Good things come to those who wait
Discussion
Funnily enough we all went for the alternative DIM (instrument surrounds) - something else the three cars have in common
Apart from the common Q features I've mentioned in the last couple of days, the main remaining areas I've not posted about yet that tie our cars together and that are arguably the most unique are the badging/foils inside & out - more about that soon
Spent yesterday doing nothing but driving after picking up the car first thing in the morning. As it should be ! Fab day - car is everything I hoped it would be
Didn't take any photos at all - was far too busy enjoying the car but here's a photo some friends sent me a little earlier - their daughter in the passenger seat who I took for a quick spin was a little photo shy as she wasn't long out of bed ...
Will get some proper photos up soon
Couple of minor niggles to sort but hopefully nothing that won't be easy to fix
Right, sun is out and off for some more driving - that's what the car is for !!!
Apart from the common Q features I've mentioned in the last couple of days, the main remaining areas I've not posted about yet that tie our cars together and that are arguably the most unique are the badging/foils inside & out - more about that soon
Spent yesterday doing nothing but driving after picking up the car first thing in the morning. As it should be ! Fab day - car is everything I hoped it would be
Didn't take any photos at all - was far too busy enjoying the car but here's a photo some friends sent me a little earlier - their daughter in the passenger seat who I took for a quick spin was a little photo shy as she wasn't long out of bed ...
Will get some proper photos up soon
Couple of minor niggles to sort but hopefully nothing that won't be easy to fix
Right, sun is out and off for some more driving - that's what the car is for !!!
Brilliant thread! Love the idea of 3 friends specing their cars together, and enjoying your collective passion for “the joy in small details”. Fascinating to hear the practicalities involved too.
Enjoy the cars (goes without saying!) and do share more pics and details of what you’ve done.
Enjoy the cars (goes without saying!) and do share more pics and details of what you’ve done.
Cheers chaps
A small detail I've just picked up on - would appear the hazard warning triangle has been dropped from the standard spec - neither the triangle nor it's bracket are present in the boot. If so, it does really annoy me - it's not on the option list so didn't think to spec it, loads of Aston owners regularly drive their car abroad and it's a legal requirement in most European countries - I wonder when this happened ? It's in the handbook as a standard item, not an option. It's one thing making items like metal fuel cap that were standard a cost option and another just to drop practical (arguably essential) items altogether so very late in the life of a model
A small detail I've just picked up on - would appear the hazard warning triangle has been dropped from the standard spec - neither the triangle nor it's bracket are present in the boot. If so, it does really annoy me - it's not on the option list so didn't think to spec it, loads of Aston owners regularly drive their car abroad and it's a legal requirement in most European countries - I wonder when this happened ? It's in the handbook as a standard item, not an option. It's one thing making items like metal fuel cap that were standard a cost option and another just to drop practical (arguably essential) items altogether so very late in the life of a model
jonby said:
Cheers chaps
A small detail I've just picked up on - would appear the hazard warning triangle has been dropped from the standard spec - neither the triangle nor it's bracket are present in the boot. If so, it does really annoy me - it's not on the option list so didn't think to spec it, loads of Aston owners regularly drive their car abroad and it's a legal requirement in most European countries - I wonder when this happened ? It's in the handbook as a standard item, not an option. It's one thing making items like metal fuel cap that were standard a cost option and another just to drop practical (arguably essential) items altogether so very late in the life of a model
I notice a lot of Manufactures are no longer supplying a warning triangle, cost-cutting measures again on an item that as you say should be and is compulsory in Europe.A small detail I've just picked up on - would appear the hazard warning triangle has been dropped from the standard spec - neither the triangle nor it's bracket are present in the boot. If so, it does really annoy me - it's not on the option list so didn't think to spec it, loads of Aston owners regularly drive their car abroad and it's a legal requirement in most European countries - I wonder when this happened ? It's in the handbook as a standard item, not an option. It's one thing making items like metal fuel cap that were standard a cost option and another just to drop practical (arguably essential) items altogether so very late in the life of a model
Oh and congratulations on a stunning looking car, Enjoy.
cayman-black said:
I notice a lot of Manufactures are no longer supplying a warning triangle, cost-cutting measures again on an item that as you say should be and is compulsory in Europe.
Oh and congratulations on a stunning looking car, Enjoy.
I'm surprised this level of cost cutting is really needed on a car the price of an AMR V12. They could certainly add £5 to the price and put these things in.Oh and congratulations on a stunning looking car, Enjoy.
Love the car though, the stripes are really growing on me with the AMR
Wayne95 said:
I'm surprised this level of cost cutting is really needed on a car the price of an AMR V12. They could certainly add £5 to the price and put these things in.
