Overview & Reviews

Born in England, Aston Martin makes cars that place equal emphasis on high-thrill performance and discreet British elegance. The manufacturer's lineup is small and highly specialized; you'll only find sports cars on the Aston Martin roster. Still, the brand has made an incredible name for itself, and is known worldwide as a purveyor of sleek, top-of-the-line, road-hugging machinery.

Founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford started Aston Martin in 1914. The two had seen some success selling Singer racing cars, but wanted to craft their own vehicles, with an emphasis on sophistication and refinement. The brand took its name from co-founder Martin and the Aston Clinton Hill Climb, where the duo's Singer cars had competed.

Originally, Aston Martin was known chiefly in racing circles. By the 1920s, the brand had made its first appearance overseas, participating in the French Grand Prix; it also participated in the Le Mans 24-hour race. The marque saw its share of financial difficulties during the '20s and '30s, undergoing numerous changes in ownership. Still, it made a name for itself with popular racing cars like the streamlined 1934 Ulster.

The postwar years saw the brand change hands once again. Aston Martin was sold to David Brown, an industrialist with a successful tractor company. After purchasing the company in 1947, he set his sights on developing new models. The first was the DB1 (named after his own initials), introduced in 1948. It was soon followed by the DB2 and DB3.

The 1950s saw Aston Martin establishing itself as a winner on the track, with the DB2 placing in its class at Le Mans. As the decade drew to a close, the brand had launched yet another model -- the DB4 -- and scored wins at the World Sports Car Championship, the Nürburgring and the RAC Tourist Trophy.

During the 1960s, Aston Martin began production on the DB5. The low-slung coupe looked glamorous enough to be in the movies, and soon it was; the DB5 was the vehicle of choice for Sean Connery's James Bond in 1964's Goldfinger. By the time the '60s came to a close, the Aston Martin family had grown to include the DB6 (which stands as the first four-seater produced by the marque) and DBS V8.

The 1970s were a rough decade for Aston Martin. The brand was sold by David Brown in 1972, and then once again was passed from owner to owner. Still, a new model, the V8 Vantage, was launched in 1977. Ten years later, Ford Motor Company purchased Aston Martin and invested millions in research and development in hopes of restoring the brand to its former glory.

By the 1990s, Ford's considerable efforts had begun to pay off. The handsome DB7 debuted mid-decade and was a hit with both critics and buyers. Aston Martin's fortunes continued to soar in the 2000s, with the launch of the successful V12 Vanquish, the DB9 and the V8 Vantage. Still, subsequent financial trouble at Ford led to the sale of Aston Martin in 2007 to a group of investors, which include a pair of Kuwaiti investment companies.

Aston's recent models include the exotic DBS (a more muscular version of the DB9), the four-door, four-seat Rapide, the Virage (which slots in between the DB9 and DBS) and a pair of ultra-low-production sports cars — the V12 Zagato (named after the design house that penned its body) and the One-77 (only 77 produced with a price of nearly $2 million each). As you'd guess by now, the current Aston Martin lineup comprises some of the world's most desirable cars.

User Reviews:

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  Understated Performance Car - 2005 Aston Martin DB9
  By Chuck - April 5 - 6:36 am

  Its a head turner but fun to drive even at longer distances. Not as many on the road as the Ferrari. The convertible is a pleasure after having the DB7. I love the car.

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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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  Aston Martin Strikes Back - 2004 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
  By FRANKIE - June 28 - 9:36 am

  This car is by far the top automobile on anyones list. After driving this very rare and stylish car it is hard to find any manufacture that can match or exceed the Vanquishs potiental. Its smooth handeling and break-neck speeds make it one of the funnest cars to drive. Stylish in both interior and exterior design it looks as good as it performs.

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  This is not a car ... it is a Dream !! - 2005 Aston Martin DB9
  By Peter Afeiche - December 26 - 1:20 am

  Aston Martins have always had a distinct allure for me ever since seeing the DB5 in Goldfinger and seeing an Astin Martin Lagonda back in the 80s. The DB9 was the dream car for me to own and it took me a good 2- 3 weeks to fully realize just what a splendid car I was driving. Sexy, elegant, powerful, responsive, distinctive and manly are just some of the adjectives I can attribute to this car.

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  Not for the faint - 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By Booboo - July 29 - 10:43 am

  This is my 2nd Aston which I purchased new and some things never change. The Aston is a high performance car for sure with a reliable and truly excellent engine the rest does not live up. The road holding is OK and no problem on regular highway driving, but the suspension is an issue because there is no "ABC" feature that inspires confidence, so in fast and tight corners, an average driver will have to deal with a nervous car and will be more shaken than stirred. It is an unsophisticated car with a washboard ride, but I buy one again!

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  Broke the first day. - 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By gvan54 - February 7 - 9:06 pm

  This beauty stranded me the first day I had it. The clutch went out on it and it had to be picked up by a flatbed. Dealer needs it for 10 days, the part has to be ordered from the U.K. How do you ever trust a car again after it strands you. I will sell it as soon as I get it back. In addition, the leather above the speedo / tach is coming off, you could actually see the staples that hold it down on the underside. This is a luxury car??!! Stick with the BMWs and Lexuss of the world, at least they are delivered in one piece and dont strand you on the side of a highway.

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  Expensive, but worth it fun and class! - 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By K1 - January 26 - 10:13 am

  The AMV8 may not be the class leader in terms of straight-line performance, but it the leader of its class in terms of overall performance, sheer driving enjoyment and élan. The car is a perfect combination of beautifully styled aluminum, state-of-the-art technology and enough HP to raise your blood pressure more than enough for everyday driving. It is a joy to drive as it is a highly responsive and compliant sports car. You will pay a premium to get into an Aston. But, hey, once you go past a four-banger econo-box it’s all a matter of personal preference, isn’t it? The bottom line is that this is an adult sports car that you’ll enjoy driving day after day.

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  My AM V8 Vantage - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By Sean J - March 12 - 9:06 am

  I have been driving my Vantage since May. I have to say I like it but Im not in love with it. I have been driving Porsches for past few years and I kind of miss driving them. I think this car could have been a bit wider and few inches longer. I think the front exterior is just gorgeous but the back is a bit like japanese cars. Starting price for this car should be $155,000 after improvements. 110K is cheap for this category of car.

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  A real car - 2005 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
  By Jerome Henin - January 16 - 5:30 am

  This car is as comfortable as a class S mercedes, as fun as a Ferrari 575, and much more reliable as most other cars. You can use it again and again. You will always be amused by the behavior of people when they see it. It is definItely the gentlemans supercar.