Sep 1, 2005 7:58:58 AM
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Atlantis said:
If only I was on the waiting list and had the Pounds80k to pay for it
Sep 1, 2005 8:12:28 AM
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Rich C (UK) said:Quote:
Atlantis said:
If only I was on the waiting list and had the Pounds80k to pay for it
Well I've got one bit of that right - I'll let you guess which!! Best go buying those lottery tickets now....
Interestingly in one of the weeklies (Autocar or Auto Express) they are saying the waiting list may drop. Due to lack of demand in Europe they may put more allocation the UK dealers way.
Sep 1, 2005 9:45:56 AM
Sep 1, 2005 10:32:38 AM
Sep 1, 2005 12:46:12 PM
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Rich C (UK) said:Quote:
Danny G said:
, just looks like a smaller db9.
and that's a bad thing??
For a total objective opinion I probably agree that the 997 is the 'better' choice - but with cars like these when did we ever decide objectively?
Sep 1, 2005 1:37:31 PM
Sep 1, 2005 9:59:12 PM
Sep 1, 2005 10:06:53 PM
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LowPolarMoment said:
I don't understand the price of the Vanquish at all. It's got a more muscular look than a "plain" DB-9 but how do they justify the extra $100k? You could have a GT-3 in the garage next to the DB-9 for the price of a Vanquish.
Quote:
Guy Kuo said:
My wife and I think the review indicated an impressive showing for the Vantage. Even though saddled with a driver unfamiliar with the AMV8 and in a stock configuration, it was competitive with the Carrera S. The Porsche had the non-real world advantages of a specialist driver, unusually low suspension, and ceramic brakes. Imagine how much closer it would have been if it were a more typical 997 configuration and both drivers were equally adept with their vehicles (and their vehicle's left/right side driving configuration).
Even then, it doesn't matter which wins so long as it is close. As my wife the family Porsche enthusiast points out, they emphasized things we never actually do with our vehicles. On our normal rough roads, her new Carrera 4S is rather an uncomfortable daily driver over the highways she travels. The Porsche interior finish isn't as high and the cabin noise level is fatiguing. Even worse, Porsche's insistence that numerous interior and window rattles are normal in a new vehicle doesn't help. She gives the absolute handling thumbs up to Porsche, but that isn't enough to satisfy her. Her car needs to be more than just a driving instrument.
She wants the Vantage's better interior, sound system, gorgeous looks, and uniqueness. She has me feel the leather in the shifter shroud in her new Carrera 4S that she unaffectionately calls the "Rattle Bucket."
"See how thin it is here and how the doors feel like plastic even though it is all leather? When I was in the DB9 and especially the Vanquish, the leather felt thicker and richer, like there was a whole cow!"
I hadn't noticed myself, but she DOES notice those things and she wants that luxurious feel but also drivability like a Porsche.
Now there is a viable alternative to Porsche that delivers (for only a marginally higher cost) a luxury sports motoring experience. She estimates that she'd only lose the 5% of performance she NEVER uses anyway. So, in reality she won't give up any real driving ability, but instead gain a better ride for our rough roads, a lot more panache, and loads better style.
Thinking ahead, I had paid to put her on our AM dealer's AMV8 list some time ago. My wife, a once dedicated Porsche enthusiast eagerly wants to switch to an Aston. It's going to be a long wait until delivery next year. This review only fueled the desire.
Quote:
"See how thin it is here and how the doors feel like plastic even though it is all leather? When I was in the DB9 and especially the Vanquish, the leather felt thicker and richer, like there was a whole cow!"
Quote:
Guy Kuo said:
My wife and I think the review indicated an impressive showing for the Vantage. Even though saddled with a driver unfamiliar with the AMV8 and in a stock configuration, it was competitive with the Carrera S. The Porsche had the non-real world advantages of a specialist driver, unusually low suspension, and ceramic brakes. Imagine how much closer it would have been if it were a more typical 997 configuration and both drivers were equally adept with their vehicles (and their vehicle's left/right side driving configuration).
Even then, it doesn't matter which wins so long as it is close. As my wife the family Porsche enthusiast points out, they emphasized things we never actually do with our vehicles. On our normal rough roads, her new Carrera 4S is rather an uncomfortable daily driver over the highways she travels. The Porsche interior finish isn't as high and the cabin noise level is fatiguing. Even worse, Porsche's insistence that numerous interior and window rattles are normal in a new vehicle doesn't help. She gives the absolute handling thumbs up to Porsche, but that isn't enough to satisfy her. Her car needs to be more than just a driving instrument.
She wants the Vantage's better interior, sound system, gorgeous looks, and uniqueness. She has me feel the leather in the shifter shroud in her new Carrera 4S that she unaffectionately calls the "Rattle Bucket."
"See how thin it is here and how the doors feel like plastic even though it is all leather? When I was in the DB9 and especially the Vanquish, the leather felt thicker and richer, like there was a whole cow!"
I hadn't noticed myself, but she DOES notice those things and she wants that luxurious feel but also drivability like a Porsche.
Now there is a viable alternative to Porsche that delivers (for only a marginally higher cost) a luxury sports motoring experience. She estimates that she'd only lose the 5% of performance she NEVER uses anyway. So, in reality she won't give up any real driving ability, but instead gain a better ride for our rough roads, a lot more panache, and loads better style.
Thinking ahead, I had paid to put her on our AM dealer's AMV8 list some time ago. My wife, a once dedicated Porsche enthusiast eagerly wants to switch to an Aston. It's going to be a long wait until delivery next year. This review only fueled the desire.
Sep 3, 2005 9:57:19 PM
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brunner said:Quote:And if Porsche puts a boatload of leather in their cars, customers will complain it gets too GTish.
"See how thin it is here and how the doors feel like plastic even though it is all leather? When I was in the DB9 and especially the Vanquish, the leather felt thicker and richer, like there was a whole cow!"
Sep 3, 2005 10:08:54 PM
Sep 3, 2005 10:14:46 PM
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LowPolarMoment said:
I don't understand the price of the Vanquish at all. It's got a more muscular look than a "plain" DB-9 but how do they justify the extra $100k? You could have a GT-3 in the garage next to the DB-9 for the price of a Vanquish.
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fritz said:Quote:
LowPolarMoment said:
I don't understand the price of the Vanquish at all. It's got a more muscular look than a "plain" DB-9 but how do they justify the extra $100k? You could have a GT-3 in the garage next to the DB-9 for the price of a Vanquish.
Keep in mind where Aston Martin is coming from. When market positioning of Vanquish (oldest model in the AM range) was fixed, AM was probably making less than 2000 cars/year.(I haven't researched the statistics, but I won't be too far out). Low prod numbers = high unit costs = high prices.
AM now has ambitions to increase production considerably, so they have to considerably reduce prices to move the metal. You see the result of this change of strategy in the pricing of the newer models, DB8 and DB9.
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birdness said:
The car is apparently quite loud which is great! Is it possible to switch off the valve in the exhaust that creates this when you're in residential neighborhoods?
Oct 23, 2005 10:51:09 AM