amv8: modern day emporers new clothes?
Discussion
possibly a slightly controversial statement that probably won't win many friends on this forum, but i thought i'd take a gamble - it being a free country and everything and exercise my right to freedom of speech....
went to the reading launch last night, very excited with the options list ready to spec up my car (buying one for a £5k premium - January delivery). not any more.
what a let down. interior felt very claustraphobic, the anthracite facia was offensive in its cheap look and feel and the dials (undeniably beautiful as they are) just felt too fussy to be enclosed in such a small space. the front of the car is crying out for fog lights or something on the lower front bumper and i really didn't rate the alloys much, even though they are the same as in all the pictures.
the holes in the centre armrest for cups just looked aweful - they really need better design thought.
yet everybody was nodding and wetting themselves over this car, and i just couldn't understand it. it was as a complete package quite nice, but worth the money cosmetically (sp?) - absolutely not. this stuff about astons being hand built etc etc - all very laudable but i can hand build a go cart in my garage - does that make it worth £85 - £90k? of course not. there needs to be elements of it that make it worth it over and above the drive. in isolation, the component parts making up the interior are quite special, but a as a package, it didn't work for me.
i know my opinion isn't going to make any difference as there are plenty of people out there who are going to get one and the order books are full etc etc, but i thought i might open this up for debate and ask before people completely deride me just to think objectively not emotionally before responding.
:boxedin:
went to the reading launch last night, very excited with the options list ready to spec up my car (buying one for a £5k premium - January delivery). not any more.
what a let down. interior felt very claustraphobic, the anthracite facia was offensive in its cheap look and feel and the dials (undeniably beautiful as they are) just felt too fussy to be enclosed in such a small space. the front of the car is crying out for fog lights or something on the lower front bumper and i really didn't rate the alloys much, even though they are the same as in all the pictures.
the holes in the centre armrest for cups just looked aweful - they really need better design thought.
yet everybody was nodding and wetting themselves over this car, and i just couldn't understand it. it was as a complete package quite nice, but worth the money cosmetically (sp?) - absolutely not. this stuff about astons being hand built etc etc - all very laudable but i can hand build a go cart in my garage - does that make it worth £85 - £90k? of course not. there needs to be elements of it that make it worth it over and above the drive. in isolation, the component parts making up the interior are quite special, but a as a package, it didn't work for me.
i know my opinion isn't going to make any difference as there are plenty of people out there who are going to get one and the order books are full etc etc, but i thought i might open this up for debate and ask before people completely deride me just to think objectively not emotionally before responding.
:boxedin:
shadytree said:They had three there last night:
What was the colour scheme on the model you sat in Rob?
- a red one with what looked like charcoal interior/red stitching.
- silver with dark interior (didn't look in detail)
- mercury grey again with dark interior.
The mercury grey one was RHD, the others LHD.
As you say Rob, it's a free country and many of us will be very pleased that there is an additional build slot being freed up.
I thought the car was fantastic. 
Thats better...Rob_T said:
possibly a slightly controversial statement that probably won't win many friends on this forum, but i thought i'd take a gamble - it being a free country and everything and exercise my right to freedom of speech....
went to the reading launch last night, very excited with the options list ready to spec up my car (buying one for a £5k premium - January delivery). not any more.
what a let down. interior felt very claustraphobic, the anthracite facia was offensive in its cheap look and feel and the dials (undeniably beautiful as they are) just felt too fussy to be enclosed in such a small space. the front of the car is crying out for fog lights or something on the lower front bumper and i really didn't rate the alloys much, even though they are the same as in all the pictures.
the holes in the centre armrest for cups just looked aweful - they really need better design thought.
yet everybody was nodding and wetting themselves over this car, and i just couldn't understand it. it was as a complete package quite nice, but worth the money cosmetically (sp?) - absolutely not. this stuff about astons being hand built etc etc - all very laudable but i can hand build a go cart in my garage - does that make it worth £85 - £90k? of course not. there needs to be elements of it that make it worth it over and above the drive. in isolation, the component parts making up the interior are quite special, but a as a package, it didn't work for me.
i know my opinion isn't going to make any difference as there are plenty of people out there who are going to get one and the order books are full etc etc, but i thought i might open this up for debate and ask before people completely deride me just to think objectively not emotionally before responding.
I worked for me! Especially as I drive there in the 996 cab - which to me feels more plasticky and more claustrophobic than the amv8. Just how big are you?
There is no doubt that the Porsche is a fantastic car - I was truly stunned when Daz took me out in his 996 Turbo-nutter wagon. However, I disagree on the interior of the AM being "plasticy" - especially in comparison to the Porsche, which regrettably has no sense of occasion at all...
Podie said:
There is no doubt that the Porsche is a fantastic car - I was truly stunned when Daz took me out in his 996 Turbo-nutter wagon. However, I disagree on the interior of the AM being "plasticy" - especially in comparison to the Porsche, which regrettably has no sense of occasion at all...
mmmmmm Don't you just love that smell of 'plastic cow hide' every time i get in the car.
los angeles said:
Rob_T said:
possibly a slightly controversial statement ... and ask before people completely deride me just to think objectively not emotionally before responding.
