Why we love our Astons?

[Big Rat]

I guess for many of us the love for them starts as a child I know mine did, dad took me to see Goldfinger when it first came out and for me it wasn’t just the look of the car it was the noise oh the noise......and remember thinking one day one day......

Well the day came for me 3 weeks ago with my first Aston not a bond model I know but the looks the noise the poise, just such an event.

So despite in the process of renovating a 400 year old cottage in lockdown I quickly created a home for the Vantage and hired a car for the 300 one way journey from Bath to Newcastle and picked her up......despite the appalling weather all the way back it mattered not I’d fulfilled my dream.....

Edited by Big Rat on Wednesday 8th July 13:04

[Big Rat]

Only been out a couple of times in her but absolutely brilliant....

Edited by Big Rat on Wednesday 8th July 13:09

[anonymous-user]

When I was a kid, there was an element of Bond influence - but in equal measure, the rarity made the cars quite interesting, I remember being on holiday in Cornwall in 1993, and seeing a DB5 in a car park by the beach, having never seen an Aston Martin in the metal before. I would have been 8 years old at the time - it was and still is one of the fondest memories of my somewhat otherwise unpleasant childhood.

In 2017, I took the plunge - I'd always thought previously that Astons were just for the wealthy, classy individuals. I'm glad I did, I kick myself for not doing it sooner. I developed a good relationship with the dealer, and to my surprise, developed some contacts at the factory and at AM Works. Some owners have regular trips to the factory; I've only been there 3 times, but each visit has been incredibly special and meaningful for me.

These days, well the Vanquish recently sold, and I'm patiently waiting for collection day on my next car later in July. As you all know, I'm in the small (sometimes vocal) minority that appreciate the 2nd Century cars. I have a bad habit of wading in to threads where the increasingly pessimistic, dismissive tone around the current product lineup, frustrates me, and I can only apologise if I ever pissed off anybody in anything I've said.

So yes, I have a strong feeling towards Aston Martin, and I hope the news becomes somewhat more positive in the coming weeks and months (last quarter sales will be awful, but DBX is popping up in dealers now). I like the history, the elegance, the sense of occasion, but the understated presence is nice - I'd feel like a pillock driving in a brightly coloured Lambo I expect.

[GetCarter]

I loved the smell and the look. I didn't like the dreadful service / main dealer experience. I'll not buy another.

A shame.

[Manners79]

JulianPH said:

... I don't think anyone has been on their death bed and said "I wish I never bought that Aston Martin"!...

I think that sums it up perfectly. I promised myself a brand new Porsche by 30 which I achieved (with a month to spare) - a Boxtser 2.7 with literally no options so on the button price at £31,495!

But through that (and several other nice cars that followed it)...I increasingly noticed it was Vantages and DB9s that caught my eye. A neighbour had a DB9 which made me trip over every time I walked the dog past it as I just couldn't drag my eyes away.

Forward fast another decade, change of career, divorce and the usual other life events and I decided I had to have an Aston before 50. Managed that last summer with over a year to spare! Started by looking for an early 4.3 coupe, ended up with a 4.7 convertible! Has had some BR improvements...will it be a keeper?!?! Well, that depends on that V12 / DBS itch I can feel...

[pschlute]

GetCarter said:

I loved the smell and the look. I didn't like the dreadful service / main dealer experience. I'll not buy another.

A shame.

That is sad. I can only report the opposite. My only Aston gets serviced annually at HWM. They will ask you if you intend to do a similar mileage in the next twelve months and if so will ask you if you want borderline things like brake pads replaced.

[mabbott]

As a 14 year old in 1992 my parents neighbours had a Porsche 928 S4 that got traded in against an 80s V8 Vantage. I couldn’t understand why they’d gone from a year or so old, and for me Uber-cool, 928, to what must have been a 3 or 4 year old and distinctly less cool Vantage.....Until I heard it and finally saw it take off up the road one morning ....

