No rear decklids or bumpers were harmed in the shooting of this photo.

 

Didn't know that was an optional accessory with the new Vantage. Placing an order now. Beats the umbrella option any day.

 

Adds a little bit of down force up to a certain speed and then she falls off.

 

definitely aftermarket... doesn't look OEM..
😉

 

 

I still can't tell my Astons apart. Which model is this? Incredible looking!

 

Thanks! It's a 2013 V8 Vantage.

 

Cleaned the car up in anticipation of our trip the next day. Mr Murphy made his one an only appearance quickly and we got rained on 10 minutes from home. Just that one cloud and not a drop anywhere else along the way.

Out of Phoenix and up through Wickenburg to Kingman, then on a bit of Route 66 to an old mining town called Oatman AZ. Some years ago, a fed up miner called it quits and turned his burros loose. They have since grown in number to quite a few and Oatman's claim to fame are the burros that meander through town.

There were some nice mountain roads and not too busy.



Round a bend, we came across a burro standing in the road.

He asked for a ride into town, but as you know, there is not much space in the back seats. We politely declined and carried on.



Through the Mojave National Preserve to the town of Baker, home of the worlds largest thermometer and a strange little alien themed jerky stand. I'm not sure what kind of aliens they make the jerky out of, but it's good stuff.

On to the little town of Shoshone and into Death Valley itself. Many miles of empty road lay ahead.



Some nice spots along the way to stop and admire the scenery.



The vastness of everything in a place like this puts the little joys we have in life into perspective.



We stopped to spend the night in a well appointed shed.



Out the west side of the park, then south toward the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests. Had to navigate around road closures due to snow and fire aftermath but finally found some driving fun on 74 through the Santa Rosa mountains heading into Palm Desert.

Then we had a leisurely drive along the beautiful coast of the Salton Sea, with a short stop over in the little beach town of Bombay Beach. Lovely place.



On past the Imperial Sand Dunes, up to Blythe to catch I10 and back home to Phoenix.

Not a single issue along the way, save the god awful suspension groan when things are cold. I'll have to work on that.

In summary the the trip stats:

 

Nice coverage of the not very well known places that most folks pass through and don't look twice.

 

Not sure which one I like, untucked or tucked. Either way, tucked up for the winter.

 

You know how hot chicks always have that one homely girlfriend to accentuate just how hot they look?

Fun meet up with fellow Vantage owners this morning at Potomac Cars and Coffee (Maryland).

 

HAHAHA LOL. Good to meet you and the other owners. Thanks for accentuating our cars

 

blonde, redheads and platinums

 

Rob (MauMau) & I met on St. Simons Island yesterday afternoon. We've had our 2007 for 4 years this month and Rob picked his 2011 up just before Christmas. Our 1st time to meet and it was good to talk to a local fellow Aston owner. We've been in the area since 2016 and I've only seen other Astons 3x - and none were local.