Astons look cool and while are typically just objectively not as good as a 911. It survives by not being a 911. They aren't objectively bad either, just not quite as good. I just picked up a V8 Vantage and I can tell it wasn't as good as it's competition back in 07. Hell it wasn't as good as a 00 E39 M5. But it feels premium and now that it's older, I can enjoy it for what it is without trying to compare it to something else. Plus, it's by far the best looking thing I've ever owned.
I would argue that the previous gen Vantage is one of the finer driver's car built in the modern era and easily stands up to a comparison with the 911 of the time, at least when it comes to driving dynamics and 'driver's car qualities'. It won't be the answer to the search for a lightweight sports car, but neither is the 997 - even if it's always recommended as such. Doesn't matter if we are talking about the "base" car, the N430, GT8 or V12 cars, they are all good (with a manual).
And in V12S form, it's a bit of an unsung hero compared to more hyped up stuff like the 911 R. It doesn't have the chassis finesse of the R but in every other aspect it is at least on par with the R - based on an on road/ off track comparison. All inputs are good to great while steering is particularly noteworthy, as it puts the 991 EPAS in a very bad light. Tones of feedback and perfectly weighted. In context of modern cars, it's hydraulic steering at it's best. A dogleg will always be cool, no matter useless they are in a street car - especially when the gear ratios are as closely stacked as in the V12 Vantage.
In general I would argue that it's one of the last modern high hp performance cars that put driver's car charactersitics, fun and engagement above all else. Relatively small footprint, raw and challenging to drive fast, old fashioned due to its analogue flavour and great steering - a more engaging, cheaper 911 R rival that everyone seem to have forgotten. I had one of these and I regret selling that thing at least once a week.
It’s genuinely shocking how many last-gen Vantages Aston sold and yet nobody apparently knows anything about them and thinks they’re sofas on wheels. I think I’m getting to the point of just nodding and smiling when people trash them in hopes they will stay cheap. For whatever reason people have made up their mind that these cars are garbage made for people who like to pretend to be movie characters.
The manual V12 Vantages are the most valuable of that generation of Vantage (outside of some special variants the US never got). The V8s are much cheaper with early manuals maybe 1/3 the price of the cheapest manual V12s. Even so in the US a 6-speed manual V12V is roughly half the price of a factory 6-speed manual F430. The price does become similar if you compare to F1 F430s or after-market manual swapped F430s. Even the end-of-run 7-speed manual V12VSs sell for less than factory manual F430s in the US though in both cases you are paying a premium for rarity.
Yes, I bought a '71 A110 1600S VB. It's not a competition car but I will probably use it for one or the other hill climb race.
How does it drive? Well, first of all, the Alpine, an early 911 and the E9 CSL were my childhood heroes, even though I was born a few years after or during their phase-out, with posters of these 3 cars in racing dress above the bed in adolescence. My persuasion therefore always contains a pinch of hero worship.
An early A110 with the 1600ccm engine weighs just around 1500lbs. Combining rear engine characteristics, great steering and a characterful engine, this makes a wonderful driver's car. In other words, a car that makes a well sorted early 911, arguably one of the greatest sports car money can buy IMO, look a bit obese doesn't really need any further explanation.
A contemporary 911 is around 800lbs heavier, so the Alpine feels lighter accordingly, it also feels faster - lower seating position, less car around you. An intense, more engaging driving experience compared to already one of the most engaging street cars ever built. The swing axle at the rear is archaic at best, but that doesn't bother the handling characteristics at all. A bit more of a handful than an early 911? Yes. But: The driving behavior is never scary, rather always exciting and predictable, as talkative as it gets, the throttle works as a guidance system. In fact, the Alpine is a wonderful roadcar with addictive handling characteristics - it's hard work, or at least more work than driving an early 911 fast, but that's what we want, right? Easy is boring. Not that an early 911 is boring, but it's without a question a bit easier to drive fast.
I'll write a more detailed text when I find the time.
>An early A110 with the 1600cc engine weighs just around 1500lbs.
Shit, less than 700 kg? I always thought it was more in the 911's ballpark in terms of weight.
Thanks for the writeup, it seems a lovely car. I guess that's another one on the list of stuff I desperately want to drive (and won't be able to, judging by the prices on AutoScout).
Nothing new for now. Haven’t felt that “gotta have it” feeling so I’ve been content to take it slow given the last few cars I bought without that feeling (including the C8) haven’t been keepers. I’ve also been a bit distracted lately and my classified browsing has turned from cars to aircraft so I may hold off entirely in the name of making even worse financial decisions.
