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Aston Martin models, news & reviews
5
Handling
4
Performance
Usability
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
3.5
By Ben Pulman
First Drives
20 May 2009 00:01
That it does. To some, the V8 Vantage can look a little slight, but the V12 looks like a thug in a suit. The new N24 race car inspired sills fill out the sides, while the new carbon splitter and rear diffuser are obvious enough to signal this car’s latent strength, without being too flashy like the DBS.
It’s pretty special inside too, with Alcantara and leather everywhere. The dashboard buttons are a little fiddly, but it's much less businesslike than in a Porsche, and feels much more inviting than a caged 911 GT2.
It’s not roomy though (despite being quite wide), the ludicrously chubby gearstick is set too far back for taller drivers, and the glovebox will only take a pair of gloves – if you own small hands. But these are faults common to many Astons, and aren’t enough to detract from the essential magnificence of the V12 Vantage.
It is, especially if you press the Sport button, which gives you a much sharper throttle response and opens up those trick valves in the exhaust. It issues a banshee wail and sends you rocketing forward at the lightest brush of the throttle.
Sport mode doesn’t touch the dampers though. Unlike the DBS, the V12 has fixed-rate suspension, albeit a chassis that’s 15mm lower and 45% stiffer than in the V8. Of course it’s firm, but while the DBS can feel either too floaty or too firm, the Aston strikes a perfect balance, with the dampers taking the worst edges of any rough roads. It also feels massively resolved for a relatively low-volume special.
Beyond that, the V12 is massively quick – as you'd expect in a 510bhp coupé tipping in at 1680kg – with enough muscle to blast past anything on the roads, while the brakes are amongst the best ceramic set-ups around: full of feel and with lots of stopping power.
One of the best Aston Martins ever sums things up pretty nicely. The V12 Vantage is brilliantly judged.
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Aston Martin V12 Vantage (2009) CAR review
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MonteV says
RE: Aston Martin V12 Vantage (2009) CAR review
To me this is the most desirable Aston. The Vantage body is so compact, the lines flow so well, and combined with the sound of a V12 this is it. Wish they'd make a convertible version as well.
04 July 2009 06:44
NaBUru38 says
Folks, you can drive a similar car to the V12 Vantage in my own racing game, Autito (www.autito.tk). It's called Bondiola, a word play between MI6's spy agent and a type of sausage. Er, I forgot, the game's in Spanish, and you must unlock the car.
29 May 2009 16:33
a t o m i c says
...and why did you use "torques"?
26 May 2009 11:27
akashsky1 says
Atomic this is a car website hence the name CAR, not English GCSE. I made a valid comment about the car and some of it's competitors, which should be the topic of discussion, instead you just reply with some boring pedantic comment. And in the UK LB FT is still most commonly used and more valid as a reference for British readers, thats why I used it.
Atomic this is a car website hence the name CAR, not English GCSE.
I made a valid comment about the car and some of it's competitors, which should be the topic of discussion, instead you just reply with some boring pedantic comment.
And in the UK LB FT is still most commonly used and more valid as a reference for British readers, thats why I used it.
22 May 2009 12:55
JohnnyBimmer says
Atomic - you being little Miss English teacher again? We all get it, lets not faff about on the fine detail of spelling and diction, it gets er, boring! Petrolhead - anymore of your unfathomable slang words and I'll set Atomic on you
22 May 2009 12:26
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