Automotive

An excellent video reflecting upon Aston Martin's history, and in particular the Newport Pagnell years........

I’ve read a few comments on WPS in the past regarding AM cars indicating that they tend to have a lot of issues and require a lot of maintenance.  Yet, they are obviously top level cars, from engineering to aesthetics.  So, is that an established fact that all AM cars tend to have more issues or break down compared to other luxury cars like McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, etc., or is it just personal experiences that differ?

that that's the case at all. I've been a member of the Owners Club for close to 15 years now, and even though (ironically) I've yet to own one myself, the prevailing experience of a myriad of owners across the globe is that their reliability isn't any worse than any other random sports car out there.... Are they as 'bulletproof' as some mass produced German or Japanese sports cars - no. But the issues that they occasionally end up having are nothing major and are inexpensive to address the vast majority of the time. After all, AML was owned by Ford for an extended period of time (under their defunct Premier Automotive Group). There are many owners who have driven their DB7s, DB9s and other cars extensively (tens of thousands of miles), and the consensus is actually that the vehicles that are more frequently driven tend to have less issues overall! They are cars that are genuinely best used frequently, and not being kept as 'garage queens'. Obviously, it would behoove anyone to more thoroughly research any one specific model year in order to learn most of what uniquely pertains to that 'batch' of vehicles.... Cheers, Filip

There are some rather happy long-term owners of it in the AMOC .... Nothing else quite like it out there, innit!? The DB5 is simply an all-time icon, the DB4 perhaps an equally gorgeous and appealing alternative that doesn't cost as much given its lack of 'Bond pedigree', which is personally don't care for to begin with........

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'kisses' it is sublime ........

Many years ago I was invited to take a tour around the factory when it was still at Newport Pagnell.

It was very enjoyable to see the slow pace of craft skills from engine assembly to panel beating to leatherwork.

I also saw Mr Bean’s racing Aston being restored and the then Prince Charles’ DB6 Volante being converted to run on bio ethanol.

Spec’ing up a car a bit later felt luxurious even they and I knew I wouldn’t be buying one any time soon. One day maybe…

to pay a visit to both Newport Pagnell, and the new factory in Gaydon. Thanks for your insight of having had the privilege to actually experience it yourself! Cheers, Filip