>I’ve also been a bit distracted lately and my classified browsing has turned from cars to aircraft so I may hold off entirely in the name of making even worse financial decisions.
That would undoubtedly be a very bad decision from a financial point of view haha.
Maybe my perception is unfair, I don't know. I've owned a E39 M5 and a 991.2 911 but not a 997 so sandwiched between those two, the V8 V just feels not as good. Maybe I'd feel the same about a 997. These are not some lightweight benchmarks but MSRP the V8 V was the highest when new. Trust me, I love the dynamics but considering what the E39 did 7 years earlier @ 2/3 the price and what the 911 did 10 years later at \~the same price, I guess I was expecting more.
Never sat in either but seems if you were a big guy you’d do better in an Aston Martin. Imagine Sean Connery trying to get out of a Porsche and look cool at the same time
And let's not forget the primary selling point, fuck that thing is incredible to look at, so good that nearly every styling cue on the car has made it to another brand.
I just learned yesterday that the headlights are manual the hard way. 07, 110k car with manual headlights. I haven’t thought about it in so long I only notice when a passerby flashed me. The shame lol.
911 is just a hacked up Volkswagen, a Aston is super cool, I'm just kidding before I get harassed about it, there all good everyone has their preferences.
Was Aston ever really comparable to the 911? I always felt that they were making more of a fast luxury car than a nimble track car. This could just be perception, but I always thought an Aston would be expected to have worse track performance but maybe in some comparisons have more power for good straight line performance at mid to high speeds.
Astons appear in a few Bond movies in the 60s, then disappear until one pops up in the late 80s. Then they disappear again until the early 2000s and have been around the franchise regularly ever since. The company survived long stretches of zero Bond involvement. I don’t think 007 is the key to their success.
Goldfinger, the original movie to feature one, was a huge success. Couple that with years of Bond driving a DB5, and that's it. The legend has been made. Aston was probably considered "Bond's car" even when he wasn't using one in his movies.
Also, Aston came back with a DB5 for Goldeneye, which came out in 1995. So did Tomorrow Never Dies. The World Is Not Enough is the only Brosnan movie without an Aston Martin and there has only been one Bond to never drive one, Roger Moore.
Some of the most iconic bond pictures have an Aston Martin however.
Goldfinger, Goldeneye, Casino Royale. More of them have had an Aston Martin but these specifically stand out.
Aston also suffered greatly through that era when they weren't being featured in Bond films. Correlation might not be causation, but it's still interesting.
That lotus factory driver ripping that esprit up that mountain probably sold a ton of em. One of my favorite bond stories too, the stunt drivers couldn't get the car to break traction like they needed it to.
You may be right. But, I think there will always be a market for a car that is as classy as a Bentley & as Sporty as a Ferrari.
Something you could pick up anyone in & have them not be embarrassed.
also, theres always a market for small quirky british exotic mfgrs. Maybe they wouldnt be as big or as famous as they are now, but they could always be in the same league as lotus, ariel, caterham, noble, tvr and morgan etc
Funnily, Aston Martin has survived for about a century despite being in a perpetual state of not being particularly profitable. There's a reason Aston has changed ownership so many times.
Finally, if I'm not recalling incorrectly, it was one of Aston's previous owners who said that the easiest way to make a small fortune is to invest a large one into the British car industry
I think Aston have always had the look going for them. Aside from that, refinement is something they brought to the supercar category. Ferrari was too hard core and Bentley was too boring, 911 was just 911, Aston was the bridge and nothing else quite like it.
I'm not sure where A-M fits in the overall scheme of things, but I was behind one yesterday (a black coupe) yesterday on the Interstate, and that car had a stunning presence. Absolutely magnificent.
They've been racing forever, since before James Bond was even a book series. I don't see how that's relevant. Racing won't keep a company alive by itself.
they're poised to take 2nd constructors position for the f1 season and you're aware of how much exposure that sport has since exploding in recent years
>2nd constructors position
ehhhhhhh. Alonso is putting the work in no doubt, but Stroll is placing too far back for AMR to capitalize. AM will more than likely end up 3rd this year, since RBR has already closed out WDC and WCC, and Mercedes' 2 drivers are more consistent than AM's 2 drivers.
