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Savagegeese reviews the Aston Martin Vantage including talks with their engineers on the car's development. Overall solid effort IMO but I wouldn't be swayed myself to it vs. a 911 or even the MB AMG which to me was a solid effort by MB to compete with the 911.
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thanks for posting op. Also here to answer questions about the Vantage to the best of my ability.
My budget is $25k. Will is be reliable enough to risk financing the rest.
Does it take premium gas?
I highly recommend their 266 month 79 percent apr route. Nothing could go wrong.
Perfect. Would you be interested in co-signing?
I dont think my credit could take it. I currently have 300 month loan on a 2013 7 owner Altima.
Thank you for the excellent video once again,
Had a question unrelated to this video, you mentioned in your S2K buyers guide there would be a pt. 3 covering modifications, any chance that is still in the works?
Thanks once again for the outstanding content and much love
thanks for the kind words. we are doing a anniversary s2k video this year that covers modifications
Glad to hear it, the nsx video was my favorite to date
Cannot upvote this enough.
I will second the compliments. Great videos and great presentation. I thoroughly enjoy the technical conversations about the vehicles.
Great. It's been a while since I've cried over a youtube video (RIP my 07).
Did you think the engineer was being honest on why they went ZF auto instead of DCT?
Yes. James is good people. I spent a lot of time with him. Minus the pdk, most of the performance dcts have issues still being smooth and or holding lots of torque.
Thank you for your response. I really appreciate that you guys discuss engineering details but also go out of your way to bring up point that can’t be quantified such as the character of the engine. Really enjoyed this and the wrx vs gr Corolla videos.
Not a question, just a comment. You repeating "B58" (aka God's engine) an innumerable amount of times in your videos was the sole reason I just bought a new M240i. So, thanks for that.
Hopefully you like it man
Who needs hope when they have the 🅱58?
You compared it to Porsches, but what makes this worth the premium relative to alternatives like the F-Type, LC500, or AMG GT? Is it mostly the design, interior fit-and-finish and customization options? Or does it drive better outside of that as well?
How often, if ever, do you guys have run-ins with the local PD? And if so, what are those conversations like? Always been curious how interactions like that play out
There was a driver drifting in front of Shmee150 in his recent vantage video, I wonder if that was you.
He and i were in different run groups. He ran in the afternoon i was in the am.
Do you think a manual transmission is possibly in the pipeline for the Vantage?
I hope so. 220 is outside of my budget but if they made a manual and it depreciated to say low 100s i would 1000 percent own one.
What were your thoughts in real time when Zack called you Mark at the end of the driving segment?
Is there a chance Aston will launch an AWD Vantage in the future? All the GT cars and supercars are AWD, either for performance reasons or for all weather drivability reasons. I can't afford one but I think it's interesting how Aston doesn't have an AWD sports car.
They firmly believe in front engine rear drive dynamics. Honestly given the kind of car it is i dont think its a bad idea.
I still find it interesting with how prevent ZF has gotten with autos in performance cars.
Seems the old trend of DCTs being the go to as the defacto option is over.
I think its a difference in priorities. If your concern is lap times and performance, the DCT probably appeals more as it's going to give less down time
But most Astons are grand touring cars; they're fast but that can never come at the expense of losing the smoothness. So a conventional auto is preferred
With the existence of ZF and PDK, I think both systems are getting so good that it's mostly a non-issue
Interestingly when I drove a C8 Stingray briefly, I thought the DCT was perfectly smooth at low speeds. I just bought an LC500, and I find the 10 speed auto to be jerky at low speeds, which apparently is a common complaint. I guess I’m just confused by this common assumption. Maybe the ZF is just exceptionally smooth at low speeds?
Lexus autos need to be up to temp to be remotely smooth and even then the locking/unlocking of the TC is extremely jerky at low speeds. Generally their performance oriented autos do great once you get them warm and are pushing them. But, they are horrible when you pull out of the garage and are rolling up to stop lights on cold fluid.
I think that goes for all of their autos - it played out that way on my old V8 Crown, and it's that way on my IS now. I've made it a habit to let the car get up to the top of the "C" on the temp gauge before taking off, and it's typically butter smooth at that point.
