What some Aston Martin Owners think of Pcars

[Hugh R]

This from the Aston Martin Owner's Club members only website. Thought you might find it interesting what Aston Martin Club members think of Pcars. I've edited names and such only so that I could get it to post (max of 10,000 characters including spaces.

Topic: Disgruntled Aston owner (Read 435 times)
AMOC Member
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I caught part of a report on the news (probably Radio2) about a disgruntled Aston owner who was so pissed off with the problems that he had with his new car that he painted in DAYGLO, on the car, 'I wish I had bought a Porsche'.!!!
He should have joined AMOC and then he would have been talked through the problems on the Forum. As for a Porsche, maybe that's what he needs, great car but about as much charisma as -(you can fill in this bit yourselves).
Anybody know any more on this and are Aston responding?

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I caught the same on the radio. It said AM have made no comment at the moment. Just think about it, AM put all his faults back to normal, then he has to get it repainted !!!. Maybe he should have bought a Porsche. Whats that old joke about the difference between a Porsche driver and a Hedgehog ..

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I'd like to here the rest of that joke.

Porsche, such great cars. They even come with a built in emergency number to aid all of the numbskulls that end up in ditches (9-1-1).

The Beechcraft Bonanza is referred to a the "Fork Tailed Doctor Killer" in reference to its unique V-tail sabilator and the required extra skill required to pilot it.

The 9-1-1 could be referred to as the "Four Wheeled Doctor Killer"...


David Brown's Ghost

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The joke, in its entirety:


Why do people prefer porcupines (and hedghogs!) over Porsches?
....the porcupines (and hedgehogs!) have their pricks on the outside...

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I always find it odd when Porsche owners consider Aston Martin... sure they are both cars... but The Beach Boys and Iron Maiden both write arrange and perform songs... but don't particularly have any common ground other than the fact that they use musical instruments!

Sure they (Porsche) have four wheels... they are efficient, fast and reasonably good looking but they have NO soul, and the general public rightly or wrongly assume that anybody who drives them are complete and utter tw*ts and should be treated with out-and-out hostility...

He really should of stuck to Porsche and it's relentless pursuit of sanitised excellence...

Sorry for the facetious nature of this posting... but I do come over all superior at times with England's finest in my garage... "you are either an Aston man or..."

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Despite all this, I did just drive to work in a Porsche. Well, specifically 1/2 of a 1969 VW bettle floor pan with a much better looking version of a fiberglass 1956 Porsche 356A widebody attached. Total chicks car, as are most Porsches, but my wife wanted to drive in an A/C'ed car as we are having record heat. I never finished hooking up the A/C in the Porsche... ...my punishment. I keep getting guys winking at me in that thing.

I think Porsche lost its soul somewhere in the 1980s. If you find it, please give it back, they may find it useful with the likes of Masarati and Alfa Romeo coming back to the States.


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Frankly I'm starting to get worried about you ! You do seem to have lost the plot. I am sure NtV can prescribe something suitable!


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I was just next to a black Vanquish S on the 52 east at lunch today. Got next to him to give him a thumbs-up, and I got the typical "get out of here you Porsche-driving prick" look instead...

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Quote from: Frank(ly) in love with '7 on July 26, 2006, 02:20:07
I think Porsche lost its soul somewhere in the 1980s. If you find it, please give it back, they may find it useful with the likes of Masarati and Alfa Romeo coming back to the States.


I think there were two defining moments:

1) production of the 993s ended (73.4% of it's soul went with it)

2) production of the Boxster started and 911s started looking like "the cheap one" (another 10% of soul exits)

...Three.

There were three defining moments.

3) Porsche opens their Light Truck Division when Cayenne production starts...

In fact, 3# removed so much soul that Porsche'd have to find a good-sized chunk of it just to break even. ...They're in negative soul territory. Just ahead of Hyundai.

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Or four, when Porsche started to make over 20,000 911's a year; four times as many Aston do AMV8s, and move than twelve times as many DB7 i6 coupes ever (and these are the mass produced Aston Martins!).

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I agree whole-heartedly. I was a big Porsche fan as a kid, but dodging soccer-moms driving Porsche SUVs takes what little love was left and rips it out of my heart, throws it out the window, onto the street and into the path of an approaching Hummer...
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When driving, I notice an Aston, or Ferrari, or Bentley, or Masserati, or Hummer even. But Porsches have the same presence as BMWs, Mercs, and Audis.

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Porsche made one good car --it was called the 917.

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Not much good for the road though! 928 was their best road car I think.

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Not much good for the road though! 928 was their best road car I think.


Personally - I'd take a 1998 993 Turbo. Gunmetal Blue w/Stone interior.

My sister had a 928 for awhile (in the mid-80s...). When she was handed a $2,100 bill for brakes at 8,000 miles (in 1985 dollars!), she drove it [literally] across the street and traded it for a convertible GT Mustang.

..pretty much proving that, although she could afford it (and I couldn't), I am DEFINITELY the car-guy in the family.

...sorry for the aside. I agree - there were four things. I'd forgotten about the ramp up in production which made 911s seem pretty common (compared to pre-1999)...

