If you want something that blends a sporty drive with opulence, the Bentley Continental GT might suit, but if you want serious pace and a sharper drive, the Ferrari Portofino M or Roma are for you. Or you could try a V8-powered Jaguar F-Type, which is something of a performance-car bargain.
What to look for
A bit special
There has been an array of Vantage special editions over the years, including the V600 (14 made in 2018), 007 (100 built in 2020) and an unspecified number of F1 editions that were produced in 2021.
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History lesson
You could be forgiven for assuming that all Vantages are cherished and maintained meticulously. Not so, which is why you need to ensure a car’s service history is complete, and go through it carefully.
Watt a pain
Just as with many mainstream car brands, the most likely Vantage glitches revolve around the electrics and electronics. It doesn’t help that some of these cars are barely used from one week to the next.
Fuel’s gold
The Vantage’s fuel tank holds 73 litres and in V8 form it’s rated at an optimistic 24.3mpg; the V12 at an unlikely 20.3mpg. Expect a few mpg below this, and quite a few if you drive the car hard…
Interior
Many Astons have had cabins that disappointed in terms of the tech and build quality, but not here. The finish and materials are superb, while the switchgear is well laid out, with plenty of buttons rather than an over-reliance on the Mercedes-sourced touchscreen. The Vantage is strictly a two-seater, and its boot can stow a reasonable 350 litres.
Running costs
Supercars bring super-sized bills, and as you would expect, every aspect of a Vantage’s running costs is on the high side. All variations on the Vantage theme are in insurance group 50, and, of course, all are subject to the annual £425 luxury car road tax supplement for the first five years, because of the list price being more than £40,000.
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