Why are AM's core products not selling?
Discussion
It was understood that AP issued an order, for each of the three new core models, to be easily distinguished from one another.
That followed long-running criticism about the VH era DB9, Vantage and DBS, not being easily identifiable at first glance.
Subsequent events (sales) now appear to indicate, that apart from the comments, buyers were probably not concerned about the family resemblance.
Many car manufacturers clearly favour having a (front) family similarity. Audi and Mercedes-Benz in particular.
From the front, an M-B A-class, B-clsss, C-class etc. all look almost the same, but that has not upset buyers.
Interesting how, what appeared to be a sensible decision at the time, eventually contributed to a major design mistake.
Sales of the two big brothers combined, have recently been double the (supposed) volume base model.
AM's core products are not selling because they are ugly.
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would have a hard time choosing a trophy car if it had to be a new one.
Aston - DB11 in grey-ish grey, maybe
Bentley - their cars look like Mr Burns's's three-eyed fish
Ferrari - ok, Roma
Lambo - no way
Jaguar - are you kidding?
MB - the SL of old would have been a go-to option, but just look at them
Porsche - too common
Rolls Royce, Wraith, in navy blue, not two-tone
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would have a hard time choosing a trophy car if it had to be a new one.
Aston - DB11 in grey-ish grey, maybe
Bentley - their cars look like Mr Burns's's three-eyed fish
Ferrari - ok, Roma
Lambo - no way
Jaguar - are you kidding?
MB - the SL of old would have been a go-to option, but just look at them
Porsche - too common
Rolls Royce, Wraith, in navy blue, not two-tone
8Speed said:
AlexT said:
If Aston Martin are smart they would put a similar front-end on the new Vantage (especially the bonnet - imho looks excellent).
Grille's too big & wide.Lots seem to be doing it (e.g. BMW).
To my eyes it lacks any subtlety or sophistication for which AM were known.
Aston need to scrap the small lights, and the new rear. Instead they need to go back to the old model as the starting point, and move that design forward.
Sounds like they just need to scrap the whole design of the new Vantage and start again!
Seriously though, all AM need to do is reformulate the front end.
I visited my dealer within days of them getting the new Vantage in stock with the aim to purchase within 6-12 months. My immediate impression I recall was that the bonnet was a vast, boring bit of metal. It needed breaking up. It also lacked the powerful 'V' shaped lines that the previous Vantage and Vanquish (that were incidentally parked next to it) shared. The lack thereof plus the bonnet gap dividing the front bumper made it look inferior and less exotic. The best thing AM can do with the current Vantage design is to allow it to share a bonnet design in keeping with the DB11/DBSS.
The lights were fine in real life (I had my doubts viewing pictures) and even the gaping mouth actually looked good. However cheap mesh lacked class and I didn't think fitting for this price range at all.
Interior-wise...quite simply....they need to take a leaf out of Bentley for both the new Vantage and DB11. IE: add more quality touches and integrate the screen. Also bring back the crystal key or similar. Would love to have a chat with the designers and see what their motivations/opinions/budgets etc were in creating the new Vantage!
The rear, in my opinion is distinctive and quite attractive.
Seriously though, all AM need to do is reformulate the front end.
I visited my dealer within days of them getting the new Vantage in stock with the aim to purchase within 6-12 months. My immediate impression I recall was that the bonnet was a vast, boring bit of metal. It needed breaking up. It also lacked the powerful 'V' shaped lines that the previous Vantage and Vanquish (that were incidentally parked next to it) shared. The lack thereof plus the bonnet gap dividing the front bumper made it look inferior and less exotic. The best thing AM can do with the current Vantage design is to allow it to share a bonnet design in keeping with the DB11/DBSS.
The lights were fine in real life (I had my doubts viewing pictures) and even the gaping mouth actually looked good. However cheap mesh lacked class and I didn't think fitting for this price range at all.
Interior-wise...quite simply....they need to take a leaf out of Bentley for both the new Vantage and DB11. IE: add more quality touches and integrate the screen. Also bring back the crystal key or similar. Would love to have a chat with the designers and see what their motivations/opinions/budgets etc were in creating the new Vantage!
The rear, in my opinion is distinctive and quite attractive.
Jon39 said:
It was understood that AP issued an order, for each of the three new core models, to be easily distinguished from one another.
That followed long-running criticism about the VH era DB9, Vantage and DBS, not being easily identifiable at first glance.
Subsequent events (sales) now appear to indicate, that apart from the comments, buyers were probably not concerned about the family resemblance.
Many car manufacturers clearly favour having a (front) family similarity. Audi and Mercedes-Benz in particular.
From the front, an M-B A-class, B-clsss, C-class etc. all look almost the same, but that has not upset buyers.
Interesting how, what appeared to be a sensible decision at the time, eventually contributed to a major design mistake.
Sales of the two big brothers combined, have recently been double the (supposed) volume base model.
RMDB9 said:
AM's core products are not selling because they are ugly.
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would have a hard time choosing a trophy car if it had to be a new one.