Love the car though, the stripes are really growing on me with the AMR
A warning triangle from Aston Martin for £5 ?, never heard anything so daft for years man.Love the car though, the stripes are really growing on me with the AMR
OK, so continuing with the common features to our 3 cars first, on the outside, cutting a very long story short, we decided not to do anything other than Q badges on the front wings & AMR logos on the side strakes
It was, you can guess, a very long series of discussions that led to that decision. We didn't want to overload the cars with badging. I suspect if having vantage and V12 badging was standard and a no cost delete option (which IMO it should be on all Astons), we might have kept it but 'if' is a big word, the cars don't come with it as standards, very few vantages will have such badging and those that need to be told these are V12 Vantages probably wouldn't be much the wiser if the cars did have such badging
We definitely wanted Q badges on the front wings and together with the indicators, could have been too much to have V12 badges too. Our discussions on AMR badges were complicated by the need to not clash with my Halo Union wings badges and what we thought would be black wing badges on Graham & Ian's cars, which were to be part of the AMR spec, then later dropped by the factory to standard Aston wings badges
It is our opinion that the cars should have had AMR branding on the outside. But they didn't. We looked at a number of options and spent the most time on discussing having bespoke boot badges made, which Q did quote for. In the end we came up with the idea of foil inlays to the CF side strakes, a little like the Red Arrows cars and unbeknown to us at the time, Vanquish Ultimate for which the specs were released after we signed off on our cars. So that's what our cars have (pics soon I promise) and I understand that if anyone with a Q AMR asked about AMR branding, they were told about our idea, which was then taken up by at least two and possibly three or four other customers
I'll talk more about the interior branding/badging in another post, before then moving on to the Q bits unique to our individual cars - lets turn to Saturday !
I'd seen my car a couple of times since it had been at Wilmslow, so I knew what to expect. I still needed to examine a couple of bits & pieces but basically, I wanted to get in the car and drive it ! There is a neat little Aston branded presentation box now that fits 2 ECUs and the emergency key which is a nice touch - I think it's fairly new ?
I didn't spend much time with the handover - other than paperwork, we paired the phone, looked at how the suspension & AMR shift works, then I just said I'd read the manual later and spent most of the weekend driving. The car is great !
For all the time spent on custom this and paint sample that, driving is what it's all about. And the car didn't let me down. I'm not really sure how much I can embellish this point - I drove and drove and really enjoyed myself.
Compared to my V12V roadster, I have the following observations. Suspension is incredible - amazed at how it takes ruts & the like so much more smoothly than V12V, even in midway sport mode. Everyone I gave a lift to made an unsolicited comment about how comfortable it is.
Handling if anything, seems even more fluid than my V12V. I thought losing a touch of the rawness of V12V might lead to it being less special, but it doesn't
I deliberately specced zeros (not corsas) - I've normally had corsas and I'm not sure if it's a consequence of tyres or the extra power, but seemed even more difficult than I remembered to get all the power down without breaking traction. I've been planning from the start on Ps4S when these tyres need changing - will be interesting to see the comparison. I've just got the feeling that the corsas, especially on a day like yesterday which was sunny & warm, would be a bit more sticky than the zeros
I really like the new gauge that shows pressures & temperatures for each individual tyre in the infoscreen. In general, I think the whole infotainment system is much cleaner and works much better than the previous tech
I know it's personal, but I just love my ONE 77 wheel. It works really well for where I hold the wheel but I get that it's not for every style (just as highline with manual isn't for everyone) and I also get that it's fashionable to slate square steering wheels in the same way that it's fashionable to hate Coldplay. But I'm delighted with the way it works
I wasn't sure how I'd find AM shift. I still can't, however hard I try, make myself lift off the throttle when changing gear. But the noises AM shift makes are great ! Combined with sport mode and valves open, it's just a magical sound
Perhaps daft but I don't think I realised just what a head turner this colour scheme would be. It's the identical shape to my last car, but the attention it draws is staggering. I'm sure as many who turn their heads think t***t as there are who think great, but either way, it's not subtle ! I had friend who know my last car well who couldn't quite believe it is the same shape as my last car. The most commented upon items are the wheels, the union wings badges and 'I didn't want to tell you but when you said green with lime stripes I was concerned - in the flesh it looks great'
Negatives ? I'm struggling. I've mentioned that I find the removal of the warning triangle a real cheap move. There are one or two other areas evidencing the same. The centre wheel caps now have a transfer print type wings badge rather than a raised one. Now as it happens, us 3 AMRigos sourced old style centre caps (thanks Graham !) as the newer ones have a silver edge and we wanted all matt black, along with black wheel nut caps, to give the wheels a stealth look. But if you're on your 2nd/3rd/4th vantage, any cost savings the factory made are wiped out if just one or two customers decide not to change car because of cost savings that give the wrong image. Of course being generous, there are possible plausible explanations not connected to cost - the triangles may not meet EU regs any more, there may have been some customer complaints that they get damaged easily, etc. But in the absence of any other info, the perception is cheap cost cutting and it does them no favours. On the flip side, the flap in the boot where the tyre compressor/sealant is stored has a leather tab to open it and I can;t be sure but I don't remember it being there before ? Together with the new key box, evidence they aren't only cutting but are adding as well
Any regrets ? I suppose being super picky, the 'matched' lime stitch on the gaiter which is in lime isn't quite as much a match as I might have liked. I could have gone even more stupid with carbon (tread plates, handbrake lever, engine brace, I could go on...) but where do you stop ?!!? So basically no.
