How much attention does your Aston really get?
#16
06-29-2020, 06:06 PM
Now that I think of it, I did take that rental Jag through Manhattan and I recall it getting pretty much zero attention despite me excessively jabbing the loud pedal and giggling at the noise. I suppose with the constant loud noise people just don't really care that much, unless you have something like an Aventador (I saw one followed by a 2019 AM V8V and RR, people were pulling out their phones for the Lambo but ignored the other two).
#17
06-29-2020, 06:21 PM
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: NYC Area
Posts: 126
Rep Power: 9 
Different animals. Unless you're a Porsche specialist, you can't tell a 90k Porsche from a 200k Porsche. True, you do see Porches parked in NYC, but these tend to be the low level kind. Listen, if you want a 10k (and up) repair bill after parking your Aston on the street or turning it over to a parking garage, this is something that you just don't do with these types of cars.
I'll take your word for it that the V8V gets more attention than an F-type, thanks. Something to think about.
#18
06-29-2020, 07:56 PM
Hi everyone, I'm a general car nerd and have lusted after a V8V for years now (absolutely love the styling and exhaust note, enough that I can forgive its many shortcomings). I've gone through all of rmrmd1956's DIY tuning adventures, all the threads about maintenance, upgrade parts, etc. Sports cars from the past in California: MR2, FR-S, 981 Cayman. I'm in the NYC area and am looking to get a car since I miss driving, I figure a few hundred on parking+insurance+maintenance a month is chump change compared to rent and eating out, and I cheap out on both so...
Last year, I was planning on picking up an AP1 S2000 (less things to mod), but I never pulled the trigger, and now the prices are pretty silly ($12k for 200k miles...:/), though I'm still going to find one on Turo to try first. Speaking of Turo, I've rented an ND Miata (I loved it, but I'm too tall for it even with fixed seats) and Jaguar F-type, and the Jag made me think about the Aston again. Compared to the 981, the Jag had a little more of a luxurious feel to it, and the stupidly loud exhaust was a lot more fun than I anticipated. With gasoline cars on the path to extinction in a decade, I might as well have some fun with a gas guzzler now right?
So the thing I'm worried about is that the economy is bad and social/political strife is picking up, I don't want to get attacked by the mob for having some "1 percenter" car. The Cayman mostly flies under the radar but it does get some attention even in luxury car infested California. Doug Demuro's video seemed to suggest that the Aston got no looks whatsoever, which to me is a huge plus. How much is this really the case? Are Astons less frequent victims of vandalism than Porsches?
Last year, I was planning on picking up an AP1 S2000 (less things to mod), but I never pulled the trigger, and now the prices are pretty silly ($12k for 200k miles...:/), though I'm still going to find one on Turo to try first. Speaking of Turo, I've rented an ND Miata (I loved it, but I'm too tall for it even with fixed seats) and Jaguar F-type, and the Jag made me think about the Aston again. Compared to the 981, the Jag had a little more of a luxurious feel to it, and the stupidly loud exhaust was a lot more fun than I anticipated. With gasoline cars on the path to extinction in a decade, I might as well have some fun with a gas guzzler now right?
So the thing I'm worried about is that the economy is bad and social/political strife is picking up, I don't want to get attacked by the mob for having some "1 percenter" car. The Cayman mostly flies under the radar but it does get some attention even in luxury car infested California. Doug Demuro's video seemed to suggest that the Aston got no looks whatsoever, which to me is a huge plus. How much is this really the case? Are Astons less frequent victims of vandalism than Porsches?
Last edited by Zepe; 06-29-2020 at 10:09 PM.
#19
06-29-2020, 09:16 PM
I think attention is just a small factor that I'd be worried about. I know there are people here from NY, Boston, Chicago the big eastern cities. I wouldn't take a car that I cared even a little for into one of these cities. Between the indifference of others to the situations that the owner is put in around parking and fitting into places, the car will absolutely be damaged. I've watched people parallel park by feel and it's gut wrenching. Especially a car with the poor site lines of an Aston where it's really hard to judge the car's corners. There are a lot of inexpensive Astons out there now but they're still really expensive to repair and who wants to drive around in a beat up exotic. I think that's one of the definitions of redneck 
#21
06-30-2020, 05:53 AM
I don't mind driving in the city, but where I am going to park is of concern. Many garages in NYC you have to leave the keys at the garage. Parallel parking sucks no matter where it is and these cars are clumsy when driving below 20 mph.
Range Rover is a much better city car. Awesome turning radius and it owns whatever parking space you put it in.
Anyone remotely into cars is going to give an Aston the thumb's up and when driving a low gear with the valves open just echoes off the buildings. Sounds epic. I remember whating a DB9 drive down Boylston St. in Boston and it sounded like a grand prix car! I knew an Aston was in my future when that went by.
Range Rover is a much better city car. Awesome turning radius and it owns whatever parking space you put it in.
Anyone remotely into cars is going to give an Aston the thumb's up and when driving a low gear with the valves open just echoes off the buildings. Sounds epic. I remember whating a DB9 drive down Boylston St. in Boston and it sounded like a grand prix car! I knew an Aston was in my future when that went by.
#22
06-30-2020, 10:39 AM
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: NYC Area
Posts: 126
Rep Power: 9 Anyone remotely into cars is going to give an Aston the thumb's up and when driving a low gear with the valves open just echoes off the buildings. Sounds epic. I remember whating a DB9 drive down Boylston St. in Boston and it sounded like a grand prix car! I knew an Aston was in my future when that went by.
#24
06-30-2020, 04:32 PM
Oh, I agree I wouldn't street park (can't tolerate the anxiety) or hand it to a valet or park it in a crowded garage (unless it's surrounded by 100k+ cars). I'm thinking if it's a less crowded part of town, and there's a self-service garage with generous spacing between stalls that isn't full, maybe that's not so dangerous. I've seen a DB11 parked in one of those multi-level lifts where it should be pretty difficult for damage to occur. I'm on the NJ side, so there's a number of stores with what I think of as reasonably safe parking.
I'll take your word for it that the V8V gets more attention than an F-type, thanks. Something to think about.
I'll take your word for it that the V8V gets more attention than an F-type, thanks. Something to think about.
This can be a problem too. There are plenty of garages in NYC that have water dripping from their roofs. Often times, the water drips have chemicals in them so be forewarned.
#26
06-30-2020, 08:20 PM
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: 85 Albert Embankment, London
Posts: 173
Rep Power: 21 
As the only Aston in town, I get a lot of thumbs up, cell phone vids and looks. Guy last week walked into the street downtown to video as I passed slowly. But I agree, when folks see a Lambo, they think it's a ***** screaming "Look at me".
On the other hand in my Aston they think I'm a ***** being a little more subtle and refined. That's high class ***** to you.
On the other hand in my Aston they think I'm a ***** being a little more subtle and refined. That's high class ***** to you.
Last edited by M I Six; 07-01-2020 at 12:41 AM.
#28
07-01-2020, 08:22 AM
Years ago I flew all over the country to meet clients at the local airport to discuss engineering systems or to design their developments. When you meet a potential client in your own plane they assume you must know what you are doing and are very successful at what you do, or the products you are selling. The psychology of meeting that way influenced a ton of business and the expense of owning a plane was absorbed in the extra business it created. This was in the days before laptops, and the equipment alone took up space and weighed well over 100 pounds. I discovered this influence beginning with a Cherokee 6 that I bought from a funeral home for $20,000 in 1985. As business grew, so did the planes - but be it a $20K Cherokee or a $500K Malibu - the influence was the same. I no longer fly because I'm too old to fly safely, so I began replacing flying with Aston Vantages (having a few Lagonda's since the late 1980's). When I pull up in my Aston for a meeting or to present at a city, its a similar psychology to flying to a meeting. My silver Aston does not get so much attention on the street, but when you pull up in the Aston for a meeting it does influence in a positive way the initial impression potential clients have about me. I'm not sure a Ferrari or Lambo would have the same impression, other than perhaps the new Roma. My Vantage sits next to my desk in my office when it's not on the road - new clients that come in are always impressed. It's just a small but nice touch and often leads to interesting conversations.
#29
07-01-2020, 08:53 AM
#30
07-01-2020, 09:14 AM
Agreed on the color making a huge difference.
The Vantage in the Alloro Green and yellow livery gets as much attention as the Firesand Orange F-Type SVR.
I'm sure if the Aston were silver it would fly under most people's radars though.
The Vantage in the Alloro Green and yellow livery gets as much attention as the Firesand Orange F-Type SVR.
I'm sure if the Aston were silver it would fly under most people's radars though.