Monday 8th August 2005

Aston bucks the trend

Sales figures leap as DB9s fly out the door

---

V8 Vantage set to be huge success

Aston Martin has bucked the trend of a slump in car sales over recent years. Instead of a fall in sales it has seen a staggering 448 per cent, which follows an increase of 626 per cent last year.

Admittedly, it's not hard to turn in such stellar percentages when the numbers are low: Aston Martin has built 1,238 cars in 2005 so far, but only 226 last year. The V8 Vantage and the DB9 account for the difference. First deliveries of the V8 Vantage start in October.

Aston Martin, which has been through innumerable financial bottlenecks since its inception in 1915, plans to hike production to 5,000 cars per year.

[gibo993]

No Wonder, that is probably the best looking car I have ever seen. Bet it drives well too.

[klassiekerrally]

It is drop-dead gorgeous...
Hope we won't see as many of them as i.e. a 911, because then we'll get used to it, and stop noticing...
But then again, 5000 a year is still low volume, isn't it?

[r988]

gibo993 said:

No Wonder, that is probably the best looking car I have ever seen. Bet it drives well too.

Well the DB9 is also a challenger for that award, then again the competition isn't much these days

who can possibly match Aston for style?

Mercedes - A bit hit and miss
BMW -
Porsche - Yawn
Ferrari - Nothing to write home about
Lamborghini - Well Ok, the Murci is excellent, the Gallardo is Ok but its got nothing on the AMV8
Jaguar - Pretty good, but then its just an Aston copy
Corvette - Its ok, but the C6 isn't quite as good as the C5.
Viper - Ugly
Bentley GT -

[marctwo]

I'd find it hard to choose between the V8 Vantage and a TVR T350c. I think the Gallardo is a very close second.

[annodomini2]

Its even more gorgeous in the flesh, makes the DB9 look like a barge. (seen them side by side)

[shadytree]

annodomini2 said:

Its even more gorgeous in the flesh, makes the DB9 look like a barge. (seen them side by side)

>> Edited by shadytree on Monday 8th August 13:48

[ridds]

Been in one.

All I can say is that it is a fantastic machine. Grips beyond your imagination yet not such a firm ride that it shakes you to bits. It is a true sports tourer.

[rich1231]

Dribbled over one..
Got a build date today :-0 woohooo

Though Shady (if he makes it that long) gets his before me.

[chobbs]

Ahhh. Fabulous. If only I could win that damn lottery...

[T5-R]

Here's hoping 007 will make an appearance in the new V8...he has too!

[anonymous-user]

klassiekerrally said:

It is drop-dead gorgeous... Hope we won't see as many of them as i.e. a 911, because then we'll get used to it, and stop noticing... But then again, 5000 a year is still low volume, isn't it?

Porsche make 30000 911's per year against Aston's plan to make 3000 V8's. It will never be a common sight!!!

[shadytree]

T5-R said:

Here's hoping 007 will make an appearance in the new V8...he has too!

he will. Already let slip by Fisker

[=J=]

ridds said:

Been in one. All I can say is that it is a fantastic machine. Grips beyond your imagination yet not such a firm ride that it shakes you to bits. It is a true sports tourer.

I found the noise at top revs stopped me being able to think about anything else

[Hot racer]

That car just makes me horny! Shame they've stuck some dodgy wheels on it for production, the deep sunk prototypes wheels on the main page to this thread look far better, and if i was lucky enough to be getting one, i would insist the originals were fitted as they finish off that chunky look to perfection.

>> Edited by Hot racer on Monday 8th August 20:43

[Twin Turbo]

Yep, have to agree about the wheels. The concept ones are much nicer (think the V8 will look very under-wheeled on standard 18's.....if anyone fits them).

Still, it's a fabulous, beautiful looking car.

Car magazine claim to have it "driven" in next month's magazine (sorry if I seem cynical, but Autocar's recent article "on the road" were impressions from the passenger seat - still, at least those impressions were all good )

I'll have mine in Pentland Green.

[greg2k]

r988 said:

Well the DB9 is also a challenger for that award, then again the competition isn't much these days who can possibly match Aston for style? Mercedes - A bit hit and miss BMW - Porsche - Yawn Ferrari - Nothing to write home about Lamborghini - Well Ok, the Murci is excellent, the Gallardo is Ok but its got nothing on the AMV8 Jaguar - Pretty good, but then its just an Aston copy Corvette - Its ok, but the C6 isn't quite as good as the C5. Viper - Ugly Bentley GT -

What about the Bristol Blenhem?

[lightningghost]

Best looking:

AMV8 / DB9 (either will do me)
Lambo Gallardo
Ferrari 360 F1 thing.


But the AMV8 is stunning, especially its arse. The DB7, DB9, Vanquish and AMV8 are the reasons why I want to work at Aston Martin.

[slinky]

annodomini2 said:

Its even more gorgeous in the flesh, makes the DB9 look like a barge.

Seen a couple on the roads around worcester and they do look positively gorgeous...

Really lovely cars, can't wait to have a proper good look at one sometime in the future...

slinky

[Aurelius]

Shadytree, do you have a desktop sized image of that one you posted of the DB9 and Vantage together? I have my monitors set to 1152 X 864, and I'm thinking of getting a 1280 x 1024 TFT monitor soon.

[shadytree]

Aurelius said:

Shadytree, do you have a desktop sized image of that one you posted of the DB9 and Vantage together? I have my monitors set to 1152 X 864, and I'm thinking of getting a 1280 x 1024 TFT monitor soon.

At home yes, I'll check tonight.