Has anyone here owned or driven an AM Vanquish?

One thing is clear, there isn't a single pic that makes the car justice. The agressivity of the car is mindblowing. The front end is like "whoa". I just stood there for a minute, wondering if this car in the showroom would eat me alive or not.
Back seats are unusable. Unless you're really short ... then 1 person could fit, and not a fat one at that.
I'd pick a Vanquish over a 550/575 or 612 (I personally do not like the styling of the latter), but it's a tie with the 456.
I'd pick it simply because most people would have no clue as to what it is other than "James Bond's car" ... hehe
While I'm being picky, I'd go for a Zagato Coupe (that I have never seen, actually), to get rid of that bulky rear end ...

 

Let's see, I get a corporate discount on Fords (I believe its called the X-plan) and it includes the Astons in the brochure. No discount on the GT, but previous inquiries told me I could get one at MSRP if I wanted one.

Too bad I like old tarted up Fiats...

 

While we're on the subject, does anyone have a video or sound clip of this car? I hear everyone raving about the exhaust note, but never even heard it!

 

I don't know about that, but boy do they sound terrific, unbelieveable really. Too think that with two Ford Duratec V6's bolted together it would sound that way, by the way I'm not trying to be inflammatory towards the V12 or Ford, I am very impressed.

 

kinda of an odd way to hear the exhaust but in Grand Tursimo 3 the Vanquish has the best note by far... now b4 you all start dissing me, grand turismo records all the cars in the game.... not as good as a real sound clip, but pretty close...

 

It is not 2 Ford duratec v6's put together.

 

I did notice that in the Italian Job ... hehe
Not sure what the origins of the engine are ... but I know the DB7 Vantage sounds like crap. Heard it in some Top Gear episode, and it sounded really bad. Nothing a set of pipes couldn't change ... but hey.

 

The engine. The Vanquish V12 which contrary to rumours at the time, was not a hybrid of two V6 Ford Duratec engines. That said, the original
V12 did make use of Duratec pistons, connecting rods and
valvetrain. Also 18.1kg removed from the engine
internals, more than half of which involved rotating parts such as
the crank, camshafts and flywheel. And lets not forget how huge Lotus was in engineering and designing the Vanquish's chassis. Nice!

 

this car will be a lot more competitive with 500+ HP (coming) and a manual transmission (with a cluth pedal)...as well as an interior upgrade...much better looking than even the maranello, which is gorgeous, imho. Personally, I hate the DB9, no distinction in it's looks...just an aston grill...and boring taillights. looks like a watered down vanquish/db7/amv8.

 

I drove one last month. I've got a deposit down for an 05. When I first heard the roar out of the tailpipes I turned to the salesperson and said "sold." It drives really nice, plenty of power, the ride is in between my 360 Spider and my S 55. There is no leg room though, the rear seats could only handle a child.

All three cars mentioned were/are driven within the past three months. My S 55 I picked up in Feb. It is the ultimate highway driver, designed for the autobahn. The Germans know how to design a car that one can travel at 130mph without even knowing it. I have a 45 mile commute each way, the car is dangerously fast because you don't feel/know how fast you're driving. At the limiter 155mph it is smooth as silk.

My 04 Spider arrived in May. The complete polar opposite. A true sports car, that doesn't want to drive in a straight line. I didn't feel very comfortable at 160mph (I live in the country on 40 acres, I've got miles of straightaways). It is an absolute blast to drive, you just throw her 'round and its just sh*ts-n-giggles! The S 55 shows its weight around town.

My short stint in the Vanquish was a cross between the two. Plenty of grunt like the S 55, also more nimble, but not quite as quick as the Spider. Very comfortable car, it was also my first stint with an F1 transmission, so I didn't (and couldn't- demo) get to play very much. Probably a true tourer. The exclusivity is also attractive, very few out there.

I initially was going to get a 575, but "the boss" said the 575 looks too much like a vette. Unfortunately, the more I looked at them, those words became etched in my brain (herecy for an Italian who's spent thirty years dreaming of Ferraris) hence the Spider became my first F-car.

Frankly, the Vanquish is stunning in person, more attractive than a 575 (IMHO). It would serve well as a true daily driver, true GT car.

Having said all that, I'm tempted to get a 612 instead. I don't know why, I guess I've caught the F-car bug.

 

the am vanguish is a beautiful car , no doubt, and i know the am are considered " gentlemens sports cars" i n the true snobby english tradition...but given the history of english cars... beautiful luxury and sports that run like crap with very questionable reliablity, i just i have a predjustice against english cars...even my mechanic friend who is the head mechanic at one the local jag, dealers reports plenty of quality control issues iwth the jags...i would wonder about am and how they will hold up... with that said , the new db9 and amv should be vast improvement over ther older cars and could be good guys for the money.... however, the jury is still out in my mine....fro my exotic sports cars love, i will stick with the italians...

 

I have a 550 and want a vanquish... that should say enough.

--Dan