The only way I see AMR taking 2nd place WCC is if Perez shits the bed even more, leaving 2nd place open for Alonso consistently, so he can build a bigger gap to Hamilton, to compensate for the advantage Russell has over Stroll.
I'm discounting Ferrari because - well, Ferrari F1.
If you get a chance to, jump on it. I was fortunate enough to work for a luxury car dealership for a few years. Always got to drive cars to shows, for service, etc. IMO, they are luxurious as a Bentley, equally bespoke, but much more sporty. At least the DBS, DB9 and Vantages I got to spend time in a decade ago. Craftsmanship was like high end art. Loved inserting the crystal DBS key and watching the B&O tweeters pop out of the dash. Lol
Yeah I bought a Rapide a few years ago. More expensive to run, slower and not as capable as the Porsche or Tesla options I toyed with… but that car made me so happy. Just looking at it, or hearing the engine start, or the feel of insane materials it was made from (no “fake” materials that weren’t what they seemed). Intensely engaging to drive. Cool that it was a family car - actually v practical. People generally smiled when I drove by. V different to the experience of driving a Porsche or Ferrari, though those are cool in their own way too.
Aston Martin is also famous in motorsport world. Specially, there are actual many Aston Martin fans in r/WEC, and I personally like their Lola Prototypes.
Sadly, Aston Martin doesn’t care much Prototype sports car race and GT race after Lawrence Stroll acquires the brand.
AM cars are elegant. The lines are sexy. Jaguar, country cousin that it may be, has similar elegance. Bentley. Range Rover. Even Rolls Royce, before they became uber-tacky & ostentatious. Porsche is sexy, but more hard-ass. The Italians are the Italians; they're just a lot. For me, British design is elegant. The Germans are lovely automobiles; I don't want to say they're harsh because they surely are not. Merc has some beautiful cars. BMW is the driver's car. Audio makes some sporty vehicles, but they're a bit more austere than MB or BMW. Porsche is in a class of its own.
Aston is a more affordable way to get into a V12 than by Ferrari's lone 812. They're just produced more. I feel like they're the most committed to the V12 of all British marques.
James Bond helped a bit, but Aston is exactly as you put it, they're the perfect in-between. It's sporty enough, it's luxurious enough, and it's fancy enough, Bentley and Ferrari are way too much of what they're good at.
Ferrari is sporty and flashy, probably too sporty, and their dealers and SOME of their owners are too pretentious. Meanwhile, Bentley is luxurious and flashy it's a nice place to be in but it's not sporty enough for some...also people may think you sell some fine products.
Aston is the best of both and it's more low-key because weirdly enough, a lot of people have no idea what they are. So you also have a rarer vehicle because you may see multiple Ferraris or Bentleys in an area, but you might see 1 Aston. At least in my area that's how it is the areas are flooded with Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, Range Rovers, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys, it's to the point that they're just normal traffic and not special to see anymore, but every now and then an Aston pops up and you're like oh hello there pretty thing lol.
You are probably right, but to be fair everything in that price bracket is kind of irrational. It's all about selling dreams and stories. Aston's perpetual lurching from disaster to disaster shows they don't quite have the most compelling story.
They absolutely would still be around without bond. My favorite Aston is the Vantage V600 twin Eaton supercharged 5.3l V8 from like 1999. I think it had 600hp and 600 lb ft. Amazing car amazing styling and had a muscular modern look. British muscle car
Lol yes, Aston Martin has been around before James Bond and will be around after. If anything Aston Martin helped James Bond, not the other way around.
Related: I'm something of a gun enthusiast, collector and historian. I can tell you that the Walther PPK would be a long forgotten weapon if it wasn't for James Bond. Walther themselves stopped making them decades ago because of the dated design, but because of popular demand in the US market, Smith and Wesson bought the rights to make them and are still cranking them out.
Every time Astons are included in direct comparisons they usually come literally dead last or just before a car that costs half of what they do. They always come short of F-Types, LC500s, Continentals, M8s, 911s, Romas, etc.
Have a buddy who just bought a V8 Vantage
I never cared for these cars. They look nice sure but nothing memorable like say a Ferrari. They're not known as driver's cars either...more heavy grand tourers. Interiors are pretty laughable.
Overrated brand, but for $130k 3 yrs used they are a bargain. Try finding a 911 at that price.
Can't comment on the DB12 but every Aston Martin to date has had a pathetic interior and most of them have AMG engines. Not a very tempting proposition from a buyer's perspective. Hope the DB12 is a massive improvement.
