Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    I'm suprised no-one's commented on the two new Astons which have been
    previewed in the magazines.
    
    First off is the Virage Vantage. This has a 6.3 litre version of the
    old faithfull V8, which is supposed to be good for a 174 mph top speed
    and a sub 6 second 0-60 (I think?). It looks subtely more aggressive
    than the Virage which, to my eyes, is a fairly good looking car.
    
    Secondly (and I had to check it wasn't in an April issue magazine!) is
    a 'Shooting Brake'. Basically this is a Virage ESTATE! I guess there's
    a market for this kind of thing and it actually looked pretty good, but
    I'm not sure it'd challenge a Montego for carrying capacity!
    
    Mark

 The Aston 'Shooting Brake' is featured in todays TIMES newspaper. 

 Before we all go and buy one the price tag is �165,000, but for
 this price they do chuck in a purpose built gunbox and shot gun,
 How awfully nice of them, maybe its to shoot yourself when you
 realise you cant keep up with the repayments,

 Mark. 

    re.32
    
    Those figures for the Vantage sound a bit low,  the old Vantage did
    174MPH and 0-60MPH in 5.3 Seconds.
    
    The standard Virage has been clocked at 160MPH and 5.5sec 0-60MPH.  I
    would think the new Vantage could manage 180-185MPH and 5sec 0-60MPH.
    
    Grant

    Another set of extraordinary Astons have been built recently.
    
    Apparently the factory books showed that 23 (instead of the 19 known)
    DB4GT Zagato had been registered. Aston have therfore decided to build
    4 additional examples of this rare GT. The 4 chassis and engines have
    been built at Newport Pagnell, shipped to Milan for Zagato to build the
    bodywork and shipped back to the factory. The engine has been upgraded
    from 3.7 to 4.2 ltr, still in straight six version with twin ignition
    system.
    
    I've seen a report on one of the cars (the one that belongs to Victor
    Gauntlett, ex AM gen mgr). 
    
    Beautiful !!!!!

    Yes... the DB4GT Zagato - Sanction II

    I saw one for sale recently - price unknown, also, Hexagon in London have
    a DB4GT Zagato in thier showroom at the moment.

    Buy now while stocks last ?

    :-)

    It's too late for anyone to visit the Geneva AutoShow (4-14 March) but
    it's still time to report on Aston Martin's new toy:
    
    				the   DB7
    
    For me the DB7 is
    
    - one of the most extraordinary cars ever made (beautiful shape)
    - the star of the Geneva show
    
    Several people have suggested that the AM DB7 is just a re-badged
    F-Type Jag while others are saying that it has nothing to do with it.
    In any case the DB7 has:
    
    - the XJS platform
    - the AJ6 engine (with a supercharger)
    
    Personal taste: the DB7 is one of my favourite cars and I think it will
    become a classic (like the SS100, the XK120, the DB4GTZ, the Miura,
    ...)

	Can any Aston enthusiast answer the following question -

On which Aston Martin "DB" model was the first "Shooting Brake" version
introduced?
		DB2?
		DB5?
		DBS V8?

thanks,
	Ian

    I think the Shooting Brake Estate was a DB5 variation.

    'Ello 'ello, someone's entering the same competition as me !!!!
    
    Wot about disc brakes, Ulster, DB2/4 III or Virage ?
    
    I've never heard of an Aston Martin Ulster !
    
    Colin

	The Ulster was a pre-WWII thing and , I hope, pre-disc brakes.
Note entries close at 5:30 on Wednesday.

re -2,

	Thanks Patrick. If there isn't a DB7 in my driveway later 
this month, I won't blame you.

    .41� The Ulster was a pre-WWII thing and , I hope, pre-disc brakes.
    
    Pre-disc brakes ?
    
    I have some b/w pictures of several historic Astons taken at Le Mans 
    during a 10th anniversary celebration of the 1959 victory. There's a
    black Ulster among those. Mmmmm.....

	The Sunday Times has 'blown the gaff' on the DB7. Apparently
	this beautifully sculptured, well specified and surprisingly
	cheap supercar has the reliability of a Lada.

	According to the report the four cars which have gone out to
	the motoring media have all suffered serious problems. The 
	Top Gear (Television) one had pices of trim falling off, one
	that went to Top Gear (Magazine) suffered a total rear axle 
	failure, another a variety of nasties and a fourth suffered
	an exhaust induced fire which 'burnt out the car'.

	None of this appears to have been reported due to a wall of 
	silence and various pressures (I was wondering why Top Gear 
	hadn't screened their review yet).

	Expect deliveries to be delayed!.

	-John

	PS_1  Whats the difference between Top Gear magazine (which I've
	never seen) and the TV prog.

	PS_2  I hope they sort it all out, its just a wonderful looking
	car.

    re -1
    
    The ST article repeated the following telephone conversation
    (paraphrased)
    
    Reporter: hello Aston Martin, would you comment on the fire that
    occured during the xxx test drive.
    
    AM: it was only a minor fire
    
    Reporter: but it burned out the car
    
    AM: ah! by then it was a major fire.
    
    I liked it.
    
    Peter
     

    RE: .-1
	>	this beautifully sculptured, well specified and surprisingly
	> 	cheap supercar has the reliability of a Lada.
    
    I think this may be a bit of a slur on the Lada name. I know that many
    years ago when "Thats Life" did a viewers survey of reliability the
    Lada came out in front and proved itself to be extremely reliable. I
    suppose things could have changed in the >7 years since they did this
    survey.
    
    Yours,
    
    A one time closet "Thats Life" viewer.  

	Yes, I'd better withdraw that remark about the Lada. 

	-John

	Lada have moved upmarket now!

	The make is known as
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				The L' da

				Malcolm.

    This is obviously DB7 press launch time. Major car mags are reporting
    on real tests. How many cars are available for test is an interesting
    question since each mag shows the same silver 'M3 AML' example.  
    
    In my opinion (personal taste) this car is one of the most beautiful
    designs ever made.
    
    The big shock was last weekend when french TV channel M6 showed 15
    minutes of the DB7 on small country roads, with real sound. The engine
    sounds real wild. I don't know if the car performs well but it surely
    looks extraordinary.
    
    Acoording to my sources there will be 600 cars built per year. French
    price (FF690K) is attractive (compared to Porsche 928, BMW 850 and big
    Mercs). If Digital stock should continue to rise, say to 200$, I might
    be able to buy one ...