If the New XKR.......
Discussion
It shouldnt really be a surprise, historically the Jag has pretty much always been the better car, XK8 was/is far better than DB7, E-type generally considered better than DB5 and I would imagine the new XK8/R will be better to drive and be a lot more reliable than any of the Astons for sure and were my money would certainly go. BUT what the Jag fails to have, sadly, is the Asotns image also the wow factor of an Aston, not sure what it is, but there is a certain something, for me anyway, to say "shall we take the Aston". Astons are things of dreams as they are undeniably the most beautiful cars available, sadly from the people I know that have owned them they turned into beautiful nightmares! The new XK in my opinion is not too far behind in the looks department so will be most peoples 'sensible' choice.
IMHO
Mike
IMHO
Mike
V8Smith said:
It shouldnt really be a surprise, historically the Jag has pretty much always been the better car, XK8 was/is far better than DB7, E-type generally considered better than DB5 and I would imagine the new XK8/R will be better to drive and be a lot more reliable than any of the Astons for sure and were my money would certainly go. BUT what the Jag fails to have, sadly, is the Asotns image also the wow factor of an Aston, not sure what it is, but there is a certain something, for me anyway, to say "shall we take the Aston". Astons are things of dreams as they are undeniably the most beautiful cars available, sadly from the people I know that have owned them they turned into beautiful nightmares! The new XK in my opinion is not too far behind in the looks department so will be most peoples 'sensible' choice.
IMHO
Mike
I think alot of the Aston image has alot to do with a certain fictional secret agent. IMHO, some people who drive Astons want to think they are 007, sad really.IMHO
Mike
Edited by cerbman on Saturday 21st October 19:24
Edited by cerbman on Saturday 21st October 21:38
What a load of old twonk. The really sad thing is that Aston detractors can only ever reach for the Bond 'thing'. I've recently driven many hundreds of miles in a V8 Vantage and a Vanquish S and not once did I feel like emulating James Bond. I enjoyed them both for what they are.
The fact is that Aston Martin is making the most beautiful cars in the world. That is why people want them so much. Don't get me wrong, I love the XK and XK-R, but there's something about the V8 Vantage, in particular, that hits the spot like nothing else. Harris is right - the XK-R is a better all round package but he also confesses that the Aston is one of the best looking objects on the planet. It also sounds truly amazing - just how a sportscar should.
Just think, if 007 drove a Jaguar, you'd all be saying how cool it was...
The fact is that Aston Martin is making the most beautiful cars in the world. That is why people want them so much. Don't get me wrong, I love the XK and XK-R, but there's something about the V8 Vantage, in particular, that hits the spot like nothing else. Harris is right - the XK-R is a better all round package but he also confesses that the Aston is one of the best looking objects on the planet. It also sounds truly amazing - just how a sportscar should.
Just think, if 007 drove a Jaguar, you'd all be saying how cool it was...
cerbman said:
Kevin Hackett said:
Just think, if 007 drove a Jaguar, you'd all be saying how cool it was...
Bond should be driving a Bentley anyway.
Except these days that would be far too German for the character.
The good thing about Bond driving a DB5 is that DB6s are much more sanely priced.
(Not that I can afford one though
)cerbman said:
The funniest thing is that they wanted the E-type, the DB5 was 2nd or 3rd choice. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sir William said, no.
Now that is not true. In the novel by Fleming, Bond drove a DB Mk III. And Ken Adam, the production designer a car nut, wanted Bond to drive the DB5 from the first minute.
You are probably confusing it with "the saint". There they wanted an E-Type, but came up with the as beautiful Volvo 1800 S (check my profile for photos).
Valentin said:
cerbman said:
The funniest thing is that they wanted the E-type, the DB5 was 2nd or 3rd choice. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sir William said, no.
Now that is not true. In the novel by Fleming, Bond drove a DB Mk III. And Ken Adam, the production designer a car nut, wanted Bond to drive the DB5 from the first minute.
You are probably confusing it with "the saint". There they wanted an E-Type, but came up with the as beautiful Volvo 1800 S (check my profile for photos).
Really, I thought that he had a Bentley in the books?