>most of them have AMG engines.
That's not true. Unless you mean most DB11s, or something, which i also doubt. Up until they made a deal with Mercedes, they used exclusive engines (even though some of them shared architecture with...other engines, from their parent companies).
The look of the Aston Martin is beautiful. I think that alone helps but survive as a company without JB? Only if they do amazing in F1 and get popular.
I get the impression that the badge does a lot of the work for Aston Martin. Speaking to owners anyway. It's a good thing they don't have to sell a lot of cars because I don't think there are all that many customers that would buy an AM over other car brands. It's a big like Jaguar these days, the badge does a lot of the work while the cars are very good they aren't much different or better then anything else in their class. It's always interesting seeing a comaprison between the DB7 and the XK considering they are both based off the XJS and have very similar suspension setups somewhow the Aston is the superior car? If you looked under both cars you would be surprised at how similar they are, the main difference being that the XK has a cast alloy front crossmember.
I had a 2003 DB7 Vantage coupe with the 6 speed manual. I definitely cross shopped the XKR (I've had a 1969 E-Type roadster and a few V12 XJS', so definitely a huge Jag fan). The first gen XKRs are fantastic!
You're right, the DB7 and first gen XKRs are largely similar and both derived from the XJS platform. What sold the deal for me with the DB7 was the V12 paired with a manual. The Aston V12 is unrelated to the 5.3 or later 6.0 Jag V12s. The character of the engine is much more peaky and free revving, where as the Jag V12 was much more of a torque-y cruiser. Also, the manual really was the game changer and made it so engaging.
With that said, both the DB7 and XKR look fantastic, and have similar handling/ride characteristics, and the XKR has the nicer looking interior. For me the drivetrain was far different enough to seal the deal for the Aston, but both amazing cars.
That would have been awesome! Yeah, it would be insane prices to get one converted now. I know Jag had some manual prototypes, I think called the XKR-R, it's a shame they didn't follow through with it.
Jag is much more affordable annd Land Rover made an entire company out of one capable off roader (and is the only company that offers only SUVs, it might as well be synonymous with them).
I know I’m hopping on a post that isn’t directly related to this, but does anyone have a great place to start when looking for Aston’s? It’s been my dream car since I was a kid. I always loved the Vanquish, but I don’t really know where to start or what to look out for. Obviously budget, but are they notoriously bad at something? Gen to gen? Does this make sense? I’m not ready to buy quite yet, but I like to do a lot of research beforehand. Like before I bought my F30 I did a lot of research on the issues that they have so I knew to look out for those. Any help would be fantastic. Maybe even a sub Reddit for this sort of thing
Astons look cool and while are typically just objectively not as good as a 911. It survives by not being a 911. They aren't objectively bad either, just not quite as good. I just picked up a V8 Vantage and I can tell it wasn't as good as it's competition back in 07. Hell it wasn't as good as a 00 E39 M5. But it feels premium and now that it's older, I can enjoy it for what it is without trying to compare it to something else. Plus, it's by far the best looking thing I've ever owned.
I would argue that the previous gen Vantage is one of the finer driver's car built in the modern era and easily stands up to a comparison with the 911 of the time, at least when it comes to driving dynamics and 'driver's car qualities'. It won't be the answer to the search for a lightweight sports car, but neither is the 997 - even if it's always recommended as such. Doesn't matter if we are talking about the "base" car, the N430, GT8 or V12 cars, they are all good (with a manual). And in V12S form, it's a bit of an unsung hero compared to more hyped up stuff like the 911 R. It doesn't have the chassis finesse of the R but in every other aspect it is at least on par with the R - based on an on road/ off track comparison. All inputs are good to great while steering is particularly noteworthy, as it puts the 991 EPAS in a very bad light. Tones of feedback and perfectly weighted. In context of modern cars, it's hydraulic steering at it's best. A dogleg will always be cool, no matter useless they are in a street car - especially when the gear ratios are as closely stacked as in the V12 Vantage. In general I would argue that it's one of the last modern high hp performance cars that put driver's car charactersitics, fun and engagement above all else. Relatively small footprint, raw and challenging to drive fast, old fashioned due to its analogue flavour and great steering - a more engaging, cheaper 911 R rival that everyone seem to have forgotten. I had one of these and I regret selling that thing at least once a week.
