[DeTomaso] NPC: Dan Neil on the Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster freshly divorced

[Charles Engles]

Dear Stephen,


             You classicist.  You are indubitably correct.


                          Warmest regards, Chuck Engles

-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen [mailto:steve at snclocks.com] 
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 10:27 AM
To: 'Charles Engles'; 'poca list'
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] NPC: Dan Neil on the Aston Martin Vantage V8
Roadster freshly divorced

The lipstick still looks silly.

IMHO

Stephen Nelson



-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of Charles
Engles
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 5:49 AM
To: 'poca list' <detomaso at poca.com>
Subject: [DeTomaso] NPC: Dan Neil on the Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster
freshly divorced


Dear Forum,


                     This excerpt is from the Wall Street Journal, Dec
19th's Automotive column by Dan Neil regarding the  new Aston Martin Vantage
V8 Roadster.   Excellent prose.  Excellent points.  Recommended.


                    "There are no secrets here: The V8 Vantage still looks,
sounds and feels so good that numerical comparisons get to be beside the
point.  Rarely when a car's styling has been called timeless has a company
ever put it to the test like this Aston.  But there it sits: fine balance
and harmonious silhouette, hyper-clean surfacing, dramatic windshield and
youthful, that is to say, compact proportions."



                 " Roadster versions like our test car give up the couple's
noble roofline in favor of a canvas top, which stows itself under the
tonneau incorporating, upholstered buttresses.  The top-down silhouette is
simple, frank seduction.  Nothing says "freshly divorced" quite so well."


                 ( discussion and description of the "company's Ami II
infotainment and climate controls ).."The ironic thing about the V8 Vantage
is that, by virtue of its lack of technical evolution, it only seems to be
growing in sports car authenticity.  There's no small displacement,
pip-squeaking turbo under this hood.  Instead, there is the sonorous 4.7
liter, naturally aspirated V-8 engine (430 hp, 361 lb-ft of torque)  hooked
to the most scant and scandalous exhaust pipes legally possible.  This thing
sounds like a mink machine gun."


                 "Yes, you may order the paddle-shifted automatic
transmission, and most do.  However, for the unrepentant, Aston Martin
thoughtfully still offers a six-speed, rear mid-mounted transmission.  And
it's only with six-speed that you can evoke all from the Aston's
petro-powered melodeon, from the tympanic idle to the wild happiness at
7,000 rpm.  God, this thing make a nice sound." 


                I think that succinctly and colorfully describes the
attraction of classic sports cars.


                                            Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles