32 replies to this topic

[Santa]

I'll probably get slated for this one but here we go: I know it's ridiculous to talk about Bond films being realistic but, as I think DAD proved horrifically, there have to be some boundaries to the fantasy. My point is that an Aston Martin is not a car to be driven by a civil servant, neither as his personal or a company car, nor for that matter is a Bentley. Just would not happen, have you seen how much those things cost? Even with the history Bond has with this car, including it in CR does not fit with the idea of a grittier Bond. And although I like BMWs, they are just too pedestrian. The only thing I can think of that has the requisite performance, realism factor but is just about cool enough is the Audi S8. Any thoughts?

[Skudor]

I'll probably get slated for this one but here we go: I know it's ridiculous to talk about Bond films being realistic but, as I think DAD proved horrifically, there have to be some boundaries to the fantasy. My point is that an Aston Martin is not a car to be driven by a civil servant, neither as his personal or a company car, nor for that matter is a Bentley. Just would not happen, have you seen how much those things cost? Even with the history Bond has with this car, including it in CR does not fit with the idea of a grittier Bond. And although I like BMWs, they are just too pedestrian. The only thing I can think of that has the requisite performance, realism factor but is just about cool enough is the Audi S8. Any thoughts?

I guess we just have to suspend reality a little bit... also, in Casino Royale the novel JB impersonates a Jamaican millionaire... so the AM would actually, for once, be a suitable car! I personally have more issues with Die Another Day's AM being invisible...

[Hitchcock Bond]

I think the car is meant to be part of Bond's cover, therefore he can drive an Aston. If Bond was driving his own car I think it would have to be a British sports car. It would be fast. It would be expensive but not out of the range of a fairly well paid civil servant or executive. I would suggest the car be a 'driver's car': it would be difficult to handle for anyone who was a poor driver. The only car I can think of is a TVR (John Travolta drove one in Swordfish). I believe I have read somewhere that TVR's are illegal in America because of safety regulations, but I am not sure on that one. They are perhaps a little vulgar for Bond, but that's the only British sports car that seems to fit the crtieria. Unless anyone knows better...

Edited by Hitchcock Bond, 06 February 2006 - 02:30 PM.

[Santa]

I think the car is meant to be part of Bond's cover, therefore he can drive an Aston. If Bond was driving his own car I think it would have to be a British sports car. It would be fast. It would be expensive but not out of the range of a fairly well paid civil servant or executive. I would suggest the car be a 'driver's car': it would be difficult to handle for anyone who was a poor driver. The only car I can think of is a TVR (John Travolta drove one in Swordfish). I believe I have read somewhere that TVR's are illegal in America because of safety regulations, but I am not sure on that one. They are perhaps a little vulgar for Bond, but that's the only British sports car that seems to fit the crtieria. Unless anyone knows better...

TVR, nice. I should drive one of those. However I think it's a little too small for Bond, plus I don't think a Bond car should look too obviously like a sports car, it smacks a little too much of mid-life crisis...
If the Aston is going to be part of a cover story then I can live with it. They are lovely cars.

[David Schofield]

Couple ofd points -

Bond doesn't have to own a new Aston: certainly the second Bentley in the book was not new. Get a bit of depreciation out of the way and a second hand Aston say a couple of years old becomes a more viable purchase.

In the books, Fleming gives Bond a private income. Plenty of people still do. Bond comes from good, established stock: no reason he still can't have the supplement of a little "private" money.

I have no problem with Bond in an Aston, therefore. As long as - as pointed out above - it's not invisible...

[Mr Malcolm]

It does actually raise the point that in the films, Bond gets his car supplied by Q Branch. Does this mean he's got his own personal one somewhere, for country breaks and things like that?

[Skudor]

It does actually raise the point that in the films, Bond gets his car supplied by Q Branch. Does this mean he's got his own personal one somewhere, for country breaks and things like that?

That would be his Bentley I guess.

[Santa]

Let's be honest, if you own something as beautiful as an Aston Martin, the last thing you want is for it to be invisible.
Your points are valid David, and I'm all for private incomes, but I think that again, it pushes Bond too far into the unknown for too many people. Not for me. Makes him perfect for me in fact.

[Jim]

I thought he was going to be in a Fiat Panda, anyway.

[Skudor]

I thought he was going to be in a Fiat Panda, anyway.

That's what the Fiat guys said.

[marktmurphy]

I know it's ridiculous to talk about Bond films being realistic but, as I think DAD proved horrifically, there have to be some boundaries to the fantasy. My point is that an Aston Martin is not a car to be driven by a civil servant, neither as his personal or a company car, nor for that matter is a Bentley. Just would not happen,

It's a film where a secret agent is sent to gamble a bad guy to death in a glamorous casino. Suspension of disbelief is a quality you'll need!

[Santa]

I know it's ridiculous to talk about Bond films being realistic but, as I think DAD proved horrifically, there have to be some boundaries to the fantasy. My point is that an Aston Martin is not a car to be driven by a civil servant, neither as his personal or a company car, nor for that matter is a Bentley. Just would not happen,

It's a film where a secret agent is sent to gamble a bad guy to death in a glamorous casino. Suspension of disbelief is a quality you'll need!

I can't think what you mean. Just last night I was in a casino with dark, mysterious gentleman and then I went outside and my skirt was pulled over my head and I was bundled into a car and kidnapped. I barely made it out alive and was quite late for work this morning. In my Aston Martin.

