Overview & Reviews

It might seem strange to describe a $117,000 car as "entry level," but that's exactly what the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is. Meant to sell in greater volumes than its larger and more expensive brand mates, the V8 Vantage is aimed squarely against lofty, performance-proven competitors from Germany.

Like most of the cars from this iconic British brand, it is simply gorgeous. At the same time, Aston upped the fun-to-drive quotient in the Vantage to make it a true sports car rather than a grand tourer like the DB9. Although many have said the V8 Vantage is the best-driving Aston Martin ever, it still falls short of the Porsche 911 in terms of overall performance. Yet, that car is practically ubiquitous compared to the rare Aston, which will always have an advantage in terms of cool sophistication and dazzling visual allure. The V8 Vantage is one instance where the "entry level" is a wonderful place to be.

Current Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage seats two people and is available as a hatchback coupe and a convertible roadster. There are two trim levels that deliver a different degree of performance: Vantage and Vantage S. The V12 Vantage is reviewed separately.

Both models seat only two people and come with almost identical features. Standard items include 19-inch wheels, xenon headlights, a 10-way-adjustable power sport driver seat, automatic climate control, a six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack and iPod interface. Leather upholstery is also standard, and is available in nearly countless color combinations, giving buyers the option of a fully customized interior. Curiously, common items like cruise control, Bluetooth, heated seats and seat memory are options on this car that costs more than $100,000. The Vantage S at least gets the cruise control and Bluetooth along with revised suspension tuning and unique styling elements. A pair of upgraded audio systems and a Garmin-sourced navigation system are optional on both.

For power, the base V8 Vantage relies on a 4.7-liter V8 capable of 420 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque. The Vantage S gets a version of the same engine bumped up to 430 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the base car, while a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission is optional on the base Vantage and standard on the Vantage S.

Inside, the Vantage has an overall look that's nearly identical to every other Aston Martin. Expect high-end leather and other trim types, but build quality not up to the level of Porsche. The Vantage's interior is smaller, however, with only two seats. The coupe's hatchback trunk can swallow 10.6 cubic feet of stuff, while the roadster has a typically small 5 cubes of space. The roadster's power-operated cloth soft top can be lowered in 18 seconds, even at speeds of up to 30 mph.

In reviews of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, we've found that it is indeed a true sports car. On curvy roads, it moves confidently, sliding progressively and returning to its intended path with little drama. Its steering and chassis are highly communicative, delivering useful information about what's happening between tire and pavement.

The roadster's added weight hampers its handling and performance somewhat, but it still offers plenty of grip and high-speed composure. We did note, however, that neither Vantage models matches the performance levels of more mainstream rivals, while the narrow seats and footwells may be uncomfortable for larger drivers.

Used Aston Martin V8 Vantage Models
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage debuted for the 2006 model year only in the coupe body style with a six-speed manual transmission. The roadster and a traditional six-speed automatic transmission were available thereafter. Prior to '08, V8 Vantages lacked steering-wheel audio controls, an auxiliary audio jack and console-mounted cupholders and featured a body-mounted antenna (versus glass-embedded). The 2008 model year also featured the limited-production high-performance Vantage N400, which would be quite the find at your local exotic used car shop.

The most important distinction between the current V8 Vantage and those built prior to '09 is that the engine displaced 4.3 liters, with an output of 380 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque. The suspension and Sportshift automatic transmission also didn't have the revisions given to the '09 car. These earlier Vantages also had a less ergonomic and attractive center control stack, as well as an older, DVD-based optional navigation system. A newer hard drive nav became standard the next year, but it still wasn't good, and was eventually replaced for 2012 by a Garmin-sourced unit.

The Vantage S was not available until 2012.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 28.00

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  A Perfect Sports Car! - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By tdtollie - February 11 - 11:33 am

  I waited 686 days from the date I placed my deposit until delivery of my Vantage. Was it worth the wait? You bet! Ive been driving Corvettes for over 20 years and I love them...but the Vantage is so much more. Yes, the Vantage is expensive, but the style and performance are perfect. The handling on winding mountain roads is incredible. The engine sings and begs you to open the windows and turn off the great sound system. Ive been driving manual transmissions my entire life and nothing comes close to this 6-speed gearbox. If you really love to drive cars and can afford the $$$, I recommend you take the plunge and go for it. I love it! I love it! I LOVE IT!!!

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  Finally... - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By praskind - June 17 - 2:50 pm

  An amazing car! Drove Porsches for the past 7 year and this car tops any of them. Beautiful to look at-feels and sounds incredible. I bought mine without ever driving one and I could not be happier.

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  Best Of All Worlds - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By DEJ - December 7 - 2:46 pm

  Have owned many sports cars, most recently a 2006 Porsche 911S. The AMV8 is in a completely different league. More beautiful, more exotic, more fun to drive, more comfortable, more luxurious. More of all the reasons to buy such a car.

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  Dream Wheels - 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By A M Dude - December 10 - 9:30 pm

  Having been the owner of many fine cars (Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar) I always suspected that if, and when, I purchased an Aston Martin my heart would be lost forever. How right I was!!! While the Aston Martin Vantage 8 may not be the perfect car, youd be hard pressed to convince me otherwise. In my opinion the workmanship, performance, and curb appeal of this beast would stand up to any other make or model. The drop jaw good looks and driving experience makes this an investment worth every penny spent! I recently showed it at a regional car show and even with more exotic models of Porches, Ferraris (sp), and others my Vantage drew the majority of the raves. Do yourself a favor: buy one!

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  Not perfect, but the best car ever! - 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By Brian - July 31 - 2:23 am

  This car has plenty of flaws such as really outdated electronics (GPS, radio, etc.) and horrible ergonomics (tiny buttons in bad locations, etc.). But none of that matters because when you drive this car you feel like the king of the road. Sure, there are faster cars and more technologically advanced cars, but nothing gets attention like an Aston Martin, and its attention with class. Its not flashy like a Lambo or Lotus - its all class, and the sound it makes is astounding! The sound coming out of the exhaust is worth the cost of the car entirely!

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  Like A Melody - 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By DJ - July 29 - 11:06 pm

  A car this beautiful and this beautifully made doesnt have to be the fastest in its class. It is very quick, handles extremely well, and is a treat just to sit in. There is nothing quite like it in that regard. It is a thrill just to see it in the garage. And it is a blast to drive.

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  Excellent - Best Sports Car I Have Owned - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By GK - May 28 - 1:43 pm

  I have had a Porsche and numerous BMWs. For me, this is the treasured prize. The quality of the interior and refinement of the exterior combined with the reliability I have experienced to date make this the finest auto I have ever owned. One article described it best - it is 95% of the performance and 200% of the "WOW" factor of the Porsche Carrera. The cornering and straight acceleration are a notch inferior to the Porsche, but the pride of ownership and fit and finish ar far superior than anything else. Try it... youll like it.

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  just got a 2011 vantage! - 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By johnred14 - April 12 - 9:31 am

  i just bought this car and love it. it puts a smile on my face every time i get in the car. it has the nicest interior of any car in its price range and drives perfectly. my biggest complaint is that i am now spoiled when it comes to other cars.

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  A keeper - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By tim s - December 13 - 4:30 pm

  Have had Porsches, every thing from Boxster to TurboS, two 355 Ferraris and a Ferrari F430. This goes way past the Porsches and just under the 430.

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  WOW - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By Bryan Fletcher - August 16 - 8:56 am

  Truly the most exciting car out there in its price range. Not seen everyday like its competitors. The craftsmanship is out of this world. Power, beauty, soul and if you buy one then you will know what I mean.