Woppum Posted November 27, 2004 Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 I’ve been lucky enough to get hold of a DB7 Vantage Convertible for the weekend with the 6.0l 400bhp engine. It is a stunning car in silver with a black hood, and the new turbine wheels. Getting in: Strange really. The roof is very low. I am only a little chap at 5.9ish but my head is about an inch off the roof. Now I go to adjust the seat, which takes me about 10 minutes to find the bloody buttons. By the way it is located on the bottom of the seat right behind the handbrake. If you want to change the position you have to almost lift the handbrake up before you have access. Moving the seat forward. It cant do this much. I had the seat as forward as I could but even then it was only just enough. When the clutch was fully depressed my leg was straight. The seat is to high, there is no button to lower it (that I have found), making you feel like your in an MPV, not a sports car. The handbrake is almost more poorly designed than the seat, almost. It is a floppy handbrake like in the Vanquish, but you just can’t tell when the brake is on or off. You pull it up, then slowly let it down nothing happens, the light is still on. You have to tug it up very hard then push it down fast. The gearbox. Like a lorry. Very long throw and you need to be stacked enough to bench at least 100kg before you can change to 2nd. Never mind as I was Mr Universe last year this was no problem for me. But when driving at speeds twice the limit changing to 6th can be a scary business, you have to take your hand off the wheel just a few minutes to long to change gear safely. Visibility. Poor. Forget about seeing anything out the keyhole in the back, it just there to look nice! Then you go to look over your right hand shoulder on a bend. SMACK your head hits the handle on the roof. I don’t know why there is a handle on the roof on a right hand drive car... but there is. I have a bruise to prove it!. Finally I can get down to driving the bloody thing. It makes a great sound, not dissimilar to the Vanquish at all. In fact because of the cloth roof, you can hear the burble much clearer, which is nice. It has one of the best sounding engines I have heard, peaking at about 5,000rpm. Power, its fast, but not that fast. Nothing like a supercharged AMG, but similar to a non supercharged AMG. And has very similar characteristics. Starts with similar feel of torque, its only when the engine gets past 4,000rpm that things start to change. Speed wise I would say it is similar to an M3, It has very long gear ratios which are deceiving and not realistic. 1st can get you to over 50, 2nd about 70+ish I think. Steering, slack. It always wants to go straight. It is unpredictable and heavy, it feels loose in its rack and it heavy… Composure, cornering capabilities. It can do it, but not easily. The car rolls slightly then realises it’s an Aston and tries to stay flat when you go in to a corner. Composure and ride comfort is surprisingly very good. Not the slightest bit firm, and takes to bumps very well. Ride Noise. Too much. Wind noise whistles from over 50 miles an hour and the faster you get the worse it gets. You may think how can I be slagging off an Aston like this. Well it is just not a good car in the way a BMW, Audi, Merc or even god forbid a VW is. Can’t touch it with a barge pole for practicality or quality to be honest. But it is an Aston and as long as they stick the badge on it, cover the inside with stinky leather and put that gorgeous exhaust note on it, they can obviously get away with it. I have now done over 100 miles in it since last night. I plan to do a few more tomorrow, and every time I look at it I expect it to be different. It’s an Aston for Christ’s sake I think of that as the sports cars Bentley (if you know what I mean). But the truth is the Bentley is crap as well, when you compare it to a Maybach, Rolls or even a bloody S-class or 7 series. What they have is style, brand reputation and turd composure; they are supposed to be looked at and admired, making you think the bloke driving that car has done something right. Well he hasn’t he paid for the car!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted November 27, 2004 Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 Interesting review Woppum, how did you come by one of these for the weekend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted November 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 It was the MD's car but he has just got a new one so before Fleet got hold of it, he leant it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted November 28, 2004 Report Share Posted November 28, 2004 fascinating review and refreshingly honest too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted November 28, 2004 Report Share Posted November 28, 2004 I am only a little chap at 5.9ish but my head is about an inch off the roof we always thought your head was too big lucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 Intresting read Wopps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 Yeah, nice to see some honesty about a car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 Good review. "Who's got a barge pole?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A8_Tony Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Hmmmm, very interesting indeed. Was it really that bad? Good review though chap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 I can't deny i didn't enjoy driving it. But it was crap, really was an awful car and very disapointing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xspencex Posted December 4, 2004 Report Share Posted December 4, 2004 With these cars you have to forget about efficient systems and perfect ride etc... They are about class and Image and the feel good factor.. I guess the later didn't really make it on this occasion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 4, 2004 Report Share Posted December 4, 2004 [ QUOTE ] I can't deny i didn't enjoy driving it. But it was crap, really was an awful car and very disapointing. [/ QUOTE ] I think XspenceX has it, these cars are more about emotive response and feel