Faults ? A couple of minor trim alignment bits, a slightly sticky hood. That's about it
Right, back to work and then home for some more driving !
It was, you can guess, a very long series of discussions that led to that decision. We didn't want to overload the cars with badging. I suspect if having vantage and V12 badging was standard and a no cost delete option (which IMO it should be on all Astons), we might have kept it but 'if' is a big word, the cars don't come with it as standards, very few vantages will have such badging and those that need to be told these are V12 Vantages probably wouldn't be much the wiser if the cars did have such badging
We definitely wanted Q badges on the front wings and together with the indicators, could have been too much to have V12 badges too. Our discussions on AMR badges were complicated by the need to not clash with my Halo Union wings badges and what we thought would be black wing badges on Graham & Ian's cars, which were to be part of the AMR spec, then later dropped by the factory to standard Aston wings badges
It is our opinion that the cars should have had AMR branding on the outside. But they didn't. We looked at a number of options and spent the most time on discussing having bespoke boot badges made, which Q did quote for. In the end we came up with the idea of foil inlays to the CF side strakes, a little like the Red Arrows cars and unbeknown to us at the time, Vanquish Ultimate for which the specs were released after we signed off on our cars. So that's what our cars have (pics soon I promise) and I understand that if anyone with a Q AMR asked about AMR branding, they were told about our idea, which was then taken up by at least two and possibly three or four other customers
I'll talk more about the interior branding/badging in another post, before then moving on to the Q bits unique to our individual cars - lets turn to Saturday !
I'd seen my car a couple of times since it had been at Wilmslow, so I knew what to expect. I still needed to examine a couple of bits & pieces but basically, I wanted to get in the car and drive it ! There is a neat little Aston branded presentation box now that fits 2 ECUs and the emergency key which is a nice touch - I think it's fairly new ?
I didn't spend much time with the handover - other than paperwork, we paired the phone, looked at how the suspension & AMR shift works, then I just said I'd read the manual later and spent most of the weekend driving. The car is great !
For all the time spent on custom this and paint sample that, driving is what it's all about. And the car didn't let me down. I'm not really sure how much I can embellish this point - I drove and drove and really enjoyed myself.
Compared to my V12V roadster, I have the following observations. Suspension is incredible - amazed at how it takes ruts & the like so much more smoothly than V12V, even in midway sport mode. Everyone I gave a lift to made an unsolicited comment about how comfortable it is.
