Andy Palmer - gone

[nervax]

The road tax thing is indeed peculiar. More and more electric and hybrid vehicles are registered yet the total emissions are increasing, primarily due to our predilection for heavy SUVs. Taxation by weight might work. However when you're wealthy the road tax and fuel costs are irrelevant. If they were serious about it they would just ban vehicles over a certain weight and engine capacity or emissions level. But then no more AM sportscars or SUVs so we should perhaps be thankful they don't really give a toss.

[RichB]

LTP said:

RichB said:

If you don't like pale interiors why not just come out and say it!

... Volvo have an entire masters thesis on the topic of veiling glare - so it’s not just me.

Yes, fully aware of that. Still thought your question was funny.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

AMVSVNick said:

Aldhun said:

That isn't as good as the interior of my 2016 DB9 GT

Or my VSV

You know it. The interiors of all of the Bez gen are better than the Palmer gen, hands down. The best of them all is the 1-77; looks more modern than anything out there yet is still simple in design.

[Beckson]

I'd be surprised if the eventual facelifted Vantage/Dbs/db11 don't get a DBX style interior makeover. I think DBX nailed it. Love the flowing lines of the one-77 though. It's in a way similar to the Roma. In fairness though, it would be tough to integrate a big screen into the previous gen Vanq or one-77 interior.

[morty1961]

I like the Vantage dash from circa 2008 -2016 ...I like switches and knobs (ooo err mrs) rather than touch buttons and hideous large touchscreens

[LooneyTunes]

LTP said:

RichB said:

If you don't like pale interiors why not just come out and say it!

Very droll. As it happens I do like pale interiors; the old SZ Rolls colour combination of cream leather with blue piping in a blue car always looked spectacular.

It was a serious question as, doing a little research on the subject, I came across an old PH thread where the wearing of polarised sunglasses allegedly eliminated veiling glare. I drive in non-polarised lenses so I was genuinely interested, especially as Volvo have an entire masters thesis on the topic of veiling glare - so it’s not just me.

Polarised lenses do make a big difference but obviously only whilst you’re wearing them. One of my cars has a light dash top and it’s at its most frustrating when there’s enough light around to generate reflections but not enough to warrant sunglasses. I won’t ever buy another with light dash top, but do understand why some people (presumably people who don’t wear jeans!) want the lightest interiors they can.

[AMVSVNick]

LTP said:

Do you drive in polarised sunglasses, by any chance?

Hi Paul,

I do not, just bog standard Police ones that I suspect came from Gatwick Airport.

Nick

[dbs2000]

morty1961 said:

I like the Vantage dash from circa 2008 -2016 ...I like switches and knobs (ooo err mrs) rather than touch buttons and hideous large touchscreens

In the past I'd normally agree with this but having a Model 3 I've got a different slant now.
The issue for me is actually touch screen and all the knobs. On the Tesla, it just works, the simplicity is there, one screen, 2 buttons on the steering wheel, done. On these hybrid systems you have 40+ buttons and then all the same options again on the touch screen, its a users nightmare. The pre-Palmer interiors are miles ahead of the new ones even if the "tech" is not.

[dbs2000]

nickv8 said:

Erm... not sure I’m with you on that:
https://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles...

It looks great to me, although having had a 350z I can hear the scratchy plastic and it makes my arm hair stand on end.

[cayman-black]

AMVSVNick said:

Or my VSV

That's lovely.

[scampbird]

dbs2000 said:

It looks great to me, although having had a 350z I can hear the scratchy plastic and it makes my arm hair stand on end.

If folks on here are suggesting that looks better than the current Vantage/DB11/DBS offerings then you need to put down your crack pipes.

[Emilio Largo]

Quite remarkable for someone who´s "gone":

[raceboy]

I’d like to know just how many parts from a road car are left on a GTE Pro car

[EVR]

Emilio Largo said:

Quite remarkable for someone who´s "gone":

Class act.

[Jon39]

raceboy said:

I’d like to know just how many parts from a road car are left on a GTE Pro car

If the new Vantage GTE is still constructed in a similar way to the original GTE, then the answer is quite a lot, including the entire chassis frame which is built in the normal way at Gaydon.

Here is a great video showing the race car build. See if you can spot the wonderful line, "We've got some spikes coming out".

This video was filmed in Prodrive's original factory. Users of the M40 will have seen Prodrive have since moved from where M&S is now located, to a new bigger factory.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=srUqoPkn8yU&t=32...

[dbs2000]

raceboy said:

I’d like to know just how many parts from a road car are left on a GTE Pro car

The engine - I was expecting snarky AMG engine comments on here too. Its quite refreshing people aren't being cynical about the car.

[AstonZagato]

EVR said:

Emilio Largo said:

Quite remarkable for someone who´s "gone":

Class act.

Agreed.

[Jon39]

AstonZagato said:

EVR said:

Emilio Largo said:

Quite remarkable for someone who´s "gone":

Class act.

Agreed.

Did he mention David Richards?
I don't think DPR 'shouts' on Twitter, but instead modestly now has a Union Jack flag displayed outside his factory.
If you drive past, give a toot. Two class wins and the WEC Manufactures title.

Who has contributed most to 16 continuous years of Aston Martin racing, ACP or DPR ?

[LTP]

raceboy said:

I’d like to know just how many parts from a road car are left on a GTE Pro car

A good question. They all have sequential gearboxes, so I'm sure there are other modifications within the regs to make the cars more competitive. What I can say is the Porsche powertrain is completely unique in that the flat 6 is 4.2 litres and mid-engined, unlike any road 911 you can buy at your dealer. In that regards the GTE Vantage is far closer to the road cars

[LTP]

dbs2000 said:

I was expecting snarky AMG engine comments on here too.

After all the snarky "..it's built in a Ford plant and is just two Duratec V6's welded together..." it's getting a bit old.