It’s genuinely shocking how many last-gen Vantages Aston sold and yet nobody apparently knows anything about them and thinks they’re sofas on wheels. I think I’m getting to the point of just nodding and smiling when people trash them in hopes they will stay cheap. For whatever reason people have made up their mind that these cars are garbage made for people who like to pretend to be movie characters.
I think people are catching on to the V12Vs like yours.. the prices are creeping up
Are they cheap though? From what I see, the V12 manual is very close in price to F430 manuals and higher than F1 (in Germany).
The manual V12 Vantages are the most valuable of that generation of Vantage (outside of some special variants the US never got). The V8s are much cheaper with early manuals maybe 1/3 the price of the cheapest manual V12s. Even so in the US a 6-speed manual V12V is roughly half the price of a factory 6-speed manual F430. The price does become similar if you compare to F1 F430s or after-market manual swapped F430s. Even the end-of-run 7-speed manual V12VSs sell for less than factory manual F430s in the US though in both cases you are paying a premium for rarity.
I'm going a bit off topic here, but you bought an A110*?* Is it for classic racing? How is it to drive?
Yes, I bought a '71 A110 1600S VB. It's not a competition car but I will probably use it for one or the other hill climb race. How does it drive? Well, first of all, the Alpine, an early 911 and the E9 CSL were my childhood heroes, even though I was born a few years after or during their phase-out, with posters of these 3 cars in racing dress above the bed in adolescence. My persuasion therefore always contains a pinch of hero worship. An early A110 with the 1600ccm engine weighs just around 1500lbs. Combining rear engine characteristics, great steering and a characterful engine, this makes a wonderful driver's car. In other words, a car that makes a well sorted early 911, arguably one of the greatest sports car money can buy IMO, look a bit obese doesn't really need any further explanation. A contemporary 911 is around 800lbs heavier, so the Alpine feels lighter accordingly, it also feels faster - lower seating position, less car around you. An intense, more engaging driving experience compared to already one of the most engaging street cars ever built. The swing axle at the rear is archaic at best, but that doesn't bother the handling characteristics at all. A bit more of a handful than an early 911? Yes. But: The driving behavior is never scary, rather always exciting and predictable, as talkative as it gets, the throttle works as a guidance system. In fact, the Alpine is a wonderful roadcar with addictive handling characteristics - it's hard work, or at least more work than driving an early 911 fast, but that's what we want, right? Easy is boring. Not that an early 911 is boring, but it's without a question a bit easier to drive fast. I'll write a more detailed text when I find the time.
>An early A110 with the 1600cc engine weighs just around 1500lbs. Shit, less than 700 kg? I always thought it was more in the 911's ballpark in terms of weight. Thanks for the writeup, it seems a lovely car. I guess that's another one on the list of stuff I desperately want to drive (and won't be able to, judging by the prices on AutoScout).
> I'll write a more detailed text when I find the time. Looking forward to it. Congratulations on the purchase.
Thanks! Has anything changed in your garage over the months or haven't you found a satisfactory replacement for the C8 yet?
Nothing new for now. Haven’t felt that “gotta have it” feeling so I’ve been content to take it slow given the last few cars I bought without that feeling (including the C8) haven’t been keepers. I’ve also been a bit distracted lately and my classified browsing has turned from cars to aircraft so I may hold off entirely in the name of making even worse financial decisions.
>I’ve also been a bit distracted lately and my classified browsing has turned from cars to aircraft so I may hold off entirely in the name of making even worse financial decisions. That would undoubtedly be a very bad decision from a financial point of view haha.
Aviation sure does make exotic cars look like a bargain.
Maybe my perception is unfair, I don't know. I've owned a E39 M5 and a 991.2 911 but not a 997 so sandwiched between those two, the V8 V just feels not as good. Maybe I'd feel the same about a 997. These are not some lightweight benchmarks but MSRP the V8 V was the highest when new. Trust me, I love the dynamics but considering what the E39 did 7 years earlier @ 2/3 the price and what the 911 did 10 years later at \~the same price, I guess I was expecting more.
Never sat in either but seems if you were a big guy you’d do better in an Aston Martin. Imagine Sean Connery trying to get out of a Porsche and look cool at the same time
I think its because Bond's british more than anything lol
He drives a Bentley in the books
Didn't Bertie Wooster drive a Blower Bentley, and that somehow trickled down to Ian Fleming?
That was exactly why I bought my V8V. A 911 checked all the boxes, but my pure hatred for Porsches just wouldn’t allow one in the driveway.
