James Bond back with Aston Martin for ‘CASINO ROYALE’

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Gaydon, 16th January 2006: Aston Martin announces James Bond, the legendary British secret agent, will drive one of its models in the next 007 film, ‘CASINO ROYALE’ to be produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for Eon Productions.

Daniel Craig, who will play James Bond in the film, which is due to be released in November 2006 by MGM/Sony, visited the Aston Martin headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Friday to view the featured car. While there he met Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, and members of the workforce and also took the opportunity to take a short test drive.

In the true tradition of Bond, full details of the car to be used in ‘CASINO ROYALE’ are being kept top secret but the company did confirm that it would be a new model called the Aston Martin DBS.

Dr Ulrich Bez said: "It is great news that Bond will drive an Aston Martin again and we have built him something special to enable him to do his job in style."

The association with the marque began in 1964 with the film ‘Goldfinger’ when the DB5 was fitted with ‘optional extras’ such as ejector seats and rockets. The last Bond film, ‘Die Another Day’, featured Aston Martin’s flagship model, the Vanquish.

[Blue Supra]

that looks like a vanquish with 22"s on it.

should be awesome to see another $800,000 machine be thrashed, skidded, crashed and potentially blown up :D

[Clivey]

I like the high back end on that sketch but the very front just looks like an electric shaver right now, although they probably haven't finished the detailing yet. Let's hope it's got the soul to go with the looks *coughs* unlike the Vanquish.

[:Exige:]

Being a DBS, I recon it will come below the V8 Vantage. So he won't be thrashing an $800,000 car around ... more like $80,000 :D

[Cotterik]

i take it craigs gonna have to die his hair black then.. surely. cant have a blonde bond!? cars nice too.

EDIT: ah, so he'll look like this:

http://ffmedia.ign.com/filmforce/image/article/651/651501/daniel_craig_5_1126906354.jpg

[Rijoh]

Or it's the Vanquish replacement:)

[my porsche]

i hope they do make an $80,000 AM! id sign up

it looks good from the sketch, and im glads he wont be in a fiat panda as rumoured

[Blue Supra]

i heard it was a Holden Astra turbo convertible... :p

[my porsche]

yeah, okie dokie :rolleyes:

[Clivey]

i hope they do make an $80,000 AM! id sign up

it looks good from the sketch, and im glads he wont be in a fiat panda as rumoured

Exactly what Ford want to do, whore the Aston name - no matter that an $80k Aston would contain half of the Ford parts bin. I'm getting more than a little pissed off with people seeing the Aston name and instantly becoming unable to control their orgasm...when do we get to see something that's a worthy successor to the V8 Vantage LeMans V600 or even the DB6?

Let's face it, if you take the bodyshell away from the Vanquish, it's a disappointment. The DB9's much, much better but because of the immense hype surrounding it, still disappoints. The new V8 Vantage, in my mind doesn't quite match the others for looks (the front end is too "cutesy"). What we need more of is British cars with pure attitude, such as the TVR Sagaris / Tuscan and Lotus Elise.

[my porsche]

the 80k one would be as low as i would want them to go, and have you ever sat in a v8? its definately nothing similar to a taurus or anything

plus, at 80k it would actually be a competitor to a 911, i mean who decided to say a $125,000 car that is slower than a $75,000 car is competition?

[NSXType-R]

It's great that 007 shows homage to the original 007 cars. The Austin Martin is better by far because TVR is owned by a Russian and the Elise is powered by a Toyota based engine. :p

[my porsche]

youre right ASTON martins are better

[Clivey]

the 80k one would be as low as i would want them to go, and have you ever sat in a v8? its definately nothing similar to a taurus or anything

For an Aston to truly be everything the name promises (exclusivity, gorgeous looks, an awesome drive with shattering and brutal performance) at this present time it's gonna have to be expensive.

Currently they don't have the money to develop a car that has all of this and sell it at a similar price to a 911 without scraping what is the lowest of the low for such a manufacturer - the Ford parts bin. I really don't think Ford buying Aston will turn out to be a good thing in the long run because as I have said elsewhere tonight, I think Ford will freeze the performance, price etc. of both Astons and Jags to fit target markets. This will eventually crush both brands and turn them into nothing better than the VW Sharan - a Ford Galaxy with an upmarket badge.


plus, at 80k it would actually be a competitor to a 911, i mean who decided to say a $125,000 car that is slower than a $75,000 car is competition?

I didn't understand that, care to explain...?:D I don't want to get hold of the wrong end of the stick then go off talking about something that has no relevance.

[h00t_h00t]

You only think that because you can't get TVRs in america. :p

[my porsche]

I didn't understand that, care to explain...?:D I don't want to get hold of the wrong end of the stick then go off talking about something that has no relevance.
haha not a bad plan

i mean, why would anyone buy a car that is $125,000 and does 0-60 in...wait the UCP database says 4.0 that can't be right can it? neither of its big brothers even did that...

anyway how can two cars $50,000 apart be considered competitors? they both are equally good looking, almost identical IIRC performance, and both have good options

[Clivey]

haha not a bad plan

i mean, why would anyone buy a car that is $125,000 and does 0-60 in...wait the UCP database says 4.0 that can't be right can it? neither of its big brothers even did that...

anyway how can two cars $50,000 apart be considered competitors? they both are equally good looking, almost identical IIRC performance, and both have good options

I would have thought my previous posts would have answered that...Aston would be skimping on something to bring you the car for $80,000. Think about it, a £45k Aston? Tuscans cost £50k and you're losing out on build quality and reliability when compared to a 911. I think a £45k car would, at this time, wreck the whole Aston brand because they'd be lowered from being a supreme symbol of British craftsmanship and engineering to just another one of Ford's corporate monkeys.

