The Verdict Is In
Contents
Review
Gallery & Videos
Original Press Release
Final Verdict
Expert Opinions
Perfect For…
Alternative & Rivals
Final Verdict
Where to Buy
What The Experts Said…
The world is full of armchair commentators when it comes to cars. At Supercars.net we have a number of journalists and automotive publications we rely on when we want to get unbiased opinions from people we admire.
Below, we’ve outlined some of the things these experts had to say about the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage. We have included snippets only so definitely dive deeper into their content for find out the details behind their assessments. Please support these awesome publications because they invest a lot in the details, amazing product photographs and great writers.
While most reviews highlight that this is an incredibly important car for Aston Martin, the general consensus seems to feel that the bold move away from GT car and towards sporting prowess, with all the modern touches that go along with it, has been a step in the right direction for Aston Martin.
Evo – “It’s a car that you quickly feel at home in”
Evo’s Henry Catchpole gives his thoughts on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage in this review from the car’s launch.
Worth clicking through for the pictures of the evil-looking black-with-yellow-accents car in the pictures alone, in it Henry waves off concerns over the use of a Mercedes-sourced engine, claiming
I think it might be even better in the British car. It has fantastically linear delivery and the throttle response in particular is stunningly good – so good in fact that it’s pretty much impossible to tell that it is turbocharged.”
In fact just about the only fault Henry finds with the Vantage is a slight loss of steering feel compared with the old car – with the new Vantage, Aston Martin has employed an electric power-assistance steering system – though he describes the experience as a ”hugely enjoyable and extremely fast car and anyone stepping from an old Vantage, even a GT8 or V12, will be shocked at the leap on in performance that the new Vantage has made.”
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The Bad
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More: Read the Full Review
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Car and Driver: “[it] just wants to play, like a four-wheeled Labrador puppy”
Jared Gall drove the Vantage for Car and Driver in Portugal at the Portimao circuit, in slithery wet conditions with little visibility. Despite the meteorogical challenges, he still managed to enjoy himself.
On the handling, he described the Vantage as “a rear-driver that reacts faithfully to driver inputs and rotates readily yet predictably,”, while praising the car’s carbon ceramic brakes on track for turning the front straight’s 150-plus mph into 40-mph hairpins without a hint of fade.”
The electric differential impresses Jared, too, and he notes the confidence this bestows upon the driver: “The standard electronically controlled limited-slip differential invites us to prod the throttle earlier and earlier on corner exit.”
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Top Gear – “it sounds epic and looks fabulous”
Acknowledging ex-Lotus handling guru Matt Becker’s input on the Vantage’s handling, Top Gear is staggered by the car’s small feel on the road, in juxtaposition to other reviews which cite the Vantage as feeling incredibly wide. It’s shorter than a 911 Carrera and feels narrower – despite those gorgeous hip-like rear haunches actually having a wider footprint than the Porsche – and that immediately removes a layer of intimidation from those crucial early miles. You have space to play with.”
Of that AMG-sourced V8, Top Gear gushes of its “uncanny throttle response, mea appetite for revs and on-demand potency,” before noting that the British brand’s influence bestows “a more serrated, angrier edge to the soundtrack that’s part Bullitt Mustang soundtrack, part Liam Gallagher soundcheck.”
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Rivals
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Porsche 911
One does not simply build a sports car without considering the 911. With Aston Martin’s engineers reportedly citing the 718 Cayman as their benchmark for handling in the development of the Vantage, it’s clear they pay heed to the masters in this field.
On power, the Aston has the German car licked; 503hp to the current 991-generation Carrera’s 370hp. Both have history, with nameplates stretching back to 1963 for the Porsche and 1977 for the Vantage.
Put these two toe-to-toe on track and it’s sure to be an interesting fight.
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Jaguar F-Type SVR
A fellow Brit to the Aston Martin Vantage, the F-Type SVR similarly features a V8 up front as its power plant. However, power is up on the Vantage; the SVR produces a mighty 575 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to all four wheels with a special e-differential that allows for torque to be scooped around between the front and rear to keep it glued to the surface.
A bit more track-focused than the Vantage, nevertheless its price is right – the F-Type SVR will set you back $126,945 – around a $25k cheaper than the new Aston. The F-Type is based on slightly older tech than the Vantage – the model has been in production since 2013, though the SVR variant arrived in 2016 – but for those with the cash to spend on a car like this it may come down to a question of character – the big, brawny old-school V8 Jag or the lithe, new rear-wheel drive Vantage.
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Mercedes-AMG GT S
Featuring the same 4-litre twin-turbo V8 heart as the Aston Martin Vantage, the Mercedes-AMG GT S sits pretty at 515 hp and 494 lb-ft of torque. While no drop-top variant of the Vantage is available yet, the GT S comes with the addition of millions of miles of sky, if you’re into that sort of thing.
0-60 in 3.7 seconds in the Mercedes-AMG is bested by Aston Martin’s claim of 3.6 seconds for the dash in the Vantage, while both come with electronic differentials, rear-wheel drive and in a range of vibrant colours.
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er… the Aston Martin Vantage?
This is a bit of a sneaky one – Aston Martin announced recently that a limited run of cars – dubbed the V600 – would be built based on the old Vantage platform.
Featuring the charismatic 6-litre V12 mounted up front (of course), this blast from the past produces 600bhp so should prove significantly nuttier on the road than the 2018 Vantage V8.
Details on pricing are sketchy at the moment, though with just fourteen models being built it’s likely to be much, much pricier than the new Vantage.
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Nissan GT-R
The Japanese supercar slayer would likely give the new Vantage a run for its money on a lap of the Nordschliefe, but the twin-turbo V6 while potent would not be a match for the Vantage’s characterful V8.
If all-out performance is your thing though, look no further. That V6’s 565hp is transferred to the road via a class-leading all-wheel drive system, while Bilstein dampers and adjustable suspension keep those four wheels planted, making the GT-R feel at times like it is on tracks.
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McLaren 570S
If you’ve got a bit more than the $149k or so required for entry into the Aston Martin Vantage, and are seeking something with a little more dynamic ability, then the McLaren 570S may be just what you’re looking for.
At $184,900 it’s more than a little bit more expensive than the Aston, but with the lightest weight in its class and the highest power to weight ratio, you’d be hard pushed to get anything quicker on track this side of $200k.
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Other Rivals: Tesla Model S P100D, BMW M6, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Lexus LC500
Our Final Verdict
The Aston Martin Vantage enters the market at a time when competition is plentiful at its level. It writes a lot of cheques with its athletic stance but thankfully those are cashed – and then sum – by the performance from the moment that 4-litre V8 rumbles in to life.
Concerns that putting a German heart in the British bruiser would lessen its appeal have been smashed to smithereens; this car still has heart, and a crackling exhaust note to boot. It’ll put a smile on your face, especially if you spec it in one of the more ridiculous colour options that Aston Martin is offering.
With the new Vantage, Aston Martin has pushed its boundaries. We’re very glad they did, and excited to see where it leads for the brand.