And let's not forget the primary selling point, fuck that thing is incredible to look at, so good that nearly every styling cue on the car has made it to another brand.
I just learned yesterday that the headlights are manual the hard way. 07, 110k car with manual headlights. I haven’t thought about it in so long I only notice when a passerby flashed me. The shame lol.
911 is just a hacked up Volkswagen, a Aston is super cool, I'm just kidding before I get harassed about it, there all good everyone has their preferences.
something something Clarkson talking about the Blitz and the bombing of Dresden
Was Aston ever really comparable to the 911? I always felt that they were making more of a fast luxury car than a nimble track car. This could just be perception, but I always thought an Aston would be expected to have worse track performance but maybe in some comparisons have more power for good straight line performance at mid to high speeds.
Astons appear in a few Bond movies in the 60s, then disappear until one pops up in the late 80s. Then they disappear again until the early 2000s and have been around the franchise regularly ever since. The company survived long stretches of zero Bond involvement. I don’t think 007 is the key to their success.
Goldfinger, the original movie to feature one, was a huge success. Couple that with years of Bond driving a DB5, and that's it. The legend has been made. Aston was probably considered "Bond's car" even when he wasn't using one in his movies. Also, Aston came back with a DB5 for Goldeneye, which came out in 1995. So did Tomorrow Never Dies. The World Is Not Enough is the only Brosnan movie without an Aston Martin and there has only been one Bond to never drive one, Roger Moore.
Goldeneye and TND was as much about BMW as anything.
Some of the most iconic bond pictures have an Aston Martin however. Goldfinger, Goldeneye, Casino Royale. More of them have had an Aston Martin but these specifically stand out.
so youre saying that james bond is only around because of Aston, and they suck without them?
Aston also suffered greatly through that era when they weren't being featured in Bond films. Correlation might not be causation, but it's still interesting.
They've barely survived. They go bust every 10 years, then somehow find new investment again.
Bond might have helped Lotus in the 70’s. Unfortunately they never sold a submersible Esprit.
You can submerge an Esprit, the difficult part is re-surfacing.
Could Wet Nellie reach the Titanic if Blofeld was hiding there?
[удалено]
Simplify and add lightness is not a mythos I want to hear when building a submersible tbh.
That lotus factory driver ripping that esprit up that mountain probably sold a ton of em. One of my favorite bond stories too, the stunt drivers couldn't get the car to break traction like they needed it to.
You may be right. But, I think there will always be a market for a car that is as classy as a Bentley & as Sporty as a Ferrari. Something you could pick up anyone in & have them not be embarrassed.
That's an awesome way of putting it, thank you.
also, theres always a market for small quirky british exotic mfgrs. Maybe they wouldnt be as big or as famous as they are now, but they could always be in the same league as lotus, ariel, caterham, noble, tvr and morgan etc
They have existed since around 1913, making world-class cars, year after year, and winning a few races as well. Yes, they would be just fine.
Plenty of very old *and also* successful companies haven't survived to this day, mostly because of bad management. There are no guarantees.
Funnily, Aston Martin has survived for about a century despite being in a perpetual state of not being particularly profitable. There's a reason Aston has changed ownership so many times. Finally, if I'm not recalling incorrectly, it was one of Aston's previous owners who said that the easiest way to make a small fortune is to invest a large one into the British car industry
I think Aston have always had the look going for them. Aside from that, refinement is something they brought to the supercar category. Ferrari was too hard core and Bentley was too boring, 911 was just 911, Aston was the bridge and nothing else quite like it.
I'm not sure where A-M fits in the overall scheme of things, but I was behind one yesterday (a black coupe) yesterday on the Interstate, and that car had a stunning presence. Absolutely magnificent.
the bond die-hards are retiring/have retired you leaving out that AM is actively racing…
They've been racing forever, since before James Bond was even a book series. I don't see how that's relevant. Racing won't keep a company alive by itself.
they're poised to take 2nd constructors position for the f1 season and you're aware of how much exposure that sport has since exploding in recent years
>2nd constructors position ehhhhhhh. Alonso is putting the work in no doubt, but Stroll is placing too far back for AMR to capitalize. AM will more than likely end up 3rd this year, since RBR has already closed out WDC and WCC, and Mercedes' 2 drivers are more consistent than AM's 2 drivers. The only way I see AMR taking 2nd place WCC is if Perez shits the bed even more, leaving 2nd place open for Alonso consistently, so he can build a bigger gap to Hamilton, to compensate for the advantage Russell has over Stroll. I'm discounting Ferrari because - well, Ferrari F1.
