I've been wanting a slight variation in my Aston Martin experience. There is much I love about my V8V, but there are things I lack. So I began serious shopping this weekend. Drove 3.5 hours down to Naples on back roads. Yep, still love my current car.

At the Naples dealer I drove the following;
2012 Virage in the most perfect color combination (Marron Black over Sandstorm w/ Bitter Choco accents)
2011 Rapide
2010 N400 V8V Roadster.

And my impressions.

Virage: The car I wanted to fall in love with, was a disappointment. Much as I loved the ride, the Sport setting for both suspension and shifting, the looks, I just did not love driving it. It felt big, mostly to the front. I had to raise the seat to see over the hood (I'm a very average 5'10"). While it was pleasantly quiet in the cabin, there was a prominent wind noise from the mirrors and somewhere at the hood/wipers area. I was surprised at the rather small trunk/boot. My wee Vantage has loads more space. And the carbon brakes were noisy and sounded like sandpaper on a hollow plastic box. It's like the car isn't sure if it's supposed to be a big, lux Bentley or a sleek, fast Aston, and therefore, it is neither. I hope the change to DB9 for '13 brought some adjustments.

Rapide: The car I've loved/lusted since unveiling. This was a blast and just might be my next Aston after all. Somehow, it felt smaller than the Virage. How is this possible? I have no idea, but it really did. Plus, this particular pre-loved example had a Quicksilver exhaust with no quiet mode valve. So, while it was way to loud for my usual tastes, it was glorious under heavy throttle. Like the Virage, I love the Rapide's interior and I loved being inside, imagining my 3 hour return drive. My biggest concern is that the car is so practical, I'd probably drive it for everything and soon have kayaks strapped to the roof and a dirt covered mountain bike in the boot. Hell, I may get one just so I CAN do that.

V8V N400: I drove this because I had never even bothered to try a Sport Shift Vantage. The reviews and consensus seemed so harsh that I figured I'd pass. I now regret listening to everyone before buying. While I don't mind my third pedal, I really don't have the purist's need for it. I'm very happy with an automatic (hence the Virage and Rapide who's transmissions I loved) and I like the idea of a little robot down there doing the clutch work on my behalf. Yes, driving it in D is like a parody of shifting, but it's not nearly as horrible as I'd imagined. The extra power in the 4.7 (over my 4.3) is, as most agree, a welcome tweak. I honestly still prefer the controls in my '08 over those blobby ***** and joystick in the '09+. The older design looks better and is more intuitive. When I get a newer AM, I'll seriously look into some custom machined *****, maybe anodized too. Sadly, the example I drove was a Roadster and had a very dull black interior. I don't want a convertible and I don't like most black interiors on these cars.

So I climbed back into my old, manual shifting Vantage and turned north. And I loved every minute of the drive home. Hit 120 on a stretch that looked reliably cop free. Got back feeling young and fresh and confident that even if I don't move to another, more wonderful Aston any time soon, I've got a great car that makes me smile.

So, anyone have driving impressions of these or other Astons? To you Virage owners, I still think they are the most beautiful Aston and I'll try one again. Maybe a Volante is the right way to go because, while I don't normally care to have a retracting top, I think the Virage lends itself perfectly.

 

Great write up and review. Thanks for sharing!

 

Yes! This is excellent. I think its human nature to always be reaching for another rung on the ladder, when in fact what we may have is already most excellent.

I've been lusting for a Ferrari 599. This weekend I was at Cars and Coffee talking with "Marco" who has a 599, a 458 Italia, and a new Mustang Shelby 500. He says the 599 is rough-riding, not all that great in the handling department, and a bit heavy. The Italia is way-way-way better but he's not sure its worth what he paid for it. His favorite? The new Mustang - he says its a hoot. So there went my 599 lust up in smoke....

So I got back in my V8V Vantage and said 'Self, this is a damn nice car, be happy you have this!" lol

 

^^^^ Truer words have not been spoken, Duane.

 

Your comments about the Virage are particularly interesting to me.

I have not noticed all the wind noise you mention. Perhaps b/c I spend most all time in the car with the top down? I also have H&R springs which markedly improve the handling. Additionally, I've added a Fabspeed x-pipe which they claim adds ~30 bhp and 30 ft-lbs of torque. I don't know if that's accurate but my car feels very light on its feet and very quick.

My carbon brakes do squeak a little when they start to get a little dust on them but, are otherwise extremely quiet.

 

IbisRider - Are you considering upgrades to " the car that makes you smile" rather than another AM. I've been pleased with my 07-DB9....not considering another AM but kicking around upgrades. Did the LED's interior change (got rid of the yellow lights) and I do have Fabspeed x-pipe. Now I have the sound I was looking for and the extra hp was a bonus. These changes make me smile a little bigger!! All the best in your quest for a bigger SMILE!