[johnnyperl]

The Austin Martin is better by far because TVR is owned by a Russian and the Elise is powered by a Toyota based engine. :p
What makes Aston any better (by your criteria)? They're owned by Ford. :D

[Clivey]

What makes Aston any better (by your criteria)? They're owned by Ford. :D

But you're forgetting, Ford are American...:rolleyes:

[NSXType-R]

LOL, good point. I don't like American cars either.

[h00t_h00t]

You don't like Astons because they are owned by Ford?

[coolieman1220]

hmm i wonder if this one's gonna have a v8 instead of a v12 and have all wheel drive built in wit studded tires. RIP OFF!!. lol

[ScionDriver]

Okay, great Aston and Bond a great pair, but now whats the bad guy going to have?

[NSXType-R]

It's not that I don't like Austin because it's owned by Ford. I just said that I didn't like American cars.

[my porsche]

It's not that I don't like Austin because it's owned by Ford. I just said that I didn't like American cars.
ITS ASTON!!!!!!!!!!! sheesh

[Blue Supra]

are austin healey stll around? does ford own them too? possible confusion source.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Austin Healey Died with the end of British Leyland Waaaaaay Back when.

He Just can't spell.

[NSXType-R]

sorry........

[Cadillac Imaj]

Okay, great Aston and Bond a great pair, but now whats the bad guy going to have?

Lets say, (I'm randomly guessing) a Lesux SC430!
No, no, it's not a british car. And, it's replacement is not out yet! Ummm, let's say the new XK then, specially out for that show lol. Since they used the older one in Die Another Day.:D

[Matra et Alpine]

baddie --- Corvette ? Z06 in black .... hmmmmm :D

More likely the Veyron IF they allow them to !!!!

[Matra et Alpine]

Austin Healey Died with the end of British Leyland Waaaaaay Back when..
It was the START of British Leyland that killed of the Austin Healey as it existed under the previous incarnation of the british motor industry -- BMC :D
The last Sprite rolled of in '71

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Well there you go.

[Blue Supra]

yep..

just cant speel

:p

[IBrake4Rainbows]

England Speeched Good, Ja?

[Blue Supra]

Ja, zer gut!

[The_Canuck]

me failed anglish? that umposilbul!

[Rockefella]

I would have thought my previous posts would have answered that...Aston would be skimping on something to bring you the car for $80,000. Think about it, a £45k Aston? Tuscans cost £50k and you're losing out on build quality and reliability when compared to a 911. I think a £45k car would, at this time, wreck the whole Aston brand because they'd be lowered from being a supreme symbol of British craftsmanship and engineering to just another one of Ford's corporate monkeys.
Ferrari is owned by FIAT, a company that makes cars in the £10k range. Volkswagen owns Lamborghini, similar story. I see no point in this argument.

Lets say for example that Aston Martin hordes all of its internals from a FoMoCo parts bin, I'd bet some of them are sourced from the Ford GT, which is probably a good thing. I think you're theory is flawed.

[Cyco]

Rock, This is a waste of time - unfortunally Mr Clivey knows far more about the evil Ford empire than we ever will.

In the RIP Vanquish thread he told me it was worse the AM used Mondeo window controllers in a Vanq (that get scratched suffaces) than Ferrari using Fiat Tipo switch gear in F40s and F50 - that would break off in you hand.

[Coventrysucks]

I really don't think Ford buying Aston will turn out to be a good thing in the long run

It's all well and good saying that, but with Aston selling about 10 cars a year before Ford bought the company and invested they would have gone bust a long time ago.

[Street_Dreamer]

baddie --- Corvette ? Z06 in black .... hmmmmm :D

More likely the Veyron IF they allow them to !!!!
it won't be a veyron, it'll almost certainly be a member of the Ford family... maybe the new XKR??

[spi-ti-tout]

That's a British Viper, right there.

[Street_Dreamer]

That's a British Viper, right there.
but a damn sight sexier... and i LOVE the viper to give you an idea :rolleyes: :D

[Clivey]

Ferrari is owned by FIAT, a company that makes cars in the £10k range. Volkswagen owns Lamborghini, similar story. I see no point in this argument.

Lets say for example that Aston Martin hordes all of its internals from a FoMoCo parts bin, I'd bet some of them are sourced from the Ford GT, which is probably a good thing. I think you're theory is flawed.

I didn't say Aston would be making cars at £10k, so why a "£10k car" interior? It's not as if Ford are incapable of building a decent interior, the Range Rover is proof odf that. The Ford GT's interior's actually far better than the one of the Vanquish so if they did source parts from it, they'd be making a good decision.


In the RIP Vanquish thread he told me it was worse the AM used Mondeo window controllers in a Vanq (that get scratched suffaces) than Ferrari using Fiat Tipo switch gear in F40s and F50 - that would break off in you hand.

It's much worse, the F40 and F50 aren't exactly GTs and don't really have that much of an interior at all - it's all part of the purpose of the car, to be light...but when Aston advertise their car as a grand tourer and then the MAJORITY (and I do mean the majority) of the switchgear could be found in a Mondeo I could pick up for less than £1,000, it's piss poor. If you look closely it's only after the redesign of the interior of the Vanquish that the aircon conrtols were built specifically. More or less all of the other switchgear can be traced back to domestic appliances (Fords). Fair enough, Aston designers sketched the basic shape of the dash and doorcards but after that Ford's bean counters moved in.