Fast forward a few years, I was sponsored by Ford through university for my engineering degree, and managed to get the last rotation of my year out in summer 1999 at Bloxham helping do some final calibration on the then new DB7 Vantage. I flashed the first 100 or so production cars on a workbench rigged up with some bits and bobs from Maplin soldered to a butchered-up Ford EEC plug/harness. I also translated the early dealer training courses for the car into French. Sorry to any early French owners if the dealers messed anything up. Equally sorry if anyone had any ECU gremlins early on

Fast forward again 18 months I joined Lotus on graduation and one of my first jobs was seconded to the chassis team on what was becoming the Vanquish, then being stationed at Newport being part of the resident team getting ready for launch / production. This was the time Dr Bez was arriving, and also seeing the last of the Newport V cars being built with stuff that looked straight out of a blacksmiths yard... I still have a paperweight of the car thanking me for the contribution. A nice touch given i was very much one of, if not the most junior on the project.

Fast forward a third time to 2005 I was working at JLR on the then upcoming X150 XK/XKR and seconded out of what I was doing to go and help sort the launch of the V8 Vantage, specifically the engine launch and all sorts of early problems in Cologne. Again good memories if a little fraught at the time.

That was my last job in automotive, but I had fond memories of both the cars and working with the company but never for them; I bought my first 4.3 in 2008, another in 2010, then a V12V in 2015 which I’ll keep. I currently have half an eye on a DB11 as a family / touring car, the DBS is a bit too showy for me, but ultimately would love to get an original V8 Vantage I started this post with...

[Manners79]

mabbott said:

lots of interesting stuff

That's quite some CV!

[Calinours]

mabbott said:

As a 14 year old in 1992 my parents neighbours had a Porsche 928 S4 that got traded in against an 80s V8 Vantage. I couldn’t understand why they’d gone from a year or so old, and for me Uber-cool, 928, to what must have been a 3 or 4 year old and distinctly less cool Vantage.....Until I heard it and finally saw it take off up the road one morning ....

Fast forward a few years, I was sponsored by Ford through university for my engineering degree, and managed to get the last rotation of my year out in summer 1999 at Bloxham helping do some final calibration on the then new DB7 Vantage. I flashed the first 100 or so production cars on a workbench rigged up with some bits and bobs from Maplin soldered to a butchered-up Ford EEC plug/harness. I also translated the early dealer training courses for the car into French. Sorry to any early French owners if the dealers messed anything up. Equally sorry if anyone had any ECU gremlins early on

Fast forward again 18 months I joined Lotus on graduation and one of my first jobs was seconded to the chassis team on what was becoming the Vanquish, then being stationed at Newport being part of the resident team getting ready for launch / production. This was the time Dr Bez was arriving, and also seeing the last of the Newport V cars being built with stuff that looked straight out of a blacksmiths yard... I still have a paperweight of the car thanking me for the contribution. A nice touch given i was very much one of, if not the most junior on the project.

Fast forward a third time to 2005 I was working at JLR on the then upcoming X150 XK/XKR and seconded out of what I was doing to go and help sort the launch of the V8 Vantage, specifically the engine launch and all sorts of early problems in Cologne. Again good memories if a little fraught at the time.

That was my last job in automotive, but I had fond memories of both the cars and working with the company but never for them; I bought my first 4.3 in 2008, another in 2010, then a V12V in 2015 which I’ll keep. I currently have half an eye on a DB11 as a family / touring car, the DBS is a bit too showy for me, but ultimately would love to get an original V8 Vantage I started this post with...

Well Mabbott - It’s been a few years - did you ever get the 80’s Vantage or the DB11….?

For all the owners old and new, another chance to offer your own thoughts on the thread title. I learned with my first post that the subject of the irrational love some have for these very often flawed cars seems to come up every few years. Bond references optional….

[cayman-black]

pschlute said:

As a kid aged 11/12 I would watch "The Persuaders" with Roger Moore in a AM DBS V8 (actually a 6 in the series but badged as a V8), and Tony Curtis in a Dino. Then I would hop on my bike and cycle a mile down to HWM in Walton on Thames and stick my nose against the window and ogle the cars.

It was quite an emotional moment when 38 years later I finally sat in my own just purchased Aston Martin (DB9) and drove it away from the dealer.

