Maybe those of you with a Vantage can offer some insight: * I don't get it * There, I said it. I drove my 348 for 7 years here in Winston Salem, and only a small handful of times did anybody approach me to ask a question about the car, whether at the gas station, grocery store, coffee shop or whatever. I loved that nobody bothered me for driving a slightly exotic car around this little town. It was rare to be asked anything about the marque, vintage, experience, etc. Now, since November with my Vantage V8, I have been approached dozens of times by folks asking all sorts of questions. Grocery store, gas station, dry cleaners, bagel shop... just about anytime I get out of the car, somebody walks up to ask about it. No joke -- it is almost constant. It does leave me confused. Did folks perceive a Ferrari owner (nero car, loud, etc) to be generally unapproachable? Why on earth does a TdF blue (best description I can come up with) Vantage garner so much interest? .
I used to have a 348 and just posted on another thread about somebody who thought that about my 348. Doh!
My Vantage gets more attention than all the other cars in my stable (including my Ferrari) except my R8. I think it is because it's beauty appeals equally to both sexes and because it is actually more rare than a Ferrari so has more "wow what's dat!" reactions. Heck, every time I walk by it or up to it I go "wow" and I own the damn thing!
It is a different kind of beauty because of the difference in the design language. The low, wide stance, strakes, soaring b-pillar, and sharp crease in the front lip of the 348 give it a more aggressive look. So, it's eye-catching, but sleek not inviting. The Vantage has rounded corners and is like a smooth, polished pebble at a spa--it has a soothing appearance, and is very inviting and non-threatening. People respond to these subconscious cues by feeling comfortable enough to approach and start a conversation in the case of the Vantage, or by just watching from a distance in the case of the 348. Both are eye-catching, but the Vantage is inviting, the 348 is not.
This picture doesn't really do it justice, but it's all I can find at the moment: Image Unavailable, Please Login
Sorry to highjack, but you showed me yours so I had to show you mine. I like that blue. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks great. The only thing I would add to the Vantage V8, if I could get one, would be a front splitter like this one, which I think adds an aggressive edge to the nose of the car. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ah heck, I'll bite. Drove mine to work today. The sound is second to none, the looks are second to none, the performance is . . . the looks are second to none. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That makes me think of the tasteful mods on these cars. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
You're making me feel bad. I rode my Vietnamese el-cheapo/mucho eco-friendly scooter today. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'm not sure what the color is technically named -- it looks black in the evening, deep blue in some lighting conditions, and a bit cobalt in other conditions. (Compare it to that blue Prius thing next to it in the photo) The picture here with my son was taken on an overcast day when he first saw it at our office. Image Unavailable, Please Login
For one thing, there are far fewer Astons than Ferraris and, for another, I think a lot of people are curious about the type of person who drives one. Every time I drive one I'm approached at least once a day, without exception. Enjoy my pix: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login