The cars and bikes thread!

[geoffbot]

Oh man! Jel!

[geoffbot]

Review pls.

[Raza]

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Not to alarm you, but someone nicked your shifter, mate.

[mlcor]

Review pls.

Initial thoughts--only a couple of days of driving.

Well, first of all, the car is gorgeous, inside and out. A timeless design that looks as beautiful today as when it was penned ten years or so ago, IMO. I didn't realize Aston Martin made any smaller cars--the dimensions are actually smaller than my daughter's Honda CR-V. At least here in the US, it's a very stealthy car--there aren't a lot of Aston Martins around, and the rear deck just has a little "GT" symbol, and the small, discreet Aston Martin badge. Unless you're a car nut, you won't recognize what it is (only that you've not seen one before). Finishing inside, all done by hand, is stupendous as you would expect, and going from the bare bones interior of the Lotus to this is almost ludicrous (and definitely decadent). There are classic little quirks, like the handbrake, which is to the left of the driver (in my left hand drive model). To avoid having the driver fall over it, the handbrake activates when you pull it up, then retreats back into the well. To release, you pull it back up, press the button, and it goes back down. Small problem--once you turn the car off, there is no visual indication as to whether you remembered to set the handbrake or not. Also, the entertainment display and the nav system are previous generation.

Now, to all of that, I say, pfft, who cares. Let's talk about performance.

I don't know about the UK version, but the US one has a 4.7L naturally aspirated V8, 430hp (US rating). The car weighs around 3600 pounds, and the engine is stuffed in between the front wheels and the cockpit, so the weight distribution is 50-50. The engine loves to rev, and really starts to rocket above 4500 rpm. Redline is 7300, high for a V8, but I'm not going there until after the car has 500 miles on it. Also, the exhaust note was made in heaven. I don't even want to turn the radio (a very nice, optional 700w Alpine system, including a subwoofer that I'm mystified as to where they hid it) on if I'm somewhere that I can let the engine loose, the sound is a symphony.

The transmission is a seven speed, single clutch, automated manual (Sportshift II). They did make it with a manual, but this one didn't have it. Oh, well. The Sportshift I had some issues, but they were corrected in version II, which was introduced in 2012, I think. There is no room to squeeze in a dual clutch system or a torque converter, and that's why this system is still used. It's gotten its share of criticism, but I think it's from folks who were expecting to drive it like an automatic. There is an automatic mode, but it's very unsatisfying--jerky unless you lift off the gas just a bit before each shift. The simple solution is to treat the car as if it were a manual transmission--push the Sport button (which increases the shift speed of the automated clutch) and choose gears with the paddles, easing off ever so slightly on the gas before upshifting. I've driven the car less than 100 miles, but have mastered the technique, which gives perfectly snappy and smooth shifts once you get the hang of it, and has the added advantage of not wearing out your left foot in traffic. Downshifts happen automatically and smoothly, unless you choose to downshift yourself, like for a corner, in which case you can downshift multiple gears to the one you want as fast as you can flick the paddle. Would I prefer a pure manual? Yes. Do I like this better than a dual clutch, fully automatic transmission? For this type of car, where you want to be involved in driving, yes. The power range is also broad enough that if you are feeling lazy/relaxed, you can stay in just a couple of gears and shift in a leisurely fashion. And 7th is quite tall, so cruising is quiet.

Handling is excellent. The car is very well balanced, and very solid over bumps, etc., far more than any roadster I've ever driven. No squeaks, rattles, cowl shake, nothing. The steering is good old fashioned hydraulic power steering, not electronic, and the feel is perfect--not too light,and you always know where the wheels are. Of course, it's not a laser like the Lotus, but nothing is. The suspension is also non-adjustable conventional springs, not electronic or pneumatic, and again (IMO) this is a good thing. The ride quality is an excellent compromise between not being too soft and not knocking out dental fillings. The car feels tossable and nimble, with gentle understeer. I haven't tested its limits yet, but I suspect if I try, I can get the rear end out, but recovery should be as simple as punching the throttle. The brakes are also excellent, with good feel and short stops. Once the car is broken in, I'll go driving with my Lotus buddies, and we'll see how it hangs in there.

The top is soft, with a glass window, and fully automated. Part of the rear deck rises and the soft top tucks underneath it, completely hidden from view, as the deck closes over it. Takes less than 20 seconds, and the result is very neat and clean. There is a deep and pretty useful boot behind it--they claim you could fit a set of golf clubs in there, if you take the driver out. Hmm, what else? Gas mileage is atrocious, at least so far, but presumably will improve a bit once the car is broken in.

It's early on, of course, but so far I'm very pleased.

[mlcor]

Not to alarm you, but someone nicked your shifter, mate.

Damn, they took the clutch pedal, too!