The dealer was HWM, still located in the same spot in Walton on Thames that I used to visit as a kid.

IMGP0667 by Peter Schluter, on Flickr

I never missed the Persuaders at the time I was Ferrari mad but loved Roger Moore so the Aston became my second favourite car. After a few Ferraris I finally bought a V12V!

[Calinours]

kevin_cambs_uk said:

I hadn’t given AM any thought, knew of the brand and how cool it was, and that they were expensive.

I am a Ford chap, always have been, still don’t even own an Aston yet....

But I saw the V12 Vantage on top gear and was blown away with the look of the car, the bonnet vents, I would have given my kidneys for them!!!

Anyway thought that would never happen, and then I somehow found out you could 25% of your pension at 55...

So I started to look around the prices etc and they were not as astronomical as I thought, so told the wife and said when we become mortgage free we are then becoming Aston Martin owners!

So that was 2 years ago of no holidays, not going out or buying anything, we have just under 2 years to go and then the process of buying the ‘one’ will begin

Over the last 2 years I have done loads of research , bought the ‘book’, t shirts and started on the garage plan for when we get there

So it’s all preparation but it’s going to be worth it

Kevin - you fulfilled your dream as you said you would..

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Calinours said:

Kevin - you fulfilled your dream as you said you would..

Wow! I started reading this thread, but didn't see the date of it, then saw my reply, and yes, I made it, that was way back in July 2020, so it was only another 20 months from then little did I know!

Once the mortgage was cleared and I had just enough funds, I really thought I would take my time and wait for the 'right' colour etc, but after going to Beaulieu 2022, event as a non owner , I thought i couldn't care about the colour and got the one I have.

But what can I say, Aston Martin ownership has engulfed my life, from wearing the T shirts, to becoming an F1 fan, tea coasters, magazines, radio controlled cars!! it never ends, but my biggest shock, is that I am a very solitary person but being an owner has brought me out of my shell, and so I go these events and talk to other owners, and sit down for coffee or lunch, and yet prior I would never have dreamed of such things.

I sometimes forget as well, I open the garage door and see the car , and for that split second, its just wow.

It's not been a cheap 14 months of ownership, but the costs have now calmed down, but , wow, has it been just wonderful. Nothing will ever beat coming out onto the garage forecourt after filling up and seeing that car, that car waiting for me.

I said it before but say i will say it again, thanks again to all on this forum, for all the knowledge, advice and humour you all share. It's a great community.

Kev

[Simpo Two]

kevin_cambs_uk said:

I sometimes forget as well, I open the garage door and see the car , and for that split second, its just wow.

It's not been a cheap 14 months of ownership, but the costs have now calmed down, but , wow, has it been just wonderful. Nothing will ever beat coming out onto the garage forecourt after filling up and seeing that car, that car waiting for me.

I said it before but say i will say it again, thanks again to all on this forum, for all the knowledge, advice and humour you all share. It's a great community.

I second all that Kev has said. I reached my automotive 'summit of Everest' in October 2021 after many years of umming and ahhing. The experience that should have been so good was unfortunately tainted by a car with a hidden fault, greatly compounded by an utterly incompetent former dealer near Norwich. But over time I have discovered that for every asshole there is a trustworthy supplier. And so with great perseverance, Mr Martin and I have reached a settlement - I will look after him if he looks after me. The only issue now is a persistent warning on start-up that my brake lights need to be checked - but I can press the 'Read' button each time and it goes away.

It has taken me a long time to finally 'adopt' the Everest car I bought nearly two years ago. For some of that time it was close to being p/exed back to an X150. But now I can pass X150s and think 'I beat that'. Childish you may think, but such simple pleasures contribute to life. I wish that Mr Martin had some springs, but that is not his fault.

And so, after several months of trouble-free performance, I have rewarded him with a set of private plates. Same sort of process as stumping up for an engagement ring perhaps...