What year/color/spec did you go with? Great buy!
‘24 bespoke coupe in blue mica with black interior
https://reddit.com/r/lexuslc500/comments/1cgdfam/joined_the_club_24_lc500_bespoke_coupe/
I own a c8 and while generally it’s an excellent transmission, it does have the occasional jerk at low speed in first gear. Having said that yeah I wouldn’t trade it for a zf.
Mine also has some "jerkiness" at low speeds.
But it's a weapon when hammering it.
That's basically where we are now; both systems are inherently so good that its more about the individual manufacturer than the underlying design
For example any Audi/VW you hop in will have a PDK-derived DCT box in it. You'll notice quickly that it's a damn smooth transmission, even in a GTI
I thought Audi moved back to a traditional auto on many of its vehicles.
For sure, and I think the negative stigma of "autos" is also not as strong as it once was (they've just gotten way better) , so luxury brands are more willing to use them. The performance sacrifice isn't as great as it once was.
I'd be curious if a brand like Ferrari ever does an auto again for their GT/SUVs.
I for one likes to have a bit of DCT jerk, I spent that much money I want to feel something.
In the 2000's when DCTs were coming onto the scene, "normal" torque converted automatics were horrible. They had issues taking power and shift times could be measured with a sun dial.
Since then, they've gotten so much better in performance applications to the point where, unless you're really hunting for those tenths of a second on a race track, its not worth the tradeoffs in smoothness around town and reliability that DCTs come with.
Yeah, it bums me out a bit. I have what's widely considered the best ZF8 implementation in my Alfa Quad, but it's still not as good as what was widely considered to be one of the worst DCTs in my BMW E89 Z4. There's a tactility and a responsiveness to DCTs that's just unmatched by the ZF8. Firing off downshifts in the BMW or a Porsche feels instant. In my Alfa, even in track mode, there's a third to a half second delay per shift when you downshift a couple times in a row, and if you're going from sixth to third, you feel every one. Whereas in my BMW or my friend's 992 CS, it's as fast as your fingers can flex.
I think one advantage DCTs have is similar to those old Single Clutch auto transmissions, is that they give a more connected feel when you push the car.
While a far way from the classic six speed, that connection can enhance the driving experience in many situations.
Oh 100%. Just pedal feel alone - there's a real sensation of being connected to the flywheel that's missing in a ZF.
Agreed, upshifts are snappy w/the ZF8, downshifts are laggy and inconsistent
Aaaaand there goes my interest
Just a mere ~120k out of my budget. So close
I’ll take 10 used ND Miata pleases.
r/carscirclejerk. sLoW cAr FaST
"why buy suv when 3 miats can carry 6 people also??"
My car may be slow, but I’m having a blast and that’s what counts.
If I had the budget though, I’d be in a 911.
I'd take a Miata + $180,000 over a Vantage any day of the week and twice on Sunday
I hate to break it to you, but $75K was not Aston Martin money before this either...
You'll be able to pickup a very lightly used one in a couple years for a steep discount.
Seriously. Right outside my $176k limit…
Will you want this specific Aston Martin in your garage in 15 years, or whatever 911 the same money will buy? I know what my answer would be.
Def the Aston, much more good looking, special and better sounding than a comparable 911 Turbo S.
This is confirmed by the fact that I don't look twice at a 15 year old 911 but will break my neck if a DB9 or DBS passes by.
Yeah but those are some of the best car designs ever made. Even the V8 Vantage of that era too. Better looking than the new ones by far. And yeah 911s may be commonplace, but I think a 997.2 Carrera GTS (widebody car with no wing) is one of the best looking 911s ever made, full stop. And same era too.
I’ve owned a 996 Turbo and a 997 Carrera S, then a Vantage, and i’ll tell you - I’ll never own another Porsche again.
How is the aston cost for upkeep?
It’s been hands down the most reliable car I’ve ever owned - and I daily it. In 20k miles, I got a nail in one tire, and had an oxygen sensor go out - that’s out of a Ford Focus, and was $35 to replace (DIY, part from NAPA).
if I was going to resell it? The 911
If I actually wanted to drive it? Possibly the 911 or the Aston, never driven either car
If I wanted to look at it? The Aston.
