Aston Martin (NB, obviously)

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Tiger Rag

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Was following the debate (wally 118 post) regarding the pros and cons of Ferraris versus AMs with interest. Although I would struggle to buy a souvenir tee shirt from either company, so probably shouldn't comment, I assume there will be some fairly lively conversations in there PR department this morning. First off the Vanq's gearbox has to be fixed three (I think) times before Top gear can finally complete a lap of their track, then last night on Fifth gear the gorgeous Vicky managed to throw a belt three times before she could test it out! Despite the rather naff "hey everyone look at us, we charge so much we can fly in our own private chopper to come and fix your car" efforts of the local dealer it really was a poor effort. Not the greatest advert for British engineering!

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Agreed. I just can't understand why it got such a good press. That gearbox would drive me nuts.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.magnumyacht.net>http://www.magnumyacht.net</A> - Princess P42
 
Its not good is it when you spend over 100k for a car that breaks more times than it goes. Fantastic looking car but unless this is an early production problem there in for real trouble. Surely the copter was on stand by cos it got there bloody quick according to the presenter.
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !
 
Yep absolute junk. But we knew they were crap anyway, it's just doens't-pay clarkson engineering-wise know-nowt flying the flag. They pay for him to turn up and say nice things to assembled punters at jag/am dealers, but no trace of merc. You cd beat the blue train in a mini if yer set of he monte carlo at the right time (hours before the train leaves) but otherwsie wd need a plane. My local car-thief nicked the merc despite there being two astons in the road, which is a good sign, er sort of...

inciodentally, howdya get on in antibes wiv cheap hotels?

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Urgh good point /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !
 
I do not have a performance car, much the pity but i do enjoy watching Top Gear and fifth Gear.

I think performance cars such as the AM and Porsche etc deserve to be pushed hard around a track but i think it is plain stupid to put a car such as the AM at standstill on a hard wheel lock and drop the clutch at 5000rpm especialy for the third time .

I did not agree with Clarkson doing donuts with a Bently earlier this year either.

Push them around a track or in rally conditions by all means though.

What was that woman thinking of trying to hit 209mph in the AM without a fire proof racing suit , a full race harness and a proper race helmet, it was obvious she was struggling to brake on the first run .

I agree the AM should not shed belts but it is ludicrous for TV presenters to completely abuse test cars and it sets the wrong example for the morons who joy ride cars.

Thrash them on a track in safety and show some responsibility.

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Re: disagree

nope, the blurb says it'll do 200mph, it cost loads of money, so it shouldn't throw belts. They *were* on a track, not a road. This is exactly why brit cars are/were no good long term - cos people have been jolly careful with the old thing, instead of being a bit nazified, making motrways in the thiorties, and whamming every sinle car up and downem closeto max speed for the last 70 years. Wham along in an XJS at 130 and a light comes on saying "too fast!" - ringup the factiory and they ah yes sir that's cos you are doing 130 - but the car was sold as ok for 150plus! Whereas, with a decent 500 hp (ish) german motor i get the kids to read out the runnning in procedure on the autoroute, and they say it is okay after the first 1000 miles...so 999.7. 999.8, 999.9... 1000miles on the clock, whoompah, no probs.

If they want her not to do something like wham it from standstill - the shd put something in there to stop that happening, praps electronics that can't be switched off. Otherwsie there must be all varying levels of how hard to wham it from not much to loads - and what's allowed and what isn't?

A test driver (did people see the ferrari test circuit thing on tv a while back?) should definitely do all that she did and much more. Admittedly, the test ferrari blew up tho it took loads of launches and donuts - but i spect they have fixed it.





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NO the MG SV all carbon fibre body, and 400 bhp under the right foot.

Thats the problem reading british motoring press.

May also pay to check out the new designs, 75 coupe, a MG GT.

Brian

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MG SV

I have to say, having seen an MG SV on the road, it is quite the ugliset horror of a car I have seen all year.

It looks like a Max Power street racer's dream, as though there is something normal lurking unerneath all the spoilers scoops and vents. Well, with the exception of the tiny wheels, which in an age of 18-20 inch wheels on fast cars look absolutely pitiful.

