AdrianMugridge
© Adrian Mugridge (2018)

Aston Martin Vantage

Time for something different

After 6 years of Noble ownership it was time for a change. Whilst I loved the Noble, in the end it was it’s practicality that meant it had to go. The trouble is, with no boot space (either front or rear), it made going away in it somewhat of a hassle. Stuffing squashy bags behind the seats was getting too much. I was always having to limit what I was packing.

Looks good, sounds good, but…

The trouble was, what do get ? So I went for a Vantage V8, it’s quite fast, looks great, sounds great, but somehow something is missing. A criticism often levelled at the V8 (especially the earlier 4.3) is that it was underpowered. Well, it’s 380bhp and 302 lb/ft, but in a car that weighs around 1700kg it’s not that much really. The other problem is maybe it being normally aspirated. So there’s no kick when the turbo comes in, it’s all very linear - it lacks aggression.

18 months of ownership

So after only 18 months it went. Somehow I never really got on with it. It’s quite unusual that Aston owners get bored with them, but that’s what I got - bored. Another problem was maybe coming for a Noble. The M12 is bonkers, it fires you up the road. The Vantage does not.
AdrianMugridge
© Adrian Mugridge 2018

Aston Martin Vantage

Time for something

different

After 6 years of Noble ownership it was time for a change. Whilst I loved the Noble, in the end it was it’s practicality that meant it had to go. The trouble is, with no boot space (either front or rear), it made going away in it somewhat of a hassle. Stuffing squashy bags behind the seats was getting too much. I was always having to limit what I was packing.

Looks good, sounds good, but…

The trouble was, what do get ? So I went for a Vantage V8, it’s quite fast, looks great, sounds great, but somehow something is missing. A criticism often levelled at the V8 (especially the earlier 4.3) is that it was underpowered. Well, it’s 380bhp and 302 lb/ft, but in a car that weighs around 1700kg it’s not that much really. The other problem is maybe it being normally aspirated. So there’s no kick when the turbo comes in, it’s all very linear - it lacks aggression.

18 months of ownership

So after only 18 months it went. Somehow I never really got on with it. It’s quite unusual that Aston owners get bored with them, but that’s what I got - bored. Another problem was maybe coming for a Noble. The M12 is bonkers, it fires you up the road. The Vantage does not.