Aston Martin V8 Vantage Review

It might seem strange to describe a $110,000 car as "entry level," but that's exactly what the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is. Meant to sell in greater volumes than its two larger and more expensive brand mates, the V8 Vantage is aimed squarely against lofty, performance-proven competitors from Germany.

Like most of the cars from this iconic British brand, it is simply gorgeous. At the same time, Aston upped the fun-to-drive quotient in the Vantage to make it a true sports car rather than a grand tourer like the DB9.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is available as a coupe or convertible. The Roadster's power-operated cloth soft top can be lowered in 18 seconds, even at speeds of up to 30 mph. To keep structural integrity intact, Aston Martin's engineers made extensive modifications to the Roadster's body structure. (And if you're wondering why the convertible Vantage bears the Roadster name and not Aston Martin's traditional "flying" moniker, the company is quick to insist that Volante is exclusive to cars with a backseat.)

Although many have said the V8 Vantage is the best-driving Aston Martin ever, it still falls short of the Porsche 911 in terms of overall performance. Yet, that car is practically ubiquitous compared to the rare Aston, which will always have an advantage in terms of cool sophistication and dazzling visual allure. The V8 Vantage is one instance where the "entry level" is a wonderful place to be.

Current Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is available in two body styles: hatchback coupe and roadster with power cloth soft top. Both models seat only two people and come with almost identical features. Standard items include 19-inch wheels, 10-way-adjustable power sport driver seat, automatic climate control, six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack and iPod interface. Leather upholstery is also standard, and is available in nearly countless color combinations, giving buyers the option of a fully customized interior. Curiously, xenon headlights, cruise control, heated seats and seat memory are options on this car that costs more than $100,000. A hard-drive navigation system is also optional.

For power, the V8 Vantage relies on a 4.7-liter V8 capable of 420 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Zero to 60 mph in both the coupe and convertible is accomplished in an estimated 4.7 seconds. The limited-edition 510-hp V12 Vantage sadly won't be coming to North America.

Inside, the Vantage has an overall look that's nearly identical to the DB9; the two cars share the same dashboard design updated to match the DBS. The Vantage's interior is smaller, however, with only two seats. The coupe's hatchback trunk can swallow 10.6 cubic feet of stuff, while the Roadster has a typically small 5 cubes of space.

In reviews of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, we've found that it is indeed a true sports car. On curvy roads, it moves confidently, sliding progressively and returning to its intended path with little drama. Its steering and chassis are highly communicative, delivering useful information about what's happening between tire and pavement.

The Roadster's added weight hampers its handling and performance somewhat, but it still offers plenty of grip and high-speed composure. We did note, however, that neither Vantage models matches the performance levels of more mainstream rivals, while the narrow seats and footwells may be uncomfortable for larger drivers.

Used Aston Martin V8 Vantage Models

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage debuted for the 2006 model year. In that first year, the V8 Vantage was sold in the coupe body style with the six-speed manual transmission only. Prior to '08, V8 Vantages lacked steering-wheel audio controls, an auxiliary audio jack and console-mounted cupholders and featured a body-mounted antenna (versus glass-embedded). The 2008 model year also featured the limited-production high-performance Vantage N400, which would be quite the find at your local exotic used car shop.

The most important distinction between the current V8 Vantage and those built prior to '09 is that the engine displaced 4.3 liters, with an output of 380 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque. The suspension and Sportshift automatic transmission also didn't have the revisions given to the '09 car. These earlier Vantages also had a less ergonomic and attractive center control stack, as well as an older, DVD-based optional navigation system.