DR BEZ - LETTER
Discussion
Jon39 said:
I have just received a letter, bearing a lovely Aston Martin DB5 postage stamp.
A thank you letter from Dr. Bez.
We will certainly remember the Centenary year. I thought the various activities and events were really well done, and offered an opportunity for most of us to be involved.
+1 A thank you letter from Dr. Bez.
We will certainly remember the Centenary year. I thought the various activities and events were really well done, and offered an opportunity for most of us to be involved.
Kensington was fantastic. The letter, reads well don't you think,,,,,,how neat is that stamp. 
I just had the letter. Bit of a disappointment really, I thought it was going to offer me something (I tried to get on a centenary factory tour but it was fully booked, which I guess is why I'm on the mailing list). I'll hang onto it, although not sure why, not exactly going to be worth much.
I think that the year was good for Aston but they still let down their customers very badly.
The difference between the shiny showroom / factory tour and events experience and the service to owners is wider than the grand canyon.
I enjoyed getting the glossy mags but in reality my experience of the brand is such I cannot see me buying another.
The difference between the shiny showroom / factory tour and events experience and the service to owners is wider than the grand canyon.
I enjoyed getting the glossy mags but in reality my experience of the brand is such I cannot see me buying another.
cardigankid said:
Say what you like about Dr Bez, the cars produced under his direction will rank among the finest Aston's of all time. I don't know where the hate comes from.
I agree with you dieter.Although I know little about Porsche 911s, I recently watched the Jay Leno film about the Aston Martin CC100. Mr. Leno was praising Dr. Bez's achievements at BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin, as "a real car guy". It was mentioned that when employed at Porsche, he was tasked with a complete redesign of the 911. Instead Dr. Bez wanted an evolution, and the result was the last air cooled version, which I think has become a collectors car.
( I started this topic, so please go off-topic if you want to. )
Jon39 said:
I agree with you dieter.
Although I know little about Porsche 911s, I recently watched the Jay Leno film about the Aston Martin CC100. Mr. Leno was praising Dr. Bez's achievements at BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin, as "a real car guy". It was mentioned that when employed at Porsche, he was tasked with a complete redesign of the 911. Instead Dr. Bez wanted an evolution, and the result was the last air cooled version, which I think has become a collectors car.
( I started this topic, so please go off-topic if you want to. )
You know what, I'm a Dr. Bez fan too. I love my Bez era Aston Martin DB9.2. I also very much enjoy dark chocolates with marzipan and walnuts,,,,so almost a Topic. Although I know little about Porsche 911s, I recently watched the Jay Leno film about the Aston Martin CC100. Mr. Leno was praising Dr. Bez's achievements at BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin, as "a real car guy". It was mentioned that when employed at Porsche, he was tasked with a complete redesign of the 911. Instead Dr. Bez wanted an evolution, and the result was the last air cooled version, which I think has become a collectors car.
( I started this topic, so please go off-topic if you want to. )
Edited by Y100 on Thursday 21st November 13:08
cardigankid said:
Say what you like about Dr Bez, the cars produced under his direction will rank among the finest Aston's of all time. I don't know where the hate comes from.
Won't argue with the first few years, but he has led AM off in some strange a costly directions in the past few years. I know that AM are cash constrained but still doesn't explain:-Having a DB9, Virage and a DBS in the lineup at the same time.
The Cyg..... nope can't even type it - a huge costly vanity project from Dr Bez.
The Zagato - err what its got no more power than the standard car, and you want how much for a fancy designer dress?
Launching the Vanquish without the latest 8 speed box like all other manufacturers, even the latest Range Rover has a better box..
The CCM - yeah I'm one of the few to think its horrible - but how much did it cost.
No SUV, even though they had one a few years ago, when the market wasn't so crowded. That was a mistake as well, why make it deliberately ugly so everyone laughed - hence killing the potential cash cow.
Jon39 said:
Although I know little about Porsche 911s, I recently watched the Jay Leno film about the Aston Martin CC100. Mr. Leno was praising Dr. Bez's achievements at BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin, as "a real car guy". It was mentioned that when employed at Porsche, he was tasked with a complete redesign of the 911. Instead Dr. Bez wanted an evolution, and the result was the last air cooled version, which I think has become a collectors car.