[Clivey]

LOL, good point. I don't like American cars either.

I wasn't making that kind of point, I was trying to point out your blatent stupidity...You don't like "X" because it's owned by "Y"?

My arguments about Aston have more to do with them than just the nationality of the owner of the company, but what's with not liking TVR because it's owned by a russian? So far Smolenski's influence has been a good thing at TVR - he wants to focus a little more on build quality and reliability and he has a passion for cars, rather than a large corporation's accountants and shareholders, who are typical of people who have a little power - all they want is "more". "More" profit, "more" sales, "more" in their back pockets...and less for the customer and the enthusiast.

[Cyco]

Clivey blinded by hate and ignorance, you should get on well with Fleet500 :p


It's much worse, the F40 and F50 aren't exactly GTs and don't really have that much of an interior at all

So a million doller supercar should be made with crap componets, but a GT costing half as much should have a fully bespoke interior?


when Aston advertise their car as a grand tourer and then the MAJORITY (and I do mean the majority) of the switchgear could be found in a Mondeo

Majority?

Last time you crapped on about this you pointed to the door handles, with window controls, and the stalks. What else did you find (well seeing as you couldn't tell the difference between two pics) - nothing.


the switchgear could be found in a Mondeo I could pick up for less than £1,000

Wow, you can find a really cheap car? I'm so impressed.


If you look closely it's only after the redesign of the interior of the Vanquish that the aircon conrtols were built specifically. More or less all of the other switchgear can be traced back to domestic appliances (Fords).

That would be the clock, the gear selectors, the inbuilt stero, the traction control, the hazard lights.......

[Clivey]

So a million doller supercar should be made with crap componets, but a GT costing half as much should have a fully bespoke interior?

The point of the car (F40 and F50) isn't to cosset your dumb arse as you go get your shopping, they were originally developed to bring the "F1 experience" to the road. The point of the vanquish is to make even the ponciest of small minded posers look and feel cool. Even if they did manage to pull in that car, the interior would soon fall apart having seen the briefest "action"! Our old Mondeo company car interior fell apart just by me opening the door, if the Vanq's using the same parts, you can expect the same effect.


Majority?

Last time you crapped on about this you pointed to the door handles, with window controls, and the stalks. What else did you find (well seeing as you couldn't tell the difference between two pics) - nothing.

They were particular parts I chose to emphasize as they were blatently obvious, even if Ferrari are using a minimal amount of Fiat switchgear, at least it doesn't poke your eyes out. When I got the chance to get close up to an F50, the rest of the interior grabbed more attention than the switchgear, shame I couldn't say the same about the Vanq. It hasn't been finished properly and I noticed straight away, that's how much it shows.


Wow, you can find a really cheap car? I'm so impressed.

That "cheapness" shouldn't also be found in a vehicle that costs 174 times as much, let alone being allowed to wear the Aston badge. What happened to the Vantage V8 LeMans V600? Great car with attiture but bean counters and bureaucrats killed it off, same thing's gonna happen to the whole Aston brand...

That would be the clock, the gear selectors, the inbuilt stero, the traction control, the hazard lights.......[/QUOTE]

...the seat bases, the other electronic switches above the aircon, parts of the doorcards, aircon vents, the steering column, just to name a few more.

[Cyco]

Clivey - whats with the switch gear obsession?

Your dads Mondeo fell apart because it was a CHEAP car built CHEAPLY.

A Vanq is handbuilt at Newport Pagnel, buy people who CARE.


The point of the vanquish is to make even the ponciest of small minded posers look and feel cool

It does do that exceedingly well. Maybe you should get one:P


The point of the car (F40 and F50) isn't to cosset your dumb arse as you go get your shopping, they were originally developed to bring the "F1 experience" to the road.

I must be really silly because I never realised that the F1 experence on the road would be best displayed buy parts out of a Fiat Tipo


They were particular parts I chose to emphasize as they were blatently obvious, even if Ferrari are using a minimal amount of Fiat switchgear, at least it doesn't poke your eyes out.

So Ferrai is allowed to use a "minimal" amount of Fiat parts but Aston is not allowed to use less Ford parts?

I have been in both cars, so I do know.


What happened to the Vantage V8 LeMans V600?

They didn't sell at the time, the company nearly went under and even the very limited numbers of V600s are still below their list pirce.


the seat bases
Are from an outside contractor

switches above the aircon
Are the ones you love in a DB9

parts of the doorcards
I havn't and I severly doubt you have pulled apart a Vanq door, so can't comment

aircon vents
May well be

the steering column
You seriously wat to tell me the steering coloum from a Vanq fits a Mondeo? You really don't have a clue do you?

[RazaBlade]

Sorry....this may have already been summarised in the previous pages but

http://www.autocarmagazine.com/news_article.asp?na_id=218139


Autocars stance on it. DBS may be the Vanquish replacement?

[Clivey]

Clivey - whats with the switch gear obsession?

Incase you've lost the sense of touch, switchgear matters because these are the parts of the car you touch more than almost any other (seats, steering wheel etc. excluded). If you have crap switchgear, you can generally feel it and it doesn't make you feel good about your car, nor does it look good and when you see the inside of your car more than the outside (if you're actually driving it) that matters a lot too. BMW are currently working with a few manufacturers to develop engines, but that doesn't mean that they make a deal and dip into the parts bins of those manufacturers for the "cheap" MINI. That's an example of a cheap car with a completely bespoke interior (as far as I can tell) and it's all the better for it. It wouldn't even matter if it used BMW parts because I think most people would agree, they are of high quality. Astons using some of the particular Ford parts we're discussing, which ARE poor quality, does matter. If I was in the market for such a car I would happily pay £10,000+ extra for a bespoke interior that reflects the quality (hopefully) of the rest of the car.


