"Doran" (doran)
06/26/2014 at 18:14 • Filed to: None
18
60|
"Doran" (doran)
06/26/2014 at 18:14 • Filed to: None | 18
| 60 |
I'm quite certain everyone already knows this, but the new Aston Martin Vanquish is great. Through some mysterious combination of luck and knowing the right people at Aston Martin of New England in Waltham, Massachusetts, I was lucky enough to drive one recently. After spending some time behind the wheel, it became clear that the Vanquish is like most modern supercars—an object of intense and oftentimes irrational desire/a supremely effective instrument for redefining perceptions—and a worthy successor to Aston's venerable DBS. Really, the only negative with the whole thing is that I don't have the $300,000+ to buy one.
Visually, the Vanquish is a study in lines—vivid, sensual lines that appear to have been coaxed from carbon fiber to coalesce into a scintillating whole. Much of the Vanquish's visual panache is derived from elements originally seen on the One-77, Aston's multi-million dollar hypercar. Look deeper, and the Vanquish continues the visual feast—twin lines that track up the hood and echo and reverse on the roof, the flared rocker panels, the character line that runs from the top of the headlights, over those stunning hips, and around to the integrated rear wing. I even like the carbon fiber mustache-thing below the grille. This is a gorgeous car.
Aston Martins have always been a different breed, preferring to arrive at the party in an impeccably tailored suit over a sleeveless tee and Ray-Bans (* cough* Lamborghini Aventador * cough*). Beneath the Vanquish's beautiful exterior resides Aston Martin's Generation 4 VH architecture which, in conjunction with an extensive use of lightweight materials, means the Vanquish is both stiffer and lighter than Aston's previous halo car, the DBS. And, while the two cars share the same basic engine—a 6.0-liter V-12—in Vanquish-guise, the V-12 mill makes 565 horsepower (up from 510 in the DBS) and 457 pound-feet of torque (up from 420 pound-feet). Putting that power to the ground is a six-speed automatic transmission with column mounted paddles. The increased grunt means the dash to 60 miles per hour is politely dispensed with in about four seconds, and this English gentleman will keep on hustling to 183 miles per hour.
Aston Martin again turned to the One-77 for inspiration for the Vanquish's interior: the sweeping central stack with touchscreen controls and curvaceous dashboard all hearken to Aston's flagship. While attractive, the cabin is far from perfect—the rear seats are comically tiny, the buttons on the dash can be difficult to see, and the pop-up navigation system looks like an early '90s Garmin GPS. The display looked genuinely antiquated and spoils the otherwise gorgeous center stack. I found it best to just leave it off and tucked away. Those things aside, the end result is still a beautifully bespoke cabin from which to command the miles. And hey, if you don't like the ridiculous rear seats, they are an optional delete.
But enough of that, it's time to drive. I slid the crystal key fob into a slot on the center stack and the big V-12 ignited with a bark which slowly settled into a delicious, brassy throb. I was curious to see what the Vanquish would be like at low speeds and in traffic on the route I was taking, and it was soon clear after a few minutes in rush hour mayhem that it was no harder to drive than your grandmother's LeSabre. Hit the button marked "D" on the dash to keep the transmission in automatic and the suspension and engine mapping in their most vanilla settings, and the big Aston easily becomes a willing commuter companion.
But to stunt the Vanquish's abilities to grocery-gettting and sitting in traffic should be up for consideration as a criminal offense. The car's real place is outside of downtown, where the traffic disappears and stretches of open pavement unfurl invitingly. The red mist descended. I switched things into Sport mode, knocked down a few gears, and let the engine hover anxiously near 4000 rpm. The engine strained and yowled in a gritty baritone. Cue Han Solo and Chewbacca trying to outrun Imperial Star Destroyers and make the jump to lightspeed: Punch it .