good factor than trying to make rational decisions about how good the position of the seat control buttons are or how easy the handbrake is to work. It's all about learning and appreciating the car, understanding its charactor and its strengths. Owning and driving an Aston Martin is an event, an occasion, something to be cherished, not criticised for its eccenticities. I suspect on any rational level a BMW 330i Coupe would have it licked in almost every area, but I know what I'd rather have in the garage. Finally, the DB7 is an obsolete car, it was replaced by the DB9 which buy any standards is awesome. To complain about a car that Aston used to build is a bit like complaining that the old Beetle isn't as good as the new Golf. I suspect Aston ownership is either something you "get", or you don't, and that the current DB9 is in an entirely different league anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 True true, but I can tell you the Vanquish didnt offer that much either. Making me choose between that and an M3 would be a close call. But the previous owner of the car is now getting a DB9 so he cant be put off the Aston! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 So so true. A friend of mine bought a DB7 GT - only to be dismayed with its driveability - or lack of it. He realised the sense of occasion wasn't what he wanted from a car and went out and bought a 911 Turbo - not the same feeling, but a drivers car. Personally though I'd still like a Vanquish - whereas a DB9, if what I read is correct, is the finished article like nothing ekse before it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 i'd also like to add that the aston's are rather common here chaps maybe one could consider the Continental GT?... its refined beyond belief, has plenty of horsepower for when one feels the need to indulge in pure pleasure, and the impressive residuals make it surprisingly easy on the purse strings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 But it is a 2 and a half tonne blob and again isnt very quick... 13 secs to 100 i seem to remember very very poor for a car of that caliber. If yer are spending 110ish on a car you only have a few choices of decent drivers cars with the feel good factor. 1. Ferrari 430 2. Lambo Gallardo 3. Merc SL55 (dare i say it was a much better car in every way than the DB7), and Evo thinks is better than the DB9!! 4. Porker Turbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xspencex Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Got to admit...The Conti GT is quite a car....out of that lot...I'd choose the Porche Turbo becasue there is nothing that can match it in real world driving conditions...Just Amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 The Bentley is a great car, inside its fantasatic and it does have RS6 power. Its just with that huge build up before its release i expected so much more. My brother ordered one, had it for a week then got rid. He liked the car but not enough to ignore the premium he got selling it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 I think the best analogy I can come up with is this. Do you want a Casio G Shock on your wrist, with amazing accuracy, lots of functions like an alarm, a stopwatch, etc etc. Or would you rather sport a classic Patek Phillipe. Judged on any rational grounds, the Casio is the better watch, cheaper, more robust, more accurate, more functions, it has the Patek completely beaten and for a fraction of the price too! I, however, would rather have the Patek and I'll not worry over much about people who say "but its not as good a watch as my G-shock" As I say, some people get it, some don't... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Well said Ari...but theres another point too.... Do we seriously think someone buying a Conti GT can't afford another car equally as suited to other lifestyles too....because they can! If you can buy one - it isn't your only car and as Ari said, some people just don't get it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xspencex Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 I reckon people who could afford the Bentley GT, probably will have the second car...but actually look to the Bentley as the first car...their everyday car...the second car is something even sportier Ferrari, Porshe etc or a RR for the wife ( ) or whatever... So the Conti 'does' need to live upto expectations and Drive like a Bentley....But be as versitile and Reliable as a Trusted German steed... Unfortunately the 5 that GT's that I know of have all had problems...Small electrical ones... But at less problams than older style Bentleys of the past.. But more importantly all the Mercedes that I have had contact with have had problems too...and BMW's... Its difficult these days to find perfection.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 No, I think most would have the Bentley as the "cherished toy", and something like a Range Rover or an M3 as the daily driver, something that attracts less attention, can be parked anywhere and reasonably practical. As to the Bentley Continental GT, I quite liked it! Ari's Bentley Continental GT review Oh and Woppum... [ QUOTE ] But it is a 2 and a half tonne blob and again isnt very quick [/ QUOTE ] Don't think so mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 I have to agree with xspencex - the two people I know with GT's have it as their main car. One has a Porsche GT3 as a toy car, and the other has 4 or 5 others (including a Murcielago!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 I think I disagree. The GT is made to be a commercial car which is not just for enthusiasts. Most people believe it or not are not that interested in cars. If they drive themselves and want something with ample power and luxury the Bentley GT suits fine. What’s the need with a second car? On the other hand enthusiasts may well have one in their collection. But I bet its not their favourite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Hang on, if they're not interested in cars - they won't buy a Bentley anyway!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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