Your dads Mondeo fell apart because it was a CHEAP car built CHEAPLY.

A Vanq is handbuilt at Newport Pagnel, buy people who CARE.

Just how much corporate cock have you been sucking? All they do is put the parts together, whether or not the parts in question are poor quality Mondeo fitments is the issue here. You could be the most caring person in the world whilst putting the car together but if you're given crap parts you're going to make a crap car. It's like a computer - you put crap in, you get crap out...seems to be happening with yours anyway.


It does do that exceedingly well. Maybe you should get one:P[/Cyco]

Have you ANY evidence WHATSOEVER that I am a poncy small minded poser? If I were only interested in showing off I'd be driving a Vanquish - if I were small minded I wouldn't even bother to think twice about jumping on the bandwagon Ford's created. You give the impression you want to be doing both of these.

[QUOTE=Cyco]I must be really silly because I never realised that the F1 experence on the road would be best displayed buy parts out of a Fiat Tipo

I have also been inside an F50 and as I've already stated, the Fiat parts werent as blatantly obvious as the Ford crap in the Vanquish...In any case, Ferrari didn't need to spend huge money on the interior of this particular car, it had already made it clear that that didn't matter. I'm not a fan of the F50 due to the mess they made of the front end - you can buy a great number of supercars that look better and go just as well BUT I'm even less of a fan of the Vanquish becuase in that car, the choice of fittings really does matter, seeing as it's supposedly a Grand Tourer...for that money it's not a grand effort.


So Ferrai is allowed to use a "minimal" amount of Fiat parts but Aston is not allowed to use less Ford parts?

I have been in both cars, so I do know.

You could well have been in both cars, but you could well have been blindfolded if you didn't notice that the Vanquish contains more Ford parts than the F50 contains Fiat parts. Do I really have to repeat this again for you to understand...? In a GT, the INTERIOR matters MORE than in the average supercar. You would do better to point out which Fiat parts are in the 575M, then we could have a proper comparison...


They didn't sell at the time, the company nearly went under and even the very limited numbers of V600s are still below their list pirce.

One of the main reasons it didn't sell is that it was so performance orientated that emissions were horrendous, and it was subsiquently banned in many countries. That doesn't mean it was a bad car (in that sense of the word at least). TVR Tuscans arent road legal in the US, do you think they're bad cars? Aston was already in trouble, the V600 didn't change that.


Are from an outside contractor

I admit there may be some confusion here, I didn't mean the piece you sit on but the plastic that surrounds the bottom of the seat. The seat movement controls are all Ford if you care to take a look.


Are the ones you love in a DB9

I said ABOVE the aircon...


I havn't and I severly doubt you have pulled apart a Vanq door, so can't comment

You can see JUST from looking...it really is THAT obvious.


You seriously wat to tell me the steering coloum from a Vanq fits a Mondeo? You really don't have a clue do you?

Not the whole steering column, we were talking in relation to switchgear, I meant the plastic surround.

You must realise that this practice by any manufacturer of stuffing an expensive (especially a luxury or GT car) car full of inferior parts to save money only costs and fool the people who buy it, is not good. Once they can get away with it, it'll get worse. How many people regularly complain about GM scraping their parts bin, for example...? Modern Cadillacs are nowhere near the quality they used to be, and have you seen what Chevy are selling in the UK? rebadged Daewoos!:rolleyes:

[Wouter Melissen]

Last year Aston Martin turned a profit for the first time in many decades. Despite the fact that the DB7 used a Jaguar chassis and engine, it is the best selling Aston Martin in history (at the end of DB7 production, it made up for half of all AMs built). The new models with those crappy interiors are set to pass the DB7's production figure with ease. Now what do you prefer: a DB9 or Vanquish with a rediculous cheap interior or no new Aston Martins at all? Ford saved a company that in seventy years only very rarely finished a year breaking even and turned it into a profitable company that produces some of the most beautiful cars on the road. I have been in quite a few cars in recent years and I am always impressed with the Aston Martin interiors.

People might complain about GM scraping the parts bin, but I have never heard such a thing from an Aston Martin owner. A Continental GT has loads of cheap VW parts, but it excells by the way it's put together, just like the Astons.

Believe it or not there is a difference between a Mondeo interior and an Aston Martin interior, even though they share some parts.

It's hilarious that the person that disagrees with you the most is one of the customers that got fooled into buying one of these switch equipped vehicles. He should be the one that cares, not you.

[my porsche]

i would hardly call ANY aston interior cheap, and all this parts sharing crap, who cares? if it works and looks good, why does it matter that you could buy a $2,000 for the switchgear, but you CANT buy the rest of the interior or exterior of an Aston for $2,000, so whats the big deal?

[Rockefella]

I didn't say Aston would be making cars at £10k, so why a "£10k car" interior? It's not as if Ford are incapable of building a decent interior, the Range Rover is proof odf that. The Ford GT's interior's actually far better than the one of the Vanquish so if they did source parts from it, they'd be making a good decision.
Where in the hell did 'I' say AM would use a 10k interior, I was making a direct comparison with Ferrari and Lamborghini, two luxo-exotic companies. It's all the same crap, just because you have a bone to pick w/ Ford shouldn't mean it branches out to every capillary Ford maintains.