With the throttle buried, the Vanquish pulled like a fully stoked locomotive and ignited primal areas in my brain I didn't even know existed. The suburban areas in southern Massachusetts were no place to fully exploit the Vanquish, but after a few rips up to, ahem , vigorous speeds, it was clear the car's breadth of talent is deep and intoxicating. Like any great power, the Vanquish's was absolutely addicting—the way it piled on speed, all I wanted was to do pin the throttle at everything that even resembled a straightaway. And if the power was addicting, what about the sound? It would be easy to get all misty-eyed and let my language go purple trying to convey what it was like, but trust me when I say it is something you simply need to experience. Aston Martin reportedly made an effort to insulate the cabin from outside noise, but (thankfully) they utterly failed at keeping the V-12 bellow from penetrating all the way to your core.
The steering is well weighted and precise, and the slightly squared off steering wheel felt strong and confident in hand. Toggling between the different suspension and power delivery settings produced a noticeable difference in the way the Vanquish drove. Sport mode felt crisp and responsive and produced the biggest grins. There was a reassuring sense of solidity in the way the Vanquish carved up winding back roads and remained composed over rough pavement. When it came time to slow things up, the carbon ceramic brakes firmly hauled the Vanquish's rather portly 3800 pounds down from speed. This car was made for effortlessly loping across the miles in serene comfort, with that glorious V-12 ever willing and ready to hunt down the horizon.
After a long drive, gently guiding the Vanquish back into it's parking spot at the dealership was about the last thing on earth I wanted to be doing. With a seemingly endless reserve of power on tap and character and personality in spades, the Vanquish is one special car. What the Aston Martin has manage to accomplish with this car is twofold: while it isn't as dynamically superior as the Ferrari F12, it asserts itself in the marketplace as a tremendously capable and heartstoppingly lovely grand tourer that maintains the elegance and charisma inherent in Aston Martin DNA. It also takes the family halo car crown previously worn by the DBS and adds a few more precious stones. Now, about that $300,000...
- Opportunities to drive cars like the Vanquish are special ones. Many thanks and much respect to Steve Oldford and Matt Nolan at Aston Martin of New England for the chance to review this car. Be sure to check out AMNE's website at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and 'Like' the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
Diesel
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 18:30 |
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Having sex makes me a sleepy man.
Manuél Ferrari
> Diesel
06/26/2014 at 18:39 |
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And if it's day time it makes me want to drink beers and watch TV
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Doran
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 18:41 |
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Sleepy and happy. Sign me up.
Dieter
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 21:39 |
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I seen this car in person as well, matter of fact the owner of an insurance company that I work for recently got his and I was blow away, after losing his DB9 in a flood in florida he acquired the Vanquish and personally think it's ten time better. An amazing piece of machinery.
ambefore42
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 21:46 |
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The latest Vanquish is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cars ever built. In fact, it's really my dream car — I gotta get me one of those sometime down the road. Just a stupefyingly gorgeous automobile.
ChickenMcBooty
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 21:53 |
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This stunningly beautiful piece of machinery makes me, too, want to be a better man. And by "be a better man", I mean I would kill you and eat your children to get one.
Qfwfq
> ChickenMcBooty
06/26/2014 at 22:00 |
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Yeah it would make me want to be a better man too, if better is a synonym for much, much wealthier
RosarchII
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 22:08 |
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I like the Vanquish, I hate the stupid carbon fiber mustache. I think the Virage/DB9 is a better looking car for a lot less money and is the one to buy.
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Manuél Ferrari
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 22:24 |
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No I really want this car. Arghhh too many very expensive cars that I really want bad.
fahre-fahrst-fahren
> RosarchII
06/26/2014 at 22:51 |
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Agreed. I'm not a fan of all the exposed carbon fibre bits. I think they look ok if you get a grey or black, or maybe a red car... but in combination with brown, blue or green, the CF doesn't look great.
Menebrio
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 23:05 |
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Look at those defined buttocks. I mean wheel arches...
Straight6PackRacing
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 23:11 |
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huge Aston Martin fan... But damn you ford. If you look quickly, the front looks like a fusion and the back looks like a old ass tiburon.
