CD Article: 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage roadster

[Oz]

And this is just something else!!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/new_car_reviews/article3594547.ece



I know it's a concept, but a nice one!

Now THAT is what I'm talking about!

[Turbo Bob]

And this is just something else!!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/new_car_reviews/article3594547.ece



I know it's a concept, but a nice one!

Now THAT is what I'm talking about!

[johngenx]

420hp for $200k is passe.  It's possible to buy lots of nice German and American iron with more power and racetrack handling for far less.  Sure, the Aston is sexy, but a Porsche or ZR-1 is not?  A friend of mine just picked up a C63 Mercedes.  $60K flat (they're dealing!!) for well over 400hp.  Sure, it's a plebeian looking sedan, but crap can it move.

Now, that 600hp version is THERE.  0-100mph in 7 seconds is hard on a liter-bike's tail.

[Oz]

420hp for $200k is passe.  It's possible to buy lots of nice German and American iron with more power and racetrack handling for far less.  Sure, the Aston is sexy, but a Porsche or ZR-1 is not?  A friend of mine just picked up a C63 Mercedes.  $60K flat (they're dealing!!) for well over 400hp.  Sure, it's a plebeian looking sedan, but crap can it move.

Now, that 600hp version is THERE.  0-100mph in 7 seconds is hard on a liter-bike's tail.

I'm helping a buddy of mine shop for one of those. High 400hp, man that car goes like stink... you launch it right and you can hit 0-60 in 4 seconds.

On the down side, its:

An axe murderer of a car

[The Mighty Duck]

420hp for $200k is passe.  It's possible to buy lots of nice German and American iron with more power and racetrack handling for far less.  Sure, the Aston is sexy, but a Porsche or ZR-1 is not?  A friend of mine just picked up a C63 Mercedes.  $60K flat (they're dealing!!) for well over 400hp.  Sure, it's a plebeian looking sedan, but crap can it move.

Now, that 600hp version is THERE.  0-100mph in 7 seconds is hard on a liter-bike's tail.

  And again, if all you care about is power and speed, go buy a Caterham.  Or an Ariel Atom.  Both will be faster than a C63, ZR1, or Porsche.  Crikey, what happened to the regular Canadian Driver that would say "you can never use all 420 of those horses anyway"?

Buying an Aston Martin is not about outright power.  And besides, 420 horsepower is not "passe".  That's still a helluva lot of power...

[Oz]

  And again, if all you care about is power and speed, go buy a Caterham.  Or an Ariel Atom.  Both will be faster than a C63, ZR1, or Porsche.  Crikey, what happened to the regular Canadian Driver that would say "you can never use all 420 of those horses anyway"?

Buying an Aston Martin is not about outright power.  And besides, 420 horsepower is not "passe".  That's still a helluva lot of power...

He's blobbing around in the minivan and family sedan section.

Carterhams and Atoms are purely track cars. You cant 'live' with them - cant drive them to your portfolio manager's office wearing your Armani suit. Heck its not even in the same class of car.

If you are going to shell out $200K for 'big boy' car, I'd like to hope that at least it can keep up with the rest of the cars in that range in terms of power and handling.

[The Mighty Duck]

Both the 911 Turbo and Vantage have more than enough power to get your license suspended very, very quickly.  And most buyers likely will never push them near their limits, so what's the point of that power if all you can do is say you have it.

So yeah, if power is your be all and end all, the Aston is the wrong choice.  But crying for more power just because the other kids have it seems a bit insane to me.  It's not like the car is slow, or anything.  Appreciate it for it's other qualities, like that unrivaled sound. 

[Giant Dwarf]

Oz... it surprises me that you'd put so much emphasis on performance for dollar.  For the $40-45k a 328i costs, there are a number of 300+ hp cars that will out perform it.  The 328, like the Vantage V8 though, is about style, comfort, status AND driving enjoyment. 


***

As others have said, I'd much prefer the Vantage coupe to the convertible.  Same with Porsches too though...

[Oz]

Oz... it surprises me that you'd put so much emphasis on performance for dollar.  For the $40-45k a 328i costs, there are a number of 300+ hp cars that will out perform it.  The 328, like the Vantage V8 though, is about style, comfort, status AND driving enjoyment. 
***
As others have said, I'd much prefer the Vantage coupe to the convertible.  Same with Porsches too though...

Actually I've been sorta kicking myself for not getting a 335 instead.

That aside, the 328i will hit 0-60 in a respectable 6 second time if you launch her right. Plenty of high 200hp, near 300hp cars that will do the same with far more hp under the hood than I have. And then there's the whole handling thing - it goes around corners like a champ, but doesnt flinch on luxury.

At the 50K price range if you go for hp over luxury, you get more of the first and less of the second. But at 200K, pretty much everything (with the exception of a Vette interior) will deliver excellent style, luxury and neck jarring hp.

That aside I dont know how well a Vantage handles compared to a 911 or Gallardo.

[The Mighty Duck]

911 interiors aren't spectacular...  my old man owned one, and was very disappointed with the interior quality.  They've improved since then, but still aren't what you might expect in a $100 000+ car.  Can't commend on the Gallardo, though.

The Vantage is also the only one of those three that's RWD.  The 911 Turbo and Gallardo are both AWD.  Some buyers may well prefer a RWD car.  The Aston is also classier to look at, imo.  The 911 is gorgeous, but I can certainly see some buyers being turned off by those side vents.  And the Lambo is staggering good looking, but might be too "exotic" for some people.  I think my mom would a brick if my dad tried to buy a Gallardo for exactly that reason...  heh.

[johngenx]

...420 horsepower is not "passe".  That's still a helluva lot of power...

For $200K, I want lots.  More than 420.

[The Mighty Duck]

For $200K, I want lots.  More than 420.

Compensating for something?   

[wing]

420 isn't very much anymore.  Kind of wimpy actually.

[Turbo Bob]

That's why older cars hold more interest for me, classic porsches and ferraris offer cheaper motoring and substantially more driving feel. You only need more horsepower if your car keeps getting heavier.

[sailor723]

That's why older cars hold more interest for me, classic porsches and ferraris offer cheaper motoring and substantially more driving feel. You only need more horsepower if your car keeps getting heavier.

Good point....maybe reviews should include a lbs per HP rating in with the specs?

[Giant Dwarf]

911 interiors aren't spectacular...  my old man owned one, and was very disappointed with the interior quality.  They've improved since then, but still aren't what you might expect in a $100 000+ car.  Can't commend on the Gallardo, though.

The Gallardo interior has a lot of Audi-recognizable bits n' pieces.  When I was in one, I remember looking down and thinking "Hey!  That's the same stereo and climate control controls from my A4!"

[Turbo Bob]

911 interiors aren't spectacular...  my old man owned one, and was very disappointed with the interior quality.  They've improved since then, but still aren't what you might expect in a $100 000+ car.  Can't commend on the Gallardo, though.

The Gallardo interior has a lot of Audi-recognizable bits n' pieces.  When I was in one, I remember looking down and thinking "Hey!  That's the same stereo and climate control controls from my A4!"

  My friends on the Lotus forum always used to say to one of the other exige owners, so you brought the TT today? 

[The Mighty Duck]

Ask and ye shall receive.  Looks like the Vantage V12 is confirmed.  Now maybe all those poorly endowed posters can stop whining about the lack of power.   

[Oz]

Ask and ye shall receive.  Looks like the Vantage V12 is confirmed.  Now maybe all those poorly endowed posters can stop whining about the lack of power.   

As long as you stop baying about your 1.6 inc.. er.. litre being adequate.