[Clivey]

Last year Aston Martin turned a profit for the first time in many decades. Despite the fact that the DB7 used a Jaguar chassis and engine, it is the best selling Aston Martin in history (at the end of DB7 production, it made up for half of all AMs built). The new models with those crappy interiors are set to pass the DB7's production figure with ease. Now what do you prefer: a DB9 or Vanquish with a rediculous cheap interior or no new Aston Martins at all? Ford saved a company that in seventy years only very rarely finished a year breaking even and turned it into a profitable company that produces some of the most beautiful cars on the road. I have been in quite a few cars in recent years and I am always impressed with the Aston Martin interiors.

OK, here's the classic example: The Sony PSOne. The N64 was by far the better machine but that didn't ensure it sold. Talking about sales in relation to how good a product is can be very misleading. Elsewhere in these forums, quite a few people are suggesting that the Apple iPod is a "bad" product, does this mean it doesn't sell? As I have said, the Aston Martin badge and exterior design is enough to sell one of these cars on its own, to your average poser it doesn't matter whether it's any good in Grand Tourer terms.


People might complain about GM scraping the parts bin, but I have never heard such a thing from an Aston Martin owner. A Continental GT has loads of cheap VW parts, but it excells by the way it's put together, just like the Astons.

In comparison to most Ford parts (in their mainstream cars at least), VWs are the equivalent of gold. The Audi switchgear looks and feels absolutely perfect in a Gallardo...it doesn't feel tacky. It's a similar story with the Bentley.


Believe it or not there is a difference between a Mondeo interior and an Aston Martin interior, even though they share some parts.

There is, and it is a big difference but still not enough for me and for a number of people I've spoken to. I'd take my money elsewhere for a GT.


It's hilarious that the person that disagrees with you the most is one of the customers that got fooled into buying one of these switch equipped vehicles. He should be the one that cares, not you.

Read what I said about poncy, small minded posers and even some people's opinions on the iPod, or the Hummer H2. Some people will buy anything for a name. Do you realise how stupid what you just said was? Just because we arent directly affected by something doesn't mean we shouldn't care. Take the war in Iraq, for example. I'm a car enthusiast and it pains me to see the almost legendary name of Aston Martin being abused - it's not as if Ford can't do better, the Ford GT has a better interior by far...


Where in the hell did 'I' say AM would use a 10k interior, I was making a direct comparison with Ferrari and Lamborghini, two luxo-exotic companies. It's all the same crap, just because you have a bone to pick w/ Ford shouldn't mean it branches out to every capillary Ford maintains.

...You didn't say it and neither did I, I said a "£10k CAR interior" meaning the interior from a car costing £10k. The only times I have a bone to pick with any company is when they do something like this. It's not just Ford. What does anger though, is that when they try, they CAN make a very good all-round vehicle. They've certainly made a massive difference to Land Rover...why are they cutting corners with Aston Martin?

[my porsche]

i think someone needs to go relax, and not get so twisted up over some window switches

[Clivey]

i think someone needs to go relax, and not get so twisted up over some window switches

I AM relaxed lol, watching "Gone In 60 Seconds" and taking a break from college work. I'm just thinking about the direction Aston Martin should be taking and looking back at what's actually happening to find they're going somewhere that's only going to turn them into another nothing eventually. It'll start with relatively minor things such as switchgear but because of the way the brand's being concentrated and "developed" (if you can call this development) it'll ultimately lead to other areas of the cars suffering. Eventually I can see Astons using Jag engines that are also shared with Land Rover...that sort of thing wouldn't be good. In that case you'd end up with one engine that's a jack of all trades, being adapted for three completely different types of vehicle, but it would be a master of none. - Just an example of the sort of thing that I can see happening (Jaguar and Land Rover are already sharing engines, what is it, a Jag OR a Land Rover? It wont excel at being both)

[Viper007]

Why dont we fit Bond with something cooler something nimble like an F40?

[Clivey]

Why dont we fit Bond with something cooler something nimble like an F40?

Lol, or for a more "British" effect, a McLaren F1...?:rolleyes:

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

Clivey - whats with the switch gear obsession?

Your dads Mondeo fell apart because it was a CHEAP car built CHEAPLY.

A Vanq is handbuilt at Newport Pagnel, buy people who CARE.
The last Aston Martin handbuilt at Newport Pagnell was the Vantage V600.

Robots cannot tell the difference between what they are making. They make it to the same standard.

At least, I think it was.

[Clivey]

The last Aston Martin handbuilt at Newport Pagnell was the Vantage V600.

And the V600 was built to a higher standrard than the Vanquish. It doesn't really matter where it was made or who by, Aston HAS taken a step backwards.

[Sauc3]

And the V600 was built to a higher standrard than the Vanquish. It doesn't really matter where it was made or who by, Aston HAS taken a step backwards.
How is making a profit and making cars that people lust after, cars that have a reputation for being some of the most comfortable cars and best GTs, cars that are arguably the best looking modern cars, cars which are stealing sales from it's rivals, a step backwards?
Remember that in 1992 the company made only 43 new cars. Was that what they went BACKWARDS from?? Now they are making 2500 cars a year, with predictions for as many as 5000.
How is that a step backwards, please explain. Is it ONLY because a few tiny parts are being shared from a parent company, which happens in a LOT of cars?

[The_Canuck]

the Ford GT has a better interior by far...


the aston however dosent leak water in the rain and have a massive blindspot.