This is a better car than that...but can't unsee it
Corinthian Leatherface
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 23:12 |
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Astons are perhaps the only exotics that can make a huge statement without suffering the derisive sneers that are inspired by other rolling financial extroverts. No "Look at that attention whore." No "I wonder what he's overcompensating for?" No pre-concieved stereotypes. Money, power, taste, class. The world will assume you have all of these without first assuming that you wear tight trousers and too much cologne.
ctmike78
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 23:20 |
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The words "sex on wheels" often get thrown around, but hot damn are they never more appropriate. Definitely my lottery car...
Charles R. Hardy
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 23:30 |
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Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail
TheSpin
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 23:35 |
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That car makes me want to be a richer man, and I am willing to be a worse one to do it.
Man, those things are beautiful.
axan
> Doran
06/26/2014 at 23:38 |
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I had the privilege of seeing a black one in person... and ... since I couldn't own it....or drive it, I was prepared to at least, uhhmmm.. dry hump it?
Gorgeous piece of machinery. It's at any point in time one of my top 3 favorite cars ever.
blue-haired_lawyer
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 01:02 |
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Aston Martin is a strange bird. It solidly fits that niche of two-seat sports cars that weigh as much as a BMW 7 series.
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AntiHero
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 01:06 |
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Still gorgeous, but it's trying too hard. Previous Astons were all devastatingly elegant and simple—and that was the essence of the attraction. Somehow you couldn't figure out just WHY they were so gorgeous....it was in the absence of details that made it so humbling. The designs didn't stand out and say, "hey, look over here, look at this and this and that and this!" (Like a Corvette does and always has). Now there's creases and folds and lines and double lines and rippled thermoformed plastic LED housings and side skirts that capitulate before wedging off and, well, there's nothing as unattractive as a woman who can't stop pointing out all the reasons why she should be so beautiful.
S H: now with more letters!
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 01:47 |
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The Vanquish is a grand tourer more than anything. I will agree it is pretty crazy that their cars still weigh so much. But looking to Bentley, MotorTrend says that the Continental GT Speed tips the scales at 5,181lbs (though it does have AWD). Yes, Bentley, but still, crazy for both manufacturers.
monkeymouth
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 01:48 |
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My heart still longs for a Vantage Virage instead:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Mar…
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Manuél Ferrari
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 02:20 |
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That's a little bit of an exaggeration there. The current 7 series starts around 4300 lbs and goes up from there depending on the engine, length and options. If this Aston is truly 3800 lbs then its not much heavier than my E90 M3.
David Brown
> RosarchII
06/27/2014 at 04:13 |
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I know you are only expressing your own personal taste, so I can't say you are wrong…
…but you're wrong. DAMN IT! I DID IT AGAIN.
Joking aside, I don't think they improved on the original DB9 design. The DBS added a flurry of aggression that I liked but the essence of DB9 was the DB9. The Virage was an attempt to invigorate the brand. For me it didn't push the brand into a significantly different direction, but significant additions to a range requires mega money and they didn't have any. So they turned up the motor a little and gave it some new bumpers.
All things considered it is still an Aston Martin and I could never say the car is ugly. You still have good taste.
On the subject of the Vanquish I am torn. The brand can't make beautiful silhouettes forever simply because they would be rehashing the same product, but they need to find a balance between the Vanquish's bling and the need for a gentleman's racer. I was looking at old Ferraris the other day and I was struck by how different their cars are today, compared to yesteryear. Lamborghini, Aston Martin and, exemplary to the theme, Porsche have all stayed true to their DNA, with some expansion here and there.
You and I should ask AM for a selection of their cars to test so that we can feedback on future developments. I see no reason why they would object.
Frobnoid
> AntiHero
06/27/2014 at 04:53 |
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Agreed. The Corvette comparison is apt: lines, lines, everywhere a line, breaking up the scenery.
