RE: Driven: Aston Martin V8 Vantage S
Discussion
anything fast said:
Lovely car, rubbish colour
BUT i think this write up needs to be edited as Best GT car not sports cars. Not really what i think of as a sports car, bit too heavy, bit soft compared to say a 911. Its up there as one of the Best GT cars but I think a 911 is better sports car
Well said, my thoughts exactly. Also my 102k would be going on a GT3 RS no doubt! I think i would rather have a standard 911 than this too and buy a Rangie aswel. BUT i think this write up needs to be edited as Best GT car not sports cars. Not really what i think of as a sports car, bit too heavy, bit soft compared to say a 911. Its up there as one of the Best GT cars but I think a 911 is better sports car
TomTVR500 said:
anything fast said:
Lovely car, rubbish colour
BUT i think this write up needs to be edited as Best GT car not sports cars. Not really what i think of as a sports car, bit too heavy, bit soft compared to say a 911. Its up there as one of the Best GT cars but I think a 911 is better sports car
Well said, my thoughts exactly. Also my 102k would be going on a GT3 RS no doubt! I think i would rather have a standard 911 than this too and buy a Rangie aswel. BUT i think this write up needs to be edited as Best GT car not sports cars. Not really what i think of as a sports car, bit too heavy, bit soft compared to say a 911. Its up there as one of the Best GT cars but I think a 911 is better sports car
The Aston is still a wafting open top GT even with the extra power.
It's not a GT, it is a sports car. Think of it more of a sports car that can perform GT duties superbly. The responses, size, sharpness etc all befit a sports car and thats how even a standard car behaves, this is sharper still.
I understand why looking at it you might assume its a pure GT, the DB9 is. But having a sports car with a luxurious interior and quality fittings is quite possible. Still if you don't mind the lack of that, a 911 is always a sports car that will please for that purpose. It's precisely that combination of luxury and sporting intent that attracts many Aston buyers over a 911.
Think of it this way, a Ferrari or a Porsche has the responsibility to be one thing, a balls out sports car with all that entails. Lightweight stripped out versions can be positively prosaic in materials and comforts in pursuit of razor sharp sportiness above all else. A Bentley is a opulent luxury car, superb materials, design and comfort first and foremost, with mighty straight line pace for continent cruising.
An Aston Martin must be combination of both of these principles. It must be a superb drivers car and sporting car, but it must also be luxurious, built from quality materials and if possible hand crafted. It's a balance that the different Astons tip slightly one way or the other, a properly stripped out Aston with exposed plastic and no door handles is not what an Aston is for.
I would also point out that current normal vantage is pretty damn sharp, a five star car in EVO and also recently beat a 911 in evo as a drivers car. This car creates an even sharper sports car but retains the Aston quality, design and continent cruising ability.
It's horses for courses but it's way off the mark for those who've never driven even a standard Vantage let alone this one to pontificate about it not being a sports car (despite all of the meaningful content of each review) in aid of the holy grail of 911 worship. I like 911's but they serve a different group of people and have different qualities, doesn't mean it's the only way.
I understand why looking at it you might assume its a pure GT, the DB9 is. But having a sports car with a luxurious interior and quality fittings is quite possible. Still if you don't mind the lack of that, a 911 is always a sports car that will please for that purpose. It's precisely that combination of luxury and sporting intent that attracts many Aston buyers over a 911.
Think of it this way, a Ferrari or a Porsche has the responsibility to be one thing, a balls out sports car with all that entails. Lightweight stripped out versions can be positively prosaic in materials and comforts in pursuit of razor sharp sportiness above all else. A Bentley is a opulent luxury car, superb materials, design and comfort first and foremost, with mighty straight line pace for continent cruising.
An Aston Martin must be combination of both of these principles. It must be a superb drivers car and sporting car, but it must also be luxurious, built from quality materials and if possible hand crafted. It's a balance that the different Astons tip slightly one way or the other, a properly stripped out Aston with exposed plastic and no door handles is not what an Aston is for.
I would also point out that current normal vantage is pretty damn sharp, a five star car in EVO and also recently beat a 911 in evo as a drivers car. This car creates an even sharper sports car but retains the Aston quality, design and continent cruising ability.
It's horses for courses but it's way off the mark for those who've never driven even a standard Vantage let alone this one to pontificate about it not being a sports car (despite all of the meaningful content of each review) in aid of the holy grail of 911 worship. I like 911's but they serve a different group of people and have different qualities, doesn't mean it's the only way.
cathalm said:
It's not a GT, it is a sports car. Think of it more of a sports car that can perform GT duties superbly. The responses, size, sharpness etc all befit a sports car and thats how even a standard car behaves, this is sharper still.
I understand why looking at it you might assume its a pure GT, the DB9 is. But having a sports car with a luxurious interior and quality fittings is quite possible. Still if you don't mind the lack of that, a 911 is always a sports car that will please for that purpose. It's precisely that combination of luxury and sporting intent that attracts many Aston buyers over a 911.
Think of it this way, a Ferrari or a Porsche has the responsibility to be one thing, a balls out sports car with all that entails. Lightweight stripped out versions can be positively prosaic in materials and comforts in pursuit of razor sharp sportiness above all else. A Bentley is a opulent luxury car, superb materials, design and comfort first and foremost, with mighty straight line pace for continent cruising.
