A 911 isn't cobbled together from old bits of Volvo. A 911 doesn't need a trick exhaust to get everybody to look at it. A 911 doesn't have a rubbish interior and it's not likely to ever break down or malfunction.
Here in Australia the Vantage goes on sale for a quarter of a million dollars.
In my opinion a car needs to be virtually flawless to be worth that kind of money. For all the flaws and shortcomings of the Vantage like it's boring engine, boring looks, Ford Mondeo dipped in pimp juice interior and its suspect build quality it feels like a car that should cost at least half of that. So when I think about it I see it as just the cheapest way of buying a new Aston Martin badge and not much more.
Holy arrogance batman...
Just cobbled together...? Rubbish interor...? :lol:
Firstly it's not exactly cobbled together, Aston Martin are using some of the most sophisticated production techniques there is making this car. As for the rubbish interor, after having spent some time inside one I think it makes ANYTHING else look and feel rubbish in comparison, and yes' I've been inside several 911s including the 997.
Secondly the fact that it sells for quite a bit over it's price isn't really proving your point. In fact it does the contrary. Goes to show that this car is something special.
Thirdly, "Ford Mondeo dipped in pimp juice"...? Get your head out of your ass... As for suspect build quality, Clarkson should know, doesn't he? Considering his wife has one, and according to him it's been a model of reliability. Lastly, the chapest way of getting the Aston Martin badge? Well, in the same way that a Gallardo is the chapest way to get a Lambo, or an F430 is the chapest way to get a new Ferrari, seriously that's pointless.
I'd also be interested to see if that V8 Vantage was truly stock and whether Aston made any 'modficiations' to it, and to what extent.
And even if it is stock, one car really doesn't make up for a whole family of cars through the decades which look pretty, cost an arm and a leg but are useless at performance.
Yes it's a stock one as it's Sport Auto's policy to test the cars just the way they come from the factory.
What? A lack of perfomance has hardly been an issue with Aston Martins. They have always perfomed very well for what they are. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the price either. The fact that the order book is full and second hand ones are sold for a premium over the asking price proves this.