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 23 August 21:38

[Caslad]

My dear old Dad, who’d never had much interest in cars, summed it up when he saw my 2009 DBS for the first time. For the last 30 odd years I’ve always had something something sporty in the garage, more recently some older Ferraris.
‘The Ferraris looked like the sort of cars owned people who are on the way up,’ he remarked. ‘That looks like the car of someone who’s made it.’

I’m not suggesting I’ve ‘made it’ (if I had I wouldn’t have had to save up to buy a 10 year old used car) nor am I interested in image. Contemporaries from the Italians and even some 911s whilst probably more accomplished machines can come across to many as a bit shouty and ott for a road car whilst the VH era Astons are just effortlessly cool.

[Astontony]

My love for Astons started when I was about 8 years old. I had a scalextrics slot car set and for my birthday I was given a DB5 Aston Police car slot car for running around the track. Then of course I saw Gold Finger and loved the look of the DB5 in action. When I was 25 I was lucky enough to be able to buy a DB6mk1 from a farmer. It had only done 60k miles was in great order. I paid $13000 for it back then ( about a years salary) it was antique white in colour with blue leather.
I drove it back from the country and was rather disappointed with its performance. I had owned 105 series alfa spiders and GTv's so thought it was more a piece of art to me than a performance car. It was my daily driver, had plenty of room and boot space.
I took her for a service a few months after buying it and mentioned the low performance to the mechanic. He took me for a spin to diagnose what the issue was, found a nice long hill that was straight and away we went. Noise, smoke spinning wheels 100+mph. The problem was simple, the Tacho showed 5000 rpm when it was only doing 3000 rpm wow what a blast, what a difference, my smile was from ear to ear. I immediately had the Tacho repaired and enjoyed her for another 3 years and sold her for $23000. I wish I still had her.
Moving on from there I had Maseratis and Ferraris however the internal finishes were always weak ,tinny, sticky easily broken and in my opinion lacking in quality whereas whenever I saw an aston the quality was so much better.
Working up north in a country town I thought it best to sell my up market car as the locals may not like a Publican with a Ferrari. When we finally sold and came back I researched different cars and fell in love with the Aston Vanquish, its quality, looks and performance. I have had mine for 3 years now, loved every minute have done 40000kl in those 3 years and still don't see anything I would rather have or be tempted to buy.

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Simpo Two said:

I second all that Kev has said. I reached my automotive 'summit of Everest' in October 2021 after many years of umming and ahhing. The experience that should have been so good was unfortunately tainted by a car with a hidden fault, greatly compounded by an utterly incompetent former dealer near Norwich. But over time I have discovered that for every asshole there is a trustworthy supplier. And so with great perseverance, Mr Martin and I have reached a settlement - I will look after him if he looks after me. The only issue now is a persistent warning on start-up that my brake lights need to be checked - but I can press the 'Read' button each time and it goes away.

It has taken me a long time to finally 'adopt' the Everest car I bought nearly two years ago. For some of that time it was close to being p/exed back to an X150. But now I can pass X150s and think 'I beat that'. Childish you may think, but such simple pleasures contribute to life. I wish that Mr Martin had some springs, but that is not his fault.

And so, after several months of trouble-free performance, I have rewarded him with a set of private plates. Same sort of process as stumping up for an engagement ring perhaps...

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 23 August 21:38

Nicely put!

[Graze01]

this is a great thread. Like Kevin I forgot I'd posted at the beginning of it and really enjoyed re- reading everyone's "history". I'm still rapt every time I drive the V12V and have been lucky enough to add a newer Vantage , so at the moment I am using them week about as daily drivers which is a lot of fun. No loss of enthusiasm for the brand and, its a pipe dream but an X pack Vantage would complete the collection . Highly unlikely but it never hurts to aspire to something

regards all

Graze

[mabbott]

Calinours said:

Well Mabbott - It’s been a few years - did you ever get the 80’s Vantage or the DB11….?

Thread resurrection! No sadly on both counts.

DB11: I tried one and enjoyed it. Only deal breaker was a complete lack boot space. It was going to be a family car afterall. I know this isn’t meant to be important but given the overall size of the car and its GT / touring intent but there is no way we could accommodate a long weekend of stuff in it, let a longer trip.

