2012 Aston Martin Vantage V8S Sportshift II

Highlights

• 4.7-litre V8 with Sportshift transmission

• Low mileage 

• Desirable carbon seats 

• Produces 430 bhp

• Onyx Black paint, Obsidian Black leather 

Overview

It’s difficult to argue with sales figures. Real people forking out real money for real objects is a true sign of how successful a product is. And this generation of Vantage was Aston Martin’s best-selling model by the time its replacement came along in 2018, also called the Vantage. 

The car we see here isn’t just a standard V8 Vantage. It’s an ’S’. Which is a good thing, because that letter means it comes with the bigger engine and bigger performance figures. Figures like 430 bhp and 4.6 seconds to reach 62 miles per hour. All good stuff if, like us, you like big numbers. Seven isn’t usually regarded as a big number, but when discussing gearboxes it is, so we can include it in this paragraph. But sometimes we like small numbers. Like when we’re discussing weight and handling. The carbon fibre seats and splitters helpfully reduce these numbers.

And then there are the things which we can’t ever put a value on. Elegance, style, rakishness, desirability. Doubtless there is an academic working on a theory of quantifiable aesthetics, but we probably wouldn’t want to sit next to them at a dinner party. Instead of numbers we get to use words, adjectives, and expletives. In the case of the V8 Vantage S, those words tend to be ‘refined’, ‘sleek’, ‘sporting’ and the like. 

All of this is a rather long-winded way of saying that this is a car which fulfils two purposes: it has the raw performance we all crave from an Aston Martin, as well as that indefinable extra. As it is such a very British motorcar, we’d probably best describe this elusive secret ingredient as ‘class’. One cannot simply study how to build a car like a Vantage, one must feel it. 

History and documentation

• Registered 1 Mar 2012

• Stamped service book with services as follows:Apr 2013 @ 2,437 miles, Mar 2014 @ 3,095 miles, Jan 2015, Feb 2016 @ 3,689 miles, Jan 2017 @ 3,866 miles, May 2019 @ 4,560 miles, Sep 2020 @ 12,276 miles, Oct 2021 @ 14,788 miles, Dec 2022 @ 17,907 miles, Aug 2024 @ 18,850 miles

• Original owner’s manual

• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates

• Two ignition keys - one glass, and one valet key with new buttons

• Additional metal key for access only

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 27 Aug 2025

• V5 present in owner’s name

• Four former registered keepers 

• Tracker fitted in Oct 2024, with documentation valid until Oct 2027

• HPI clear

• Private plate F23AML (for “Aston Martin Lagonda”)  included in sale

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Obsidian Black leather upholstery, with contrasting silver stitching

• This Vantage has the desirable option of carbon fibre lightweight seats 

• Due to the car’s low mileage, the seat covers remain in excellent condition throughout 

• Black carpets with matching ‘Vantage S’ embroidered footwell mats 

• Electronic seat adjusters with memory functions

• Door cards, centre console

• Alcantara-trimmed, multi-function steering wheel, with audio controls and cruise control

• Bluetooth phone integration

• Climate control

• Piano Black dashboard with plenty of features

• Stereo/CD changer

• Centrally mounted analogue clock

• Fold-away satnav screen mounted on the top of the dashboard

• Offside handbrake 

• Luggage storage space behind the seats 

• Alcantara headlining in very good condition

• Fully carpeted boot to the rear

Exterior

• Finished in Onyx Black paint, which suits this Vantage very well

• Low and sleek, the two-door Grand Tourer body is beautifully proportioned 

• Carbon fibre front and rear splitters 

• The paint remains very presentable, with some minor scratches having been repaired 

• The seller tells us that the car has been fully detailed

• Body panels show no obvious signs of damage or repair

• No notable areas of corrosion that we could find

• 19-inch V-spoke alloy wheels

• The seller tells us that the tyres were fitted new last year

• A set of used spare tyres is included in the sale

• The photos show what look like some scuffs to the wheel rims but the seller assures us that they are just smudges which wiped off

• Flush-mount door handles 

• Chrome badges

• Headlamp lenses clear and bright

• There are a few small chips to the glass

• The underside of the car looks very clean

• Front and rear parking sensors

• There is a very small area of bubbling on each wing mirror stalk, a common issue

• Twin exhaust tips

Mechanical

• 4,735 cc V8 engine

• Produces 430 bhp, and 347 lb ft

• 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds

• Seven-speed Sportshift II automatic transmission 

• Rear-wheel drive

• Engine bay in clean condition

• Both air filters replaced in Apr 2025, with Aston Martin parts used 

• The car received an oil service in Aug 2024

• In Dec 2022 the engine oil, filter, and coolant were replaced, the brake fluid was topped up, and the front engine cover was re-sealed to fix an oil leak at a cost of £2,815

• The seller tells us that the car starts on the button, sounds like a racing car, and turns heads wherever it goes

• No warning lights or mechanical faults reported 

Summary

With its suave black paintwork and black leather interior, this Vantage still looks refined and elegant today. It’s the kind of car you can thoroughly enjoy a drive to your favourite country retreat in, hand over the valet key, and know that you’ll receive the best service without question. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Eastbourne, East Sussex.