[geoffbot]

Awesome. Congratulations!

[stew77]

Thanks so much for the awesome initial review and write-up ml! You've obviously done your homework on this one and knew what kind of change you were looking for in moving from the Elise to the Vantage.

I've ALWAYS drooled over the styling from Aston Martin (the Vanquish, DB9, and your Vantage model over the years), but have never had the opportunity to drive one and your initial review stirred my interest again.

I will say this without pause...I've never really had a full understanding of the Aston Martin brand and the lineup (there are some truly exotic prices across the entire model range), but I believe hands down that the "value" and "performance" is in the Vantage line!!! As you already pointed out, I didn't realize that Aston Martin offered any smaller performance cars in their lineup! The Vantage line for nearly the last decade has often been compared to one of my #1 favorite driving cars, the Porsche 911 in all of it's variations. Your purchase of this Vantage GT had me saying...cool!...with just a few minutes of research on the Vantage.

Love the hand-built approach, the incredible Aston Martin styling (seriously, a total drool fest EVERY time I see one!!!!...styling that is timeless and ahead of it's time, even dating back over a decade), and the sound of that Aston Martin 4.7L V8......intoxicating to say the least with the only thing being more drunken, the V12 Vantage S, but (Hot Damn) that V8 is just so sweet sounding IMO!!!! Honestly...just a bit of Black Sheep with this one, and I like it tons!
I may just have to refer to you as Bond...James Bond in the near term. Well, ok... .... I know you as ml with great taste in cars! Enjoy the drive and that intoxicating exhaust note in the meantime!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!

[93EXCivic]

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Will you adopt me? Hahaha

Seriously jealous. I keep looking a DB7 prices and praying that the small company I work for starts pulling in money and the DB7 stays cheap.

[93EXCivic]

I can't believe the mustang in the US is like 24k dollars and in the UK it's 30k pounds. I'd have considered one - it has enough seats.

But that would be V6. Buying a V6 Mustang is like buying blended scotch, it isn't bad but you know you would have spent a little more for the single malt.

Anyway proper Mustangs have a live axle. 'Merica!

We have the same problem with the Caterham or Defender over here in terms price.

[mlcor]

Thanks so much for the awesome initial review and write-up ml! You've obviously done your homework on this one and knew what kind of change you were looking for in moving from the Elise to the Vantage.

I've ALWAYS drooled over the styling from Aston Martin (the Vanquish, DB9, and your Vantage model over the years), but have never had the opportunity to drive one and your initial review stirred my interest again.

I will say this without pause...I've never really had a full understanding of the Aston Martin brand and the lineup (there are some truly exotic prices across the entire model range), but I believe hands down that the "value" and "performance" is in the Vantage line!!! As you already pointed out, I didn't realize that Aston Martin offered any smaller performance cars in their lineup! The Vantage line for nearly the last decade has often been compared to one of my #1 favorite driving cars, the Porsche 911 in all of it's variations. Your purchase of this Vantage GT had me saying...cool!...with just a few minutes of research on the Vantage.

Love the hand-built approach, the incredible Aston Martin styling (seriously, a total drool fest EVERY time I see one!!!!...styling that is timeless and ahead of it's time, even dating back over a decade), and the sound of that Aston Martin 4.7L V8......intoxicating to say the least with the only thing being more drunken, the V12 Vantage S, but (Hot Damn) that V8 is just so sweet sounding IMO!!!! Honestly...just a bit of Black Sheep with this one, and I like it tons!
I may just have to refer to you as Bond...James Bond in the near term. Well, ok... .... I know you as ml with great taste in cars! Enjoy the drive and that intoxicating exhaust note in the meantime!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!

Thanks, Chris. I suspect the v12 actually might be less enjoyable--it would add weight to the front of the car, and of course weight overall, which I think could hurt the nimble feel of the car. In any case, the V12 would be way out of my price range. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that this was a leftover 2015 (albeit brand new--20 miles on the odometer when I bought it), I wouldn't have considered it. Basically, the dealer took the massive first year depreciation hit rather than me, and I got around 70% of what I paid for my Lotus when I bought it new nine years ago in trade. It was easy for them, because they are a Lotus dealer as well, and have serviced my car for a number of years, so they know how well kept it is. Bottom line, net price was less than I would have paid for a Jaguar F Type R, or a Corvette Z06 roadster (not that I would have considered the latter).

You know my watch collection, and it reflects my overall taste, which has a distinct preference for things that are a bit different and off the beaten path. Aston Martin only produced around 1600 cars in total in 2015, around 1000 came to the US, so my guess is that there aren't more than a couple of hundred Vantages from that year over here, and therefore probably no more than a couple of thousand in total over the past ten years. And even fewer of the GT version. Kind of like the Nienaber of cars--highly unlikely that I'll run into another one...