80s V8 Vantage. I’ve detailed this in another thread: I had 4 or so supposedly top end cars inspected. Each one ‘absolutely perfect sir, on the button, etc etc’, all needed plenty of work. None of this is surprising as they are classic cars and some have more stories than others, but the levels of seller BS was off scale. The most cost effective option was going to be an RSW rebuild that I was (and remain) up for, but I had a moment of sobriety and decided I shouldn’t be so self-indulgent for one car. It was an interesting exercise: I met some really insightful people who could not have given me more help (Roo on here, RSW, Rikki Cann to name but a few), and also sadly a longer list of the opposite.

So my fun aside was restoring an old Jag XKR I inherited (‘XKR to Tokyo’ in the Jag thread) which is currently satisfying the GT requirements for a couple of years whilst I ponder what will come after. I know it is no comparison to a DB11, but for what it is, goes very well, has a big boot, and perhaps for 2 more years still usable interior space until the little ones’ legs’ grow. V12V remains a keeper too.

[Calinours]

mabbott said:

Calinours said:

Well Mabbott - It’s been a few years - did you ever get the 80’s Vantage or the DB11….?

Thread resurrection! No sadly on both counts.

DB11: I tried one and enjoyed it. Only deal breaker was a complete lack boot space. It was going to be a family car afterall. I know this isn’t meant to be important but given the overall size of the car and its GT / touring intent but there is no way we could accommodate a long weekend of stuff in it, let a longer trip.

80s V8 Vantage. I’ve detailed this in another thread: I had 4 or so supposedly top end cars inspected. Each one ‘absolutely perfect sir, on the button, etc etc’, all needed plenty of work. None of this is surprising as they are classic cars and some have more stories than others, but the levels of seller BS was off scale. The most cost effective option was going to be an RSW rebuild that I was (and remain) up for, but I had a moment of sobriety and decided I shouldn’t be so self-indulgent for one car. It was an interesting exercise: I met some really insightful people who could not have given me more help (Roo on here, RSW, Rikki Cann to name but a few), and also sadly a longer list of the opposite.

So my fun aside was restoring an old Jag XKR I inherited (‘XKR to Tokyo’ in the Jag thread) which is currently satisfying the GT requirements for a couple of years whilst I ponder what will come after. I know it is no comparison to a DB11, but for what it is, goes very well, has a big boot, and perhaps for 2 more years still usable interior space until the little ones’ legs’ grow. V12V remains a keeper too.

ah, shame about the 80s car. I know what you mean, they can be proper money pits. Most ‘specialists’ just see you as a walking ATM and don’t even want to engage unless they get confident they can charge a high 4 figure sum as a minimum. “change the oil sir? sure, that’ll be £2500”

My own cars evolution to ‘full Vantage’ spec has stalled at the last and most expensive bit, the engine, but I did get a manual ‘box fitted, fitted the 16” Ronals and did the cosmetics. When I can drive it again I will just get the Adwest power steering rack reconditioned by PPS in Preston (£380 direct, £2500 via a ‘specialist’ to remove from car, send it to PPS for you and refit). The engine can wait until the inevitable liner seal failure then when rebuilt it will probably become fuel injected, like the OE ZF box, you just can’t get hold of the 48IDF carbs anymore, and in any case they all belch so much unburned HC out the back it is getting a bit embarrassing in this day and age. I reckon with fuel injection and maybe some catalysts to further avoid gassing those behind, and otherwise straight through pipes it would sound absolutely awesome….(and maybe not smell so bad)

Cue John Honeyballs old video of the best ever car engine sound….

https://youtu.be/it6Hny77PPM?si=JVQjRBvEXlauI2fQ

Edited by Calinours on Friday 25th August 15:17

[Simpo Two]

mabbott said:

I flashed the first 100 or so production cars on a workbench rigged up with some bits and bobs from Maplin soldered to a butchered-up Ford EEC plug/harness.

Was that the first of the bd ECUs that ended up in the DB9? How I loved activating the misfire correction mode by trying to do five 70-20mph rundowns on the A12 without touching any controls...