Aston Martin Vlogger Is Upset
Discussion
I don't know anything about this gentleman, but seeing that he uses the name MoreThanCars on this YouTube video, I presume he would be called a 'vlogger'.
There might now be a vloggers dispute, because he seems most upset, that Aston Martin have agreed to the DBX Mr. JWW edition.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t6svrUlrd8Y
I lasted about three minutes. It’s actually quite entertaining to watch this bunch have a go at each other - well, for about three minutes.
Personally, I’m going to wait for the Aldi Centre Aisle Edition. Surely that’s just around the corner?
Not really - Let’s hope the DBX sells well for Aston.
Personally, I’m going to wait for the Aldi Centre Aisle Edition. Surely that’s just around the corner?
Not really - Let’s hope the DBX sells well for Aston.
He seems a little prone to temper tantrums. In the hope of becoming popular / famous / important on YouTube, he's bought a lot of cars in a short time frame, but aside from it being a demonstration of wealth, his channel has no USP bar for his tantrums, which can be quite entertaining. As Chris Harris pointed out recently, automotive influencing has morphed into buying cars to make yourself look interesting, instead of buying cars you like and documenting the ownership experience in video form.
He's historically been quite outspoken about McLaren (likes to tell horror stories about them with his buddy, TGE). So I fully expect him to turn his attention to Aston and 'dish the dirt' now he feels hard done by. The next step will be cancelling his DBX, selling his DBSS and Vantage AMR as some sort of protest - all rather strange, but negative, provocative content on YouTube is popular currently and Phil appears to like to make big statements, even if the whole world isn't there to see them.
At its core, I suspect the issue is that Phil's bought multiple models from the current lineup and is treated like a normal customer. JWW on the other hand, has never bought a new Aston, he said very little in the way of positive things about the Vantage when handed one as part of his 'ambassador' role[1] (he said it was a GT car not a sports car, and that the transmission was crap compared to a PDK), yet he's now doing a Q commission on the DBX. Aston aren't going to turn away the business, but how this has been sold has caused confusion - there's a couple of angles in play and it needs to be explained.
JWW wanted a DBX with an alcantara interior - Q can do that. He showed some of his buddies the spec, they liked it and decided they wanted one also. 10 cars get built and it's a good advert for the abilities and customisation offered by Q. What it's been interpreted as is JWW getting his own version of a DBX and I don't think that's really the case, it's being handled by HWM - it's little different to the NC500 DB11 that AM Edinburgh did IMO; these things tend to start with one customer's idea, and if you can sell a few more, it can help cover the cost of the tooling if it's deviating from the norm.
I think the smart thing would be for the company to distance itself from all the influencers fairly soon - as time goes by they offer diminishing returns because they no longer offer a cheap way of showing off your products in a positive light. That's not to say you expect glowing reviews about something that's not perfect, but you wouldn't partner up with a YouTuber if there's a risk they're going to go nuclear online if you don't offer them something they believe they're entitled to, and recently there appears to be a lot of ranting from these people who think they're entitled to special treatment.
There's a divide between the YouTube channels that test and review cars (it's a small group comprised of former EVO and AutoCar staff - motoring journos who can drive, write and convey meaningful thoughts), and the vloggers who like to live the lifestyle, demonstrate their wealth - and then kick off and spit their dummy out when it's not going their way or they're not being give special access or freebies.
Shmee is the exception to this, because aside from his own collection, he's quite broad minded about most brands and most cars get a fair hearing when he spends time in them.
[1] To be brutally honest, I think Mr. JWW is a social media 'Post Turtle'; he's achieved a great level of exposure and interaction with Aston Martin despite never buying anything from new from them, it's baffling why or how he got into this position, especially when he's also a Maserati ambassador. I expect he would turn up to the opening of a paper envelope if there's a video camera present though. I can see why that would rile up Phil, but these are just cars. None of us need them, they're just objects that make life a bit more fun.