I have mixed emotions about the 917. I mean, it was an heroic, iconic car. That it even existed seems somehow almost... ...magic? ...like it could never happen again. Simply incredible. The other side, however, is that it spelled the end of the CanAm series (which I dearly loved). ...It is,therefore, a car I hate to love, and love to hate.

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The 917 I was refering to was the 1970/71 World Sportscar as driven by Siffert, Rodriguez etc, especially the Gulf cars.
The Can-Am turbo 917 was absolutey awesome and as you say pretty well knocked the series on the head although the way that the McLarens dominated the series made it a bit of a foregone coclusion as to who would win but they were certainly entertaining with some legendary drivers at the wheel.
They don't make them like that any more!

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The car in question was bought from Stratstones in Wilmslow. There are 2 sides to every story and Aston martin did have amicable quotes in the paper. But if he had read the forum he would have got plenty of good advice.
Anyway leave the porkers alone, they are great cars, the car that has defined sports cars for 30 years and which every manufacturer tries to emulate and beat, including Aston martin, lead by Dr Bez from you know who. Of course it has taken Dr Bez to produce a genuine rival to the 911 with the AMV8. Plenty of comparisons in these threads, enjoy them both for what they are.
COI. Own both makes, but 911 needs to go back with an electrical fault, again!


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Drove my first Porker the other day - a 997 Carrera 4 Cab. As it only had 70 miles on the clock I didn't wish to do too much damage, but the car was very, very precise. Ultimate control. Every control in the cabin was where it was meant to me (except the ignition switch which was strange). Trim was just right.

And that's the problem. It's far too German. Machine and machine in perfect harmony. Power - yes. Beauty - in the eye of the beholder. Soul - none.

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Thats what we said about the german football team!

I did forget about a fault with the AMV8, its perhaps got too much soul, the headlamps mist up!


That's not a fault, all HID headlamps do it.
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No, all Aston headlights do it.

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Misting up is a sign that Astons have soul and emotions ...

[Jims5543]

I love the prick comments. I get them all the time from my friends. Never ending ribbing because I bought a snooty car and I am known for my down and dirty RX-7 with my car friends.

Post this up for your Aston friends to read.

The thread I am quoting from:
PCA DE at Homestead

I've been to many a DE in my day, some more memorable than others. But this past weekend was very special, and one that I'm not likely to soon forget.

The PCA Gold Coast Region and the local PBOC Club (BMW club) hosted a joint event at Homestead Motor Speedway here in South Florida this past weekend. What made the event so special was that a charity group called Kids Racing For Life was invited to come out to the track for the weekend and share the experience of high speed driving. The kids were all between the ages of about 6 and 17 and were all diagnosed with terminal cancer. These were kids whose illnesses had devastated their families, both emotionally and financially, and who were used to getting the short end of life's stick.

Now, I often hear the same lines about p-car drivers being "********* rich guys playing with their expensive toys" and the like. Sometimes it's true. I know the joke doesn't apply to me (wish I were a "rich guy", hope I'm not an *********!) But when the details started to come out about how some of these "********* rich guys" were paying the mortgages, rents, car payments, living expenses and medical bills of these cancer victims and their families, I couldn't have been more proud to be part of it all. This is truly "taking care of your own" at the local level.

But the real highlight of the weekend came when we gave rides to the kids around the track. A driver's meeting was held just beforehand, and I was expecting to be told to just do a parade lap at low speed. No way! We were instructed to drive at no more than 8/10's(!!!) and to keep an eye on the passanger to see how they were doing. The kids were given helmets and hand signals to indicate "slow down", "speed up" and "stop, I want out!". I was a bit wary of the whole thing -- i.e. being sued, for instance, should something happen -- so I asked the parent of the little girl I was about to take out on the track if they had signed a waiver or if she was concerned for the safety of her daughter, and she simply replied, "My daughter doesn't smile or laugh much anymore, and she might be gone in a year. Just show her a good time." Let's just say that through watery eyes I drove some of the cleanest laps I've ever put in, and that little girl was smiling like a Cheshire cat when I pulled into the pits.

My apologies for the long post, but I had to share what was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had, motorsports related or not. If anyone else was there for the event, it would be great to hear how your day went.

[Tobra]

Friend of mine in Texas was a hardcore Porsche guy, club racer and all. He had one of the last year air cooled cars, probably not too street legal, that he raced and drove to work occasionally. One of the nurses had a son who was dying of cancer. We did a celebration of life thing, planted a tree, and this kid, who was about 15 had taken a liking to Rich's car, his dream car so to speak. Took him out for a ride and let the kid drive it, which he never even offered to let me do BTW. Kid drove pretty well for someone without a license, didn't even stall it, only spun the tires once. He was gone less than a month later, sweet kid, mother is a really nice lady

[Laneco]

Tell them this:

Those who would rather push an Aston Martin than drive a Porsche generally do.

angela

[Hugh R]

You can see the Aston Martin Owner's Club at AMOC.org. As a non member, you can't get into several portions of the site. Their technical knowledge sites are no where as good as Pelican. My stock DB4 corners like an old pickup truck compared to my stock 84 Targa. The six cylinder DB series cars were notorious for not holding oil pressure. The aluminum block would expand alot under heat and the main bearing clearences would grow to 3 or 4 times the cold clearance.