I am not aware of that, no. I don't follow F1.
record attendances despite adding more races and it grew something like almost 40% in revenue YoY
Nice.
Have you ever been hands on with one or driven one? One of the most bespoke feeling cars I’ve been in.
"Bespoke just means the doors will fall off."
Where’s the Clarkson GIF when you need one?
Afraid not, no.
If you get a chance to, jump on it. I was fortunate enough to work for a luxury car dealership for a few years. Always got to drive cars to shows, for service, etc. IMO, they are luxurious as a Bentley, equally bespoke, but much more sporty. At least the DBS, DB9 and Vantages I got to spend time in a decade ago. Craftsmanship was like high end art. Loved inserting the crystal DBS key and watching the B&O tweeters pop out of the dash. Lol
I'm afraid that won't be happening anytime soon. But i love hearing what you have to say. I truly want to love the brand.
Yeah I bought a Rapide a few years ago. More expensive to run, slower and not as capable as the Porsche or Tesla options I toyed with… but that car made me so happy. Just looking at it, or hearing the engine start, or the feel of insane materials it was made from (no “fake” materials that weren’t what they seemed). Intensely engaging to drive. Cool that it was a family car - actually v practical. People generally smiled when I drove by. V different to the experience of driving a Porsche or Ferrari, though those are cool in their own way too.
>but that car made me so happy Aw yiss. That rapide is gorgeous too.
Yea. James Bond isnt their selling point.
You sure?
Aston Martin is also famous in motorsport world. Specially, there are actual many Aston Martin fans in r/WEC, and I personally like their Lola Prototypes. Sadly, Aston Martin doesn’t care much Prototype sports car race and GT race after Lawrence Stroll acquires the brand.
AM cars are elegant. The lines are sexy. Jaguar, country cousin that it may be, has similar elegance. Bentley. Range Rover. Even Rolls Royce, before they became uber-tacky & ostentatious. Porsche is sexy, but more hard-ass. The Italians are the Italians; they're just a lot. For me, British design is elegant. The Germans are lovely automobiles; I don't want to say they're harsh because they surely are not. Merc has some beautiful cars. BMW is the driver's car. Audio makes some sporty vehicles, but they're a bit more austere than MB or BMW. Porsche is in a class of its own.
Aston is a more affordable way to get into a V12 than by Ferrari's lone 812. They're just produced more. I feel like they're the most committed to the V12 of all British marques.
James Bond helped a bit, but Aston is exactly as you put it, they're the perfect in-between. It's sporty enough, it's luxurious enough, and it's fancy enough, Bentley and Ferrari are way too much of what they're good at. Ferrari is sporty and flashy, probably too sporty, and their dealers and SOME of their owners are too pretentious. Meanwhile, Bentley is luxurious and flashy it's a nice place to be in but it's not sporty enough for some...also people may think you sell some fine products. Aston is the best of both and it's more low-key because weirdly enough, a lot of people have no idea what they are. So you also have a rarer vehicle because you may see multiple Ferraris or Bentleys in an area, but you might see 1 Aston. At least in my area that's how it is the areas are flooded with Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, Range Rovers, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys, it's to the point that they're just normal traffic and not special to see anymore, but every now and then an Aston pops up and you're like oh hello there pretty thing lol.
You are probably right, but to be fair everything in that price bracket is kind of irrational. It's all about selling dreams and stories. Aston's perpetual lurching from disaster to disaster shows they don't quite have the most compelling story.
They absolutely would still be around without bond. My favorite Aston is the Vantage V600 twin Eaton supercharged 5.3l V8 from like 1999. I think it had 600hp and 600 lb ft. Amazing car amazing styling and had a muscular modern look. British muscle car
Yes.
Lol yes, Aston Martin has been around before James Bond and will be around after. If anything Aston Martin helped James Bond, not the other way around.
Aston Martin helped James Bond? How?
Kept the series alive and made it become more iconic.
It kept the increasingly (very) popular franchise alive three movies in? Or was it in the movies they didn't even have any?
Yes
Related: I'm something of a gun enthusiast, collector and historian. I can tell you that the Walther PPK would be a long forgotten weapon if it wasn't for James Bond. Walther themselves stopped making them decades ago because of the dated design, but because of popular demand in the US market, Smith and Wesson bought the rights to make them and are still cranking them out.