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

And the V600 was built to a higher standrard than the Vanquish. It doesn't really matter where it was made or who by, Aston HAS taken a step backwards.
If they hadn't taken that step, Aston Martin would not be making cars now. They'd be another faded memory from a time when Britain was the most powerful empire on the planet.

It's survival of the fittest, and metaphorically, Aston Martin were cured of lung cancer by Ford. You may not like their methods at the moment, but this can change- think what Ford did for the Range Rover, and then think what they did for the Discovery.

They're concentrating on LR at the moment. Give them time.

They'd always have different engines- I cannot see the 2.7 TDi being adopted in a "baby Aston budget car", that's for sure. The same goes for that spine-tingling V8 in the Vantage- it's a thing of sheer raucous power, not built for yanking a 2.7 tonne off-roader through the mud with it's not-very-amazing torque figure.

[Clivey]

How is making a profit and making cars that people lust after, cars that have a reputation for being some of the most comfortable cars and best GTs, cars that are arguably the best looking modern cars, cars which are stealing sales from it's rivals, a step backwards?

I was talking about interior quality, I didn't mention or mean anything else with regards to the "backwards" comment. However, I do think that now Aston has proved it will make a profit etc. Ford should let them at least design new cars completely from scratch. There are only a few minor things I'd change about the looks of the new cars (Vanquish and DB9) but I'm especially picky when it comes to exterior design (that's what I wanted to do a few years ago). The Vantage though looks slightly "cutesy" and cartoon-like compared to the others, I think it needs to LOOK longer and have a slightly more pointy nose. (It's very rounded for an Aston at present)


the aston however dosent leak water in the rain and have a massive blindspot.

A Ford build quality problem which shouldn't be allowed to find its way into an AM. That's not the quality of the interior as far as the dash, doorcards, seats etc. go (in the GT) but a problem with the seals around the doors / windows.

[Cyco]

Have you ANY evidence WHATSOEVER that I am a poncy small minded poser?

Every post you make regarding Astons?


You give the impression you want to be doing both of these.

What, buy a Aston that is well tested and reliable?

Yes, well not want to, I have.


I have also been inside an F50 and as I've already stated, the Fiat parts werent as blatantly obvious as the Ford crap in the Vanquish

Have you ever been in a Fiat, or Alfa? Doesnt sound like you have spent much time there to tell


One of the main reasons it didn't sell is that it was so performance orientated that emissions were horrendous, and it was subsiquently banned in many countries. That doesn't mean it was a bad car (in that sense of the word at least). TVR Tuscans arent road legal in the US, do you think they're bad cars? Aston was already in trouble, the V600 didn't change that.

Some Aston history for you:

The previous V8 Vantage was being built at NP and there was new emission regs coming in in Europe. The 5.3l V8 in the V8V was not going to pass these regs, having first been designed and used many years previously. Aston took the step to develop an entirely new car, the Vanquish. This left Aston with a problem - a large pile of V8V bodies and engines that would not be sold due to the new model. So they bolted on 2 superchargers and created the limited edition V600 :D


I admit there may be some confusion here, I didn't mean the piece you sit on but the plastic that surrounds the bottom of the seat. The seat movement controls are all Ford if you care to take a look.

This piece around the bottom of the seat looks a lot like leather to me on a Vanq, didn't realise a Mondeo was so well speced.



You seriously wat to tell me the steering coloum from a Vanq fits a Mondeo? You really don't have a clue do you?Not the whole steering column, we were talking in relation to switchgear, I meant the plastic surround.

That again in a Vanq looks remarkably similar to leather....


You must realise that this practice by any manufacturer of stuffing an expensive (especially a luxury or GT car) car full of inferior parts to save money only costs and fool the people who buy it, is not good. Once they can get away with it, it'll get worse.

Do you realise this has been going on ever since mass production started?

Do you also realise that the manufactures don't actually make most of the switch gear and the like, they just assemble it?


As I have said, the Aston Martin badge and exterior design is enough to sell one of these cars on its own, to your average poser it doesn't matter whether it's any good in Grand Tourer terms.

If they were anywhere near as bad as you make out they would not have the current 2 year waiting list.


I AM relaxed lol, watching "Gone In 60 Seconds"

I can understand why you are so uptight then, the acting in that is woeful :p


Eventually I can see Astons using Jag engines that are also shared with Land Rover...that sort of thing wouldn't be good.

Initally the AMV8 was due to share the Jag/Range Rover SC V8, but Ford decided to let Aston build their own.


for a more "British" effect, a McLaren F1...?

Is there an elegant way to exit a McLaren F1, especially in a Tux?


The last Aston Martin handbuilt at Newport Pagnell was the Vantage V600.

Robots cannot tell the difference between what they are making. They make it to the same standard.

The Vanq is still being built at NP. Currently the Gaydon facility is at full capacity, so it would either need to expand, or the DBS/Rapide will be back at NP.

The only robot in Gaydon is the glue aplicator.


the V600 was built to a higher standrard than the Vanquish.

The V600 was built by the same people in the same place as the Vanq, both under Ford ownership, so why would there be a quality difference> How do you know there is a quality difference?


Ford should let them at least design new cars completely from scratch.

The Exterior was designed by Mr Fisker, the Chassis is the VH platform. Both are (currently) only used by Aston. What parts are Ford not letting them design?


The Vantage though looks slightly "cutesy" and cartoon-like compared to the others, I think it needs to LOOK longer

It looks short because it is, and its ment to.

