SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Ford has done it !!!
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: UK
BMW 535d Touring
Ford has done it !!!
After the absolutely astonishingly conclusive Top Gear programme on the new Aston Martin DB9 - I am totally convinced this is the next great sports car.
If it's as reliable and as good (pro rata) as my son's Focus then this is the next great sports car of all time.
No doubt, no argument. Its just brilliant - looks soo good, and how economical was it? 19 mpg at over 100 mph....
I loved the moment - similar to one I have experienced - when the French gendarmerie who are still a division of the French army and not the police, urged Clarkson with a double thumbs-up to go for it, go faster, as he slowed to pass them in their very old Renault .
Can't wait to drive one but it looks like this DB9 is a true Gran Tourismo AND a sports car combined.
And its British!
If it's as reliable and as good (pro rata) as my son's Focus then this is the next great sports car of all time.
No doubt, no argument. Its just brilliant - looks soo good, and how economical was it? 19 mpg at over 100 mph....
I loved the moment - similar to one I have experienced - when the French gendarmerie who are still a division of the French army and not the police, urged Clarkson with a double thumbs-up to go for it, go faster, as he slowed to pass them in their very old Renault .
Can't wait to drive one but it looks like this DB9 is a true Gran Tourismo AND a sports car combined.
And its British!
Last edited by Mustard; May 10, 2004 at 04:16 PM.
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From: Manchester, UK
Mercedes-Benz A170 CDI
As good as it is, Aston Martin don't quite have the heritage of Ferrari Porsche and Mercedes. Plagued by Ford swtchgear and so-so reliability, for me personally, nothing special.
Whan you drive the other cars I mentioned you are driving something special, when you drive an Aston, well its all in your head really...
After seeing the new 997 I have to say only Ferrari should be considered for sportscars, but hearing that the new entry level model will have 480hp as opposed to a 550hp RWD Gallardo being developed, then I guess Lamborghini is the last real powerful sportscar left
Whan you drive the other cars I mentioned you are driving something special, when you drive an Aston, well its all in your head really...
After seeing the new 997 I have to say only Ferrari should be considered for sportscars, but hearing that the new entry level model will have 480hp as opposed to a 550hp RWD Gallardo being developed, then I guess Lamborghini is the last real powerful sportscar left
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: UK
BMW 535d Touring
Originally posted by Bilal
As good as it is, Aston Martin don't quite have the heritage of Ferrari Porsche and Mercedes. Plagued by Ford swtchgear and so-so reliability, for me personally, nothing special.
As good as it is, Aston Martin don't quite have the heritage of Ferrari Porsche and Mercedes. Plagued by Ford swtchgear and so-so reliability, for me personally, nothing special.
Whan you drive the other cars I mentioned you are driving something special, when you drive an Aston, well its all in your head really...
I guess it depends less on whats in your head, its more your Englishness...
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Northern California
Mercedes C400, BMW X3
Car & Driver
There is a short take on the DB9 in this month's Car & Driver. They damned it with faint praise, in my opinion, making reference to how it doesn't seem all that fast compared with AMG cars.
It is sexy though.
It is sexy though.
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Posts: 249
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From: NYC
2004 Maserati Coupe
IMO, the DB9 is one of the nicest looking cars on the road at any price. Interior and exterior is a big improvement over the DB7, and performance/handling supposedly better (I might try a test drive). Regardless, for me, the looks alone are almost worth the price of admission. Almost. I have to agree on the horsepower point though, AMG has set the bar very high for all these guys. None of these GTs are meant to be drag racers, but at this price level excess (in all its forms) is the name of the game...
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
I have a DB9 on order and am so pleased.
One day, people on this board will wake up to the fact that driver enjoyment is not just a function of horsepower. I have never once thought the SL55 is lacking in power but in my book, it is severely lacking in other areas which diminish driver appeal. Brakes, steering, throttle, rattles, ubiquity, and so on. Just because the SL65 will have more power than the SL55, does that make it a better car? Err.... No.
Plus if you read my new post, you'll see that the buying experience is completely different to the take-it-or-leave it attitude from Mercedes dealers.
Within just a week of paying my deposit, I'm off on a factory visit and dealer launch on Friday. Can't wait.
One day, people on this board will wake up to the fact that driver enjoyment is not just a function of horsepower. I have never once thought the SL55 is lacking in power but in my book, it is severely lacking in other areas which diminish driver appeal. Brakes, steering, throttle, rattles, ubiquity, and so on. Just because the SL65 will have more power than the SL55, does that make it a better car? Err.... No.
Plus if you read my new post, you'll see that the buying experience is completely different to the take-it-or-leave it attitude from Mercedes dealers.
Within just a week of paying my deposit, I'm off on a factory visit and dealer launch on Friday. Can't wait.
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From: NYC
2004 Maserati Coupe
BlueSL - Congratulations on your order. I am having a hard time not putting down a deposit on one of those magnificent cars.
People buy these kinds of cars for many different reasons. Some require the most HP and torque in the class (even if they will rarely use it), others want a "tossable" GT, some want a racing pedigree, yet others require 4 usable seats. Driving enjoyment is many things to many people, or to use a phrase "Different Strokes for Different Folks". Who is correct? All of them!. At this level, the only wrong choice is the one that makes you unhappy.
Anyway, if you get any pics please post them - I am not going to be able to make it to the AM event I was invited too...
People buy these kinds of cars for many different reasons. Some require the most HP and torque in the class (even if they will rarely use it), others want a "tossable" GT, some want a racing pedigree, yet others require 4 usable seats. Driving enjoyment is many things to many people, or to use a phrase "Different Strokes for Different Folks". Who is correct? All of them!. At this level, the only wrong choice is the one that makes you unhappy.
Anyway, if you get any pics please post them - I am not going to be able to make it to the AM event I was invited too...
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: UK
BMW 535d Touring
Originally posted by blueSL
I have a DB9 on order and am so pleased.
One day, people on this board will wake up to the fact that driver enjoyment is not just a function of horsepower. I have never once thought the SL55 is lacking in power but in my book, it is severely lacking in other areas which diminish driver appeal. Brakes, steering, throttle, rattles, ubiquity, and so on. Just because the SL65 will have more power than the SL55, does that make it a better car? Err.... No.
Plus if you read my new post, you'll see that the buying experience is completely different to the take-it-or-leave it attitude from Mercedes dealers.
Within just a week of paying my deposit, I'm off on a factory visit and dealer launch on Friday. Can't wait.
I have a DB9 on order and am so pleased.
One day, people on this board will wake up to the fact that driver enjoyment is not just a function of horsepower. I have never once thought the SL55 is lacking in power but in my book, it is severely lacking in other areas which diminish driver appeal. Brakes, steering, throttle, rattles, ubiquity, and so on. Just because the SL65 will have more power than the SL55, does that make it a better car? Err.... No.
Plus if you read my new post, you'll see that the buying experience is completely different to the take-it-or-leave it attitude from Mercedes dealers.
Within just a week of paying my deposit, I'm off on a factory visit and dealer launch on Friday. Can't wait.
Keep us up to speed (sic) BlueSL on your factory visit. This could well be the next big car experience, but it will take a while for others to understand that...
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