Aston Martin model rant
Discussion
I’ve owned a DB9 and Rapide S so this criticism comes from a place of love. I do think modern Aston Martins are underrated and I want the brand to succeed. I don’t understand Aston Martins model business plans.
Firstly the Rapide and Taraf. I the Rapide was a great car but the rear seats were not practical. The Taraf was stunning but I could not understand why it was £1m because it used the same mechanicals and interior as a Rapide. If Aston Martin made the Taraf with an aluminium body and sold it has a Rapide with proper rear seats they would have sold loads of them but Aston Martin were left with a poor selling Rapide and a handful of Tarafs.
Why was the DB10 not the previous vantage? They were basically the same car, looked very similar and I bet the connection with 007 would have made it more of a success.
The Valour, new Vanquish, DB12 and vantage. Why do Aston Martin need a Vanquish and DB12? Aston should make a v8 vantage and a v12 DB12 (twelve in the name). It is just confusing and dilutes the models integrity. Make it easy for buyers and salesman. If the customer was a super GT DB12 with a v12 or a sports car the v8 vantage.
Also styling wise Astons have always look similar but why not make the valour the DB12 or vantage. The Valour was a sensational looking Aston with proper British Bulldog looks but again they will only sell a few and the other Astons look the same.
Now onto DBX which I think looks amazing but is chronically outsold buy every other luxury suv even though it has its own bespoke chassis when other suv all share the same VW underpinnings. What the DBX needed was proper infotainment from the start because it is supposed to be an everyday car for the family and dogs. I would live to the know the cost difference to buy a manufacturers latest software compared to the last generation. Whatever the price was I’m sure it would have been worth it to sell more DBX and if Aston Martin stopped wasting money on development costs of so many special editions and manufacturering costs of so many models maybe they could have used that money on better infotainment.
Aston Martin should invest there money, development time and manufacturing into three models DBX, DB12 and Vantage with best dampers, software and wood (love wood in An Aston) as possible.
We have been having these debates for years “why buy an vanquish when you can buy a dbs or why buy a dbs when you can buy a db9 or why buy a db9 when you can buy a vantage “?
Why would I buy a DB12 with v8 when I can buy a vantage with similar interior or why buy a vanquish when I can buy a db12? How the hell did VW make Bentley so successful???
Firstly the Rapide and Taraf. I the Rapide was a great car but the rear seats were not practical. The Taraf was stunning but I could not understand why it was £1m because it used the same mechanicals and interior as a Rapide. If Aston Martin made the Taraf with an aluminium body and sold it has a Rapide with proper rear seats they would have sold loads of them but Aston Martin were left with a poor selling Rapide and a handful of Tarafs.
Why was the DB10 not the previous vantage? They were basically the same car, looked very similar and I bet the connection with 007 would have made it more of a success.
The Valour, new Vanquish, DB12 and vantage. Why do Aston Martin need a Vanquish and DB12? Aston should make a v8 vantage and a v12 DB12 (twelve in the name). It is just confusing and dilutes the models integrity. Make it easy for buyers and salesman. If the customer was a super GT DB12 with a v12 or a sports car the v8 vantage.
Also styling wise Astons have always look similar but why not make the valour the DB12 or vantage. The Valour was a sensational looking Aston with proper British Bulldog looks but again they will only sell a few and the other Astons look the same.
Now onto DBX which I think looks amazing but is chronically outsold buy every other luxury suv even though it has its own bespoke chassis when other suv all share the same VW underpinnings. What the DBX needed was proper infotainment from the start because it is supposed to be an everyday car for the family and dogs. I would live to the know the cost difference to buy a manufacturers latest software compared to the last generation. Whatever the price was I’m sure it would have been worth it to sell more DBX and if Aston Martin stopped wasting money on development costs of so many special editions and manufacturering costs of so many models maybe they could have used that money on better infotainment.
Aston Martin should invest there money, development time and manufacturing into three models DBX, DB12 and Vantage with best dampers, software and wood (love wood in An Aston) as possible.
We have been having these debates for years “why buy an vanquish when you can buy a dbs or why buy a dbs when you can buy a db9 or why buy a db9 when you can buy a vantage “?
Why would I buy a DB12 with v8 when I can buy a vantage with similar interior or why buy a vanquish when I can buy a db12? How the hell did VW make Bentley so successful???
Reasons which seemed good at the time. Some I agree with, others not so much.
Jumpingjackflash said:
How the hell did VW make Bentley so successful???
Well, you are in luck and can find out soon, hopefully... https://media.astonmartin.com/adrian-hallmark-chie...The DB and Vantage are staples of Aston and the design has always remained reasonably consistent, Valour offers something a bit different, much more muscular styling which I really like but a lot of people just prefer the classic DB GT cars or sporty vantage.
I do get what you mean about the Vanquish could just be the DB12. And the DB10 just being a vantage.
I do get what you mean about the Vanquish could just be the DB12. And the DB10 just being a vantage.
LTP said:
Jumpingjackflash said:
How the hell did VW make Bentley so successful???
Because they are a massive car conglomerate, with huge resources, headed up by engineers who understand the product, and not people from the rag trade? Just guessing.Jumpingjackflash said:
... Why do Aston Martin need a Vanquish and DB12?
Ever since 2008, AML have had a top model in their three Sports/GT core model range.
The 2008 DBS was of course based on the DB9, but at a much higher price.
As Jeremy Clarkson said, "The DBS is a DB9, but everything is just that little bit better".
If you can sell the top model, there will be greater profit involved, so it does seem to be a reasonable strategy.
Buyers love having the best if they can, and of course there is now the extra inducement, of being the only model with the V12 engine.
The limited edition status of the new Vanquish is another inducement (limit 1,000 annually) although possibly spurious.
DBS total production was Coupe = 2,536 and Volante = 845 during a 5 year model run, so not 1,000 pa.
Many people like the Flagship model. Look at the early Porsche and the turbo model. I bought a turbo in preference to a Carrera 4s because I wanted their best car ie top of the range at the time.
Similarly there will be many who want the Vanquish as it is the top of the line with all the extras and Black badging which signifies it being the top/best Aston make. Thats also why they made the Vanquish S and the Ultimate.
Similarly there will be many who want the Vanquish as it is the top of the line with all the extras and Black badging which signifies it being the top/best Aston make. Thats also why they made the Vanquish S and the Ultimate.
Whilst I think that AMLs model line-up is the best it has been for a long time, I think that the Management/Board has been completely wrong on timing. It launched the DBX at a time when all competitors had already had years of sales success with their large Super SUVs so AML was late to the party and the car was good but not outstanding. The V8 Vantage was again an ok product but instead of leading the segment it was a follower. It is only now in its 2nd instalment that it has the interior that is required from a 200k car but the market has moved on. Regarding the DB12 and the Vanquish, they are both launched at a time when the market has turned and people with the needed cash available are increasingly thinking, that the era of a powerful ICE powered car are numbered.
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