What is the best Bond Car for year around driving?
SilentSpy
Private Exotic AreaPosts: 765MI6 Agent
I love the scene in The Living Daylights when Q tells Bond that they are "winterizing" the Aston Martin. I like it so much that I've always wanted a sports coupe/GT that I can drive year around. I have yet to find a true Bond car that meets my requirements. The car would have to be AWD. I think you can only get so far with rear wheel drive and snow tires or chains. Although, front wheel drive is good in the snow it's not very sporting in the summer months.
I hope Aston Martin doesn't let me down with their coming 100 year anniversary car. But spy shots lead me to believe that they are sticking to the same business plan. I hope I'm wrong and the shots are just that of the DBS or DB9 successor.
I love the Jaguar C-X16/F-Type but I don't think this car will get an AWD system. Plus any sports car that has openings on the hood I believe will be a nightmare when the snow comes down. So, it's off my list for year around driving.
Right now, even though it isn't Bond's style, I'm thinking that the coming Porsche 911 Carrera 4 might be the best. I never really wanted a Porsche until now. The interior on the 991 911 is beautiful. Porsche is really trying to differentiate the interiors as much as they can while still using similar setups. Unlike Aston Martin who just uses the same interior on almost all their cars. The rear end of the Porsche is also amazing. Probably one of the best rears I've ever seen on a car. For the first time a 911 really interests me.
Any car I'm missing?
I hope Aston Martin doesn't let me down with their coming 100 year anniversary car. But spy shots lead me to believe that they are sticking to the same business plan. I hope I'm wrong and the shots are just that of the DBS or DB9 successor.
I love the Jaguar C-X16/F-Type but I don't think this car will get an AWD system. Plus any sports car that has openings on the hood I believe will be a nightmare when the snow comes down. So, it's off my list for year around driving.
Right now, even though it isn't Bond's style, I'm thinking that the coming Porsche 911 Carrera 4 might be the best. I never really wanted a Porsche until now. The interior on the 991 911 is beautiful. Porsche is really trying to differentiate the interiors as much as they can while still using similar setups. Unlike Aston Martin who just uses the same interior on almost all their cars. The rear end of the Porsche is also amazing. Probably one of the best rears I've ever seen on a car. For the first time a 911 really interests me.
Any car I'm missing?
"Better late than never."
Comments
Why do you need an AWD?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Snow driving. I'm a good driver but I think AWD is probably ideal. But even AWD can't save crazy driving in the snow.
Jimmybondi
Anyways, here's a car that meets your needs;
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Here's a great article on Bond and Saab:
http://commanderbond.net/2284/the-silver-beast.html
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
I have to agree!
Living in a country where 3/4 of driving happens on the snow, my experience is that AWD is always unpredictable. What you want is front wheel drive, made (I'm sad to say) in Sweden
-Mr Arlington Beech
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Me too! I own a Saab 900. It isn`t silver (or bullet-like), but it is a very good winter car.
"Hello, my name is Rainier and I have owned three Saab turbos." - "Hello Rainier."
Unfortunately I didn't know that Bond was driving one in the Gardner novels, as I had a silver '83 900 3-door turbo (with the TRX wheels just like the Bond car in the Saab museum). Guess I would have cared more for the car and it would not have had a "pressing engagement" like Goldfinger's Continental.
... and Finland - I had a Saab from Valmet in Uusikaupunki (I love those finnish names
Too bad they didn't produce a single car since 2002 that I would like to own. For me Saab died ten years ago when the new 9-3 was no longer available as a 3-door coupe.
Total agreement with that last line. The "SportCombi" wagon never had the same appeal as the classic hatchbacks. I have a 2000 5-door, and will drive it until it dies.
A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
Agent In Training
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I like the Jaguar XKR-S as well.
I don't see the Porsche 911 as Bond's car.
http://apbateman.com
I didn't know that the Bentley is AWD. But I don't like the interior that much. It doesn't have the feel of a car I could spend long journeys in.
I remember the Saab in the Gardner Bond novels. Especially the scenes in Icebreaker. I was hoping Saab would come out with something cool since they had Jason Castriota designing cars. He worked on two of the most beautiful modern cars. The Ferrari 599 and Maserati Gran Turismo. But I guess Saab is just about finished now.
Just to chime in... I've owned five
Daily driver is a Jaguar XJ8 though.
As to the topic at hand... I kinda get the sense, SilentSpy, that you're eyeballing 2-door coupes?
I don't believe Bond would ever drive a four door car! I couldn't believe the producers thought it was ok for Bond to use the 7 Series BMW in TND. At least it ended up trashed.
Anyway, I'm always looking for a year around 2 door sports coupe. It seems like such an easy concept to get right. I thought that the Aston Martin V8 Vantage would be the car since it was supposed to be a rival for the 911. But it turned out to be just a small DB9 for the most part. The Porsche really seems like the tool watch version of a car. If the 991 is reliable as the old ones are said to be, the car could be perfect. I think it has to be reliable since you need to remove the whole rear end to get to the engine. I don't think many will put up with expensive repairs on something like that.