[nostatic]

funny stuff...now many of them track their cars?

"Soul" is found in go, not show...imho.

[legion]

I think "soul" is just code for "breaks often".

Clarkson has the same vague complaint. What is it with the Brits (and Brit wannabees)?

[snowman]

I know an Aston Martin owner, DB2. He has a Chevy engine in it.

[pwd72s]

David Brown...isn't that a tractor that doesn't run like a Deere?

[450knotOffice]

I don't know why some of those guys have to be so condescending toward us and our cars. I happen to think Aston's are pretty cool. They just don't really do it for me, that's all. That doesn't mean I feel the need to make disparaging remarks about them.

And this whole "soul" thing is getting really old. To me it simply means that they don't really like the cars but can't put their finger on why. There doesn't have to be a "why". You either like a certain car, or you don't. Just because you don't doesn't mean a certain car lacks "soul". It just means a certain car doesn't turn you on. So what?!

[Hugh R]

This one is mine. It may corner like a pickup truck (actually an old pickup truck, new ones handle pretty good) . And I like the style.

John Cramer, oversteer big time! If you stuff junk in the trunk, its wants to put the ass end in a ditch, Empty trunk its kind of neutral, but again, at speed your working it around corners wth the back end following, sort of.

[snowman]

They sure look nice, just like a Jag does. But Do they run?

[Victor]

Have to agree with some of the statements in there. Like this one: "I agree whole-heartedly. I was a big Porsche fan as a kid, but dodging soccer-moms driving Porsche SUVs takes what little love was left and rips it out of my heart, throws it out the window, onto the street and into the path of an approaching Hummer... "

That being said, IMHFO those anti-Porsche Brits are just sulking about the Blitz.

[RallyJon]

The "soul" characteristic is often used to defend ones objectively inferior car against a poor comparison with a demonstrably, obviously superior car. Of course, you can't argue with something so subjective.

IMO "soul" is in the eye, seat of pants, fingertips, ball of foot, clenched sphincter, middle ear, and dumb, happy grin of the driver. A lot of cars have soul.

Tufted leather and polished burl may count as soul to some people, but they're sure not driving enthusiasts. More likely, they're just insecure status seekers who benchmark first by price paid, then by whatever they can use to fill in their gaping cognitive dissonance hole underneath.

[DaveE]

Soul...... Isn't Aston Martin owned by Ford?

[RickM]

Soul to me is what an earlier 911 has (as noted by some on that forum). Lack of soul would be the "too "perfect", quiet, less feedback kind of experience......like my dad's Lexus.....and what the 928 was purported to be by many writers.

[Z-man]

Originally posted by nostatic
funny stuff...now many of them track their cars?

"Soul" is found in go, not show...imho.

Yep. I found my soul every time I hit that perfect apex on a given track. And often I find religion when I'm on the jagged edge.

From the AM-website
And that's the problem. It's far too German. Machine and machine in perfect harmony. Power - yes. Beauty - in the eye of the beholder. Soul - none.

He misses the point. It is the ability of working that perfect machine to its potential that gives the Porsche its soul. And extracting as much out of a Porsche on a racetrack is what gives it's DRIVER his passion, his excitement - his soul.

One thing I've learned - never diss another man's car, unless it's a bling-ed out Honduh.
-Z-man.

[TerryBPP]

Any brand tested by Top Gear that can't make it around the 1st turn without a new tranny is off of my want list.

Hugh's car on the other hand is a work of art. That and the XKE are on my list of cars to have in my garage and stare at. Defienlty not to drive.

[cowtown]

Those Aston guys are exactly like us.

"Headlights misting up proves that our Astons have SOUL!"

"Sure the 915 is hard to shift, it's got CHARACTER!"

Everyone like to give the other brands a hard time - it's what we do....

[tchanson]

Originally posted by DaveE
Soul...... Isn't Aston Martin owned by Ford?

As of today, anyway, and has been for almost 20 years.

AM would surely have died a quiet and soulful death many years ago had they attempted to survive on their own. Kind of like the entire Brit auto industry as a whole.

Ford hired an investment banker last month named Ken Leet, whose sole purpose is looking at strategic "asset sales", meaning dumping the perpetually cash hemorrhaging Euro premium brands, namely Jaguar.

Its quite entertaining to hear the tweedy types prattle on about the "soul" in AM's, which have been essentially marginally upmarket, Ford built Jaguars for many years. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I would guess that in the not too distant future Ford will finally cut their losses and dump Jaguar for a fraction of their '89 purchase price, and AM would be a logical candidate to go with it.

The most likely purchasers, according to the WSJ, are PSA/Peugeot-Citroen or Renault, both of whom are looking for upscale brands.

I can almost envision the upcoming, soul packed Aston Martin Voltaire at the Paris show next year...


Tim