[my porsche]

the aston however dosent leak water in the rain
i can vouch that as true


and about the f1 or f40, bond's car have to be cutting edge, those are both old :D

[2ndclasscitizen]

can i point something out? the AMV8, whose interior at least looks, well to me, to be pretty much the same as the DB9/Vanquish (but i've only seen pics of them all so i'm not sure), and when Top Gear drove it, JC said most of the switches came from Volvo, whose cars have pretty nice interiors, i had a look at the new S40 at the motor show and it looked nice. And JC said it was a nice place to sit, and seeing as though he woulda sat in some damn nice interiors in his time, i imagine it doesn't really matter. I mean, i don't give a flying **** about the switches in the cars i drive, i just switch them and PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING, NOT THE DASH AND SWITCHES, which you should most definately do, esp. if you're in a 500hp, V12 car

[2ndclasscitizen]

and actually, i just remembered, Wheels, an aussie car mag, says in the pro/con bit in the buyers guide in the back of the magazine that they missed in the Ford Ka vents that the concept car had

[Cyco]

I mean, i don't give a flying **** about the switches in the cars i drive, i just switch them and PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING

I think you have got it exactly right there

[Coventrysucks]

It's not as if Ford are incapable of building a decent interior, the Range Rover is proof odf that.

Ford don't make interiors.

Johnson controls, Intier and Lear make interiors.

[Zondaboy1]

thats hot

[Clivey]

Every post you make regarding Astons?

If you actually thought about it, it's quite the opposite. I regard the current cars (except maybe the DB9) as not as good as their image. It's laughable to think that you are calling me this when you're the one that's on the waiting list! For the money you could buy quite a few more talented cars.


What, buy a Aston that is well tested and reliable? Yes, well not want to, I have.

No, buy one that isn't quite as good as it should be...I realise you're buying a V8 Vantage, not a Vanquish - the interior will be MUCH better in your car. there are only a few shared parts and they're not the ones that are especially bad in Fords.


Have you ever been in a Fiat, or Alfa? Doesnt sound like you have spent much time there to tell.

I live in Europe, therefore even without really intending, trying etc. I've probably spent more time in these cars than you. I have spent quite a lot of time in Alfas and Fiats...and I still stand by what I said in that Ferrari's parts sharing isn't anywhere near as obvious as that in the Vanquish. Even my girlfriend (who is interested but has much less knowledge of cars than most members here) commented on how cheap the Vanquish's interior was. If Ford had used parts from their latest cars, it wouldn't have been anywhere near as much of a problem as they've greatly improved the interior quality of their latest offerings. The generation of cars that share parts with the Vanquish though, were appauling in that department.


This piece around the bottom of the seat looks a lot like leather to me on a Vanq, didn't realise a Mondeo was so well speced.

Not around the bottom of the seat, under the seat where it isn't leather. The pice of plastic containing the electric controls for moving the seat. If you look on the cars database you can just about see it behind the handbrake (this though, is only on the standard version, Aston thankfully changed it for the S). This is just one small part though and it's not really worth a whole discussion over where it came from. The point is that in the later models (DB9 and Vantage), these parts have changed. Aston must have thought they needed to change them, otherwise they woudln't have done so. As I said, the interiors of the DB9 and V8 are much better. To be honest, one of the reasons I even asked my girlfriend what she thought of the interior of the Vanquish was to see what someone that wouldn't know where the parts came from thought. She pointed straight to the area of the steering wheel, column surround, the aircon vents (between the steering wheel and driver's door) and the switches on the driver's door and announced they looked tacky. She even said that the seats looked nasty but that she said, had a little more to do with the colour combination (This was the picture of the Vanquish S interior on the cars database).


That again in a Vanq looks remarkably similar to leather....

If you actually looked, this is clearly not the case. Once again I refer you to the pictures on the cars database. You don't need to look any further to see. To clarify, I am talking about the pice of the car that the control stalks are attached to, not the actual dashboard. The gear change paddles are an example of Aston trying to make an interior, the rest of the stalks arent.


Do you realise this has been going on ever since mass production started?

Parts sharing has, but the lowest quality parts available into the highest percieved quality cars? Once again, it wouldn't be a problem with the latest batch of Ford interiors but the previous generation clearly needed improvement, Ford realised this and acted accordingly, but it's a shame they stuck the old parts in the Vanquish first.


Do you also realise that the manufactures don't actually make most of the switch gear and the like, they just assemble it?

Of course, but they DO choose where they get it from.


If they were anywhere near as bad as you make out they would not have the current 2 year waiting list.

So there is a two year waiting list for the Vanquish is there?:rolleyes: I wasn't talking about the V8 you've ordered. Actually, on the subject of that, do tell us more about it. What colours, specifications etc?


I can understand why you are so uptight then, the acting in that is woeful :p

Lol. For once I agree with you but it is a funny film and the cars, the cars...


Initally the AMV8 was due to share the Jag/Range Rover SC V8, but Ford decided to let Aston build their own.

Which was a good choice. Apparently it sounds fantastic...I've only heard one in person at low revs thus far. has anybody got the full details of this engine along with the ones for the 4.2 unit that Jaguar uses?


Is there an elegant way to exit a McLaren F1, especially in a Tux?

British humour my friend. You do realise I was joking...? Bond has to have the latest, with the exception of his proper Aston (I think you kow which one I'm talking about). Besides, the McLaren, whilst it is undoubtedly a fantastic car, has not got the refined and classy image of many of Bond's cars.


The only robot in Gaydon is the glue aplicator. The V600 was built by the same people in the same place as the Vanq, both under Ford ownership, so why would there be a quality difference> How do you know there is a quality difference?

