautiful.
Closer to home, I can’t help but remember the pitchforks that came out when the Vanquish Mk2 was revealed. It was always going to lose, of course, given it was in the shadow of the DBS and Vanq 1 before it.
But you’d be hard pressed to find somebody on this forum today who wouldn’t bite your arm off for one! It’s a design that was forward looking in 2012 (?) and therefore looks bang up to date even today.
My bet is we’ll be saying the save thing about Vantage 2...
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