I was thinking about this yesterdayThe Dr has form for "evolving" cars in the collectable - BMW Z1, Porsche 993's, Vantage Zagota
Not convinced any of those did the business any good though
Yeah, it certainly seems like Dr. Bez turned the company around, without losing its identity. It could so easily have gone bust, or turned into a heavily platform shared brand of a big manufacturer.
He made some mistakes, but hey, we all do that. I don't think I'm a fan, but I'd certainly buy the man a beer.
He made some mistakes, but hey, we all do that. I don't think I'm a fan, but I'd certainly buy the man a beer.
PiloteAM said:
Yeah, it certainly seems like Dr. Bez turned the company around, without losing its identity. It could so easily have gone bust, or turned into a heavily platform shared brand of a big manufacturer.
No - Ford did that by giving Aston the Jag platform for the DB7 whilst investing in VH platform and building engines for them. Not ot mention the Volvo airbag & comms systems and the access to Ford design, maufacturing and quality control systems.Bugger all to do with Bez
F1 NDW said:
Well he certainly built two Astons I love. I've got one but I dont think I'll ever be able to afford a One-77. David Brown built the rest on my list!
The Vanquish was already designed and ready to go by the time Bez joined the company. but you are right about the One-77 he was responsible for the rubbish gearbox in itNeil1300R said:
Won't argue with the first few years, but he has led AM off in some strange a costly directions in the past few years. I know that AM are cash constrained but still doesn't explain:-
Having a DB9, Virage and a DBS in the lineup at the same time.
The Cyg..... nope can't even type it - a huge costly vanity project from Dr Bez.
The Zagato - err what its got no more power than the standard car, and you want how much for a fancy designer dress?
Launching the Vanquish without the latest 8 speed box like all other manufacturers, even the latest Range Rover has a better box..
The CCM - yeah I'm one of the few to think its horrible - but how much did it cost.
No SUV, even though they had one a few years ago, when the market wasn't so crowded. That was a mistake as well, why make it deliberately ugly so everyone laughed - hence killing the potential cash cow.
The Zagato I suspect was profitable and there's history there so no issues with that for me. Having a DB9, Virage and a DBS in the lineup at the same time.
The Cyg..... nope can't even type it - a huge costly vanity project from Dr Bez.
The Zagato - err what its got no more power than the standard car, and you want how much for a fancy designer dress?
Launching the Vanquish without the latest 8 speed box like all other manufacturers, even the latest Range Rover has a better box..
The CCM - yeah I'm one of the few to think its horrible - but how much did it cost.
No SUV, even though they had one a few years ago, when the market wasn't so crowded. That was a mistake as well, why make it deliberately ugly so everyone laughed - hence killing the potential cash cow.
The rest I agree with, and also with mikeyk on the real weight behind the current models.
Add in the drivetrain situation and over saturation of the design formula and lengthy model cycle (compare with 911s all you like, but the 911 is widely and often regarded as best in its class so there's a big difference there) and I'm not convinced about the record on display...
This is a bit like commenting on the english football manager. there will always be those who like to carp. Or point to things they would have done differently. But actually you have to remember that he's been operating with very limited resources and, of course, nobody can please everyone all of the time.
I too dont agree with everything Bez has done. And equally i dont agree with everything he's said. But just take a step back and look - Aston martin is still going! This must be one of the longest periods of time in its history that it hasn't gone bust AND that against a background where we've seen the biggest global slowdown since the 1930s.
That is surely some achievement and I too would also happily buy him a beer
I too dont agree with everything Bez has done. And equally i dont agree with everything he's said. But just take a step back and look - Aston martin is still going! This must be one of the longest periods of time in its history that it hasn't gone bust AND that against a background where we've seen the biggest global slowdown since the 1930s.
That is surely some achievement and I too would also happily buy him a beer
downr said:
I too don't agree with everything Bez has done. And equally i dont agree with everything he's said. But just take a step back and look - Aston martin is still going! This must be one of the longest periods of time in its history that it hasn't gone bust AND that against a background where we've seen the biggest global slowdown since the 1930s.
That is surely some achievement and I too would also happily buy him a beer
1913 to 1920That is surely some achievement and I too would also happily buy him a beer
1920 to 1925
1925 to 1932
1932 to 1947
1947 to 1972
1972 to 1975 (20 cars built in 1975)
1975 to 1981
1981 to 1986
1987 Bought by Ford. (46 cars built in 1992)
July 2000 Dr. Bez joined the company.
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