Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8134
She lives….
Don’t suppose I should be that surprised given what it is but still 24 years old…..
Some chat about the new Aston Vanquish and I mentioned I liked it but nothing would better my old company car given I launched it and ran production of it at Newport Pagnell. Lo and behold up pops a picture of it and she’s still in fine fettle and used, somewhat sparingly, not owned by a rich ‘fleet’ owner of garage princesses
Click image to enlarge
11th Sep 2024 1:59 pm
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13541
You had a Vanquish as a company car? That's pretty damn cool. Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
11th Sep 2024 2:28 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8134
It was…… I have been incredibly lucky to drive amazing company cars but that was the pinnacle and was a big noise as it was a ‘bond car’ too with lots of press coverage/interest
11th Sep 2024 2:37 pm
pjm-84
Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2589
Think of the taaaaxxxxxxxx......
11th Sep 2024 2:37 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23823
Stunning.
Many more photos of it from when it was last for sale at Bonhams:
2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
11th Sep 2024 2:40 pm
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13541
MOT history is a bit strange. Not used much (shame) and missing the MOT some years.
Having said that, we had a missing year once when SWMBO was driving my car and I was driving a company car. Clean forgot to get the MOT done until I went to tax it and the system said "er...". Friendly local garage sorted it out the next day so we could get the tax.Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
11th Sep 2024 2:43 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8134
pjm-84 wrote:
Think of the taaaaxxxxxxxx......
Massive industry loopholes on automotive ‘management’ company cars…. You have a ‘paper loan’ for its ‘real’ manufacturing cost, less monthly (cheap) rental costs then the sale price at the end to retailers that all ‘washed its face’ basically. £100k RRP motors for couple of hundred a month…..
11th Sep 2024 2:50 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8134
LT wrote:
Stunning.
Many more photos of it from when it was last for sale at Bonhams:
I must buy a Euromillions ticket.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
11th Sep 2024 11:24 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8134
It had much Ford and Jaguar parts in it, pretty much all the switches and controls with a smattering of Volvo bits under the skin too. Aston's was part of Ford PAG (Premier Automotive Group - Jag', Aston, Land Rover, Lincoln and Volvo - not specifically named but Mazda was a provider/benefiter too) at this stage and specifically created to do parts, platform and technology sharing, it was the only way Aston could launch this car in reality, it had neither the funds or wherewithal to develop all of this from scratch. The VH platform (Vertical/Horizontal - width and length could be changed with aluminium 'planks' adjoined to four corner units to create different sized chassis' was all it's own work)
The interior was mostly black leather with a few oxblood ('35 was originally red) and that tan you see there (I imagine that was probably Mr Bez personal choice, 'brown' is a very Germanic thing....) but there were many bespoke spec colours and Alcantara inserts across the years. I seem to remember the 2 seat option being the most prevalent and practical, the 2+2 wouldn't even get small kids in realistically unless front seats occupied by a very, very, short person
12th Sep 2024 7:45 am
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13541
The upholstered rear luggage bench looks like a much more practical option than the unusable rear seats. With the luggage space I can see it being a great long distance cruiser - a real continent crosser.
Were the rear seats added just so chaps could persuade their wives that the car "is practical, darling, look!". Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
12th Sep 2024 8:45 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23823
astonbuilder wrote:
It had much Ford and Jaguar parts in it, pretty much all the switches and controls with a smattering of Volvo bits under the skin too. Aston's was part of Ford PAG (Premier Automotive Group - Jag', Aston, Land Rover, Lincoln and Volvo - not specifically named but Mazda was a provider/benefiter too) at this stage and specifically created to do parts, platform and technology sharing, it was the only way Aston could launch this car in reality, it had neither the funds or wherewithal to develop all of this from scratch. The VH platform (Vertical/Horizontal - width and length could be changed with aluminium 'planks' adjoined to four corner units to create different sized chassis' was all it's own work)
The interior was mostly black leather with a few oxblood ('35 was originally red) and that tan you see there (I imagine that was probably Mr Bez personal choice, 'brown' is a very Germanic thing....) but there were many bespoke spec colours and Alcantara inserts across the years. I seem to remember the 2 seat option being the most prevalent and practical, the 2+2 wouldn't even get small kids in realistically unless front seats occupied by a very, very, short person
All very interesting.
Thanks. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
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