But the A-Mart is just so damn pretty... Plus odds are either would see so few miles that I wouldn't expect reliability to be a major issue in this comparison, but maybe I'm being naive.
If I had either of those two cars they'd be driven the hell out of.
If you buy a new Aston Martin today, it will still be in your garage after 15 years worth not very much. If you buy a new 911 today, you'd likely have another newer 911 in your garage 15 years from now - most owners trade up over time given how well old Porsches hold on to their value.
Of course if you're filthy rich all that doesn't matter and it'll be other cars 15 years from now, but depreciation is the most important factor if you're stretching to add either to your garage.
I’m a big Porsche fan, but this misses the point. I’d take this vantage over a non-GT 911.
I have had a 911, and I would definitely take the Aston - looks much nicer, just the reliability is the problem for me.
Could I pick the third option of just having the money it takes to be in the same room as these cars?
The thing is for people who can spend $194,000 on a "weekend" car, they don't normally have to choose. They'll buy both.
I disagree, $194k is still in the realm of cars someone passionate enough could save up and buy while being well off of course, but not so rich that they could just buy both.
I used to not pay much attention to these kinds of super expensive performance cars (way out of my price range lol), but I think that the Vantage is such a beautiful car. I recently started watching IMSA, WEC, and other similar series and I love seeing the Vantage GT3. That car along with the AMG GT3 are in my opinion the prettiest cars on various GT grids. If I ever make enough money I would 100% get an Aston!
Damn did Aston absolutely knock it out of the park with the new Vantage design. It maintains a lot of the older, more “retro” styling cues, while modernizing other areas, and it all feels really cohesive to me. This is an Aston I would buy in a heartbeat if I had the cash.
Aston Martin still has not surpassed the 2000s/2010s Vantage for me. The (quite) old one was prettier, better sounding, and more engaging.
The new ones do drive way better though.
The only examples from that old generation that I have experienced were very well set up.
Engaging huh
When did you rent one
Maybe you can name the last time a new generation of a model got a turbo charged engine the car manufacturer didn't make, a torque converter automatic (dropping the manual option), electric power steering, much wider front tires, significantly more (or at least more effective) sound deadening, more width and length, and a few hundred extra pounds ended up being more engaging than the old generation then. I personally can definitely not, at least within the last 20 years. The Vantage they put out in 2018 was undoubtedly less engaging that what came before it, and this "new" car is simply a revision on that car. It's not like they re-engineered the whole thing here.
Was asking what your personal experience is, not just assuming from specs
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OP, only if there wasn’t aprox. 500lbs weight difference between the Vantage and the AMG GT 63. That being said, the latter is way more practical than both the 911 and Vantage
Fewer
hoping these depreciate to around 80k in a few years like the previous ones. Would be an absolute steal
check out my new account, savagegrammar, where I explain the difference between 'less' and 'fewer'
am I crazy or does the exhaust sound like that ioniq 5 n
All line up getting massive upgrades. I hope the DBX is the next in line. I don't want Aston to be gone
I heard Mark went for all you can eat at red lobster and ate all the shrimp and 2 plastic lobsters. Then he got ejected and spent the rest of the night fishing.
Buy 2 x Blackwings instead?
One of each (ct4 and ct5)
No manual. :(
After seeing your comment, I looked into when A-Mart last offered a manual, and it was much more recently than I would have guessed -- 2022 Vantage was the last model to have it. That's impressive considering actual performance brands (as opposed to GT brands) axed their manuals years ago, and it does make disappointment with this model not having it understandable.
A previous AM CEO talked about AM being the last automaker that offers a manual. It’s disappointing that statement didn’t end up meaning anything.
They're continuing to offer manuals in ultra limited seven figure cars (Valour was the most recent, I know of one unannounced forthcoming model with a manual). I don't like it either but I guess they can still make that claim.
Aston Martin kept trying to offer it even long after Covid. Blame consumers for not buying it