[Skudor]

Just last night I was in a casino with dark, mysterious gentleman and then I went outside and my skirt was pulled over my head and I was bundled into a car and kidnapped. I barely made it out alive and was quite late for work this morning. In my Aston Martin.

Sorry, shouldn't have let you leave the casino on your own... Now, how did you manage to be late for work - driving an AM?

[Santa]

Stopped off for a martini on the way.

[Skudor]

Ah, that would explain it!

[tbp82]

I don't know about the cars not being viable if it was his personal car. In the book Casino Royale his car was a 1933 and the noval has a copyright of 1953 which makes the car about 20 yrs old. There is a 1989 Bentley Turbo on ebay that you can "buy it now for about 30,000 dollars" so a 17 year old is cheaper than a brand new Lincold Town Car or Cadillac DTS. It would be beliavable for a agent to drive a $40,000 Town car or DTS so what if he just prefers to spend his money on an older Bentley instead of a new Caddillac.

The 20 year old Astons on ebay are a lot higher though.

[Santa]

I'd rather have a 20 year old Fiat Panda than a brand new Cadillac. Sorry, but Bond cannot have an American car.

[Skudor]

I'd rather have a 20 year old Fiat Panda than a brand new Cadillac. Sorry, but Bond cannot have an American car.

Second that.... it wouldn't make much sense anyway - there aren't many actual US manufactured cars sold in the UK.

[tbp82]

No one said Bond to drive an american car re read my post please I was saying that a brand new Cadillac DTS costs more than the 20 year old Bentley on ebay did therefore if someone on Bond's salary could afford a new Cadillac then he could afford the 20 year old Bentley. I was saying that him owning a 20 year old Bentley is somewhat conceivable.

[Santa]

You're absolutely right, you did say that, and I would love to see him owning a 20 year old Bentley as long as it has enough shove under the bonnet.

[zencat]

I'd rather have a 20 year old Fiat Panda than a brand new Cadillac. Sorry, but Bond cannot have an American car.

Isn't Aston Martin owned by Ford?

[bondrocks14]

Bond has to drive a cool car because, well, he's cool. And Aston Martin only makes sense. They are beautiful British machines, and I am in love with the V8 Vantage lol!! (I'm a car fanatic I can't help it!)

[Flash1087]

I'd rather have a 20 year old Fiat Panda than a brand new Cadillac. Sorry, but Bond cannot have an American car.

Isn't Aston Martin owned by Ford?

Yessir, it is! I remember learning this in another thread.

I never used to know squat about cars; due to Bond films, that's slowly changing.

[Santa]

You're right, it is, but it still doesn't really count as American. Sorry to slag off the US, I love it there in fact and I even like a Macdonald's occasionally, but American cars don't have any respect among Europeans.

[Skudor]

I'd rather have a 20 year old Fiat Panda than a brand new Cadillac. Sorry, but Bond cannot have an American car.

Isn't Aston Martin owned by Ford?

It is. And still hasn't made money (I believe Aston Martin never turned a profit in it's entire history - certainly for decades).

AM is still a British made (and designed) car and belongs to the same Ford division as Jaguar and Volvo.

Apart from everything else, Bond in an American car wouldn't be believable as they simply don't sell in Europe (suspensions made for American potholes simply don't cut it with the 'sporty' european driver).

[Santa]

And they're usually a bit ugly.

[shady ginzo]

I thought the latest on the rumour front was that Bond would be provided the Aston Martin DB9 by MI6 (presumably the "main" car of the film) which has been confirmed, and that the original Goldfinger DB5 would make a cameo as bond's personal car much like goldeneye and tomorrow never dies. also I remember reading that the film would explain where he aquired the DB5, from a winning bet early on in the film.

Edited by shady ginzo, 10 February 2006 - 01:13 AM.

[Harmsway]

I thought the latest on the rumour front was that Bond would be provided the Aston Martin DB9 by MI5 (presumably the "main" car of the film) which has been confirmed, and that the original Goldfinger DB5 would make a cameo as bond's personal car much like goldeneye and tomorrow never dies

Firstly, Bond's car will be the Aston Martin DBS, and that's been confirmed again and again. Secondly, the DB5 might now be Bond's personal car as suggested by that rumor. Marktmurphy had a different report from a source he trusts:

Spoiler

The DB5 makes a cameo as Bond "borrows" a DB5 to crash it in a parking lot to cause a distraction.

I buy that rumor more, and I trust Marktmurphy and his trust in his source.

[shady ginzo]

Firstly, Bond's car will be the Aston Martin DBS, and that's been confirmed again and again. Secondly, the DB5 might now be Bond's personal car as suggested by that rumor. Marktmurphy had a different report from a source he trusts:

Spoiler

The DB5 makes a cameo as Bond "borrows" a DB5 to crash it in a parking lot to cause a distraction.

I buy that rumor more, and I trust Marktmurphy and his trust in his source.

ah yes I remember now they pulled the DB9 when the film was delayed and the DBS must have been what they put in it's place, although i am not familiar with this car as yet so thanks for that!

and your version of the DB5's cameo sounds a lot neater and more concievable than the rather sentimental article I read

[Righty007]

I thought the latest on the rumour front was that Bond would be provided the Aston Martin DB9 by MI5 (presumably the "main" car of the film) which has been confirmed, and that the original Goldfinger DB5 would make a cameo as bond's personal car much like goldeneye and tomorrow never dies. also I remember reading that the film would explain where he aquired the DB5, from a winning bet early on in the film.

In Casino Royale, James Bond will be drving the new Aston Martin DBS and the Aston Martin DB5. By the way, Bond works for MI6 not MI5.