Country & Base – UK - Gaydon
Key Models:
- Vantage
- DB9
- Rapide
- Virage
- One-77
- DB7
RAC Cars Need To Know:
The jewel in the British motor industry’s crown has always been Aston Martin. Rolls-Royce and Bentley may have it locked down in the super-luxury category, but for sheer coolness; Aston Martin has all the bases covered. Ever since the brand was associated with James Bond, it has enjoyed success worldwide thanks to an incredible blend of power, luxury, performance, style, and build quality. Aston Martin is a byword for absolute quality and represents just what we Brits can do when we really try.
If you want to get into an Aston Martin, one of the best ways is to get yourself a DB7. The car is a legend thanks to its length of production and the fact Aston sold thousands. Yes, it does have some Ford switches here and there – thanks to Ford’s ownership at the time – but who cares? This is a car which offers Aston Martin looks, V12 power and unbelievable style.
If you can afford a little more, then the Aston Martin DB9 is a damn fine choice. It was the DB7’s replacement and improved on the original in every single department. A silky smooth 6.0-litre V12 with around 460bhp meant few cars on the road could touch you, and with one of the best interiors ever you’re assured of being stunned every time you get behind the wheel. Expect to pay around £40/50,000 for a good one!
Aston Martin is also quite found of out-and-out sports cars; that’s why they introduced the V8 Vantage in 2005. This Porsche 911-rival may not have had the incredible driving dynamics of the Porsche, but it did have a machine-gun for an exhaust and a battleship engine for a motor. It is still one of the best looking Aston Martins ever made and will make heads turn no matter where you go.
If you are a multi-millionaire, you could buy yourself a second-hand One-77. There were only 77 of these super-rare cars made and each one had a 7.0-litre V12 with over 700bhp. It has been described as one of the best cars ever made thanks to astonishing attention to detail. Just don’t expect 50mpg.
Other than that, there is an Aston Martin for pretty much every situation. They are not cheap cars, but what you end up with is a powerful car with more sex appeal than any supermodel. Aston continually tops ‘cool charts’ in magazines, so even if you look like you’ve been hit in the face with a shovel you’re still going to look super-cool.
