I've picked this Aston Martin Vantage V12 S for two reasons. The first is I drove one recently for a PH Heroes feature, and I liked it. Actually, I loved it - a lot. The second motive is that I really do think these are ones to watch from an investment point of view. So while it's £82,000 and that's a lot of money, if you have that sort of stake money knocking around, it could well prove to be cheap motoring.
And I mean motoring - I am not encouraging you to sit on it. I've made my view quite clear on the idea of locking cars away in a sanitised shed waiting for them to double in value. Bah humbug to that sort of pernicious hording heresy. The fact that the V12 S drives so wonderfully - sharpened and lither than the regular V12 - means that it should be darting along country lanes of a Sunday morning, with a big fat smile sat behind the wheel. And smile you will, I promise.
For a start, there's the engine. A V12 that's as crisp-sounding as a spring dawn, and which totally compelling from idle to full chat. It's a facet of the car that'll keep you endlessly entertained, that much I guarantee, as will the performance on offer. The V12 S came with tweaks to the engine management system, CNC-machined combustion chambers and hollow camshafts, and together these changes raised its potential to 573hp and 457lb ft. And being lighter, thanks in part to its Sportshift III transmission, it'll fling you to 62mph in just 3.9 seconds and carry on pulling beyond 200mph.
And don't worry about the Sportshift III denting your enjoyment. It doesn't. It's quicker than you or I would be when it comes to slicing through gears, but still gives you a level of interaction that the technically better (but more digital) dual-clutch transmissions don't. Even if they'd made a manual version of the S, which they didn't, I still wouldn't make it a must-have over this automated manual.
Beyond its mighty performance, I love the way the V12 S drives. It has a quicker rack than the normal V12, which makes it wieldier and keener to hunt for apexes, and the body control - it's ability to deal with the most punishingly grotesque surfaces - marks it out as a truly great driver's car. And a truly great Aston for that matter.
On which point, people's love of the Aston Martin brand, with its rich history and on-screen presence, often leads to words like 'great' being used when less flattering adjectives would do. This isn't one of those cars, though. Because it's an Aston that not only looks the biz, but has a great engine and a great chassis. And that's why they've shot up from £65,000 a couple of years ago, to over £80,000 now. But unlike crypto currencies, where no one seems to have a clue where the ceiling is, how can this not riser further?
After all, they only made 1,278 V12 S coupés, so it's not like there's a great pool to pick from. That's barely 200 more than the original number of DB5's made - and in the right colour, I've heard they're worth a fair bit these days. Fair enough, DB5s will always be the pinup car thanks to the enduring Bond theme, but at least this V12 S, which has covered just 20,000 miles, can claim to be painted in a Bond colour: Quantum Silver, as depicted on the DBS in Quantum of Solace. It's a car that's going places, mark my words, and you should be in it along every step of its journey.
Specification | Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
Engine: 5,935cc, V12, naturally aspirated
Transmission: 7-speed automated manual (Sportshift III), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 573 @ 6,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 457 lb ft @ 5,750rpm
MPG: 19.3
CO2: 343g/km
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 20,000
Price new: £138,000
Yours for: £81,995
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