RE: Aston Martin Virage: Spotted

RE: Aston Martin Virage: Spotted

Thursday 26th April 2018

Aston Martin Virage: Spotted

The new market wasn't kind to Aston's middle child, but could its loss be your gain?



Today's Spotted was, in many ways, the answer to a question no one asked. Namely, why isn't there a stepping stone between the DB9 and DBS?

Nonetheless, answer it Aston did, near-perfectly bisecting its two GT coupes with this, the Virage. At launch, its 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 boasted 490hp, an extra 20hp over the DB9's version of the same engine, though 20hp less than the DBS's. It was said to be sharper than the 9 but less hardcore than the S too, with revised chassis and suspension set-ups - including a new rear subframe, adaptive dampers and standard carbon ceramic brakes - contributing to an enhanced all-round driving experience.


Despite its lukewarm reputation, the Virage remains a popular car amongst those who have driven it. Our colleagues at Autocar noted its impressive handling while describing it as having "one of the most comfortable rides in its class" and praising its "ability to shift between relaxed, easy-going cruiser and a wholly more intense experience". Our own review wasn't too bad, either, and over in the forums, Virage-owning PHers seem unanimously effusive in their praise of the car - a sight which may be rarer even than the thing itself, of which only around 250 examples were sold in the UK.

Following the decision to replace the Virage with an updated DB9 after just 18 months on sale, its place in the used market soon became as hard to justify as its precarious position in the new one. The 2013 DB9's 510hp output left the Virage in the shade, while its copycat styling also robbed its predecessor of one of its most attractive USPs.


Those cars are now available with similar mileage for similar money but, look at them side by side and to these eyes they somehow just don't seem quite as special. The beautifully simple, One-77-inspired, grille and splitter, heavily sculpted side skirts and broad haunches have a poised aggression in the Virage that the DB9 just doesn't match.

The Virage's 4.6 seconds to 62 is hardly sluggish either, and its rarity could stand it in good stead in years to come. There may be more powerful Astons available for the money, but when it comes to the other two thirds of the marque's maxim, it's hard to find many GT cars with more beauty or soul.


SPECIFICATION - ASTON MARTIN VIRAGE

Engine: 5,935cc, V12
Transmission: 6-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 490
Torque (lb ft): 420
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 28,000
Price new: £150,000
Yours for: £72,850

See the original advert here.

Author
Discussion

British Beef

Original Poster:

2,191 posts

164 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
If I was in the market for this I would be tempted to find an extra £20k and go for a 2013 Vanquish.

Helicopter123

8,831 posts

155 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
Would £75k not put you in a V10 powered R8 of similar vintage?

V8s ONLY

266 posts

197 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
Helicopter123 said:
Would £75k not put you in a V10 powered R8 of similar vintage?
Your point being?

Helicopter123

8,831 posts

155 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
V8s ONLY said:
Helicopter123 said:
Would £75k not put you in a V10 powered R8 of similar vintage?
Your point being?
I think that's a better car for the money.

Buster73

5,042 posts

152 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
Helicopter123 said:
I think that's a better car for the money.
A lot of money to pay for what at first glance could be mistaken for a TT....

Midgster

568 posts

233 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
Helicopter123 said:
I think that's a better car for the money.
A lot of money to pay for what at first glance could be mistaken for a TT....
...and I know what key ring I'd rather have with my keys!

Loose_Cannon

1,593 posts

252 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
I don't understand the second off last paragraph. It says the Virage is prettier than the facelift DB9 but they are the same body aren't they bar the more pronounced boot spoiler?

Either way they are gorgeous. Cars like this are about how they make you feel, not facts and figures. Things like the R8 might be technically perfect but for many they don't stir any emotions.

Edited by Loose_Cannon on Thursday 26th April 22:37

sdiggle

182 posts

89 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
Midgster said:
Buster73 said:
Helicopter123 said:
I think that's a better car for the money.
A lot of money to pay for what at first glance could be mistaken for a TT....
...and I know what key ring I'd rather have with my keys!
...and I know what would put the bigger smile on my face.

V10 R8's are amazing machines. Been fortunate enough to have a go in a Plus and the last thing that came to mind was a TT.

I'm sure the Aston is nice, but it's a different sort of car. If I'm spending 75k I want supercar, not nice car.

Shiv_P

2,724 posts

104 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
Helicopter123 said:
I think that's a better car for the money.
A lot of money to pay for what at first glance could be mistaken for a TT....
You need to pay a lot of money at specsavers

RSbandit

2,590 posts

131 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
A lot of money to pay for what at first glance could be mistaken for a TT....
Ha what a ridiculous comment...you are clearly blind

Fire99

9,844 posts

228 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
Certainly an attractive era for Aston Martin.. Very well proportioned haunches...
I think they were being over ambitious with squeezing another model into the line-up but didn't stop it being a fine looking one.


tomcrowther

105 posts

132 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
On what planet is an R8 more "supercar" than a V12 Aston?

loveice

646 posts

246 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
tomcrowther said:
On what planet is an R8 more "supercar" than a V12 Aston?
On Earth I guess, since R8 V10 is classified as a supercar by nearly everyone, whereas Virage is clearly a GT even by Aston standard (Vanquish and DBS are Aston's supercar).

Having a V12 doesn't mean it's a supercar, likewise having a V10 can also be seen as a GT, eg. E63/64 M6...

LotusOmega375D

7,580 posts

152 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
Looks better in black than the bright colour of the original press car: the seemingly add-on bodykit reminded me of the 1980s Tickford Capri!



Edited by LotusOmega375D on Friday 27th April 14:45

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
Stunning. Wish I'd tried harder at school/saved more/been blessed by Camelot. Will still look classy and sound fantastic in 20 years.

bluemason

1,070 posts

122 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
LotusOmega375D said:
Looks better in black than the bright colour of the original press car: the seemingly add-on bodykit reminded me of the 1980s Tickford Capri!



Edited by LotusOmega375D on Friday 27th April 14:45
I think brighter colours really do make car stick out more and if I was looking to purchase a virage I would wrap one in yellow or sky blue.

Mike1963

16 posts

104 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
I had one. Nice car - the power upgrades are not so key but the new rear suspension & stuffer settings make it a better car than the DB9 behind it & the DB9 after it (by a small margin).

SELON

1,172 posts

128 months

Friday 27th April 2018
quotequote all
The note from the standard exhaust was rather lovely too...

https://youtu.be/cp-DrGgDXvE

Mackofthejungle

1,069 posts

194 months

Sunday 29th April 2018
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
Helicopter123 said:
I think that's a better car for the money.
A lot of money to pay for what at first glance could be mistaken for a TT....
Firstly, what a load of bks.

Secondly, you'd buy a car because of what others think of it?! That's utterly tragic.

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Sunday 29th April 2018
quotequote all
That's a beautiful looking car.