I'd go for the Aston. The Porsche will undoubtedly be the better car in so many ways, but that winged badge is pretty special and non-car spectators couldn't give a stuff about another 911, but an Aston? There's nothing like turning up somewhere in one. I owned a DB7 for a while and it was amazing. Dynamically, it wasn't up there with the old 944 Turbo I once had, but it was a very special experience. I spent £30k buying it, and half that again mending annoying faults. Finally, it had to go or bankrupt me. Family came along, and I now have an M5 (e60, 5 litre V10, 507bhp), which gives DBS performance, but with loads of room, and boot-space. It's a very special car, but the looks don't do much for me. I'm convincing my wife to trade her Mini in for and suv, then we'll have family space. And then that four/five year old DB9 is calling me....
http://apbateman.com
I remember you telling me something about that DB7 in an older thread. I still want an Aston Martin. I want the DB5 more than any modern Aston Martin so that's pretty telling that a car from the 60s is better than the modern cars. At least to me. If Aston Martin at least tried to make something of a different interior for their cars and they weren't all so similar I would be interested in their current lineup. Maybe they will with the next generation. Afterall, the Porsche Boxster was nothing but a baby 911 for a generation or two. The Cayman, which shouldn't even be considered a new model is a Boxster coupe. I still have hopes for a modern Aston. But for year around ability I think they need AWD. Many cars have AWD now. Look at the new Ferrari FF.
If we're talking pure sports car right now, I prefer the Jaguar F-Type to the Astons. Plus, it will be cheaper. I seriously hope Aston Martin have some special cars in the works because almost every other luxury sports car company is ahead right now. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, McLaren, and Jaguar are all bringing out really special models.
I've used two Porsche 997's on a track. The rearwheel drive Careera 2 was slower on paper, and on lap times than the Careera 4 (I'm not sure, but I think the 4 had more power and another .2 litres) but the 2 felt so much more alive. We're not talking seconds, merely 1/2 a second or so a lap, but the 4 felt like running in welly boots. It wasn't for me. Especially when we were able to do some controlled slides. Great cars both though.
I love the modern Aston interiors. I don't like the Power, Beauty, Soul rubbish that came on in the V8 I looked at, but they all looked a little different to me - especially the use of bamboo in the DB9. I was surprised who small the V8 was though. And they've had to up the power and engine in the standard car, which means they didn't get it right first time, and everyone knows it. What's more they know a ten year old 911 will out drive it!
I can't wait to start looking for a nice DB9. It's down on power to the M5, but I imagine the weight factor would even it up a touch. Hopefully I'll find one of the later manual shifts, because I'm over the whole paddle/auto thing. My wife needs to get an suv first though - but I'm working on her...
http://apbateman.com
Currently driving a Jaguar XJ8, but I'm thinking about adding an XK once it's paid off. Sporty, British... fairly Bondian, I'd say.
I'm in the XK camp. It's beautiful. I'd love to go for a DB9, but an XKR would be as quick, and certainly more reliable. Also newer with less mileage.
http://apbateman.com
BTW that question is: What do you get when you take a Vanquish, Zagato, Jag XK, DB9 and mix 'em up?
And when will they learn? RED on an Aston - NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://apbateman.com
http://www.leftlanenews.com/aston-martin-vanquish.html
Besides my already mentioned reasons and others which are too complex to go into, I've realized even more why I like the new Porsche 911 (991) as an all around daily driver Bond type car. It is as close as I've seen to a modern day DB5. I was watching a review on Youtube and the guy compared the tail lights to a modern Aston Martin. They do kind of look like an Aston's tail lights. Also, the front light design is similar to the DB5. The placement of the side mirrors is also a bit retro. It's a small car too and not a big GT.
I wish Aston Martin would restructure their lineup for the 100th anniversary. It wouldn't be too difficult either. A quick rundown on how I would start:
1. The DB Cars. Decide if they are small sports GT cars or large sports GT cars. I'm not entirely sure of how the DB5 was size wise compared to other cars in the 60s. But to me it was the perfect small sports GT that could go anywhere. The DB7 and onwards have become big sports GT cars. I know there is the V8 Vantage but that lacks personality and is just a smaller DB9. It is not its own thing. I would like to see the DB cars be small sports GT cars again. So cut the V8 Vantage. Especially since it messed up the possible DB8 line and revive the DB with a DBX or something. Bring back the front lights similar to the old DB5. The Porsche 991 and Ferrari 612 Scaglietti have similar lights on modern sportscars. It should be cool seeing these again on an Aston. Get the price in Porsche territory and make this new DB car its own thing without copying it to the other cars in the lineup. Also, get the AWD option in it. This is the key car I would want from Aston Martin.
2. The DB9/DBS. Just call it the Virage from now on. The line is so messed up anyway but the name is cool. The design is still timeless it is just being overused.
3. The Vanquish. Another cool name for a sportscar. I just wish the new car was more special for a supercar. With both the DB9/DBS/Virage and Vanquish these cars need to take on their own personality outside and in. No more same instrument placement and swapping out on control areas. Stop the cookie cutter design by basically messing with the dimensions.
4. Keep the Rapide. Although I don't believe sports car makers should make four door cars. I wouldn't miss it if they stopped making it.
If Aston Martin were to do something like this I would be interested in a modern Aston again.
Also, early pictures of the Porsche 991 Carrera 4 are out. It looks pretty good. The site has a few driving through the mountains videos. I wish they put the car in a lot of snow to really show the AWD abilities.
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org