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2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Well, if I wanted my hair on fire…….
Yes, IF I wanted my hair on fire with WAY too much horsepower—which I don’t, or wanted a rag top roadster—which I don’t, (long live the R231) instead of the R232, I’d definitely go with this lovely Vantage. Aston-Martin hasn’t forgotten how to design & deliver a sumptuous, elegant, “looks like a $200K+” interior. Honestly, if I had a current SL and this thing pulled up next to me, I’d feel like pushing the 232 over a cliff. This is the interior that SHOULD be in the R232’s and WOULD have been, if MB still had brilliant designers with a lick of creative elegance, but they don’t. What a shame! Don’t even get me started on the beautiful AM exterior.
AM has a far different approach to client taste. AM clients can specify a rainbow of colors.........MB sells you a black dash, no matter the seat color. Limited exterior colors on the MB. AM will sell you a V12..........with big power without the hybrid complexity.
I want a dark blue interior ( including dash) and a plain white exterior with a blue soft top.................apparently this is beyond MB capabilities.
As polarizing as the Maybach presents, it at least eliminates the worthless vestigial rear seats. If you think R232 sales are abysmal, wait until you see the Maybach sales.
2025 BMW Z4 M40i (Manual); 2025 Lexus NXH Luxury; 2021 Porsche Macan S; 2023 Audi Q5
Originally Posted by Streamliner
Yes, IF I wanted my hair on fire with WAY too much horsepower—which I don’t, or wanted a rag top roadster—which I don’t, (long live the R231) instead of the R232, I’d definitely go with this lovely Vantage. Aston-Martin hasn’t forgotten how to design & deliver a sumptuous, elegant, “looks like a $200K+” interior. Honestly, if I had a current SL and this thing pulled up next to me, I’d feel like pushing the 232 over a cliff. This is the interior that SHOULD be in the R232’s and WOULD have been, if MB still had brilliant designers with a lick of creative elegance, but they don’t. What a shame! Don’t even get me started on the beautiful AM exterior.
I've owned three Aston convertibles purchased new ('09 Vantage V8 Roadster, '00 DB7 Volante, '11 Virage Volante) and this is by far the best interior design of the bunch. Did you see the interior design of the previous Vantage? Nauseating. FWIW, the interiors of the Astons I owned had trouble staying screwed together. All the carbon fiber on the DB7 needed to be replaced because it clouded up. Unlike many here I actually liked the interior on my R232, and found the exterior design elegant. Not sure how you can control as many functions as that car offered without a screen, although one can certainly argue that having that many functions is totally unnecessary.
Design is of course subjective. Can't warm up to the rear end of the Vantage but if I was in the market for a new toy I would put this at the top of my list. But with Aston losing over 1 million pounds per day (https://www.motor1.com/news/739797/a...million-a-day/) I would also have concerns about their long term viability in the marketplace.
I definitely like all the dedicated buttons, that strategy would be an improvement in the SL. The rest of the dash, and controls, look very familiar to me, compared to the SL.
AM has a far different approach to client taste. AM clients can specify a rainbow of colors.........MB sells you a black dash, no matter the seat color. Limited exterior colors on the MB. AM will sell you a V12..........with big power without the hybrid complexity.
I want a dark blue interior ( including dash) and a plain white exterior with a blue soft top.................apparently this is beyond MB capabilities.
As polarizing as the Maybach presents, it at least eliminates the worthless vestigial rear seats. If you think R232 sales are abysmal, wait until you see the Maybach sales.
They have the MANUFAKTUR + or something like that now, you can choose custom seat colours and (stitching?) as well? I guess they are getting there, other than that, you need to go with third party such as Mansory and Brabus.
AM has a far different approach to client taste. AM clients can specify a rainbow of colors.........MB sells you a black dash, no matter the seat color. Limited exterior colors on the MB. AM will sell you a V12..........with big power without the hybrid complexity.
I want a dark blue interior ( including dash) and a plain white exterior with a blue soft top.................apparently this is beyond MB capabilities.
As polarizing as the Maybach presents, it at least eliminates the worthless vestigial rear seats. If you think R232 sales are abysmal, wait until you see the Maybach sales.
MB is too busy coming up with limited edition cars. Now they focus on their Mythos brand, the AMG Purespeed, the Maybach (designer's) SL, etc.