Handling if anything, seems even more fluid than my V12V. I thought losing a touch of the rawness of V12V might lead to it being less special, but it doesn't
I deliberately specced zeros (not corsas) - I've normally had corsas and I'm not sure if it's a consequence of tyres or the extra power, but seemed even more difficult than I remembered to get all the power down without breaking traction. I've been planning from the start on Ps4S when these tyres need changing - will be interesting to see the comparison. I've just got the feeling that the corsas, especially on a day like yesterday which was sunny & warm, would be a bit more sticky than the zeros
I really like the new gauge that shows pressures & temperatures for each individual tyre in the infoscreen. In general, I think the whole infotainment system is much cleaner and works much better than the previous tech
I know it's personal, but I just love my ONE 77 wheel. It works really well for where I hold the wheel but I get that it's not for every style (just as highline with manual isn't for everyone) and I also get that it's fashionable to slate square steering wheels in the same way that it's fashionable to hate Coldplay. But I'm delighted with the way it works
I wasn't sure how I'd find AM shift. I still can't, however hard I try, make myself lift off the throttle when changing gear. But the noises AM shift makes are great ! Combined with sport mode and valves open, it's just a magical sound
Perhaps daft but I don't think I realised just what a head turner this colour scheme would be. It's the identical shape to my last car, but the attention it draws is staggering. I'm sure as many who turn their heads think t***t as there are who think great, but either way, it's not subtle ! I had friend who know my last car well who couldn't quite believe it is the same shape as my last car. The most commented upon items are the wheels, the union wings badges and 'I didn't want to tell you but when you said green with lime stripes I was concerned - in the flesh it looks great'
Negatives ? I'm struggling. I've mentioned that I find the removal of the warning triangle a real cheap move. There are one or two other areas evidencing the same. The centre wheel caps now have a transfer print type wings badge rather than a raised one. Now as it happens, us 3 AMRigos sourced old style centre caps (thanks Graham !) as the newer ones have a silver edge and we wanted all matt black, along with black wheel nut caps, to give the wheels a stealth look. But if you're on your 2nd/3rd/4th vantage, any cost savings the factory made are wiped out if just one or two customers decide not to change car because of cost savings that give the wrong image. Of course being generous, there are possible plausible explanations not connected to cost - the triangles may not meet EU regs any more, there may have been some customer complaints that they get damaged easily, etc. But in the absence of any other info, the perception is cheap cost cutting and it does them no favours. On the flip side, the flap in the boot where the tyre compressor/sealant is stored has a leather tab to open it and I can;t be sure but I don't remember it being there before ? Together with the new key box, evidence they aren't only cutting but are adding as well
Any regrets ? I suppose being super picky, the 'matched' lime stitch on the gaiter which is in lime isn't quite as much a match as I might have liked. I could have gone even more stupid with carbon (tread plates, handbrake lever, engine brace, I could go on...) but where do you stop ?!!? So basically no.
Faults ? A couple of minor trim alignment bits, a slightly sticky hood. That's about it
Right, back to work and then home for some more driving !
silverspeed said:
Jonathan you are a star . Saves me covering so many points of our Q cars . I’m not going to show my hand fully yet because my car isn’t going to be at the dealers for a few days but Q have kindly sent me some pictures to get me in the mood . To say I’m excited is an understatement . ![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mpGpSFaF.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/gFaFMReG" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gFaFMReG.jpg)
Apologies don’t know why they are the wrong way up ? Bloomin I phones 
callevascm said:
For what it is worth, when I raised the same issue on the lack of warning triangle, HR Owen produced one for me, I sourced similar Velcro tapes and viola! Thank you Adam, I am away from the car but happy to help if useful.
Thanks - funnily enough my dealer has already done the same in exactly the same way - he confirmed it the moment I raised it. I'm sure I should be more concerned about my car than Astons in general - I shouldn't get so hung up on principle, but I do !having said all that, it says how happy I am overall when that's one of the very few niggles
jonby said:
Funnily enough we all went for the alternative DIM (instrument surrounds) - something else the three cars have in common
Apart from the common Q features I've mentioned in the last couple of days, the main remaining areas I've not posted about yet that tie our cars together and that are arguably the most unique are the badging/foils inside & out - more about that soon
Spent yesterday doing nothing but driving after picking up the car first thing in the morning. As it should be ! Fab day - car is everything I hoped it would be
Didn't take any photos at all - was far too busy enjoying the car but here's a photo some friends sent me a little earlier - their daughter in the passenger seat who I took for a quick spin was a little photo shy as she wasn't long out of bed ...
Will get some proper photos up soon
Couple of minor niggles to sort but hopefully nothing that won't be easy to fix
Right, sun is out and off for some more driving - that's what the car is for !!!
I have to say, as someone who has spent an awful lot of time speccing Q cars over the past few years, you've done a terrific job of this Jon. It's easy to go too far and ruin the car. Lovely details and personal to the three of you, exactly how Q should be IMO. Hope you have an awesome time in it this summer. SApart from the common Q features I've mentioned in the last couple of days, the main remaining areas I've not posted about yet that tie our cars together and that are arguably the most unique are the badging/foils inside & out - more about that soon
Spent yesterday doing nothing but driving after picking up the car first thing in the morning. As it should be ! Fab day - car is everything I hoped it would be
Didn't take any photos at all - was far too busy enjoying the car but here's a photo some friends sent me a little earlier - their daughter in the passenger seat who I took for a quick spin was a little photo shy as she wasn't long out of bed ...
Will get some proper photos up soon
Couple of minor niggles to sort but hopefully nothing that won't be easy to fix
Right, sun is out and off for some more driving - that's what the car is for !!!
