What's going to hurt Aston Martin in the long run is the lack of funds for greater in-depth R&D work. What's really rare to me of the new Aston's is the Rapide. So few of them are roaming the streets or I'm just not that tuned in for them?

 

No doubt. I've taken big beatings on AMG cars, too. For mass produced cars, Porsche is pretty solid. Ferrari is probably the best, as long as you don't pay the early owner premium. Btw, I think the Vanquish has just about hit bottom. I'd buy one again, except the memories of it clunking and squeaking are still too vivid. But it's hard to beat in a parking lot.

 

My understanding is the rapide really isn't selling well at all/ hence the decision to bring production back to Gaydon...

And as for future development this looks pretty interesting:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/mercedes-buy-aston-martin

 

That "news" story about Mercedes is over 4 years old.....

 

Lol, nothing like a $100k bespoke parking spot holder!

 

It wasn't great to drive, but few cars have as much presence.

 

Totally agree, there was one on the lot at the dealer I bought my V8V from for not much more $. Was tempted, it's a sexy beast. But I was scared off by the ummm variable maintenance issues that you find with some of them. Still wonder, 'What if?' though.

 

Haha ... but a gorgeous car nontheless. Italian cars have their flare and all that, but an Aston Martin is always the well kept profound vehicle to me when you look at it.

 

Does anyone know exactly how many DBS are produced each year? breakdown coupe/convertible? allocations for US versus europe and asia?

I heard anywhere between 250 to 300 per year. Also I think they are about to finish up with the last 100 ultimate editions. So that would all add up to around 1500 total cars 08-12 (Europe began the DBS in 08)

can anyone confirm this. 1500 seems very low

 

At least 3500.

 

where did you hear this and are they a reliable source? Do you have links? also do you know the breakdown of how many per model year, per country, and coupe/convertible?

Thanks

 

^^^ I've heard there are more then 3500 from several reputable dealers, in fact Aston's published numbers have long since been superceeded, and as it turns out AML may have produced more units then anticpated causing them to inadvertantly sit on dealer lots. Less volantes were made then coupes also from what I've heard. Again my sources are the AML dealer network.

 

There's got go be some production volumes published somewhere... I'd read that the company only made 4 to 5 thousand cars annually (all 3 models and variants included)

 

I recall hearing 3,000 Vantages a year fwiw.

 

And the Speedmakers special earlier this year on the Speed channel indicated 1500 DB9s per year.