They have the MANUFAKTUR + or something like that now, you can choose custom seat colours and (stitching?) as well? I guess they are getting there, other than that, you need to go with third party such as Mansory and Brabus.
Speaking of Mansory and Brabus why did MB use Brabus as the performance division (model) for the Smart vehicles and not amg?
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Speaking of Mansory and Brabus why did MB use Brabus as the performance division (model) for the Smart vehicles and not amg?
“Tuner” cars from Brabus & others are jokes. They are tarted up in ways that take bad taste to the limits. They are for those who just must show how much money they have to burn. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.
I've spoken to 2 dealers about the "MANUFAKTUR +".................100% clueless which is no shock. The other issue is the fantasy upcharges for a color change. My last order was a R231 SL65.......I wanted a plain white non-metallic white. The plain white was a common color choice for other MB models. I was told it's "just not possible". Does one need to be mentally challenged to work in MB sales???
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Mike P
I've spoken to 2 dealers about the "MANUFAKTUR +".................100% clueless which is no shock. The other issue is the fantasy upcharges for a color change. My last order was a R231 SL65.......I wanted a plain white non-metallic white. The plain white was a common color choice for other MB models. I was told it's "just not possible". Does one need to be mentally challenged to work in MB sales???
Yes, before ordering my 2019 SL450, I “tried” working with the Manufaktur folks and the answer to most every question I put to them was “no, not possible,” even though some of the things I asked about were simply options available on the SL65, most all of which had to do with interior colors & design or were simple “bolt-on” parts they had in their parts bins. I also wanted the Carbon Ceramic Brakes & forged AMG wheels, but I got the distinct impression that they really did not want me to place a Manufaktur order. If you are a prince from a middle eastern petro-kingdom, they will build you whatever you want. If you are anything less—especially ordering something as pedestrian as a lowly SL450–they really don’t want to talk to you. So, I did the brakes & wheels after taking delivery.
“Tuner” cars from Brabus & others are jokes. They are tarted up in ways that take bad taste to the limits. They are for those who just must show how much money they have to burn. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.
I've spoken to 2 dealers about the "MANUFAKTUR +".................100% clueless which is no shock. The other issue is the fantasy upcharges for a color change. My last order was a R231 SL65.......I wanted a plain white non-metallic white. The plain white was a common color choice for other MB models. I was told it's "just not possible". Does one need to be mentally challenged to work in MB sales???
Yup, not surprised. (Except it was my fault this time as the official term is "MANUFAKTUR Signature" Sorry about that)
Yes, before ordering my 2019 SL450, I “tried” working with the Manufaktur folks and the answer to most every question I put to them was “no, not possible,” even though some of the things I asked about were simply options available on the SL65, most all of which had to do with interior colors & design or were simple “bolt-on” parts they had in their parts bins. I also wanted the Carbon Ceramic Brakes & forged AMG wheels, but I got the distinct impression that they really did not want me to place a Manufaktur order. If you are a prince from a middle eastern petro-kingdom, they will build you whatever you want. If you are anything less—especially ordering something as pedestrian as a lowly SL450–they really don’t want to talk to you. So, I did the brakes & wheels after taking delivery.
Thing about MB dealerships is they want you to buy a car they want you to buy, so they can sell it more easily when you trade it in or return the lease (for those who lease).
On the topic of the Red interior Bentley and since we are on the MB forum, might as well share a video of a red interior (not Bentley though) of an MB's fan/owner's perspective (his main channel is called Mr. Benz):
Oh we weren't even talking about Bentley in the first place, I thought we were, so the video fits this topic well then, since we were talking about Aston.
On the topic of the Red interior Bentley and since we are on the MB forum, might as well share a video of a red interior (not Bentley though) of an MB's fan/owner's perspective (his main channel is called Mr. Benz): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GOLHbfZadA
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
) instead of the R232, I’d definitely go with this lovely Vantage. Aston-Martin hasn’t forgotten how to design & deliver a sumptuous, elegant, “looks like a $200K+” interior. Honestly, if I had a current SL and this thing pulled up next to me, I’d feel like pushing the 232 over a cliff. This is the interior that SHOULD be in the R232’s and WOULD have been, if MB still had brilliant designers with a lick of creative elegance, but they don’t. What a shame! Don’t even get me started on the beautiful AM exterior.