Valentin said:
cerbman said:
The funniest thing is that they wanted the E-type, the DB5 was 2nd or 3rd choice. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sir William said, no.
Now that is not true. In the novel by Fleming, Bond drove a DB Mk III. And Ken Adam, the production designer a car nut, wanted Bond to drive the DB5 from the first minute.
You are probably confusing it with "the saint". There they wanted an E-Type, but came up with the as beautiful Volvo 1800 S (check my profile for photos).
It is common knowledge that Jaguar were approached first. We all know the E-type made more sense than the DB5 as a bond car in a hard up Britain in the 60's, it was faster, much cheaper and had more room under that long bonnet for guns, etc.
theaxe said:
Really, I thought that he had a Bentley in the books?
Yes he did. The Bentleys (there where more than one) where his own car. But in the 1959 book "Goldfinger", a DB Mk III was his company car, as was the DB5 in the movie.
cerbman said:
Not confused at all. In the books Bond was a Bentley man, so this is what he had.
It is common knowledge that Jaguar were approached first. We all know the E-type made more sense than the DB5 as a bond car in a hard up Britain in the 60's, it was faster, much cheaper and had more room under that long bonnet for guns, etc.
It is common knowledge that Jaguar were approached first. We all know the E-type made more sense than the DB5 as a bond car in a hard up Britain in the 60's, it was faster, much cheaper and had more room under that long bonnet for guns, etc.
Well, one can argue what car would have made a better Bond car. I personally absolutely love the "flat foot" E-Type Coupes (especially the ones from Eagle). Sure they where faster, and a lot cheaper than the Aston. But the Aston got more style and elegance. IMO
As I mentioned above, in the Goldfinger book he drove an Aston, and as Goldfinger was the first Movie Bond had a car (Yes, I know he drove a Sunbeam Alpine in Dr. No, but this doesn't count) they simply took the then actual Aston model.
Edited by Valentin on Tuesday 14th November 10:30
Well, Phil, you have sat in it and I haven't, and I'm disappointed to hear your view on the Aston which I had imagined had a great 'sense of occasion' as the magazines say, but I have tried the XKR now and am pretty underwhelmed by the interior. Particularly in the context of a car that is otherwise fantastic. Externally the car has presence like nothing I have seen other than maybe a silver DB5!
The seats seem to be designed for old blokes, the steering wheel is like something from an arcade game and I have to turn off the radio to hear the exhaust note which I am flicking around good style with the paddle shift gearbox (which really is fantastic). And this is in the XKR not the XK. Are most of these cars sold for posing in?
The seats seem to be designed for old blokes, the steering wheel is like something from an arcade game and I have to turn off the radio to hear the exhaust note which I am flicking around good style with the paddle shift gearbox (which really is fantastic). And this is in the XKR not the XK. Are most of these cars sold for posing in?
cardigankid said:
Well, Phil, you have sat in it and I haven't, and I'm disappointed to hear your view on the Aston which I had imagined had a great 'sense of occasion' as the magazines say, but I have tried the XKR now and am pretty underwhelmed by the interior. Particularly in the context of a car that is otherwise fantastic. Externally the car has presence like nothing I have seen other than maybe a silver DB5!
The seats seem to be designed for old blokes, the steering wheel is like something from an arcade game and I have to turn off the radio to hear the exhaust note which I am flicking around good style with the paddle shift gearbox (which really is fantastic). And this is in the XKR not the XK. Are most of these cars sold for posing in?
The seats seem to be designed for old blokes, the steering wheel is like something from an arcade game and I have to turn off the radio to hear the exhaust note which I am flicking around good style with the paddle shift gearbox (which really is fantastic). And this is in the XKR not the XK. Are most of these cars sold for posing in?
Hi David, I did say 'comparatively speaking'. It isn't crap by any stretch of the imagination. You can read my unfettled thoughts on the AMV8 here: www.pistonheads.co.uk/reviews/reviews.asp?c=88&id=766&r=1797 I absolutely adore the car however I was slightly dissapointed by some of the interior trim components aswell as some of the quality issues. I'd still buy one though.
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