If anyone pays the £80,000+ they want for one of these monsters (and that is not meant as a compliment) then they are either a) blind or b) immune to any concerns regarding depreciation, but probably both.

I would love to love it, as a British car, but quite frankly it is a horror. I would rather have a CityRover. But then again, maybe not.

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Re: MG SV

I saw one in a main dealer recently whilst looking for a new car (ended up with a ford incidentally) and I thought they were quite smart.
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !
 
Re: MG SV

Yes am quite sure....it's the big be-winged thing...with vents all over it...was truly'orrible, but each to his own I suppose. Be interesting to see how many they mange to shift.

As for 20 inch wheels, the one I saw was back in the spring, in the West End, so could have been pre production. It was balck with pinky-red leather and quite striking.

The wheels were pretty fancy looking, but a little over-elaborate (like the rest of the car). They were I think split rim jobbies, and these can often look a lot smaller than they actually are, not sure why.

If you are after a "look at me" car, then it would probably be for you, so I suspect it will sell well in Essex or Cheshire (sorry to Magnum if he reads this).

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Aston Quality

On another note, I too saw 5th Gear last night, and I have to say that the Aston dealer's convoluted and quite frankly overly elaborate reply was making my bullshitometer sound very loudly.

Basically, what he wanted to say but couldn't on national telly was that the gearbox is a load of tosh.

I have a BMW M3 which costs less than a third of the Aston, but is more than happy to set off like she tried to in the Aston time and time again - as was actually demonstrated by a puke yellow M3 later in the show.

However, nothing is bomb proof and the M3 has a terrible habit of blowing up its engine, hmmm maybe that is on a par with the Aston Gearbox? Damn, ruined argument.

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Re: MG SV

I agree, it's hideous and anyone spending £80k on this thing needs their head examining. Why Rover thinks it needs the SV is beyond me. If it drives well, nobody's going to buy it because they'll buy Porkers and Merc AMG's instead and, if it does'nt drive well, Rover will get panned. Either way, they cant hope to make money on it which is a disaster given the company's present situation
If they were going to make another MG sports car, it should have been pitched in TVR territory - a rear wheel drive coupe or convertible with a 250-300hp V8 at about £40k might actually get a few punters into the showroom. Heaven knows, they need them

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Re: MG SV

Odd statements for a car designed and built in Italy, with American V8 power plant, main British input is the carbon fibre components, and the paint on the shell. It's an interesting car as in standard trim it is full race spec, drive to circuit and race. Has built in full race cage, and no air bags, fitted with active seat belt system, and 185 + mph.

Check out the new 75 coupe, bound to have V8, and new MG GT 200 + bhp.


Brian

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Re: Aston Quality

hm, but you could have a spare M3 for when one or tother was having the engine sorted. So, quite a reasonable argument really.

I did actually once buy two convertibles XK8's bosh, just like that after 5 min test drive. But the blimmin salesperson got promoted to another dealer (aston) so nobody knew us at the jag dealer, total waste really. well, it mite have been cos the kids were guttted at getting a "poxy jag, dad" and made their disapproval quite clear in the showroom.

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BMW

Well,

I have not actually had my engine blow, but just about everything else has gone wrong - 20 visits fto the dealer for a total of 32 working days. The engine has been a peach though.

They have eventually agreed to repalce the car, but sod's law dictates that this one will probably have the dicky engine.

Maybe I should buy an MG SV - do you think they will supply the necessary paper bag to wear as I drive it? As for an American V8, the yanks aren't really known for their whizzy engines are they? Usually the solution for more power is more cubes (but at least it won't do an M3 and blow up) - and italian designed - are MG looking to go back to the good old days of BL reliability with a little help from their continental cousins?

As for fripperies on cars one of my Dad's friends takes the buscuit - he usually has 4 at once, but only tends to keep them for 6 months max - the last one to be sold had all of 450 miles on the clock. However, I don't think even he would stoop as low as two identical Jags.

But it's horses for courses, I suppose. I bet the annual depreciation he takes on his motors is about the same as some nutter who buys a 23metre Italian powerboat would suffer.

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