911 Turbo v new Aston Vantage

[Lancerlot]

Interesting match up of the 2 models - includes comments on the mechanical spec, road and track driving.

"Not as refined as the 911 .. not buttoned down like the Porsche, but more character and entertaining to drive. - so much better than the previous version."

I'll be driving the new Aston myself next week, so it'll be interesting to see - more later.

I believe BigCat on this forum also tests one next week, so maybe he'll be along to add comments and tell us more of his views on this new model Aston Martin Vantage as against his own Turbo 'S'.

Regards,

Clive

 

[pse_SC]

Tried watching the comparison video, but lost the will to view due to the ‘self love’ of the presenter - anyway, enjoy your drive Clive

 

[Eldavo]

I’ve driven the current Vantage, the previous Vantage and own one of the previous 4.7 VH models.

The new one is far better than the previous one, the interior has come on leaps and bounds by ditching the Mercedes interface and using the DB12 one. It’s a very fluid car to drive, I love a transaxle layout for the inherent balance but it really moves around underneath you being RWD as opposed to the 911 Turbo’s AWD. It’s not as easy to drive it properly fast compared to the Porsche but it is rewarding in a different way.

Amusingly, the configurator has no prices against any of the options - then again a 911 Turbo can start to get very expensive very quickly too. This was the car I drove: LINK although rather cheekily it mentions the excellent condition being “testament to the previous owner” rather than it being an ex-demonstrator.

 

[Lancerlot]

And as it's headlined as a 2025 Vantage Coupe, although the description downgrades it to a 2024 model, first registered 07/24, rather suggests Newcastle Aston Martin offer a somewhat flexible approach to its sale descriptions.
Incidentally, assuming as a demo car, it has a fairly full options specification - maybe heading towards £200k, does an asking price of £170k (so just above base list) indicate how future residuals are going to go for this model?

Regards,

Clive

 

[BigCat]

Interesting match up of the 2 models - includes comments on the mechanical spec, road and track driving.

"Not as refined as the 911 .. not buttoned down like the Porsche, but more character and entertaining to drive. - so much better than the previous version."

I'll be driving the new Aston myself next week, so it'll be interesting to see - more later.

I believe BigCat on this forum also tests one next week, so maybe he'll be along to add comments and tell us more of his views on this new model Aston Martin Vantage as against his own Turbo 'S'.

Regards,

Clive

I drove the new Vantage last August at Gaydon by invitation. It's a gorgeous looking car but 650hp through the rear wheels only great in the dry but on a wet day would not in my opinion be a good experience. Overall, lovely car, the V8 sounds fabulous, it looks superb and fit and finish is exemplary but lining up against my Turbo S it doesn't tick all the boxes especially value for money and as an every day car definitely not for me.

 

[Eldavo]

I drove it in the rain in wet mode, the traction control was working very hard and it got to the point where I had worked up enough confidence to just mash the throttle away from the line and it did a very good job of pointing straight and heading for the horizon given the conditions.

As Clive guessed, it was a £200k car and the Aston depreciation curve can’t hold a candle to the Porsche one.

 

[Lancerlot]

I had an interesting run in the new Vantage yesterday and really enjoyed it.

My initial thoughts are the cabin is very comfortable and a big step up from the previous version - liberally fitted with premium quality components. I felt immediately at home when driving, although the driver's seat would not adjust backwards sufficiently even though there was a further 2 -3 inch gap available behind it. It left me with rather bent knees!

The engine is crisp and has a muscular exhaust note in sport + mode. It's difficult to be completely objective on handling and road holding from the short road test, due to traffic and speed limitations, also a damp greasy road surface. The suspension initially seems quite firm, but in sport mode it tends to hop around a bit when accelerating on undulating road surfaces. Maybe it's a tad under-damped, but in track mode it fared a whole lot better. There is no lifting mechanism for the front end.

A word on steering. I was never a fan of the electro-hydraulic system first introduced into the 911 model range in 2011 with 991 model launch. This created a deadish feeling in the wheel - most unlike the previous 997 range - and not helped by an ability to sway the wheel backwards and forwards an inch or two without very much deviation from straight ahead. Nowadays, the latest levels are infinitely better with 911 steering pretty much spot on. However, I need to row back a little with Vantage. It is direct and quite responsive, but lacks some road surface feedback and the wheel is a little too chunky, contrary to the current fashion for a thinner rim. I didn't touch any buttons on the spokes and have no idea what they do, as a dinosaur I think a steering wheel should just be for steering.

It's quite exciting to drive with its 2WD and 650hp, so you need to keep on your toes in slippery road conditions. I managed to get it out of shape using gorilla lumps of throttle on a wet slip road, but it behaved impeccably and was quite easy to collect up.

Our host suggested (several times) there were no performance enhancing options needed and a decent car could be had at the base price of £165k, but I subsequently looked at several new coupés in the showroom and all had a price tag heading towards 200k! The ZF 8 speed automatic gearbox and transaxle are good, but not up to a PDK spec and those standard steel brakes seem to suggest an element of cost saving here. I would normally expect a performance car at this level and price point to have ceramic braking as standard. They are a £10k option on Vantage.

The new Vantage is dramatic in looks and driving experience - much more of a driver's car than the previous model. In terms of outright performance though, I suspect in the real world, it would struggle to show a decently driven 911 a clean pair of heels, on the other hand the car certainly generates a lot more interest on the forecourt and from people passing by.

Regards,


Clive