When does an Aston become a Lexus ?
Discussion
A follow up thought to the ' Why are there so few manual Astons 'topic . If they keep refining Aston's so they are smaller ,more affordable,easier to drive , more reliable,visually appealing to everybody won't they eventually end up with a Lexus ? Surely an Aston has to be different ,rugged looking as well as attractive ,fitted out like a gentleman's club on the inside ,with an unreasonable amount of power that requires to be 'handled ' with care ,and a price tag to keep it exclusive and a rare beast.
I could go on to say that by these criteria a Vantage does not qualify but that would generate too much hate mail so what about some middle ground - Aston are in danger of killing the brand by over producing and making every day useable cars which is what a Lexus is and what an Aston should not be ?
PS I have got a Lexus they are great - but they are not Astons !!
I could go on to say that by these criteria a Vantage does not qualify but that would generate too much hate mail so what about some middle ground - Aston are in danger of killing the brand by over producing and making every day useable cars which is what a Lexus is and what an Aston should not be ?
PS I have got a Lexus they are great - but they are not Astons !!
I would'nt worry. We are now entering deflation caused by the rampant credit bubble. This period will last for about 3 to 5 years and will be hell. Cash will be king and ALL assetts will lose value epscially high ticket luxuary items. But as everyone will be totally skint and have no job an Aston even if it costs 30 grand will still be deemed luxuary and out of reach of mere mortals.
PS
Fred Harrison was right all along LOL Depression by 2010 for the Uk im afraid!
PPS
Labour, wrecking econonmys for generations LOL
PS
Fred Harrison was right all along LOL Depression by 2010 for the Uk im afraid!
PPS
Labour, wrecking econonmys for generations LOL
hartley said:
A follow up thought to the ' Why are there so few manual Astons 'topic . If they keep refining Aston's so they are smaller ,more affordable,easier to drive , more reliable,visually appealing to everybody won't they eventually end up with a Lexus ? Surely an Aston has to be different ,rugged looking as well as attractive ,fitted out like a gentleman's club on the inside ,with an unreasonable amount of power that requires to be 'handled ' with care ,and a price tag to keep it exclusive and a rare beast.
I could go on to say that by these criteria a Vantage does not qualify but that would generate too much hate mail so what about some middle ground - Aston are in danger of killing the brand by over producing and making every day useable cars which is what a Lexus is and what an Aston should not be ?
PS I have got a Lexus they are great - but they are not Astons !!
I somehow doubt the pleasure and excitement of driving an Aston will ever be matched by a Lexus. It's an emotional issue, not an engineering one!I could go on to say that by these criteria a Vantage does not qualify but that would generate too much hate mail so what about some middle ground - Aston are in danger of killing the brand by over producing and making every day useable cars which is what a Lexus is and what an Aston should not be ?
PS I have got a Lexus they are great - but they are not Astons !!
garyhun said:
hartley said:
A follow up thought to the ' Why are there so few manual Astons 'topic . If they keep refining Aston's so they are smaller ,more affordable,easier to drive , more reliable,visually appealing to everybody won't they eventually end up with a Lexus ? Surely an Aston has to be different ,rugged looking as well as attractive ,fitted out like a gentleman's club on the inside ,with an unreasonable amount of power that requires to be 'handled ' with care ,and a price tag to keep it exclusive and a rare beast.
I could go on to say that by these criteria a Vantage does not qualify but that would generate too much hate mail so what about some middle ground - Aston are in danger of killing the brand by over producing and making every day useable cars which is what a Lexus is and what an Aston should not be ?
PS I have got a Lexus they are great - but they are not Astons !!
I somehow doubt the pleasure and excitement of driving an Aston will ever be matched by a Lexus. It's an emotional issue, not an engineering one!I could go on to say that by these criteria a Vantage does not qualify but that would generate too much hate mail so what about some middle ground - Aston are in danger of killing the brand by over producing and making every day useable cars which is what a Lexus is and what an Aston should not be ?
PS I have got a Lexus they are great - but they are not Astons !!
As suggested above recession will probably intervene to save the brand as people revert to buying more ' sensible ' cars.
Tell someone you drive an Aston and they'll be want to ask questions, want to see it etc ....
.... then try the same with a Lexus ....
Aston as a brand has a certain mystique, a magic and it is this magic that makes owning and driving one more than just about the mechanics.
Lexus same as Aston? I'll just mention Alan Partridge at this point ....
.... then try the same with a Lexus ....
Aston as a brand has a certain mystique, a magic and it is this magic that makes owning and driving one more than just about the mechanics.
Lexus same as Aston? I'll just mention Alan Partridge at this point ....
DJC said:
Aston has a mystique and a history associated with the brand that is vastly at odds with the V8V !
Same can be said about all post-993 porsches But unfortunately cannot be said about Lexus or Audi since they do not have such a history or mystique associated with the brand at all
Times are changing. Better AM produces 3K cars a year than closing down.
Approached from the other angle one could ask when does a Lexus become an Aston? I would contend that they may be approaching them once they have over 75 years of history producing top quality sporting cars and a pedigree of over half a century competing and winning in the likes of the Ulster TT races and Le Mans... Others will, I suppose, consider a smooth ride and a nice silver paint job enough to make them contenders.
Edited by RichB on Saturday 15th November 20:27
The mystique must be more than racing history - other brands ( porsche ) have a more succesful racing history and make nice cars that arguably drive better if what you are interested in is racing.
There must be a James Bond thing going on which has to do with understated power , exclusivity , and frankly price. I asked the original question because I think if Aston think it is about track performance or technology or producing volumes that allow them to afford these things they will end up getting a bloody nose from the likes of Lexus who will always have far greater resources and if necessary can always afford to buy a badge with a racing tradition ( how much did the chinese pay for MG ?) I don't believe they should be producing products that compete with a Merc SL - ie everyday cars driven in the main by women !
Oh dear stumbled in to another area of contreversy - are Aston's for men only ? Is that part of their character/mystique ?
There must be a James Bond thing going on which has to do with understated power , exclusivity , and frankly price. I asked the original question because I think if Aston think it is about track performance or technology or producing volumes that allow them to afford these things they will end up getting a bloody nose from the likes of Lexus who will always have far greater resources and if necessary can always afford to buy a badge with a racing tradition ( how much did the chinese pay for MG ?) I don't believe they should be producing products that compete with a Merc SL - ie everyday cars driven in the main by women !
Oh dear stumbled in to another area of contreversy - are Aston's for men only ? Is that part of their character/mystique ?
DJC said:
Aston has a mystique and a history associated with the brand that is vastly at odds with the V8V !
Is it though?I believe the V8V is doing OK in GT racing?
It's a lovely looking car. It drives very nicely, sounds great, feels great etc.
And at the end of the day, it's not *that* common in the overall scheme of things.
Now, Lexus.
Do they tick the boxes anywhere near in terms of those items?
Not really.
DJC said:
Aston has a mystique and a history associated with the brand that is vastly at odds with the V8V !
The benefit of rose tinted glasses is when you look back everything looks.. well um rosy , even when it may have been rather s
tty on occasions !But that's the beauty and the joy of remembering things as you "think" they were rather than how things "actually" were and then comparing a current reality with a past fantasy ... its a no win for the current
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