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Lyle Petersminkle
> Straight6PackRacing
06/27/2014 at 05:03 |
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Correction. The Fusion front end looks like the Aston's , and not the other way around. Aston's had that grill design for over 10 years now. Ford about a couple years ago only.
DipodomysDeserti
> Menebrio
06/27/2014 at 06:34 |
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Slap dat ass...I mean quarter panel...just keep your hands off the goddamn car.
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Time Traveler
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 07:23 |
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I believe the Aston Martin is one of the most beautiful cars made. To me whenever I see one, it makes my gentleman sausage tingle. It is sex in car form.
heeltoehero
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 07:36 |
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The Vanquish is 3800lbs. A 760li xDrive is 4800lbs. Did you mean Bentley Continental GT3-R?
WhoWhatWhereWhenWhyHow
> Straight6PackRacing
06/27/2014 at 07:47 |
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Yeah, it does. But at the same time, with anything more than a quick glance and it disappears. Astons are so sexy because of the proportions—wheel to hood, hood to roofline, etc.
I briefly think Aston when I see a Fusion, but I don't think Ford when I see an Aston. Particularly not a Vanquish. The whole package is too overwhelmingly perfect.
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ncarlucci10
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 08:52 |
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Doran, did you take this into Boston last night by any chance? I saw this identical car roll by me twice going up and down Broad Street....
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RosarchII
> David Brown
06/27/2014 at 08:57 |
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See here is the problem with the Vanquish, an Aston Martin is supposed to be a gentleman's car, subtle, stylish, beautiful and powerful and tasteful. The Virage/DB9 accomplishes that and gives you the V12. The Vanquish toes the tacky line and costs a lot more for a car that looks basically the same and does not give you much more. Aston could make the same car forever with the DB9 and I would be fine, it is gorgeous, just update the tech, that is it.
The new Ferraris are just ugly, don't get me started. Lamborghini has two great looking cars with the Aventador and the Huracan. I like McLaren's offerings although the interiors could do with some Ferrarification. Porsche's offerings are solid, even if they are familiar.
chronoso
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 09:26 |
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Oh hey, I live right down the street from that dealer. Clearly my decision to hang out in Cambridge instead of heading home early yesterday was a mistake..
I should stop in and see about those Evoras.
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David Brown
> RosarchII
06/27/2014 at 09:51 |
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It does look like something Liberace threw away. But even the previous Vanquish was a bit much for me. On a regular basis I could say that I don't like that car, but then I come across a photo of it from a particular angle and I think bloody hell it's gorgeous. I've never come to terms with the rear lights and the squareness of the cut out in the bumper that dissipates airflow from the rear. The rest of the car is like a weight lifter's bicep. It's a massive beast of a thing with angles and curves, and where the body shape cuts away beneath the doors is where it's all lean and ripped and defined.
Hang on. Why did I say I didn't like it ?
I have no idea why I say half the shit that comes out of my mouth.
As for interiors I think the Aston's are pretty nice, the Ferrari is as much of a dog's dinner as its face is and the McLaren would do no better than to follow Porsche's 918. Now that car makes me ache inside. But Lamborghini are really on their game at the moment.
Now then! One thing we haven't chatted about is… cool.
I've never enjoyed cars for a cool factor, although I do use the word sometimes. However, Singer 911 have done something that I have thought for years. Old 911s are cool. Not because they are mind blowingly amazing, but because they are a funny little squat car that looks a bit like a frog fucked a VW Beetle and that is what resulted.
They are fast, they are exciting to drive, they are sort of reliable and old enough to be inconspicuous, and when you walk back to the car with a carrier bag of shopping in your hand you can open the front boot, pop in your stilton and your bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (because that is what all old 911 driver's consume) and then slowly pull away to the sounds of that tremendous flat 6.
Or if you have too much money you can buy a Singer 911. All the benefits of an old 911 in a brand spanking new package.
How juicy is that?
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blue-haired_lawyer
> Manuél Ferrari
06/27/2014 at 10:33 |
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Figures I read for the Vanquish put it at 3900, which puts it about in the middle between your e90 and an F01. It's about 400-500 lbs heavier than your e90 by the way, a bit heavier than "not much". If you want, we can compromise and say it weighs more than a 5 series?
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blue-haired_lawyer
> heeltoehero
06/27/2014 at 10:35 |
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I read 3900lbs, and 7s also come with smaller engines and without AWD, but if it'll make you happy I could just as easily say it weighs more than a 5 series.
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exizeo - still loving fourza
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 10:37 |
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E9x M3s were about 3700...
That V8 is probably heavier than the I6NA in the 328i...
BlackPenquinn
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 10:47 |
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I have owned two Astons. A V8 and a V12 Vantage. What this brand does better than most is build ROAD cars. Not just GT's. They build cars that excell on public roads. They aren't faux race cars (I have a pure track car. Very different to a road car). The Aston is not going to have the numbers it's competitors have, but on a real road they deliver the smiles and the visceral joy many more competent cars cannot.
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blue-haired_lawyer
> exizeo - still loving fourza
06/27/2014 at 10:49 |
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It would largely depend on how you optioned it, but you could have gotten a sub 3600 e90 from the factory. If memory serves.
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blue-haired_lawyer
> BlackPenquinn
06/27/2014 at 10:57 |
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I'm not saying they're not fun to drive, they are, though let's be honest here, plenty of cars are fun to drive on the road. All I'm saying is that the company has earned a reputation for building heavy cars, something they're not shedding anytime soon. Think of it as part of the charm.
Driving_Impaired
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 11:08 |
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fat chics cars need love too!
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heeltoehero
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 11:13 |
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"When it came time to slow things up, the carbon ceramic brakes firmly hauled the Vanquish's rather portly 3800 pounds down from speed."
Okay, so a 740i weighs 4344lbs. That's still a quarter ton difference.
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blue-haired_lawyer
> heeltoehero
06/27/2014 at 11:21 |
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Yeah, I saw that too, let me be a bit clearer, the weight of this thing fluctuates based on who's doing the writeup, I've seen 3750, 3800, 3850, and a bunch that go into the 3900 territory. In any case, you have my 5 series comment to take care of it all.
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exizeo - still loving fourza
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 11:23 |
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I'm pretty sure you couldn't. Sub-3600 is probably F80 territory. E92 with stripped out interior, back seat delete, and cf roof might have came close.
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blue-haired_lawyer
> exizeo - still loving fourza
06/27/2014 at 11:37 |
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There are a couple old threads on some of the bmw/m3 forums that got into the weight of the e90 and e92 and the various component upgrades you could get from the factory. You could get a sub 3600 e90, hell, you could get an e92 around the 3500 mark.
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exizeo - still loving fourza
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 11:40 |
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oh shit, now that's cool.
Now I wonder what's the minimum weight. 6mt, cf roof, only aw paint, and lower-weight stoptechs, with the oem speedcloth seats (back seat removed), cf hood/trunk, te37s would probably push that down even lower. If someone tore out the interior completely...I think 3400lbs might be possible if you can get a stock e92 to 3500. That's really awesome.
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Doran
> Corinthian Leatherface
06/27/2014 at 11:57 |
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Totally agree with you! They have a very distinct charm and image. I dig it.
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Doran
> ncarlucci10
06/27/2014 at 11:58 |
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I wish I did. No, stayed near Waltham and didn't make it downtown. I'm thinking there's some inspiration for another drive and another piece with that idea...
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Doran
> AntiHero
06/27/2014 at 11:59 |
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I can see that. But I think it still manages to be gorgeous without trying as hard as other manufacturers.
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Doran
> axan
06/27/2014 at 11:59 |
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Dry humping is totally permitted. Especially if it isn't your car.
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Doran
> chronoso
06/27/2014 at 12:00 |
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Doooo it.
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Doran
> Manuél Ferrari
06/27/2014 at 12:02 |
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I HAVE ALL THE WANTS GIMME ALL OF THEM
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AlexioFlexio
> BlackPenquinn
06/27/2014 at 12:43 |
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I've been looking at used v12 vantages to possibly supplant my gt3 order which was just put off another year due to the engine fires. How did you like that car?... the v8 ones are downright cheap but I drove one once and it felt truly underpowered (or under-torqued). I power isn't a problem with the v12... how was the over-all package long-term for you?
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Manuél Ferrari
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 14:36 |
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I'll take this car, a 458 Speciale, 16M, 650S, Ford GT, Carrera GT, 599 6MT, C7 Z06 and 997.2 GT3 RS. Is that too much to ask??
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Manuél Ferrari
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 14:57 |
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I haven't weighed my car yet. I've read on the bimmer forums that the E90 M3 can be quite heavy when outfitted with options. The average weight seems to be over 3700 lbs. I think the current 5 Series starts at 3700 but can get close to or over 4000 lbs in a hurry.
But don't get my wrong I'm not saying that I don't wish the Aston was lighter. I wish all cars were lighter. All the big GTs are just plain heavy these days. I think the Ferrari F12 with options weighs the same or more than the Aston. To get a light modern car it needs to be small. Or you can buy an older GT that's lighter because it has less safety equipment and a smaller engine.
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blue-haired_lawyer
> Manuél Ferrari
06/27/2014 at 15:17 |
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Yeah, if you wanted to save weight on the E9x M3 it was all about the options, things like taking the MT instead of the SMG and saving something like 50 or 60 lbs. I don't think it's impossible to find a high end GT that's closer to the 3000 lb mark than the 4000, the F12 started at 3300 or 3400, the SLS at around 3500, but there are quite a few at the high end of things.
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Manuél Ferrari
> blue-haired_lawyer
06/27/2014 at 15:48 |
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You know what this makes me think of? Car companies really need to create a lighter weight option that isn't super expensive, rare and hardcore.
Right now the only time car companies give you a lightweight version of a high end sports/GT car is when you pay for the hardcore version. For Porsche it's the GT3/GT3 RS. For BMW it was the E92 M3 GT3. For Ferrari it was the 599 GTO and now the 458 Speciale.
These are all great cars but they're also produced in limited numbers, cost a lot more, and they're setup more aggressively. I wish buyers who like cars like the M3, 911, etc. could order a car that has less sound deadening material used and cloth/alcantara instead of leather. Simple stuff like that which shouldn't cost more. Some buyers don't need the car to be super luxurious and don't need the suspension to be way stiffer and the interior to be decked out with fancy carbon fiber.
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ktonl
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 17:35 |
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This is to the One-77 what the Aventador is to the Reventon - except that many people don't realize what the Reventon is.
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BlackPenquinn
> AlexioFlexio
06/27/2014 at 18:10 |
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I'm a huge fan of the V12 Vantage. I ran an R8 V10 at the same time as my Vantage. The R8 was better on oaper and definitely faster, but the Vantage had more heart. The truth is extreme comptitence can be boring at anything below felony speeds. The V12 has a wonderful lump of torque and it revs with intent. There is enough power for the street for sure.
The car has a beautifully alive feel on the roads. It feels mechanical.
It might be a bit on the heavy side, but you don't notice it as much in the road. I also have a Lotus 211 track car with a sequential in it, so I know the benefits of light first hand.
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nfsf
> Doran
06/27/2014 at 18:10 |
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The new Vanquish's angry-frog-face is a step backwards for Aston :-\
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AlexioFlexio
> BlackPenquinn
06/27/2014 at 22:22 |
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I take motorcycles to the track.. The sports car is for that visceral experience for me.. A manual transmission is part of this, and a beautiful sound is equally important. I've noticed a DBS is similarly priced at this point.. Would you go for the bigger car or the Vantage?