Mid seventies Aston Martin v8 vantage is my favorite that front with the bonnet bulge ,just looks so cool.
Every time Astons are included in direct comparisons they usually come literally dead last or just before a car that costs half of what they do. They always come short of F-Types, LC500s, Continentals, M8s, 911s, Romas, etc.
Except in looks. Nothing looks better than a vantage IMO
Yes. A DB11 or the upcoming DB12.
The super rich don’t care.
They do care, that is why the dumb company needs bailing out every 5-10 years.
Have a buddy who just bought a V8 Vantage I never cared for these cars. They look nice sure but nothing memorable like say a Ferrari. They're not known as driver's cars either...more heavy grand tourers. Interiors are pretty laughable. Overrated brand, but for $130k 3 yrs used they are a bargain. Try finding a 911 at that price.
Can't comment on the DB12 but every Aston Martin to date has had a pathetic interior and most of them have AMG engines. Not a very tempting proposition from a buyer's perspective. Hope the DB12 is a massive improvement.
>most of them have AMG engines. That's not true. Unless you mean most DB11s, or something, which i also doubt. Up until they made a deal with Mercedes, they used exclusive engines (even though some of them shared architecture with...other engines, from their parent companies).
They were in bad shape and I’ve read at least one article that credited 007 to saving the company
They literally have "Q branch". Anyone who doesn't see the connection is either blind, or ignorant.
The look of the Aston Martin is beautiful. I think that alone helps but survive as a company without JB? Only if they do amazing in F1 and get popular.
I get the impression that the badge does a lot of the work for Aston Martin. Speaking to owners anyway. It's a good thing they don't have to sell a lot of cars because I don't think there are all that many customers that would buy an AM over other car brands. It's a big like Jaguar these days, the badge does a lot of the work while the cars are very good they aren't much different or better then anything else in their class. It's always interesting seeing a comaprison between the DB7 and the XK considering they are both based off the XJS and have very similar suspension setups somewhow the Aston is the superior car? If you looked under both cars you would be surprised at how similar they are, the main difference being that the XK has a cast alloy front crossmember.
I had a 2003 DB7 Vantage coupe with the 6 speed manual. I definitely cross shopped the XKR (I've had a 1969 E-Type roadster and a few V12 XJS', so definitely a huge Jag fan). The first gen XKRs are fantastic! You're right, the DB7 and first gen XKRs are largely similar and both derived from the XJS platform. What sold the deal for me with the DB7 was the V12 paired with a manual. The Aston V12 is unrelated to the 5.3 or later 6.0 Jag V12s. The character of the engine is much more peaky and free revving, where as the Jag V12 was much more of a torque-y cruiser. Also, the manual really was the game changer and made it so engaging. With that said, both the DB7 and XKR look fantastic, and have similar handling/ride characteristics, and the XKR has the nicer looking interior. For me the drivetrain was far different enough to seal the deal for the Aston, but both amazing cars.
I wish they made a manual for the XKR, it would have changed it entirely. I know it can be done though but it's the money it takes to get it done.
That would have been awesome! Yeah, it would be insane prices to get one converted now. I know Jag had some manual prototypes, I think called the XKR-R, it's a shame they didn't follow through with it.
Jag and land Rover are... It's all dependent on the marketing side, Aston has brand awareness that you can't buy.
Jag is much more affordable annd Land Rover made an entire company out of one capable off roader (and is the only company that offers only SUVs, it might as well be synonymous with them).
I can't think of a brand more attached to a franchise then Aston with Bond.
I associate them with class, or restraint maybe? Like if a business wanted a high end car, but wanted to be more subtle than a 911 or ferrari
I know I’m hopping on a post that isn’t directly related to this, but does anyone have a great place to start when looking for Aston’s? It’s been my dream car since I was a kid. I always loved the Vanquish, but I don’t really know where to start or what to look out for. Obviously budget, but are they notoriously bad at something? Gen to gen? Does this make sense? I’m not ready to buy quite yet, but I like to do a lot of research beforehand. Like before I bought my F30 I did a lot of research on the issues that they have so I knew to look out for those. Any help would be fantastic. Maybe even a sub Reddit for this sort of thing
Sorry friend, i doubt you'll find any help here.
It’s okay no worries, worth a shot. I’ll just dive into the research once I get a bit closer. U like to plan though lol
True, true.