I've just driven a Vanquish.2 for the first time
Discussion
I have to confess that I've not had the opportunity to drive many Aston Martins. Two or three years ago I tried a 2010 DB9 and a 2011 Virage, and that led me, indirectly, to buying my 2007 DB9. But they were different animals, so when I got the chance to drive a 2013 Vanquish I wondered how much improvement it would be from my first Aston - a 2003 Vanquish.
Well, worlds apart as I expected. Ten years is a long time in car development. Here's a few things about the newer Skyfall Silver Vanquish that I experienced, and my thoughts.
Steering wheel: It looks impressive and race-like, but I found it hard to get used to. One of the routes I took had a lot of sharp 90 degree corners, and the square end of the wheel was always in my view on turn. It wasn't disruptive, but I noticed it. The other downside was turning the wheel. I grip and stay at quarter to three, always have, but sometimes I needed to go hand over hand to turn into a park, the wheel shape just didn't want to go smoothly in the hand. Still, maybe a day of driving instead of an hour might change that.
Gearbox: I loved it. Sharp, in control, speedy changes. After an initial few minutes driving in D while I got used to the surrounds, I went back to my preferred style of using this ZF gearbox with the paddles. It felt more connected to the engine than my DB9 which has a slight far-off feel as though you're changing an automatic manually (which you are). But the Vanquish was different... positive, and I immediately felt in control.
Ride: More comfortable than I expected, but a little taut in Normal sometimes. I couldn't guess what surface would affect the ride, but it was generally pliant and smooth. A bit harder in Sport and Track, but always manageable, never teeth jarring. None of the thuds I used to get in my old Vanquish when hitting a pothole or bump.
Dashboard: Not that intuitive, but nicely laid out. If I spent time checking it out instead of driving I might have been able to use the GPS and figure out the heating/cooling. Love the haptic touch.
Brakes: Wow. What stopping power! Noisy at slow speeds though, I hadn't expected that from the carbon ceramics.
Acceleration: There was only one part of the trip I could legally put my foot down, and it went like a rocket, feeling more planted at these speeds than my DB9. Big feeling of being in control, that came through in every part of the drive.
Noise: The best part. Quiet and burbly when around town and in moderate rpm. But press it even slightly and the noise from the back was exhilarating. It's like a Fuse 22 to the power of 10. Lovely, lovely sound, would buy it based on just that.
Looks: Sleek, low, exotic. Any further comment would just spoil the effect. Easily one of the most gorgeous models in the lineup.
Overall: None of the slightly negative impressions above would have any bearing on me buying one. It's a car I'd love to put in my garage and in a short time I would get used to the quirks. I'm always super sensitive in a new-to-me car so I'm probably not the best test driver. The thought that first came to me was that driving this Vanquish was like putting on a familiar glove... everything fitted and was similar to other Astons so I felt completely at home. But the difference of the extra 100+hp and a few years of improvements made it highly desirable.
I was disappointed I didn't have time for a motorway spin, but I already knew it would be a perfect grand tourer with as much oomph as you ever needed. Maybe next week - if it's still available from the dealer - I'll try that.
Still, a 10/10 for me overall.
The more I look at that interior the more I see horrible jarring angles, no flow from instrument binnacle to dash to ski slope to dash to door cards. And then the odd button just thrown in like they forgot they needed a function and couldn't be arsed to integrate it properly (that black circular one at the top right of the silver instrument pod for example).
It looks like 10 people were involved in the design of it - bit like that game you used to play as a kid where three of you draw a person. Only in that game the legs/body/head at least join up properly whereas they don't in this
2 people were given door cards, 2 the ski slope, 2 the instrument pod, 2 the dash and 2 more got to do the bits everyone else forgot about after it was all finished.
The outside is nice enough...except for that carbon chin carbuncle that only looks half right on dark coloured cars. And the truck sized wing mirrors they insist on persisting with. It's also a bit heavy on the sides.
I admire that they've tried to move on from the old VH driven shapes. They needed to. But they need to get the pencils out again and do a better facelift inside and out in that car IMO. Marek's earlier designs had a lot more finesse IMO. This looks like he lost his pencil sharpener when he started.
It looks like 10 people were involved in the design of it - bit like that game you used to play as a kid where three of you draw a person. Only in that game the legs/body/head at least join up properly whereas they don't in this
2 people were given door cards, 2 the ski slope, 2 the instrument pod, 2 the dash and 2 more got to do the bits everyone else forgot about after it was all finished.The outside is nice enough...except for that carbon chin carbuncle that only looks half right on dark coloured cars. And the truck sized wing mirrors they insist on persisting with. It's also a bit heavy on the sides.
I admire that they've tried to move on from the old VH driven shapes. They needed to. But they need to get the pencils out again and do a better facelift inside and out in that car IMO. Marek's earlier designs had a lot more finesse IMO. This looks like he lost his pencil sharpener when he started.
Mr.Tremlini said:
Nice write up. Shame that the poor Vanquish is legally only allowed to go 100km/h in Aotearoa, which I'm sure you stuck to... ;-)
I believe it's only a guideline and I use it as such (cleverly avoiding any incrimination in my reply) I liked the GPS speed camera notification in the Vanquish, it accurately told me the location as I approached it.
It's annoying that this sort of simple warning has been available for years elsewhere before it gets to us here down at the bottom of the world. However in many other walks of life we have an advantage... for example, we don't have a luxury car tax like the Australians which adds another 33% on to the cost of cars above AUD$63,184.
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