Aston Martin Vanquish
The Aston Martin Vanquish is true beauty in automotive form. It’s stunning from every angle and is enough to make your jaw drop, your eyes water and your heart beat like never before. The first of the new breed of Astons, it set the standard very high and even James Bond himself drove one. The ultimate in poise and precision, there’s only one question you need to ask- where’s my chequebook?
In production from 2001 to 2007, the Vanquish is a luxury 2 door coupe that’s the definition of a grand tourer. Armed with a massive V12 engine, it sounds as good as it looks and is incredibly fast too. And as if the original wasn’t good enough, Aston released the Vanquish S in 2004 that pushed the boundaries even further with more power, some design modifications and improved brakes, suspension and handling. At the end of its life, the celebratory Vanquish S Ultimate Edition was also released which was even more beastly and had a regular manual gearbox, to the delight of most.
The only way you could think the Vanquish wasn’t beautiful is if you couldn’t see it. Everything about it is supremely styled and its sleek profile, pronounced curves and that famous grille and headlight combination make for much eye widening and commotion. The inside is just as lavish, and high quality materials are everywhere; it’s fit for royalty and is tailored to a standard well above and beyond anything else you’re likely to see. While space is at a premium and the driving position isn’t that great, there’s also almost no practicality and it’s difficult to park. But there’s a glut of equipment and overall the whole experience is phenomenal.
A truly sublime GT car, the Vanquish is almighty to drive, although it might take a bit of getting used to in versions with the flappy paddle gearbox. It’s not a small car, but it handles beautifully in the corners and there’s no lack of power or speed in a straight line. A firm ride keeps you on your toes, but the soundtrack from the V12 engine is unlike anything you’ve heard before- it’s a deep growl that turns into a brutal roar when you put your foot down. If you’re looking for the best driving experience this car has to offer, go for the S model as it’s better in every way.
Be under no illusions, this car is still hugely expensive despite having been out of production for a number of years. However if you look in the right places, there’s opportunity to get some serious money off and pick up a really good deal. Motors.co.uk is an online treasure trove of used cars for sale, and prices have been drastically reduced, so any second hand Aston Martin Vanquish you come across could be considered quite a bargain.
So with the Aston Martin Vanquish you get utter perfection in automotive form. It looks impossibly good, drives like a GT car should and produces a noise that’ll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. This car set the standard for a new generation of Astons, and still remains one of the best of all time. The Vanquish S is definitely the one to look out for, but to be honest any one of them will make your heart sing like never before.