FWIW, at the AMOC Lime Rock event this summer, there were (IIRC) 7 or 8 V8 Vantages. All but one had manual 'boxes. We're obviously in the minority in general, but there may be enough of us. BMW didn't have to put a manual in the coming M3/4, but they are.

 

So Ford became successful after unwinding their Premier Automotive Group strategy which cost them $17B to put together and significantly contributed to losses of $12.7B in 2006 after which they sold Volvo, Jaguar, etc?

That was not a failed strategy for Ford?

 

Well, if I was to include new unregistered vehicles just from my dealer alone, number goes from 77 to 101 total vehicles needing this mod..62 are Vantage's..years of recall range from 2007 to present day..so also includes DB9 and DBS in those 101 vehicles that had a manual option of years between 2007-present day..I love manuals, have always had a manual vehicle since driving at 16 and still do..but like I said previously it's all about *supply on demand* and AML just doesn't have the demand large enough to make a profit, only reason V8VS had the manual option, it's simple to add this to the already built assembly line..but to make a line custom just for a few cars is not cost effective(..new Vanquish for example)...To not shut off the manual stick loving clients, what I can see is A.M offering a manual convert kit just like the old Vanquish but this would be charged to the client and done at the clients local dealer..so if the clients pockets are large enough, win-win at both ends..

 

Irish - what mod/recall is this? I'm to take my car in today and perhaps could have the mod performed in the same trip. MTIA!

 

Irish,

FWIW, according to my dealer (northeast US), there is still considerable demand for a manual 'box in the Vantage, and much more for the Vantage than any other model. The demand doesn't have to be a majority for it to be worth doing -- it just has to be enough. I don't have enough information to know what "enough" is, but BMW developed the new M3/4 with a manual, and they must have done it for a reason. If Jaguar does come through with a manual for the F-Type it will also indicate that there is "enough" demand. A conversion like that for Vanquish 1 won't do it for me.

I'm also curious about the recall...

 

Throttle pedal and moding of the scuff plate behind to provide extra clearance..these vehicle's when WOT are only reaching 80-89% full throttle when +95% needs to be achieved..there is a VIN list that the dealer has of affected vehicles..vehicle is checked and if action is required then mod is performed..at first there was a recall on 2013 vehicle early this year..recall has changed and now includes up till Nov 2007 builds..even if a 2013 has just done the recall, this pedal now replaces the one that was just replaced early this year..so other words these 2013 owners will need to have the pedal replaced again and possibly the mod performed..

 

Irish,

The recall applies to cars built until Nov '07 (meaning before then)? From your previous post it sounded like cars built after that point were involved. Is it that cars built from Nov '07 through 2013 are included in the recall?

 

I understand your point..but to give a little inside info..if it wasn't for California enviro laws, we would still have the old Vanquish sold past 2006..if it wasn't for the sales in California, Rapide would of been trashed..if it wasn't for the gross volume in California Aston would of lifted and not adapted there warranty to fit laws in N.A and just provide the basic 1 year warranty, this is going back a few years though..

To sum things up..if California doesn't buy and want something, Aston Martin says "Yes Sir" and meets there demands..the volume of Canada alone doesn't even match the volume sold in California, insane!!..don't believe me, check the amount of dealers per state and compare to California..

nonetheless, this is all going off topic from AMG merge to manual stick being alive in the future..sry about that..

 

Yes..not all require the mod even in those years, a VIN list is posted for dealers to see if an inspection and check is required..contact your local dealer and they can inform you if recall applies, this only came out Oct 23rd ..number of recall is: RA-03-0016V2

 

Thanks!

 

I suppose you can call it whatever you like.

No question, the Premier Automotive Group was a bold move, however, as often said, "no risk, no reward". They had the money to pull it off, but this was a high stakes game.

I submit, without the economic meltdown, i.e.:
-if the U.S. market kept on buying product at its mind bending 17 million rate
-and Europe did as well, including Russia and its previous subsidiaries
-plus the inevitable market explosion in China
Ford would be churning out profits like an oil company. That is, in multiples of the $8 Billion forecast for the 2013 CY.

Think how close they came to profit nirvana. They purchased then invested in facilities and product for Jag, Land Rover and AML. Then offered and sent technology, engineering, manufacturing and marketing expertise worth additional $10s of Millions. Ford laid out their entire North American and European (Ford of Europe is a similarly large entity to its domestic operations) vehicle development and production operations, knowledge gained over 110 years.

The successful Jags and Land Rovers of today were financed, planned, engineered, developed, manufactured and marketed, aided and abetted by Ford Motor Company. Financial support percentages and actions may not have reached that of the GT/40/LeMans onslaught but they were much more broadly based.

Further, AML was taken from panel beaters in antique garages in Newport Pagnell to the extravaganza that is Gaydon. A total of 42 cars built in 1994 when Ford purchased them, to 7000 in 2007. From losses most likely since 1913 to its first profit in 2007 when Ford sold it. Growth/improvement like that does not happen haphazardly.

And Ford has kept the fires burning in the home market (with that borrowed $23 Billion?). I am driving 2 Ford products and they are outstanding.

-2014 Flex, 3.5L DOHC twin turbo V6...about as sweet and quiet as anything on the road and its quick. It can tow, can seat 7 or have a flat load floor and is remarkably roomy inside. I think of it as a sporty, mature station wagon.
-2013 Escape, 2.0L DOHC turbo I4...great around town, a grocery getter. Nimble, if you see a hole in traffic and want to be there, just push down.

So, but for a worldwide economic catastrophe, our streets in Dearborn could have been paved with gold. Regrettably we will have to make do with $8 Billion this year.

And they did it all without U.S. Government (YOUR) money!

 

Some food for thought regarding AMG engines. It's not a typical Aston sound but it's definitely isn't a Mercedes sound either.

 

I think that it'd be okay if Merc provided a starting point for the engine and Aston personalized it to suit its cars. As for sound, it relates as much to the exhaust system as the engine. By analogy, what you hear from a stereo system relates as much (or more) to the speakers as the components/amps.