Aston Martin, why?

To all you Aston Martin anorak’s, please, for your sake, look away now…

Right, back to the main message, and it is one that has been bugging me for quite a while now.

What is it with Aston Martin’s that people love so much? Yes, yes, I know the DB9 is a very pretty, but, lets face facts, it’s getting old, it’s technology is dated, it doesn’t produce as much power as a 6.0 V12 should, it isn’t THAT fast (Most “Hot” saloons will outgun it.), the interior uses a VOLVO Sat Nav, and, to put it bluntly, belongs in a car that cost’s £30,000, not over £100,000. And there never was anything “Groundbreaking” about the car.

Aston Martin seem to be doing much the same as BMW, riding along on the fact that people looking to impress OTHER people and “Keep up with the Jones’.” will buy one.

However, I am not extremely biased as you may think, I adore Aston’s of old, the Lagonda, DBS and V8 Vantage (Original!) are three of my favourite cars, but come on Aston, pull your finger out! Yes, by bringing out a good looking car, you have caught everyones attention, why not keep it and bring out something amazing, something that will blast everything else into the weeds?

Lets just look at some basics for a second;

Jaguar XKR: Seats 2 in comfort and 2 in the back, 0-62 4.6 seconds, de-restricted it will do 195MPH+, more equipment, better MPG and it costs £69,000.

Aston DB9: Seats 2 in comfort and 2 in the back, 0-62 4.8 seconds, 190MPH, and cost’s over £100,000.

Where is the logic? All that Aston Martin have done in recent years is the V8 Vantage, the DBS, the v12 Vantage and the Rapide (Which I will come to later…).

The V8 Vantage was a let down, not fast or exciting enough, the DBS is a confused and tarted up DB9 that is unsure as to what it wants to be, and the V12 Vantage? Awesome, but come on, it’s an old car with a bigger engine, and the bonnet looks like a cheap Chinese knock-off toy’s breastplate.

Don’t get me wrong, I hope Aston Martin really do have a come-back, such as Jaguar have been doing since 2008, but it just annoys me how slack most manufacturers have become in the last five years or so.

The new Rapide is a case in point. Only Aston Martin could bring out a car that is less powerful, slower, uglier, less fuel efficient and less practical than all of it’s competition, yet still charge up to £40,000 more for it. It has a useless boot, it’s not as good looking or as good to drive as the XFR, the interior is dated, and there is nothing new about it!

Could you walk past a top spec Jaguar XKR or XFR that is better looking (But still styled by the same man!), more powerful, faster, has more kit and is £30-40,000 cheaper to go and buy an Aston? I know I couldn’t.

So please Aston Martin, hear my plea.

SORT IT OUT!