Friday 21 October 2011

Aston Martin DBS

Not what you might expect. Disregard all talk of an Aston supercar: this is an honest old-school GT that’s at its happiest covering long distances. The DBS uses electronic two-stage Bilstein dampers (sport and comfort) and a bespoke Pirelli tyre to produce the most comfortable and capable chassis we’ve experienced from Aston. Weight has been taken from the steering (a good thing), the limited-slip diff is a bit tighter on the over-run and, at 1695kg, the car is around 100kg lighter than the Vanquish.

It’s not a car that likes to be hustled: under duress the steering column moves slightly and there’s a slackness to the chassis, even with the dampers in sport mode, that dissuades you from such antics. In isolation, that’s no bad thing, but within the context of all that carbon and those splittery diffuser things, it’s just not what you expect. It’s also a confusing package because the car’s exterior styling is so aggressive. As ever, looks are a subjective issue, but no-one can deny that a) it looks like a DB9 with a few body modifications and b) it’s a fussier shape than any of the other new-age Astons.

Still, we like the fact that Aston has developed this car to be at its best where most people will use it: on the road. Out on the twisting UK roads is where it comes into its own and nothing compares to the thrill of the tuned engine providing a soundtrack to the pleasant countryside. Despite the uber-sporty look this is a car that is just as easily at home on lazy cross-country routes than it is on the track and, in both cases, has the attributes to attract everyone’s attention.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

The greatest collection of British cars


Though the Aston Martin factory is close-by, visits of that are generally only possible if you own one. However, for those wanting their motorcar fix, all is not lost. Just a few minutes away, you can spend the day at the wonderful Heritage Motor Centre and see the world’s largest collection of historic British cars. Visitors can uncover the story of the British motor industry with their fun and interactive exhibitions and enjoy classic designs like the Aston Martin DB5 or more modern concepts, including the Jaguar R1 Formula One race car.

The Heritage Motor Centre museum in Gaydon tells the story of the motor car, from some of the very first cars to take to British roads, right up to the latest designs. This is a great day out for the whole family with children’s activity packs and lots of exciting cars on show. There are free guided museum tours twice a day and outdoor activities including a children’s play area, picnic site and the superb Land Rover Experience.

For something extra cool, The Heritage Motor centre offers a research and registry service for several British car marques. For a small fee, owners may send in their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN - aka chassis number) and/or engine numbers, and they will research the original production records for that vehicle and send back whatever information on the vehicle is available. This can include such details as a list of the options the car was ordered with, the original paint colour and any identification numbers that may be missing.