RE: Aston Martin DB5

RE: Aston Martin DB5

Friday 19th April 2002

Aston Martin DB5

Robert Farago tests a classic Brit


Author
Discussion

cirks

Original Poster:

2,480 posts

290 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
Robert, Ted,

great to see a review of what has to be one of my favourite cars - I have to admit to having a massive soft spot for Astons from old through to new (even Ford ones!). All I need now is some dosh to be able to afford to buy (and run) one.

You sum it up perfectly, ...
"If you love something, you forgive its shortcomings".....

johnnystorm

168 posts

280 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
While I appreciate the sentiments expressed above, how many worn out cliches can you fit into one article?
"The simple, tasteful décor inspires the same feeling of well-being you'd expect from a London gentleman's club."
Oh come on, really? That has been used on every launch of a new Jag,Aston or Bentley for years!
I liked the use of 'Farrago' however!:-)

robert farago

108 posts

277 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
One.

robert farago

108 posts

277 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
One.

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

274 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
One thing that bugs me about the otherwise stunning DB7 is that it's based on the very old jag xjs chassis. This may well have been acceptable 10 years ago, but not when you stump up 100k on a new one.

richb

52,679 posts

291 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
quote:

One thing that bugs me about the otherwise stunning DB7 is that it's based on the very old jag xjs chassis. This may well have been acceptable 10 years ago, but not when you stump up 100k on a new one.

Fine when you stump up 40k on a used one though

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

274 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
True, not so bad. A neighbour has a deep blue vantage DB7. Looks awesome, cool for loafing about. Not sure it would be a satisfying drivers car though. That money would buy a nippy little 911, for example. Horses 4 .....

gavinr

629 posts

274 months

Friday 19th April 2002
quotequote all
quote:

True, not so bad. A neighbour has a deep blue vantage DB7. Looks awesome, cool for loafing about. Not sure it would be a satisfying drivers car though. That money would buy a nippy little 911, for example. Horses 4 .....


...glue?

stevenrt

141 posts

277 months

Saturday 20th April 2002
quotequote all
A few factual errors first:

36 valve 8 cylinder? 4 1/2 valves per cylinder? I think maybe 32 valves.

Pierce Brosnan was Bond in the movie you refer to, yet you mention Connery's stunt double.

When you say "design" you really mean "appearence", for that is the only thing you (and just about everyone else here judging by the criticism of the F60) measure cars by. Design is something deeper than appearence; it includes it by also refers to chassis construction, etc ... .

By this measure, the Porsche 911 is a crappy design because by pandering to punters ill formed tastes they keep the engine behind the rear axle, where it makes no sense at all. I like the look of the 911, but i think it is a bad design.

See? Design, appearance. Two different things.

robert farago

108 posts

277 months

Saturday 20th April 2002
quotequote all
Oops. Mistakes noted, logged and (soon) amended.

As for design vs. appearance, I'm not so sure you can separate one from the other so easily.

The 996' looks can only be partially attributed to its engineering "eccentricity". The basic set-up may set the vsiual parameters, but they do not define it. Think about it: it would be relatively easy to produce an ugly car with the engine behind the rear axle.

My main point was that if there's a battle between the demands of performance and aesthetics, form should not necessarily follow function. How many people will ever use the FX full performance? Would buyers sacrifice track day or golf club bragging rights for something that wins their hearts? Perhaps the relatively floaty drifty Jaguar XK answers that question...



grahambell

2,718 posts

282 months

Saturday 20th April 2002
quotequote all
Hi Roadrunner,

Not sure whether the DB7 would be a satisfying driver's car? Strangely enough I just happen to have one sitting outside at the moment. Expect to read more soon...

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

274 months

Saturday 20th April 2002
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Hi - give it a psating for me!

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

274 months

Saturday 20th April 2002
quotequote all
(pasting) Doh!

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

274 months

Friday 26th April 2002
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I take it there wasn't much to write home about then? Did you fall asleep wafting along?

grahambell

2,718 posts

282 months

Sunday 28th April 2002
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Hi Roadrunner,

Hell man, give us a chance! DB7 Vantage report due any time now. As for wafting along, no - got held up by a 911.

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

274 months

Sunday 28th April 2002
quotequote all
Must have been an early 60's carrera.