I got spotted and wondered what to do
Discussion
I arrived in my DB9 at the dealership on my way to test driving a 2013 Vanquish. As I parked it an enthusiastic young teen came up and asked some intelligent questions. I let him sit in the driver's seat and answered his queries, he took some photos and went away.
Then as I was returning from the test drive with the Vanquish an hour later, he popped up from along the side of the city street where I was waiting in a long queue for the lights to change, and started taking photos.
Now, when I've seen Astons being spotted in Monaco, the drivers sit patiently even after the lights change so that hordes of eager (mostly young guys) photographers can snap away. Some owners will gun the engine and the crowd goes wild, running down the street after the car.
As I sat there in my first spotting experience I thought about doing all those things. But I suspect even in a newish Vanquish there wouldn't be many drivers behind patiently waiting while I gave a stationary loud pedal performance, nor did I want to risk giving elderly women pedestrians heart attacks with the exhaust noise.
So I lifted a finger off the wheel in a cool Bond-like acknowledgement
and moved lamely off with the traffic.
I suppose we have accept we're the centre of attention in our brand, but heck, there's some things we're just not trained for
Wonder how everyone else reacts being spotted?
Then as I was returning from the test drive with the Vanquish an hour later, he popped up from along the side of the city street where I was waiting in a long queue for the lights to change, and started taking photos.
Now, when I've seen Astons being spotted in Monaco, the drivers sit patiently even after the lights change so that hordes of eager (mostly young guys) photographers can snap away. Some owners will gun the engine and the crowd goes wild, running down the street after the car.
As I sat there in my first spotting experience I thought about doing all those things. But I suspect even in a newish Vanquish there wouldn't be many drivers behind patiently waiting while I gave a stationary loud pedal performance, nor did I want to risk giving elderly women pedestrians heart attacks with the exhaust noise.
So I lifted a finger off the wheel in a cool Bond-like acknowledgement
and moved lamely off with the traffic.I suppose we have accept we're the centre of attention in our brand, but heck, there's some things we're just not trained for
Wonder how everyone else reacts being spotted?
Normally I'd just carry on without doing anything. A chap in the street once cupped his hand to his ear and I delivered a short bark of noise to his request.
Very appreciative he was too.
Share the love, but always remember those wise words that inevitably will remove your car from the road and drop you in snafu.
"Watch this............"
BF incoming
Also goes with 'trips round the block'. Occasionally you are introduced to a friend of a friend, a distant relative or other acquaintances. Inevitably, when sat in the car they get their phone out "coz no one will believe I'm in one of these!". It's at this time I tell them to put the phone away or Jack starts walking.
Very appreciative he was too.
Share the love, but always remember those wise words that inevitably will remove your car from the road and drop you in snafu.
"Watch this............"
BF incoming
Also goes with 'trips round the block'. Occasionally you are introduced to a friend of a friend, a distant relative or other acquaintances. Inevitably, when sat in the car they get their phone out "coz no one will believe I'm in one of these!". It's at this time I tell them to put the phone away or Jack starts walking.
divetheworld said:
...Also goes with 'trips round the block'. Occasionally you are introduced to a friend of a friend, a distant relative or other acquaintances. Inevitably, when sat in the car they get their phone out "coz no one will believe I'm in one of these!".
The wow factor is real. It's amazing how little opportunity most people have of driving or being a passenger in something as owners we take for granted. Everyone I've driven round the block talks about it for for a long time afterwards.There are several people I know where I have a tradition of giving them a ride whenever I buy a new car. The Astons have always got the greatest appreciation.
My son is an executive in a transport authority, and he told me that one of his managers told him his greatest dream was to have a ride in an 'Aston Martin." The manager didn't know I owned one and I would have offered a ride, but office politics prevented that happening.
The sole Vulcan owner in our country has taken half a dozen passengers for rides at NZ$5,000 (£2,400) a time, with part of that going to a children's charity. Big money for just a few turns round a race track, but that's the appeal this brand has.
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