Ideal Car for Bond.

0013

I liked the idea of the Silver Beast SAAB 900 turbo. And the modern counterpart for that , in my eyes is The new Audi TT.
Not the old design which looks like a squashed VW Beetle. I think it's lines suit a more realistic Bond. Because those Aston Martins aint cheap.

But if he must have something sporty, but not super-duper, no way in hell could you afford it. The Audi R8.

My propsed Bond novel I had him use one and switched him to the PPS.

I may get pelters for those choices
Whats your thoughts?

0013

thesecretagent

The problem with the new TT is that although it's a vast improvement over the old car, and with the RS model, now has the performance to match the looks, is all those orange coloured salon owners, trophy girlfriends and wives, and god forbid - estate agents will all be changing their old TT's in for the new model as their three year finance deals come up for renewal. And therein lies the problem. A man like Bond couldn't possibly drive the same car as that lot...

The Viking

I tend to agree with thesecretagent on the new TT, his cover demands a more upscale image. Also, Ian Flemming still would not sign off on a German car for Bond. I am sure the Brosnan BMWs had him spinning in his grave at a high rpm. The Aston Martins are a bit too high budget for most government agencies to issue, and if Bond tried to buy one for personal use the security department would be wanting to know where his money is coming from! I still think a used Jaguar would be fine for personal use, while a new one is affordable enough to be a special Q branch issue.

0013

I guess it's a case of Nice car, shame about the idiots who drive it.

What is it that makes a Bond car a Bond car?

Besides a contract with Eon?

thesecretagent

0013 wrote:

I guess it's a case of Nice car, shame about the idiots who drive it.

What is it that makes a Bond car a Bond car?

Besides a contract with Eon?

I recently bought a BMW M3 coupe (E90). 4 litre V8. 420BHP. 0-60 in 4.8 secs. Limited to 155mph, but easily derestricted to 190mph. It looks good, goes like hell (certainly quicker than Aston DB7 3.2, Jaguar XKR, Porsche 911 (993) - all of which I have previously owned) - but here come the compromises: I wanted something that I considered very cool, and very fast. But I also needed (for my business) something new, fairly economical and something reliable. For my family I needed a big boot, Isofix child seat preparation, decent rear seats and rear seat leg room, as safe a car as possible, total reliability. I have one car for myself and one for my wife - she has an off-roader so my compromises are not as much as most men with a wife and two children, but nevertheless it was a series of compromises that drove me toward the new M3.
Now, this is the Bond bit. Bond should never compromise. He doesn't need child seats, rear leg room, EU emmissions off-set for business owners, a large boot (though large enough for a member of Quantum is useful), airbags everywhere, MP3/USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. He needs somewhere to put his Walther P99 or H&K machine gun, somewhere to chill a bottle of Bollinger, a huge engine with next to no fuel economy, tyre shredders, oil slick, revolving number plates and yes, and ejector seat would be nice as well. He needs a brand new or classic Aston Martin, a Bentley - something outrageously untouchable for most of us. A fantasy. Because that is what Bond is...

0013

thesecretagent wrote:

He needs a brand new or classic Aston Martin, a Bentley - something outrageously untouchable for most of us. A fantasy. Because that is what Bond is...

Ah well, if it works, why change it?

mrbond

What about a Morgan -it's british-and Richard Hammond's got one!

http://www.carforums.net/reviews/makes/pictures/morgan08.jpg

It looks very 1930/40's in style but guess the year?

thesecretagent

If the Hamster drives one, it's hardly James Bond...

Asp9mm

thesecretagent wrote:

If the Hamster drives one, it's hardly James Bond...

Quite!! Bond would not shop at Morrisons.

mrbond

No. Where would he shop? Do it online maybe? Waitrose? I said that to point out that it is very expensive and nobody else that I know of has one

Asp9mm

mrbond wrote:

No. Where would he shop?

Fortnum & Masons.

zaphod

Asp9mm wrote:

mrbond wrote:

No. Where would he shop?

Fortnum & Masons.

This thread although light hearted does expose another more serious area; that of Bond and class. Up until the casting of Craig Bond has pretty much followed a post war British model of class. Bond is a Naval Officer, with a small private income and educated in the British Public school system. He would of shopped at Fortnum's, or at least his Scottish Housekeeper (May) would have. A Bentley, albeit an old one made perfect sense.

However in the early 21st Century much of this is an anachrosism. The updating of the character throws many of the past Bluprint into question. In CR his Public School background is acknowledged, but there is a much more modern conception. For example a Housekeeper for Daniel's Bond is unthinkable. He is much more a man of today and as such a mid-high end but primarily 'ordinary' car would be more in keeping. I think he would go for the new Jaguar sport, or an older classic performance vehicle.

