Looks like new mgmt team is realizing what many of us have been saying...a good start but will it be enough..looking forward to see if redesigns coming soon...

https://www.businessinsider.com/asto...00-2020-9?op=1

 

Agree. Good step in the right direction but now they need to up the performance for their sports cars and make the cars beautiful again in design and craftsmanship.

 

new vantage roadster with new grill looks very nice compare to old shark grill. plus slashing 14k from the price could help the sales. I think DBX is winner too, I saw it in person, I for one would buy it. It's really nice.

 

The Victor is proof they can still make 800 hp NA V12 manual coupes. Instead they give us Turbos, LCD screens and automatics.

If Ferrari can make the 812 Superfast, then were is the 800 NA V12 DBS?

The American Stig once said, Turbos are God's way of telling you that you don't have enough cylinders.

 

wife and I test driving DBX this weekend... still like our MB GLE AMG... we'll see... Bro in law has Bentley SUV and loves his...

 

Lease deals, no payments for a few months, and now $14K less for the Vantage - all messages of desperation and all reducing potential resale. What's interesting already a discount on a DBX sending a message - well, nobody's ordering these either. Not a fan of the new Vantage -in my opinion (not that it matters) an mishmash ugly mess. I was shocked when I saw a DBX and sat in it that I actually thought it was nice. But apparently not nice enough to compete. At the $150K to $250K price point dropping $14K is nothing. As soon as the Vantages were not selling, they should have stopped production and regrouped. On a side note - most of the employees of Morries Aston Martin are now working at the new Morries Jag/Land Rover dealership. When I pulled into the service bay with my C8 for Xpel and ceramic coating, they assumed I paid $110K for the car - then I told them it was $68K. There is a 3 year waiting list for a C8. My dealer told me don't bother putting your name on a Z06 - you're not getting one. Dave (the previous Aston service rep) took the C8 for a drive and felt it had the same power as the V12S (I thought it felt a bit less, but it makes less noise) and loved the handling (I have the base suspension). On the show floor was a 380HP V6 F-type - some special model for $104,500!

The point is - there is absolutely nothing 'new' or revolutionary about the C8 - just an incredible packaging of what's 'normal'. Design sells - a good value helps, but if Aston evolved the past designs instead of trashed them there would be a waiting list for every new product. Instead they discount - they keep in the news with the $100K Aston Martin racing seat, or the $100K motorcycle not even street legal, or an Aston Condo, Helo, Boat - next we can buy an Aston urinal... why don't they just make beautiful cars and evolve the previous Vantage and trash the current one? If I recover from Covid I'd either buy an older 4.7 Vantage again, or if I recover very well, my next Aston will be a Ferrari Roma.

 

I think the DB11 is pretty good. Its no DB9 but its still one of the best in class. Just lacks the "analog" spirit of older Astons. Needs analog instrument cluster, hide away satnav (like new Continental) and a manual gearbox would be nice. Why does the V12 need turbos when Victor and (812 Superfast) make 800hp NA?

 

I hope the new mgmt team will turn this around and introduce changes to design soon. I agree AM went TT when staying NA might have been unique product position but it's complicated with gov EPA requirements etc..it is what it is...

The exterior of DB11 and DBS is great IMO but the interior and transmission needs work and can't put the power down so it's out done by the ROMA and Superfast. Not an easy fix but can be done by 2022 MY if they get on it fast...The vantage has same issues but exterior is a CF so needs much more attention..saving $14k on a car nobody wants is useless...

The new biz move is more customer order (not flood inventory channel) but you have to have build models customers want to pay $200-$400k for...right now they will be lucky to get 2000 customer WW orders for 2021 MY cars (including DBX)...So I have a feeling of back to flood the channel to survive...this time next year AM's fate might be sealed...Feel bad for the USA dealers and there is noway they can support 45 dealers with that volume...

 

I used to trade up every now and then. Now I'm "stuck" with my manual 2011 Vantage V8.
To add to the problem, I've spent $30K on upgrades (500 hp, twin plate clutch, AMR flywheel, spacers, speakers and a mahogany dash).
Damn Aston Martin for not doing something similar.
Porsche always followed my lead with more horsepower, wider tires and wheels, better shifting and nicer materials.
Trading up used to be a no-brainer...

 

There are too many Vantages in the world right now. Flooding the market and watering down the breed.........AM had better get their heads out of their ***........

 

Number of C7 Corvettes:
C7 2018 9,686 + C7 2017 22,801 + C7 2016 40,689 C7 + 2015 34,240 = 107,416
Number of Vantages:
V8 Vantage (VH) 15,458 coupe + 6,231 Roadster + V12 Vantage 2,957 – all types including V12 Vantage S = 24,646

Not exactly watered down. Still, finding a nice manual in good condition is possible if you have a year to search for it.
Of course I haven't considered the newer turbo Vantages, but who would?

 

comparing a C8 to a Vantage is like comparing Chevy to an Aston Martin...
BTW do heavy gold chains and shirts that only button to your waist come standard with the Corvette?

 

This issue with the interiors is most of these people may have already looked at a AMG GT etc and gone wow this looks like my Mercedes from 4 years ago if they are a younger buyer. Lets remember that the old Vantage started around 100K in base form this one is more than 50% higher base. I personally like the style of the last generation cars. The Vanquish, DB9 and Vantage all looked great. I'd prefer evolutionary not revolutionary design update to this extreme with the fish mouth. New 2019 DBS was less than 1% MSRP lease after a heavy discount. Aston has always heavily discounted their cars after they don't sell even back in the day, but the largest discounts were the duds such as rapide and Virage. Bentley you get around 10% when they are a year old not 20-30% like Aston Martin. The 812 destroys the DBS in my opinion except if you want a lease for half the cost that is artificially inflated in terms of RV. The other factor is residuals, the Ferrari even high miles holds value. You don't see 30K Ferraris like you see early for early DB9s. Aston Martin's policy on raising parts costs and limiting exports from the UK is anticonsumer and the same as Rolls Royce, but Rolls Royce is a different base of customers. The DB11 looks good on the outside but is let down by the interior and as stated the transmission. When the made the AMR and offered the AMR transmission and HP flash it shows they realized they messed up. Hopefully they cut their losses and either reduce price or do an immediate extensive mid cycle refresh on the cars. There's a reason they brought back the old grill. The new one to many looks like a fish.
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I agree with you. The "new" grill being offered is a good first step but the rest of the package needs to be refreshed urgently. I say this as a current leaser of a 2020 Vantage AMR. I have a 2 year lease and made an absolutely killer deal so I'm fine having taken the plunge. After living with the car, the pluses are real. Great handling, spirit and personality galore. The negatives are also real. Terrible interior design, cheap iPad tablet with ancient tech (I'm ok with ancient tech if it isn't staying me in the face) and awful stereo and, worst of all, a slight sense of fragility to the car. My local dealer is asking me if I want to order another for end of 2021 and I've told them only if the car is appreciably upgraded. They have made clear that this is unlikely. Since I want a manual transmission I'm kind of down to a few choices. Once idea is compelling. Get two cars. #1 Boxster GTS with the naturally aspirated 6 and #2 2021 BMW M3 with the manual. I told my Aston salesman I was considering that path and he didn't have a lot to say since those two cars combined would be the same if not cheaper than a new Vantage. Even with the wonky styling on the new M3 Id' get a lot of enjoyment out of those two. I'd stick with Aston as I like the car but what I feel I need to "love" the car which isn't happening.