 

Kind of funny for the guy to say the 599 is heavy when I believe it's lighter than the Mustang.... Also, a rough idle in a 599 isn't what I experienced when I test drove one. The car had absurd amounts of power and I'm a big fan of the F1 superfast. It feels like a clutch and not an automatic. I was very impressed with the car and knowing the V12 comes from the Enzo is pretty cool.

The main reason I didn't get one is because I wasn't looking for another GT and if I was, it would have been a DBS. I think it's a better looking car.

 

Nice write up.

I am guessing they didn't have a V12V for you to test drive? There may have been a different ending to your story ....

Either way, these are fantastic machines and we are lucky to get to pilot them.

 

great thread! Very informative and helpful

 

That was absolutely the case for me with the new DB9. The coupe didn't strike me much at all (in which case I strongly considered the Vanquish instead). The Volante feels like an entirely different car.

My mental takeaway from driving both was that the new DB9 was meant to be a Volante and the Vanquish was meant to be a coupe. And that's where I ended up.

 

Some responses - feedback - general drivel:

LRDog; it's you and your Virage that I think of when I think of happy Virage owners. I wonder if your size (did you tell us that you are 6'-4"+ in another thread) makes the Virage feel like a better fit. Yes I'm serious, just how a 29er feels more "right' for guys around the 6'-0"+ mark (for those who have no idea what I'm talking about, it's a mountain bike thing). I still really love the look and feel of the Virage and still might have one as more show up on the pre-loved market (cuz that's how I roll).

07sportspack; Yes, I consider upgrades all the time. Then I consider just getting the car that has what I want. Then I think that I love what I have just as it is. Then I feel my key fob bump my knee and it all starts over again (I really want the ECU).

RossL; There was a 599 on the lot in Naples. The salesman even suggested that it might be what I'm really looking for. Sadly, it's kind of ugly because the roof line is a tortured hump. Your Scud is both prettier and, if I wanted a Ferrari, what I'd want.

Moots-rider; The salesman said the same thing. But a big part of my quest is to get rid of that third pedal. The DSG in my GTI has convinced me that I'm like The Most Interesting Man In The World: "I don't always shift gears, but when I do, I prefer to use my finger tips"

Also, believe it or not, I totally forgot that I drove a Vantage S too. Is this because it was forgettable? Maybe. It really didn't stand out from the 2010 Vantage that I drove. In fact, I rather hated the transmission when it was doing the shifting, since with the extra gear, it's shifting all the damn time. Also, it was the last car I drove and I didn't do anything to push it and feel its features. Sure is a beautiful car and I prefer the interior touches to the base Vantage. But for this Aston fan, not enough extra awesome to justify the extra $.

I think I'll head to the Miami area next and try some other variants there. Virage Volante for starters...

 

Lol IbisRider. I was being nice about the 599 but I agree with you unless we're talking about a 599 GTO. That car is quite nice looking. I still wouldn't buy it because the DBS in comparison is just gorgeous. I'll probably get one in the near future because it's such a great looking car and the drive was perfect. I haven't driven the new DB9 for any length of time yet but it will be a hard choice between the lines of the new DB9 and the manual in the DBS

 

Speaking of the Scud, saw one on the road today. It looked just like RossL's, black with tinted windows and the silver stripes. Looked so good, both menacing and purposeful. Didn't sound bad either. Really need one!

 

Since picking up my 2012 Virage Volante in Jan this year (and logging just under 8k miles so far), I have not noticed any wind noise with the top up or down. It's solid on the road, whether in town, back roads, and highway. I drive with sport on and use the paddles all the time. Just wish I could see the gear indicator "red line" better, but learned to listen to the engine. Shifting a little early given the amount of torque at lower RPM's more than makes up for taking it right to the "red line".

I'm 5'11", and did not have to raise the seat very much. Coming from a '03 M3 vert, I was also used to not "seeing" the front - just learned where it was. Compared to the M3, I can feel the weight difference and I would suspect you would notice the same coming from the Vantage.

Trunk space on the Volante is obviously small, but it will hold a roll-aboard suitcase and computer backpack. Or as my friends in Napa measure space - 2+ cases of wine ;-)

I'd agree with LRDog that the CCM brakes will start to make some noise at times, I usually get this if I drive in town a lot where the brakes never really heat up. I figure the car is just telling me to take it out and stretch it's legs some.

Of course, I don't think you could go wrong with either your current AM or either of the other 3 - either way your still driving an AM.

 

thanks man! Yes, I'm 6-5 and really like the fit of my AM. Also love my 29er!!!

There's a REALLY nice pre-loved one here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2012-...item25836517e5