Aston - DB11 in grey-ish grey, maybe
Bentley - their cars look like Mr Burns's's three-eyed fish
Ferrari - ok, Roma
Lambo - no way
Jaguar - are you kidding?
MB - the SL of old would have been a go-to option, but just look at them
Porsche - too common
Rolls Royce, Wraith, in navy blue, not two-tone
As are 99% of cars made over recent years.If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would have a hard time choosing a trophy car if it had to be a new one.
Aston - DB11 in grey-ish grey, maybe
Bentley - their cars look like Mr Burns's's three-eyed fish
Ferrari - ok, Roma
Lambo - no way
Jaguar - are you kidding?
MB - the SL of old would have been a go-to option, but just look at them
Porsche - too common
Rolls Royce, Wraith, in navy blue, not two-tone
As a car fan someone asked me recently what car I would buy, money no object, and I was stumped. There was no new car that jumped to mind. What happened to style and elegance. Not 'presence' or aggressiveness.
I bought a DB9gt new a few years ago but would not buy any of the products Aston released. Why?
1. Quality of materials: gone are the glass buttons and metal grilles, welcome to plastic.
2. Interior: personal taste, but the tablet is a killer. It looks cheap compared to the electrically retractable screen I have.
3. Engine: the db11 comes in 2 flavors, the cheap v8 and the v12. No cheap flavor for the db9: v12 only. Also, naturally aspirated, also not downsized, also not a Mercedes engine....
4. Look: personal taste, but I don’t like it, for instance the turbo design of the front fenders.
5. Innovation: the level of innovation in the DB9 was amazing, for instance the fuel injection was controlled by an artificial neural network, almost 20 years before everyone started talking about artificial intelligence in cars...
6. Did I mention quality, engine and look?
Just choose the best looking engine bay (hint: in the db9 what looks metal is in metal, in the db11 it’s likely to be plastic, hint 2: look at the welding work on the strut bar...)
1. Quality of materials: gone are the glass buttons and metal grilles, welcome to plastic.
2. Interior: personal taste, but the tablet is a killer. It looks cheap compared to the electrically retractable screen I have.
3. Engine: the db11 comes in 2 flavors, the cheap v8 and the v12. No cheap flavor for the db9: v12 only. Also, naturally aspirated, also not downsized, also not a Mercedes engine....
4. Look: personal taste, but I don’t like it, for instance the turbo design of the front fenders.
5. Innovation: the level of innovation in the DB9 was amazing, for instance the fuel injection was controlled by an artificial neural network, almost 20 years before everyone started talking about artificial intelligence in cars...
6. Did I mention quality, engine and look?
Just choose the best looking engine bay (hint: in the db9 what looks metal is in metal, in the db11 it’s likely to be plastic, hint 2: look at the welding work on the strut bar...)
Edited by SpookyTheFirst on Sunday 9th August 13:04
Edited by SpookyTheFirst on Sunday 9th August 13:12
Edited by SpookyTheFirst on Sunday 9th August 13:14
What’s that ancient joke about “ how many folk singers does it take to change a light bulb?”
...... four, one to change it and 3 to sing about how good the old one was!
DB9 is dead and gone.... and IMHO the 11 & the DBSS are far better looking from every angle ( and I’m including under the bonnet) than the previous 9& it’s identical twin the DBS which have a faye back end and indifferent reliability. I remember 9’s being delivered to dealers !!!
So all the folk singers on here will never get over the death of the past, but that’s their loss....
...... four, one to change it and 3 to sing about how good the old one was!
DB9 is dead and gone.... and IMHO the 11 & the DBSS are far better looking from every angle ( and I’m including under the bonnet) than the previous 9& it’s identical twin the DBS which have a faye back end and indifferent reliability. I remember 9’s being delivered to dealers !!!
So all the folk singers on here will never get over the death of the past, but that’s their loss....
DBSSV20 said:
DB9 is dead and gone.... and IMHO the 11 & the DBSS are far better looking from every angle ( and I’m including under the bonnet) than the previous 9 & it’s identical twin the DBS, which have a faye back end and indifferent reliability. ....
I have not looked at the sales figures for Vanquish and DBSS, so don't know how they compare.
For Vantage / Vantage and DB9 / DB11, the successors sales are a fraction of their predecessors and that is not total, but quarter by quarter.
Given that the 'DB11 and DBSS are far better looking from every angle' than their predecessors, then the mystery is, what has held back the sales of the latest core models?
Well for starters easy money sloshing around 04-08!
MBNA 0% credit cards .. put the pcp deposit on that and off you went!
No Brexit no covid , but sales are the barometer of a fantastic car alone.......
How many 360s & 430’s did Ferrari sell in the same period.... loads! And I personally wasn’t taken by both of those offerings either.
MBNA 0% credit cards .. put the pcp deposit on that and off you went!
No Brexit no covid , but sales are the barometer of a fantastic car alone.......
How many 360s & 430’s did Ferrari sell in the same period.... loads! And I personally wasn’t taken by both of those offerings either.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff