2015 V8 Vantage GT
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This seems pretty accurate. If it's true that there is significantly less difference in what a buyer will actually pay for a car now compared to what we've been assuming, then the "benefit" of the publically announced price slashing is small -- the buyer gets a somewhat better deal. However, they've upset current owners by potentially skewering resale value (time will tell).
Moreover, the damage done to the perception of the Vantage's -- and Aston Martin's -- standing in the exotic car heirarchy remains very real. One needs only to read this thread to see that. IMO, they should have instead launched a marketing campaign touting how good these cars really are, how they've been developed and honed over the car's life, how truly advanced VH not only was but still is, etc., rather than shouting that they're not as great as we thought, not really worth the money, not actually worth a premium over a Porsche. That would have been a far better way to improve sales. What they've done, or perhaps more accurately, how they've done it, seems daft.
The GT is a great car (as are all of the Vantages), but the marketing is terrible.
Moreover, the damage done to the perception of the Vantage's -- and Aston Martin's -- standing in the exotic car heirarchy remains very real. One needs only to read this thread to see that. IMO, they should have instead launched a marketing campaign touting how good these cars really are, how they've been developed and honed over the car's life, how truly advanced VH not only was but still is, etc., rather than shouting that they're not as great as we thought, not really worth the money, not actually worth a premium over a Porsche. That would have been a far better way to improve sales. What they've done, or perhaps more accurately, how they've done it, seems daft.
The GT is a great car (as are all of the Vantages), but the marketing is terrible.
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I think this is key. AM going this route is to get people in the door. Once a person drives an Aston, they're a fan. It's getting potential new customers into dealerships that's the hard part - and that's why AM is marketing the GT as a "sub-$100k" car. AM really needs to rethink their marketing strategies!
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The problem is, who would want to buy the S he ordered when they could spec out their own car for less?
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Salesman actually told me "why do I want to spec out my V8S as a GT, i.e., the cheaper car?" Hilarious. You can't make this stuff up!
Last edited by terminal_ac; Apr 22, 2014 at 02:17 PM.
This seems pretty accurate. If it's true that there is significantly less difference in what a buyer will actually pay for a car now compared to what we've been assuming, then the "benefit" of the publically announced price slashing is small -- the buyer gets a somewhat better deal. However, they've upset current owners by potentially skewering resale value (time will tell).
Since there isn't that much difference between the actual purchase price of a fully specced V8VS and V8VGT, the main and most significant change here is this: You can get the cool go faster stuff from the 'S' without having to buy all the options it used to come with as Standard.
And that move right there, will certainly and has enticed buyers out of the woodwork, who otherwise would not have put their money down. Like Karl-Franz
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Stuart Dickinson
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Velocity Automotive Performance Limited
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Stuart Dickinson
Managing Director
Velocity Automotive Performance Limited
206 Maple Avenue
Oliver, BC
Canada V2A 4W6
Office: (1)250-485-5126
www.velocityap.com
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And it comes full circle. Who would buy an S, or even the non S, at this point? Again, I think Aston must have a replacement in the works, maybe one with a twin-turbo V8 from MB.
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If the AMG-based V8V's come out in 2016 and the current engines are being supplied until 2017, then it'll just be a model overlap. Buyers will have the choice between the V8VGT and the AMG-based V8V. If the engine deal doesn't renew for the V8VGT's 4.7L, then at that point there will only be the AMG-based V8V.
True, but he'd be cancelling the V8VS order for a V8VGT - essentially the same car. AM is still making a sale. I think the insistence that he can't cancel is coming down to the dealer wanting the extra money from the V8VS sale.
True, but he'd be cancelling the V8VS order for a V8VGT - essentially the same car. AM is still making a sale. I think the insistence that he can't cancel is coming down to the dealer wanting the extra money from the V8VS sale.
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Here's an on topic question:
I'm in Karl's camp and even use the same dealer. I might do just what he did.
Anyone know if the GT (or other MY base Vantage) has the quicker steering rack of the S?
I'm in Karl's camp and even use the same dealer. I might do just what he did.
Anyone know if the GT (or other MY base Vantage) has the quicker steering rack of the S?
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Also, I thought you wanted to get a DB9 and go more GT and less sporty. Or did I imagine reading you say that?
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I think this is key. AM going this route is to get people in the door. Once a person drives an Aston, they're a fan. It's getting potential new customers into dealerships that's the hard part - and that's why AM is marketing the GT as a "sub-$100k" car. AM really needs to rethink their marketing strategies!
I would imagine that most new Aston buyers are not manual transmission sort of guys, though I may be wrong.
This has to be a way to move units that they all ready have partial construction done on.