Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Ratings
5 stars
Summary
Highly recommended. With looks, pace and one of the most desirable badges on the planet, Aston's baby supercar is a very credible rival to Porsche's 911, BMW's M6 and the Maserati Gran Turismo.
Review
Since taking over Aston Martin, Ford has transformed the company from one that struggled to sell a couple of hundred cars a year, into a genuine rival for the likes of Ferrari. And, in the shape of the V8 Vantage, a serious challenger for Porsche as well.Aston's new owners will be doing well to maintain Ford's record with the company.The Vantage's sleek, seductive styling - whether of the coupe or the Roadster - will be sufficient by itself to make many fall in love. The strong lines are clearly related to those of the larger, pricier DB9 and Vanquish models - but the Vantage's compact dimensions and squat stance give it more of a muscular appearance. The cabin is good too, combining conservative and modern design elements and mostly finished in classy, quality-feeling materials. The only significant niggles are from the driver's seat - forward visibility is restricted both by the fat windscreen pillars and the height of the dash, which makes pulling out of junctions tricky. The Roadster is worse, because it's rear three-quarter visibility is poor, roof up or down. And both versions have pedals offset to the right, which can make you ache in time.But when you start the engine, the Vantage comes alive - this side of the Ferrari F430 we reckon this is probably the best-sounding V8 in the world, a specially designed acoustic exhaust system giving it a hard-edged yowl at higher revs. So hard-edged, in fact, that you'll need to be circumspect in town, as dropping the Roadster's roof will confirm. Performance is strong, with the Vantage pulling hard all the way to its 170 mph top speed, although BMW's M6 outsprints it. Happily, both versions of this car are well-developed - the drop-top so often feels second-best - the Roadster impresses with superb srutural rigidity, producing barely a shake on bumpy roads, and an easily-operated, tight-sealing hood. Comfortable seats, a compliant ride and impressive refinement make the Vantage an accomplished Grand Tourer - there's even a reasonable amount of luggage space under the rear hatch. Handling is keen enough to reward enthusiastic driving - although the Aston's slightly aloof steering leaves it without the dynamic intimacy of a Porsche 911 or BMW M6.It might be the baby Aston, but the Vantage's running costs are still enormous with very steep servicing bills and terrible fuel economy - you'll be doing well to get more than 15-16 mpg under everyday use. Exclusivity like this comes at a price.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
5 star
Another gorgeous car from Aston - more purposeful than the DB9 or Vanquish. Park one of these on the drive and the neighbours will be salivating with jealousy, whether it's a coupe or a Roadster
Handling
4 star
Direct steering, minimal body-roll and clean-handling make for excellent back-roads blasting - and that applies equally to the impressively rigid Roadster
Comfort
4 star
The driving position offers plenty of adjustment, but it's spoiled by ache-inducing offset pedals. Road noise is often a problem too, but otherwise both versions are civilised, the Roadster's all-electric being excellent
Quality & Reliability
4 star
Excellent paint and an aura of solidity bode well, and teh interior is lavishly finished, even if some minor switchgear looks ordinary.
Performance
4 star
It doesn't match the BMW M6 for outright pace, but the Vantage's jack-hammer snarl is invigorating, and the V8 hardly short of pace. The optional Sportshift paddle gearbox can shudder in traffic, but makes excellent shifts on the move.
Roominess
3 star
Decent room for both occupants, although practicality is knocked by the lack of rear seats in either version. Boot is surprisingly spacious for an Aston, and certainly viable for a weekend's luggage.
Running Costs
2 star
Slightly less scary than bigger Astons, if only because the lower price means that depreciation will be (slightly) less of an issue. But you still need to be seriously rich to contemplate running one.
Value for money
3 star
The Vantage offers the exclusivity of the Aston brand to an entirely new area of the market - but it still looks pricey compared to key rivals like the Porsche 911.