Dan Same

How about an old, but classic, Ferrari? Yes, it's an extremely expensive car, but he could surely afford an older (and cheaper) one, if he can afford a brand new Aston Martin or Bentley.

Asp9mm

Ooooh, Daytona Spyder

thesecretagent

Ferrari is simply just too playboy/gigilo image for Bond. They are wonderful cars, and the post '97 cars are certainly better constructed and more dynamic on the track than anything Aston Martin has ever turned out, but they are just too obvious in their statement.

The Viking

Once again, I have to agree with thesecretagent, a Ferrari is way too obvious. I would love to have one, but Fleming would reserve such flashy to cars (a red Maserati 3500 for instance) to villains. Of course Fleming isn't calling the shots at EON, product placement is usually the big money influence. If Aston Martin doesn't have the resources, BMW could step in just like they did for the first three Brosnan films. The M3 4.0 V8 would in that case make a very good Bond car. Or maybe I am just envious (I would love to have your M3 V8 engine and 6 speed manual transmission in my Jaguar XK8). If Fleming was still around it would be interesting to see if German ownership of Bentley would upset him enough to change Bond's car of choice.

thesecretagent

The Viking wrote:

Once again, I have to agree with thesecretagent, a Ferrari is way too obvious. I would love to have one, but Fleming would reserve such flashy to cars (a red Maserati 3500 for instance) to villains. Of course Fleming isn't calling the shots at EON, product placement is usually the big money influence. If Aston Martin doesn't have the resources, BMW could step in just like they did for the first three Brosnan films. The M3 4.0 V8 would in that case make a very good Bond car. Or maybe I am just envious (I would love to have your M3 V8 engine and 6 speed manual transmission in my Jaguar XK8). If Fleming was still around it would be interesting to see if German ownership of Bentley would upset him enough to change Bond's car of choice.

I'm sure Germany's influence over Bentley would change Fleming's mind, it's the Britishness of Bond he brought through in his writing, and probably what we all like about Bond himself.
The XK is a great car, and one of the best looking ever made, in my opinion (I'm not so keen on the new model though - but I'm sure it will grow on me) and certainly the best alternative car for Bond if he lost his Aston's keys.

The Sly Fox

I've always thought a Jaguar would a be a perfect car for Bond. It's my absolute favorite car in the world--it is high-end, but still understated enough to not be the car of a "poser." The Jag's classic styling make every one of them timeless. It doesn't go out of style with age, but like a fine wine, it only becomes more refined as the years go by. Take a look at the Equalizer's 1985 XJ6 (a red version):



While it's obviously not brand-new, it exudes a certain class befitting of an old king. One look around Google Images shows that no matter what year it is, a Jaguar always looks great; definitively British, as well.



It's the epitome of class in my opinion, while still not being unrealistic. The perfect Bond car of today.

mrbond

NO NO AND NO! It's for golfers (the boot can only fit golf clubs) Seriously uncool (even though you get 400 bhp)

thesecretagent

And Bond isn't a golfer?

DaltonFan1

thesecretagent wrote:

And Bond isn't a golfer?

As far as I'm aware, a rather iconic and highly regarded early Connery film in which Bond plays golf with a rather famous villain.

Anyway, Bond was originally meant to have a Jag in TND.

thesecretagent

DaltonFan1 wrote:

thesecretagent wrote:

And Bond isn't a golfer?

As far as I'm aware, a rather iconic and highly regarded early Connery film in which Bond plays golf with a rather famous villain.

Anyway, Bond was originally meant to have a Jag in TND.

I think my statement rather belies it's obvious that I know Bond is a golfer, and that mrbond does not. Yes, one film and many more references in many novels. And the reference to the XK/XKR's being designed to fit two sets of golf clubs was rubbish. (Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear- circa '96) it's boot is no bigger or smaller than that of any front engined V8 GT car. With all that bonnet it needed some counter-balence on its rear, and all GT cars, including Astons have pretty good luggage space in the boot.

The Sly Fox

thesecretagent wrote:

And the reference to the XK/XKR's being designed to fit two sets of golf clubs was rubbish. (Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear- circa '96) it's boot is no bigger or smaller than that of any front engined V8 GT car. With all that bonnet it needed some counter-balence on its rear, and all GT cars, including Astons have pretty good luggage space in the boot.

I don't see how "too much" cargo space would be a problem for a spy, anyway. I'm sure Bond would put that space to good use (a nice temporary hiding spot for a pesty henchman ). At any rate, that's the whole point of "GT": being able to take your car to the race track as well as the golf course, or even on a long road trip. It's a very refined form of transportation, and I'm sure Bond would prefer a slightly more practical front-engined car over a mid-engined track car. Though there have been exceptions, like the Lotus Esprit.

...On a side note, according to Wikipedia, the Esprit was originally set to be named the Kiwi... I wonder if it would have still been a Bond car if it had been named as such.