An Aston Martin must be combination of both of these principles. It must be a superb drivers car and sporting car, but it must also be luxurious, built from quality materials and if possible hand crafted. It's a balance that the different Astons tip slightly one way or the other, a properly stripped out Aston with exposed plastic and no door handles is not what an Aston is for.
I would also point out that current normal vantage is pretty damn sharp, a five star car in EVO and also recently beat a 911 in evo as a drivers car. This car creates an even sharper sports car but retains the Aston quality, design and continent cruising ability.
It's horses for courses but it's way off the mark for those who've never driven even a standard Vantage let alone this one to pontificate about it not being a sports car (despite all of the meaningful content of each review) in aid of the holy grail of 911 worship. I like 911's but they serve a different group of people and have different qualities, doesn't mean it's the only way.
its a cabrio.. performance and handling slightly compromised in the name of style.. makes its a GT in my book, not an out and out sports car. A BMW M5 would give this a very hard time and thats an uber saloon.. still not a sports car...I understand why looking at it you might assume its a pure GT, the DB9 is. But having a sports car with a luxurious interior and quality fittings is quite possible. Still if you don't mind the lack of that, a 911 is always a sports car that will please for that purpose. It's precisely that combination of luxury and sporting intent that attracts many Aston buyers over a 911.
Think of it this way, a Ferrari or a Porsche has the responsibility to be one thing, a balls out sports car with all that entails. Lightweight stripped out versions can be positively prosaic in materials and comforts in pursuit of razor sharp sportiness above all else. A Bentley is a opulent luxury car, superb materials, design and comfort first and foremost, with mighty straight line pace for continent cruising.
An Aston Martin must be combination of both of these principles. It must be a superb drivers car and sporting car, but it must also be luxurious, built from quality materials and if possible hand crafted. It's a balance that the different Astons tip slightly one way or the other, a properly stripped out Aston with exposed plastic and no door handles is not what an Aston is for.
I would also point out that current normal vantage is pretty damn sharp, a five star car in EVO and also recently beat a 911 in evo as a drivers car. This car creates an even sharper sports car but retains the Aston quality, design and continent cruising ability.
It's horses for courses but it's way off the mark for those who've never driven even a standard Vantage let alone this one to pontificate about it not being a sports car (despite all of the meaningful content of each review) in aid of the holy grail of 911 worship. I like 911's but they serve a different group of people and have different qualities, doesn't mean it's the only way.
scampbird said:
You know the GTR is a lot cheaper but also faster? You do know that, right?
Ok, I don't care either. The Aston looks gorgeous, will sound gorgeous and if I could justify a two seater I'd love one.
Not to mention less reliable with a very poor warranty which then becomes void if the ECU/GPS logs it has been anywhere near a track! Ok, I don't care either. The Aston looks gorgeous, will sound gorgeous and if I could justify a two seater I'd love one.
Davey S2 said:
Its a totally different car to a GT3RS though.
The Aston is still a wafting open top GT even with the extra power.
I accept your point. It is completely different and perhaps not a good point. What i meant to say is i would rather take a standard 911 or actually a Jaguar XKR for wafting, over this. The Aston is still a wafting open top GT even with the extra power.
However given 102k to spend on anything, given my love for a more hardcore car i would buy a GT3RS.
anything fast said:
its a cabrio.. performance and handling slightly compromised in the name of style.. makes its a GT in my book, not an out and out sports car.
What nonsense, by that logic most British sports cars would be GTs. Cabrios aren't about 'style', they add an extra sensory element you can't get in a fixed-head.I'm not sure at what point people started believing that open-top cars are not 'proper' - presumably the rise of Evo and Top Gear - but it isn't half annoying.
It's not a cabrio, it is available as a cabrio and that happens to be what is shown in these pics. In addition, it is based on a very stiff structure designed from the off to offer no compromise as a roadster. It has no scuttle shake, in fact the first roadsters has stiffer springs than the coupe to take advantage of this. If your point is that a sports car cannot have a soft top and remain sporting then I suggest you think again. A lotus élan is not a sports car? Or an Elise? Or a 911 cabrio? Or an f430 cabrio? It's not a saloon with the roof cut off it's a purpose designed roadster.
Your other point is what? That if there is a faster car then it's not a sports car? An rs6 is faster in a straight line than a c2s or a maserati granturismo s or a cayman or a z4. Is it more of a sports car? Sports cars are about the driving experience, handling, feedback, excitement, not only headline power figure. And one last thing, I doubt an m5 would beat this around a track with that setup. But I'm sure you can find another fast saloon out of production already defeated by it's opposition to hold up as the paragon of sports car values.
Your other point is what? That if there is a faster car then it's not a sports car? An rs6 is faster in a straight line than a c2s or a maserati granturismo s or a cayman or a z4. Is it more of a sports car? Sports cars are about the driving experience, handling, feedback, excitement, not only headline power figure. And one last thing, I doubt an m5 would beat this around a track with that setup. But I'm sure you can find another fast saloon out of production already defeated by it's opposition to hold up as the paragon of sports car values.
I agree that this is a great car but if you've got £102k and want a Vantage that is faster and better handling than the standard V8, surely this is the way to go....
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2583668.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2583668.htm
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