Lockdown has people getting upset and angry...
And here endeth my rant...
He's historically been quite outspoken about McLaren (likes to tell horror stories about them with his buddy, TGE). So I fully expect him to turn his attention to Aston and 'dish the dirt' now he feels hard done by. The next step will be cancelling his DBX, selling his DBSS and Vantage AMR as some sort of protest - all rather strange, but negative, provocative content on YouTube is popular currently and Phil appears to like to make big statements, even if the whole world isn't there to see them.
At its core, I suspect the issue is that Phil's bought multiple models from the current lineup and is treated like a normal customer. JWW on the other hand, has never bought a new Aston, he said very little in the way of positive things about the Vantage when handed one as part of his 'ambassador' role[1] (he said it was a GT car not a sports car, and that the transmission was crap compared to a PDK), yet he's now doing a Q commission on the DBX. Aston aren't going to turn away the business, but how this has been sold has caused confusion - there's a couple of angles in play and it needs to be explained.
JWW wanted a DBX with an alcantara interior - Q can do that. He showed some of his buddies the spec, they liked it and decided they wanted one also. 10 cars get built and it's a good advert for the abilities and customisation offered by Q. What it's been interpreted as is JWW getting his own version of a DBX and I don't think that's really the case, it's being handled by HWM - it's little different to the NC500 DB11 that AM Edinburgh did IMO; these things tend to start with one customer's idea, and if you can sell a few more, it can help cover the cost of the tooling if it's deviating from the norm.
I think the smart thing would be for the company to distance itself from all the influencers fairly soon - as time goes by they offer diminishing returns because they no longer offer a cheap way of showing off your products in a positive light. That's not to say you expect glowing reviews about something that's not perfect, but you wouldn't partner up with a YouTuber if there's a risk they're going to go nuclear online if you don't offer them something they believe they're entitled to, and recently there appears to be a lot of ranting from these people who think they're entitled to special treatment.
There's a divide between the YouTube channels that test and review cars (it's a small group comprised of former EVO and AutoCar staff - motoring journos who can drive, write and convey meaningful thoughts), and the vloggers who like to live the lifestyle, demonstrate their wealth - and then kick off and spit their dummy out when it's not going their way or they're not being give special access or freebies.
Shmee is the exception to this, because aside from his own collection, he's quite broad minded about most brands and most cars get a fair hearing when he spends time in them.
[1] To be brutally honest, I think Mr. JWW is a social media 'Post Turtle'; he's achieved a great level of exposure and interaction with Aston Martin despite never buying anything from new from them, it's baffling why or how he got into this position, especially when he's also a Maserati ambassador. I expect he would turn up to the opening of a paper envelope if there's a video camera present though. I can see why that would rile up Phil, but these are just cars. None of us need them, they're just objects that make life a bit more fun.
Lockdown has people getting upset and angry...
And here endeth my rant...
Big Ry said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, for me personally, the only genuinely impartial YouTube reviewers in my book are Harry Metcalfe and Henry Catchpole. The others all "seem" to be on the take from one angle or another (that's my opinion, not an accusation).
I tend to agree with you. Both Harry and Henry's reviews are generally thoughtful and spot on. Doug DeMuro is pretty good too...though a bit goofy. Anyone know if he’s on here at all? I watched it all the way through. He mentioned that he has four Aston Martins, and that his DBX is waiting to be collected, when the finance can be arranged. I would have thought that someone so passionate about the brand would have been seen at least once on this forum?
If he does get so fed up that he decides to sell them all, and they are all on finance, I hope he is able to absorb a healthy amount of depreciation.......good luck.
It’s all quite ironic though. He’s a YouTuber himself so why get so upset? As we discussed at the weekend the Mr JWW DBX is a dealer special, similar to the cars Simon Lane did at AM Cambridge. It’s not my cup of tea, and personally I would rather spec a new car myself, but it’s not making me feel so angry that I want to sell my current car either.