You did not get the point. The robots in question would be the ones making the switchgear before it even reached Gaydon. Even the most caring of Aston employee at Gaydon couldn't single handedly improve the quality of th parts they were told to assemble. Ford gave them Mondeo switchgear, so that's what was fitted, it's not the guy who assembled it that's at fault, he's just doing his job. If you refer to the other thread, you'll see that I know there's a difference in quality because in only the first Vanquish I sat in, the finish was coming off the door handle and the surround. I've been in another two since, one was scratched similarly but I didn't touch it because it wasn't my car to mess around in and I didn't want to chip anymore off. The other was brand new and owned by someone that was unmarried and didn't wear any rings.


The Exterior was designed by Mr Fisker, the Chassis is the VH platform. Both are (currently) only used by Aston. What parts are Ford not letting them design?

The interior was a compete shambles, if the budget for it wasn't as tight, they would have come up with something more like the interior of the car you're waiting on.


It looks short because it is, and its ment to.

It's just my personal preference, I like an Aston to look like an Aston. None of the other Vantages have looked so short or toned down, the rear is fine (I like the shape) but the front lives up to the name "Baby" Aston...:D

[Clivey]

can i point something out? the AMV8, whose interior at least looks, well to me, to be pretty much the same as the DB9/Vanquish (but i've only seen pics of them all so i'm not sure), and when Top Gear drove it, JC said most of the switches came from Volvo, whose cars have pretty nice interiors, i had a look at the new S40 at the motor show and it looked nice. And JC said it was a nice place to sit, and seeing as though he woulda sat in some damn nice interiors in his time, i imagine it doesn't really matter.

The AMV8 has a much better interior than the Vanquish. I'm sorry but if you can't tell the difference, your eyesight may be failing you...Volvo, incase you didn't notice is owned by Ford, so it's quite possible that they share parts too. The new S40 was designed and built after the Vanquish and Ford's QC has improved greatly since then. The old S40 is probably the culprit! To be honest, the interior of that was poor as well...especially for the prices they charged.

JC is not the definitive authority on cars that most people tend to think he is. Remember, he did say during the McLaren F1's development and after it first came out that he thought it wasn't as talented as it was credited with. We all though, know how he slated the Vanquish when it first came out.


I mean, i don't give a flying **** about the switches in the cars i drive, i just switch them and PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING, NOT THE DASH AND SWITCHES, which you should most definately do, esp. if you're in a 500hp, V12 car

Automakers should concentrate on the whole car for that kind of price and there's really no excuse for letting the car down with a crap interior. You may only buy a 500BHP V12 car because it has 500BHP V12, but you would notice the interior once you'd finished your initial toying with the car's performance. This argument has no weight as the car's supposed to be of quality. You could take a 500BHP V12 and shoehorn it into many different cars but an Aston should be about more than that.


Ford don't make interiors.

Johnson controls, Intier and Lear make interiors.

Indeed, but who chooses them to? I doubt it's a random decision. Ford must have known that the quality of the Vanquish wasn't good enough otherwise they wouldn't have improved it for later models.

[Clivey]

If you wanted any more proof of what people think (of even the Vantage interior) watch Top Gear's test against the 911 2 S and the M6...

...then read Whatcar's review on the Vantage.:D

[Clivey]

Yes, I think this article pretty much sums up what I think about the Vantage, except for the though that it looks better from some angles than others:

Taken from Whatcar? February 2006

Aston's beauty is a beast

It's more than just a pretty face-it seems Aston has got it right with the V8 Vantage


You will find it hard to enter any discussion about the Aston Martin V8 Vantage without referring to its looks-the overall consensus being this is an exceptionally good-looking car.

Putting style to one side, however, how does the Vantage stack up against its rivals?

Pretty well. Central to its appeal is the 4.3-litre V8 engine under that low-slung bonnet. With 380bhp and 302lb ft of pull - 75% of which is available from just 1,500rpm - it's quick. The benchmark 0-60 time slips just under five seconds and potent acceleration is on tap. The six-speed manual gearbox and clutch require a heavy shove, but don't detract from the thumping performance.

Then there's the sound. From the low rumble at lesser revs to the full-throated roar when you floor the throttle, it's menacing and absolutely irresistible.

Where the Vantage's bigger brother - the DB9 - doesn't drive as well as it looks, the Vantage has both the mouth and the trousers. It's perfectly at home on fast twisty roads, thanks to relentless grip and steering that keeps you well informed. Ultimately it can't quite match a 911 for agility or entertainment, but it inspires masses of confidence and you have to push very hard to elicit a response from the stability control.

Although some wind and road noise is present, you can make effortless progress on long journeys. The ride is firm, though.

Thanks to a well laid out cabin, the Vantage makes fine everyday transport, with good space for two and a reasonable boot.

There are some irritations, however. Front and rear visibility could be better and there are some niggles; the small steering wheel obscures the top of the dials, for example, and it's hard to turn the ignition key due to the proximity to the dash.

The quality is also inconsistent - keen eyes will spot switchgear that's shared with Ford Group models that cost less than £20,000. Most people will find it hard to look beyond the external styling, however, and that remains the Vantage's greatest strength.

There is also a caption on an interior photo stating that "Dashboard layout needs more attention". This echoes my thoughts.

Having seen quite a few around Derby now though, I can definitely say it looks better from some angles than others, here's a pic of a not-so-nice viewpoint, making it look somewhat like an RX-8. Sorry for the quality (taken on a phone) but the "blurriness" only shows up the overall shape more.