Forwarded without comment.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...-aston-martin/

 

generally ignorant and mildly offensive. what an ***.

 

He is somewhat offensive but to be honest, when i was at the dealer i could not tell the difference between the DB9 Vanquish and virage and i did think at the beginning that it was very similar car with different styles and options..

But i really loved the Vantage which it line up mimicks the Porsche lineup

Base, S version and a monster.

 

the Virage was more of stall tactic and an exercise in exterior design than anything else. AM basically said "here's an extra 20 hp and an updated front end to keep you distracted." it's a small company, so stuff like that shouldn't be a surprise.

aside from that, the cars all share a design that is one of the most beautiful on the planet. mocking them for looking the same is like making fun of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends because they're all hot blonde models. but it doesn't take much to differentiate the cars - especially differentiating the Vantages from the DB cars (DB9, Virage, DBS). the Rapide and Vanquish are even easier to tell apart, and the One-77 is in a league of its own. (i still deny the existence of the Cygnet).

plus, each car in the lineup is slightly different to cater to the driver. Vantages are sporty, DBs are GTs. V8 Vantages have a two small vents in the hood, V12Vs have 4 larger vents. DB9s have two small air inlets in the front fascia and are much larger than Vantages. DBSs have extra body moldings, are more powerful and sportier than DB9s.

AMs all look similar and have a similar feel when driven. it creates a unity across the brand that most car companies simply can't manage. AM has done something great in keeping the lineup as familiar as it is. it gives owners that want this type of car a choice without forcing them to make concessions. it isn't rocket surgery.

and saying that "rich people" point at the one they want, even if it's a wheel display (wtf?) is just ignorant and insulting. no self-respecting journalist wannabe should say such things. it's instantly discrediting to the author. and whining about price throughout the article leaves the author as nothing more than a petty, envious child.

 

I agree. honestly i found him to be very amusing. like listening to my 5yo having a tantrum.. Who cares what he thinks? Besides- I really liked that wheel display- thats the one i want, yes that one. LOL!!!

 

The devil is in the details. Not everyone should be able to tell them apart.

 

He's not the first and most certainly not the last who will write or youtube about how he just doesn't get it. That's fine, we do.

Not long ago, I couldn't tell the difference. I distinctly remember an LA Auto Show, standing at the AM booth and trying to discern what was what (probably around 2008). But when I couldn't tell the differnce, I didn't consider that a failure on the part of the car maker...

 

You may not like his style, but he's right about the silly market positioning and pricing. AM, up to now, can really only afford one platform and its getting a little difficult to differentiate it. BTW, I love my DBS, but its the first used car I've ever purchased, the dealer ate the first $100k of depreciation.

 

It is about seduction. It is clear now, that gold was struck in these timeless creations. It would be an abomination not to tinker a little with something that is "not broke", bringing the marque to more people and elevating the automotive aesthetic. A win win on a global scale. It fits their stated vision and should not be seen, IMO, as a money grab. BTW, not everyone who buys a DBS new is uneducated and a "I'll take the green one" type. Some people may want to help perpetuate the marque for the potential good it may bring.

 

What is the difference between DBS, vanquish, Db9 and Virage ? why would you buy one vs the other?

I get

V8V
V8S
V12V

P.s- I also cant tell the difference between any of the 911s and i own one.
Another example of "you dont mess with perfect design, just tweak it slightly

 

Well, for us, we didn't like the conservative styling of the DB9, and my wife thought the Virage bottom strake on the front was a non starter.

 

Not all astons look the same!! In the list they didn't cover the only one that looks radically diffenent. The baby Aston, the little monster also known as the AM Cygnet !

 

That was the whole point of the VH platform!

 

Easy
DBS about to go 310quish replaces
Virage is DB9 with options (I suspect you may soon see a Virage pack on the DB9)

Forget about the iQ

 

IMO, complaining/criticizing that Astons look "the same" is a bit absurd. They look similar, but not the same. I've never had any difficulty telling one from another. They're the best looking cars on sale. They don't look any more similar to each other than many current car companies' model lines, such as Audis, BMWs and M-Bs.