Aston Martin DB11 AMR | Spotted
With the DBS following soon after, the DB11 AMR was somewhat forgotten; it shouldn't have been
Back in 2016, the Aston Martin DB11 was launched. Kicking off Aston's Second Century product plan, it was received with broadly positive reviews. However, there were one or two dissenting voices, suggesting the new car wasn't all that it could - and possibly should - have been. It had happened with Aston Martins in the past, both the DB9 and V8 Vantage were not at their best until a couple of years into the production run.
Those early detractors were eventually vindicated to some extent, firstly with a V8 that was sharper to drive, and then this car, the DB11 AMR. With a little more power and an overhauled chassis, it really was the car the V12 always should have been. That's not just us saying that, either, as it replaced the standard car in the line-up.
Which would have seemed weird, substituting a sumptuous and refined GT with a more overtly sporting model, were it not for the fact that the AMR barely seemed to sacrifice any of the standard DB11's strengths for its improvements elsewhere. It really was quite the trick, feeling both as supple and serene as the launch car when required, but also tangibly more impressive when it came to actually driving it quickly.
But you've probably not heard or thought about the AMR for a while, right? It has seemingly fallen off the radar a little, which is surprising given just how good it is. The arrival of the DBS Superleggera just a few months after the AMR inevitably stole some of its thunder, the V12 there even more powerful and the styling (and price) more impressive. Those going to spend a huge amount of money on an Aston super GT surely wouldn't need much persuading to go from AMR to DBS. That both the DB11 and the AMR range went on to even more exciting projects, car like the Volante and Vantage manual respectively, must have also meant this seemed like yesterday's news sooner than expected.
Whatever the truth of that matter, two things remain true: the DB11 AMR was a fantastic Aston Martin, and it's now available for a significant amount less than its £175k new price. See this one for example, with 2,500 miles from new and at least £50,000 off (because £175,000 was without options); it's for sale at Aston Martin Bristol for £124,990.
Furthermore, it's one of the subtler AMRs, without stripes and with the lime green limited to brake calipers and interior accents. From here, it looks absolutely superb; maybe not with the drama of a DBS, but arguably more distinctive than the Vantage, the AMR tweaks lend the DB11 some attitude without compromising its underlying appeal. Rather like the package as a whole, in fact.
So while early DB11s are available for less money than this, and despite the fact that Aston Works will liberate the extra power for around £3k, the AMR is a sufficiently improved overall package to justify the premium. It's one of the best Astons of recent times, in fact. For the price of a well specced 911, it's only become more attractive.
SPECIFICATION | ASTON MARTIN DB11 AMR
Engine: 5,204cc V12, twin-turbocharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 639@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,500-5,000rpm
MPG: 24.8 (NEDC)
CO2: 265g/km (NEDC)
Year registered: 2018
Recorded mileage: 2,500
Price new: £174,995 (before options)
Yours for: £124,990
I think the whole case for buying one of these is slightly undermined by the Ferrari Roma, which, while it costs more upfront, would probably hold it's value a lot better and so overall cost of ownership would be less....
If you are happy to take the depreciation hit, then that's fine and I am delighted that people will enjoy and drive the cars like they were meant but, more often than not, that's simply not the case and people are thinking what they will get for the car in 2 years time. And that can be a scary number for some of these cars....
I love the look and idea of the car (albeit I’m around £124,989 short of the asking price due to SWMBO not allowing me near folding stuff after my last escapade) but personally I’d prefer the wheels in silver or a light smoked-chrome effect, and those callipers just don’t float my boat: red, yes, but lime-coloured stoppers suit Italian stuff better imho.
Then again, maybe I'd think differently if I'd driven both and was actually choosing!
k though, the dash leather especially looks like budget airline seatsGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff