Aston Martin V8 Vantage - the only car to get JC out of bed

[jarborra]

In addition to the usual Clarkson column, the latest issue of Top Gear magazine has a feature review of the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage by none other than the man himself...Jeremy Clarkson.

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Jeremy Clarkson is caught in car limbo. Crippled by a slipped disc, he's under surgeon's orders not to drive for the next six months. Great new cars have come and gone, but nothing could rouse him from his sickbed. Until now...

James May has a theory on the N?rburgring, that sinewy 14-mile race track in Germany where car makers from all over the world go to hone a new car's handling. He says that they're not really honing the handling at all, just going all-out to set the fastest possible lap time. And that a car set up to get round the 'Ring in under eight minutes is going to be complete rubbish on the A38 just outside Burton Upon Trent.

Of course, it's my job to pooh-pooh the ramblings of Captain Slow. But this is a tricky one because he's sort of right. Certainly, I was alarmed when I saw an early spy photograph of Aston Martin's new V8 Vantage hurtling round one of the 147 corners with one of its front wheels a full two inches in the air.

Captain Slow saw it too and pointed out, quite rightly, that any chassis stiff enough to stick a front wheel in the air is going to have the give and suppleness of a grandfather clock. "They're just trying to make it go round the bloody place faster than a Porsche 911", grumbled Her Majesty's Daily Telegraph motoring correspondent, in that deep, manly baritone of his.

I'll leave you to reflect on that notion while we move on to discuss the car that raised his ire. The Vantage. The most eagerly awaited Aston Martin since, well, er...the last one.

I'll admit I was nervous about what the ride might be like but felt, in a car such as this, that?s a bit like worrying about prickling yourself on a needle in a haystack. Or turning down the opportunity for an evening out with Uma Thurman because, as my wife keeps pointing out, she has 'big hands'.

The Vantage, after all, is supposed to be a sports car; a small, tight, pointy, revvy thing and anyone who didn't like having their spleen shaken into its component molecules could always go and buy a DB9 instead. Make no mistake, I was gagging for a go in the Vantage. I was desperate.

And then my back decided to explode. One night, while I was asleep, all the oil in my spine decided to become infected and seep into my central nervous system. Put in plain English, I slipped a disc, and the super-potent painkillers supplied by my GP meant driving would be a big no-no for the next six months. But then the opportunity to drive the new Aston came along.

Hmmm. This would mean coming off the painkillers for a day, and putting up with the agony so I could have a thrash in a car with a ride I suspected would be hard enough to make things even worse. The doctor said I'd be mad. My wife said I'd be mad. But they don't understand.

You see, I've never really thought about buying a DB9 for a number of reasons. It's a beautiful car, of course, and possibly the best GT in the world, but for purely personal reasons, it's not quite me. First, I have an innate wariness about the complexity of a V12. And second, there's the fact that it's just not quite sporty enough.

The Vantage seems to address both issues. It has a 4.3-litre version of Jaguar's Welsh-made V8, and with tits short wheelbase and N?rburgring handling, would almost certainly have the lemon-fresh zest of a 911. Deep down, I wasn't driving this car for your benefit. I was driving it to see if I'd like to buy one. I was driving it for mine.

And it goes one like that. My fingers are beginning to ache and I fear the 72 wpm I learned in 8th grade at ASL in St. John's Wood aren't good enough to keep up. I'm going to have to summarize the rest.

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The main points of his review are:
* Styling: To the casual observer, it's a DB9 but it's actually different. It's an absolute honey except when viewed from dead ahead where he doesn't like the huge spoiler.
* Build quality: Quality of the panel fit is exceptional but too many DB9 components have been used inside. Saving money and 'diesel thinking' has no place in the bespoke world of cars like this.
* Engine noise: Not much when you start up the car, but on the road it makes an ear-splitting bellow. According to JC it's easily the loudest car on the market today. But it's not loud in the cockpit.
* Performance: Nowhere near as fast as JC's had been expecting. The engine's 380bhp is 20 less than in a Jaguar XKR. The 302 torques is less than expected too. Be careful what you choose to take on at the lights! Even top steep of 175mph is less than JC had been hoping for. It's a relatively conventional V8, one that's only been made to sound so shatteringly violent by a tricksy exhaust valve.
* Ride: The Vantage was brilliant on the road that probably killed JC's back. It's firm but beautifully damped and controlled.
* Steering: Same weight as you get in a DB9 but with more feedback and feel. Not as good as the 911 but close.
* Cabin/boot space: Cabin is spacious because of lack of rear seats. Boot is generous because you don't get a spare tyre.
* Reliability: First Aston which ever arrived back at base without any warning lights showing (except for the handbrake one which never went out in the first place). Wait two years for the early niggles to have been sorted out.
* Engineering: While the engine has Aston cylinder heads and valve gear, you know it's a Jag cake with Aston icing. The key and satnav are from Volvo. How much behind the scenes is Ford? Is it a glorified Mustang with Volvo accessories and a German heart?

And the conclusion?

In a Porsche 911, you're going to have a very good time actually driving the thing, but everyone is going to hate you. They're going to give you dirty looks as you drive by, call you names at the lights, vandalise your paintwork in the night and never, ever let you out of a side turning. That's a given. In the Vantage, everyone's going to want your babies.

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I hope y'all appreciate my bleeding fingers! Let me know what you think of the new AM V8 and Clarkson's review.

 

[SL65]

Wow thanks a lot for this great thread (pics & info) I had a feeling Clarkson would get out of bed for this!

I havnt changed my view on the Vantage though...I think the interior is a bit cheap next to Astons we'r used to I still love it though!

 

[Vette Boss]

I'm gonna need some tissues... To wipe up the drool.

I love that car.

 

[Z Draci]

So . . . how much is it!?!?!

 

[watto]

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous...

but I'd still prefer a Carrera S.

 

[bone]

So . . . how much is it!?!?!

1570kg

 

[watto]

So . . . how much is it!?!?!

1570kg

*psst* I think he meant price wise *psst*

About ?80,000 isn't it?? perhaps ?75K?

 

[Z Draci]

So . . . how much is it!?!?!

1570kg

*psst* I think he meant price wise *psst*

That is still pretty heavy for a "zippy, little sportscar."
However, 1570kg is a feather-weight for an Aston.

I've heard American journalist quoting around a 110.000-120.000 USD pricetag. That is a lot more than what I initially though. (That is actually more than used F355's)

 

[watto]

So . . . how much is it!?!?!

1570kg

*psst* I think he meant price wise *psst*

That is still pretty heavy for a "zippy, little sportscar."
However, 1570kg is a feather-weight for an Aston.

I've heard American journalist quoting around a 110.000-120.000 USD pricetag. That is a lot more than what I initially though. (That is actually more than used F355's)

Indeed, she is a chubby girl

I was expecting around about the same pricing as the Carrera (AUD195, 000) so you're hearing of quotes around AUD145,000-AUD158,000 seems quite reasonable...

 

[jarborra]

It's ?80,000 according to the Stats page on the free TG mag DVD

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[Buba]

Nice can't wait for the full scans to pop up...

Buba

 

[jarborra]

Yeah, unfortunately I don't have a scanner.

I guess I could photograph the pages, but like you say, the full scans will pop up soon.

In the meantime, you guys will have to make do with my summary!

 

[Buba]

^^ Ohh, forgot, I didn't say thanks, so thanks...
At first I was wondering how awesome the "scans" were until I realised they are no scans :lol: :lol:

Buba

 

[jarborra]

No problem, Buba. You said "nice" which is all the praise I need!

I was more lamenting the fact that I just stuck my flatbed HP scanner in its box on the street with a sign reading "Free scanner - cables and CD included". Needless to say, it disappeared quickly. I had checked eBay but people were struggling to sell theirs for $1 so I thought feck it...I have no room for it at the moment.

 

[Redliner]

I really don?t care if it?s slower than a 911, if it?s heavy, or if it "only" has 380hp.
I still want one. It?s gorgeous, all the sportiness and beauty I expect from a sports car without looking like a thousand other sports cars.
And if it sounds that good, I?ll need to change my underwear...

 

[Hatmouse]

Wow. Thanks for taking the time to type it.

EDIT: Woo. 100th Post. And still no official fg welcome.

 

[patrick10]

^^^^welcome

thanks great thread. im starting to dislike the new aston shape but for some reason, i still love the looks. now if the performance could match the looks...

 

[Hatmouse]

^^^^welcome

thanks great thread. im starting to dislike the new aston shape but for some reason, i still love the looks. now if the performance could match the looks...

So you dislike the shape, but like the looks? :?

Still, no complaints about the performance. What are the chances you're going to take corners at the top speed? And some people really care less about out dragging anyone at the lights. (like me, except I don't have the money for a Vantage )

 

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Wow, thanks for typing all that out!

I'll admit I was nervous about what the ride might be like but felt, in a car such as this, that?s a bit like worrying about prickling yourself on a needle in a haystack. Or turning down the opportunity for an evening out with Uma Thurman because, as my wife keeps pointing out, she has 'big hands'.

My, my. That'd be a lot like turning down a Ford GT because of a crappy alarm system, wouldn't it?

 

[Raven18940]

Want one, want one of those.