Praise indeed sir coming from the master ! I'm sure we'll all take it happily :-)
So bar a few goodies still to arrive which we will post about at an appropriate time, the last of the common themes is the interior 'badging'
We all kept the AMR logos stitched in the headrests - me with the standard colour match black stitch and the other two in contrast stitch (I think !)
We talked long and hard about sill plaques possibly incorporating something common to the three of us, but ultimately decided we didn't really want to lose the 1 of 100 AMR plaques. We talked about having plaques or embroidery in the glove boxes, centre consoles, on the centre consoles - we really talked through every possible idea. We were also talking about what text to put on there. We came up with a few phrases & slogans, made-up model names & so on - nothing quite worked.
The we finally came up with 'good things come to those who wait' - it seemed so appropriate to our long wait for the cars. We still didn't know how we were going to incorporate it, but then suggested to Q a foil inlay to the ashtray (utility) lid that incorporated Q branding, 'edition numbers' and the slogan. Q came back to us to say they couldn't fit it all on. They came up with a few ideas and then we countered with the idea of the top of the slogan going on the carbon gear knob surround - bear in mind that we have full CF centreplate as it's called, so the whole plate on which the gearstick surround is mounted, the utility lid, etc
By then one of us had roped in AP to the general discussion and between us & Q, we signed off on a scheme with Q by Aston Martin on the utility lid, the 'good things come to those who wait' around the bottom of the gear surround, AP's signature in the top right corner and edition numbers 1 of 3, 2 of etc in the top centre. All to be in silver foil inlay on the CF.
You can see a good chunk of this in one of the photos on the first page which in includes the Q logo. This pic I've just posted which was taken by dealer shows the AP signature but you can't see the edition number as it's hidden by the gearstick
We let Q randomly assign the numbers - I'm number 2
So as Simon says, all very personal, especially this last bit. A real joint effort - the 'we' I use above describing the decision making process is all very much joint input from the three of us
I've been ridiculously busy with work the last few weeks so not had as much chance to exchange emails with Graham & Ian (sorry guys !) but their cars are not very far behind. I'm not sure what I'll do with myself now it's all (almost) finished ! I've even sold the original wheels & rear blade so just the exhaust to go. I think I'll need a new, much much cheaper project to find
Full photos and details of my personal spec to follow....
EDIT: Just found a pic showing the whole of the central graphics including the numbering
So bar a few goodies still to arrive which we will post about at an appropriate time, the last of the common themes is the interior 'badging'
We all kept the AMR logos stitched in the headrests - me with the standard colour match black stitch and the other two in contrast stitch (I think !)
We talked long and hard about sill plaques possibly incorporating something common to the three of us, but ultimately decided we didn't really want to lose the 1 of 100 AMR plaques. We talked about having plaques or embroidery in the glove boxes, centre consoles, on the centre consoles - we really talked through every possible idea. We were also talking about what text to put on there. We came up with a few phrases & slogans, made-up model names & so on - nothing quite worked.
The we finally came up with 'good things come to those who wait' - it seemed so appropriate to our long wait for the cars. We still didn't know how we were going to incorporate it, but then suggested to Q a foil inlay to the ashtray (utility) lid that incorporated Q branding, 'edition numbers' and the slogan. Q came back to us to say they couldn't fit it all on. They came up with a few ideas and then we countered with the idea of the top of the slogan going on the carbon gear knob surround - bear in mind that we have full CF centreplate as it's called, so the whole plate on which the gearstick surround is mounted, the utility lid, etc
By then one of us had roped in AP to the general discussion and between us & Q, we signed off on a scheme with Q by Aston Martin on the utility lid, the 'good things come to those who wait' around the bottom of the gear surround, AP's signature in the top right corner and edition numbers 1 of 3, 2 of etc in the top centre. All to be in silver foil inlay on the CF.
You can see a good chunk of this in one of the photos on the first page which in includes the Q logo. This pic I've just posted which was taken by dealer shows the AP signature but you can't see the edition number as it's hidden by the gearstick
We let Q randomly assign the numbers - I'm number 2
So as Simon says, all very personal, especially this last bit. A real joint effort - the 'we' I use above describing the decision making process is all very much joint input from the three of us
I've been ridiculously busy with work the last few weeks so not had as much chance to exchange emails with Graham & Ian (sorry guys !) but their cars are not very far behind. I'm not sure what I'll do with myself now it's all (almost) finished ! I've even sold the original wheels & rear blade so just the exhaust to go. I think I'll need a new, much much cheaper project to find
Full photos and details of my personal spec to follow....
EDIT: Just found a pic showing the whole of the central graphics including the numbering
Edited by jonby on Monday 26th March 21:42
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