Phil, MoreThanCars, if you are on here, and you’re reading this, good luck with the flying lessons. Hope the weather stays kind to you over the next few months, as at this time of year, that will be one of your main obstacles.
Best Regards
Minglar
If he does get so fed up that he decides to sell them all, and they are all on finance, I hope he is able to absorb a healthy amount of depreciation.......good luck.
It’s all quite ironic though. He’s a YouTuber himself so why get so upset? As we discussed at the weekend the Mr JWW DBX is a dealer special, similar to the cars Simon Lane did at AM Cambridge. It’s not my cup of tea, and personally I would rather spec a new car myself, but it’s not making me feel so angry that I want to sell my current car either.
Phil, MoreThanCars, if you are on here, and you’re reading this, good luck with the flying lessons. Hope the weather stays kind to you over the next few months, as at this time of year, that will be one of your main obstacles.
Best Regards
Minglar
Viahuerto said:
Big Ry said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, for me personally, the only genuinely impartial YouTube reviewers in my book are Harry Metcalfe and Henry Catchpole. The others all "seem" to be on the take from one angle or another (that's my opinion, not an accusation).
I tend to agree with you. Both Harry and Henry's reviews are generally thoughtful and spot on. Doug DeMuro is pretty good too...though a bit goofy. 8Speed said:
Viahuerto said:
Big Ry said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, for me personally, the only genuinely impartial YouTube reviewers in my book are Harry Metcalfe and Henry Catchpole. The others all "seem" to be on the take from one angle or another (that's my opinion, not an accusation).
I tend to agree with you. Both Harry and Henry's reviews are generally thoughtful and spot on. Doug DeMuro is pretty good too...though a bit goofy. OLDBENZ said:
I am not sure I understand all the excitement about alcantara. Isn't it simply 100% synthetic suede so it bears the same relation to real suede as vinyl does to leather or am I missing something here?
That’s about right. Used by racing teams because it is cheap, grippy, and hard wearing. Hardly a luxury material, although honestly I do like it when used appropriately.soofsayer said:
OLDBENZ said:
I am not sure I understand all the excitement about alcantara. Isn't it simply 100% synthetic suede so it bears the same relation to real suede as vinyl does to leather or am I missing something here?
That’s about right. Used by racing teams because it is cheap, grippy, and hard wearing. Hardly a luxury material, although honestly I do like it when used appropriately.NFC 85 Vette said:
...these are just cars. None of us need them, they're just objects that make life a bit more fun.
Too true. As my AM salesman said, "We are not selling cars, we are selling luxury. No one needs these cars."I think we are very fortunate to own such things, and the day is fast approaching when ICE cars will be regulated off the roads. Maybe certain classifications of vehicles (e.g. beautiful Aston Martins) will be permitted to do 500miles per year or something as a public service, but in the meantime we can enjoy them while the tubers do their thing in the background. They are only relevant if you watch them. Catchpole/Carfection, Petrolicious, ISSIMI are channels I follow and enjoy. Most of the rest do not offer me anything of substance.
It sounds like the JWW DBX concept is not a million miles away from the way the new V600 came about, with the exception being I would endlessly covet a V600 where as the JWW thing could not bother me less.
8Tech said:
Its actually not hard wearing and marks easily, even absorbing the oils from your hands, not a problem when driving with racing gloves, but fatal for a takeaway KFC.
I think a KFC edition has legs... Viahuerto said:
Yes re DeMuro being manic but I have to give him credit for being thorough and rather tough. I don't feel he is in anyone's pocket. I have to give top marks to Catchpole. He talks about what interests me which is the driving experience. The rest of them are pretty much a waste of time though there are a few niche reviewers who are pretty good.
I like Jonny Smith too..seems like a nice guy and a proper car guy,no matter value or badge etcMinglar said:
Anyone know if he’s on here at all?
I think this is him.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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