***Official Photo of the Day*** -- CARS

[cakM3]

Took a stop off I-95 to snap a photo. Such a timeless design.

Attachment 39111

agreed

[Galapolis]

Friend of mine bought a V8 Vantage in Seattle so we got to drive it back to the East Coast over the weekend. Some great scenery out west, definitely want to go back there to explore it properly on my own time.

[ZHPizza]

Friend of mine bought a V8 Vantage in Seattle so we got to drive it back to the East Coast over the weekend. Some great scenery out west, definitely want to go back there to explore it properly on my own time.

BRO

I need to hear about this trip and see more this car. I think Aston has had some of the best car designs in history.

Great angle on this shot

[Galapolis]

BRO

I need to hear about this trip and see more this car. I think Aston has had some of the best car designs in history.

Great angle on this shot

I mean the trip was really compressed, we both only got 2 days off work so we flew into Seattle Thursday night, picked the car up Friday morning and checked into our Nashville hotel Saturday night. We then drove to Atlanta the next day where I flew back after one more night since I didn't want to backtrack from Florida. There was no time for sightseeing and we only stopped for gas (we were only getting 290 miles from the 19 gallon tank) and like 2 scenic overviews on the Seattle to Nashville stretch. Still tried to make the best of it.

Leaving Seattle, lots of mountains.



They then turn into this desert. Very interesting to see that transition.



Probably the highlight of the desert.



Heading through Montana we started seeing pine trees and mountains again. The car felt really at home in Montana.



Behind the wheel in Montana/Idaho.



We eventually ended up in South Dakota after driving all night. I got a shower at a truck stop where I learned that Gojo body wash is a thing.



After that we headed south through Iowa and Missouri but by then it was just corn fields so we didn't bother stopping for sights. By the time we got to Kentucky the scenery was more or less familiar stuff so we didn't pay much attention to it.

Another shot of the car in Georgia.



The Aston itself was nice of course. Great build quality with all metal and leather parts. The engine and exhaust sound like a NASCAR V8. Crazy stuff and super loud too. It wasn't particularly fast (not surprising given the weight + it was fully loaded) but the real disappointment was the throttle response. You could literally count a full second between smashing the throttle and anything happening at all. You would have hated it.

The steering was also ridiculously heavy, may as well not have had power steering. Good steering feel but not as good as the E46 interestingly. Snappier though with a tighter steering ratio. Horrible steering position, my wrists hurt after driving a few hours, although the seating position is really good. Feels very close to a GT86 but with a V8 swap and double wishbones with massive tires all around.

The clutch and gearbox were the heaviest I've ever felt and the clutch only engaged pretty much after you let go of the pedal fully, so it was more like an on and off switch. My ZF 6 speed feels like utter trash now after experiencing the Aston. Although the gear knob was a joke, nothing comes close to the ZHP or BMW Performance knob I guess.

I never really cared much for Astons but I would definitely have one over a 911 now.

[t.er]

Amazing trip! Other than drinking gas it's the perfect GT car for a road trip.

[BMWCurves]

Amazing trip! Other than drinking gas it's the perfect GT car for a road trip.

Beautiful car but I can't help but laugh at that gas mileage. My friend's old Land Rover Discovery gets better high mileage and it's about as aerodynamic as a brick.