Review
Aston Martin V8 Vantage cabriolet
Price: £89,994 - £108,995
/5
- Pros:
- Looks fantastic
- Interior is very luxurious
- Stunning performance
- Cons:
- Expensive to buy
- Expensive to run
- Could be too uncomfortable for some
pictured: Aston Martin V8 Vantage cabriolet 2009 2 door
reviewed by Carbuyer
"Performance, luxury and a glorious growl from the engine make the V8 Vantage a fantastic drop-top sports car."
At a glance
- The greenest
- Roadster Sportshift II 2dr
£98,994 - The cheapest
- Roadster Manual 2dr
£89,994 - The fastest
- Roadster Manual 2dr
£89,994 - Top of the range
- S Roadster Sportshift II 2dr
£108,995
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The Aston Martin V8 Vantage cabriolet is a classic open-top British sports car that looks good and sounds great. It's not quite as well rounded as some of its rivals, but there's no doubt that it boasts a huge amount of style and performance. Be sure to prepare yourself for a high price-tag and extremely high running costs though.
Drive
V8 engine makes a wonderful noise and offers blistering acceleration
Fitted with a raucous 420bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine, the Vantage accelerates from 0-62mph in less than five seconds. With the roof down there's few other noises that are so addictive. In the corners, the Vantage is fantastic to drive quickly, and keen drivers will be at home with the stiff chassis which lends the Vantage real agility. The steering may be a bit light for some though. For ultimate driver involvement, go for the six-speed manual gearbox over the Sportshift automated manual.
Comfort
Stiff suspension, but comfortable enough for long motorway journeys
Over rough roads the Aston Martin V8 Vantage's stiff set-up does little for driver comfort, and without the extra rigidity provided by a solid roof, the cabriolet model does vibrate more than the coupe. An optional Sport Pack stiffens the car up even further. At low revs the engine is quiet, but the engine blares noisily if you really press on. That's not necessarily a bad thing though.
Reliability
Reliability has improved so new cars shouldn't carry any problems
Aston Martin reliability has improved in recent years, so customers buying a new Aston Martin V8 Vantage should have very little to worry about. A set of tyres is likely to last 20,000 miles and a clutch should last for 40,000 miles without needing to be replaced. The Vantage hasn't been tested by Euro NCAP but it should be incredibly safe, while electronic stability control is fitted as standard.
Practicality
Not much space, but that's not why you buy one of these cars
Unlike some rivals, which squeeze two unusable small seats in the back, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is strictly for two passengers – with a useful storage area behind the seats. The folding roof cuts in to boot space, though, as the 144-litre boot is less than half the size of the Vantage coupe's. Although the interior is uncluttered and beautifully laid-out, the Volvo-derived sat-nav can be unreliable and tricky to use.
Value for money
Not cheap, but it's well equipped
Prices for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage start just below £100,000, but the good news is that you won't need to shell out for many extras, as most things are included. Full leather upholstery, parking sensors, Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity are just the start of the standard equipment list.
Running costs
V8 engine is thirsty and puts out a lot of emissions
As well as its expensive price tag, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage will also be costly to run. It's high emissions put it in the highest tax bracket, and real world fuel economy will probably be between 10-20mpg.