I think that's a fair alternative view, Rob. The narrow side windows are Audi TT-like, which must add to the feeling of claustrophobia; all the other aspects you remark upon have been mentioned by car reviewers at some stage or other.
In comparison to a 996 the interior is interesting, but not in comparison to the superior 997. The rest is hysterical hype, to my mind, egged on successfully by the PR chaps at Aston. The car looks well resolved externally, the interior seems a might conventional to me, too much a copy of its bigger brethern. Few seemed to question whether or not it is good value ...
Dear LA,
Just out of interest, is there a reason you are so anti-Aston and big up the Porsche at every opportunity? I find you comments so 'up yourself' and blinkered I can't take them seriously.
As anyone who know's me will tell you I'm a huge Aston fan and love all sorts of automotive porn. Some of my best friends have Porsches and I love the cars to bits. Daz's 996 TT, Rich1231's 996, dds1's 996 GT2, MOD's 993 and the awesome DMS 996 of Rod's. They are all fantastic cars and I have every RESPECT for them and their owners for choosing such a brilliant car.
There is absolutley no reason why I wouldn't own a Porsche myself, as they are the world best all round sports car. The fact is I love the romantisism of Aston Martin, the personal service and the feeling of pride driving one. The only thing I ask of you is please respect other peoples opinions and don't give it the LARGE every time you post on this forum.
I try to conduct myself with a huge degree of open mindness regards other marks and other peoples opinions.
So in short , don't be such a cock !
best regards
Shady
p.s. have a nice day
>> Edited by shadytree on Wednesday 5th October 10:55
sorry for the delay in reply. thanks for not crucifying me! i sat primarily in the mercury silver. i do hope that the car will grow on me, but i do have a fundamental problem spending that sort of money and sitting in something where whichever direction i look in (in the cabin) i feel i am getting ripped off. it is in my opinion simply overpriced. thinking about it that is the fundamental problem. i could overlook these issues if it was say £15 - £20k cheaper. Then you could at least compare like for like in its price bracket. the performance (not driven one so summarising views of press) is not as good either, so why all the fuss... i think the best way is not to look at the car objectively. accept it for what it is and enjoy. but i just can't. and that's very upsetting... i have any empty garage and don't know what toy to put in it. any ideas much appreciated. budget upto £100k. won't touch lambos or ferraris.
i'm not for one minute either making a comparison with porsche... i personally think though that the 997 interior is corporate whore-esque. sold out to the bmw and mercedes type blandness, but again a very personal opinion; and its exterior anonimity is why i am leaving the porsche fold.
i'm not for one minute either making a comparison with porsche... i personally think though that the 997 interior is corporate whore-esque. sold out to the bmw and mercedes type blandness, but again a very personal opinion; and its exterior anonimity is why i am leaving the porsche fold.
los angeles said:
I find it even more curious, Shadytree, how furious and upset anyone can get over even mild criticism of an inanimate object such as a car, angry to such a degree they personalise their rejoiner. That aside, I am in general agreement with the writer of the topic; he has, after all, had the benefit of a close inspection of the car rather than forming his opinion limited to a text and pictures in a car magazine. In other threads, I have praised the car while pointing out its defects missed by those who see nothing but purity of design. But you are right, in the wider spectrum of things my opinion matters not at all. Not even I give a fig for it. I just enjoy joining the group discussion on what is ...
An interactive car web site encouraging debate!
LA, I'm not furious or upset with you (other threads could prove that)
, I'm just passionate about motor vehicles. I work my arse off to keep myself in an Aston, so why shouldn't I be passionate about it. I just ask that you conduct you right to critise with a little more RESPECT for others. I appreciate Rob's comments and everyone elses opinions, after all that's what make this a great site. shadytree said:
There is no doubt that the Porsche is a fantastic car - I was truly stunned when Daz took me out in his 996 Turbo-nutter wagon. However, I disagree on the interior of the AM being "plasticy" - especially in comparison to the Porsche, which regrettably has no sense of occasion at all...
mmmmmm Don't you just love that smell of 'plastic cow hide' every time i get in the car.
mmm... plastic cow...
Rob_T said:You don't say what you want from the car (other than you don't want it to be a Porker, Fezza or Lambo), but have you considered:
i have any empty garage and don't know what toy to put in it. any ideas much appreciated. budget upto £100k. won't touch lambos or ferraris.
TVR Sagaris
Maserati 4200
Noble M400
Ultima GTR
Merc SL55 AMG
Corvette Z06
Dodge Viper?
Most of these will allow you enough change to run a very quick Caterham alongside for track days as well.
Personally, I'd go with the AMV8.....
los angeles said:
So you are passionate as well then LA?
Overly so, much to the total boredom of some producers who have heard it all before. But if you don't believe in your own projects you are dead in the water. As you get older, passion turns to gravitas, an attitude which can irritate the young because they see it as dourness or cynicism, while they feel able to conquer anything through their enthusiasm. And that's how it should be. Aging farts like me need to give youth lots of space to develop their ideas. Yes, sir.
And on this subject, I wish I had the money to buy an AMV8 so that I could really be one of the pack and not an outsider looking in. (That didn't bother the great Setright whose prose remained resolutely aloof no matter what he was describing.)
I'll ask Ted if he can start a
'I'm old enough for a free Bus Pass' section.
You can sit in there all day and look out at all us yougsters
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