Was in Beverly Hills today. Saw 102910’s of S-classes, SLs, Bentleys… didn’t blink an eye. Saw a DB9 Volante in grey and almost crashed. It took only one. :)

This is all just to comment on the size of cars more than 30 years – well, 40 years ago. What were we thinking? … at 35¢ a gallon … for premium …

I’m going to go stare at the sun now, so that the last image I’ll ever see again is the Vantage Roadster, burned into my retinas.

Hell, I’ll be happpy with the one Bond rolled last time around. Repairs could only be, what, $100,000? [sigh]

I see their point but I cannot agree with those who are negative towards the evolved styling. Always remember, “Porsche 911, evolved styling since WWII.” …and it still looks good.

In these eyes, I just see (stress this) general and generic styling among most of the makers like BMW (way too busy), Mercedes (blobs), Lambo (nuclear alien), Audi (drifting towards same-ness), the Japanese (too generic at times), and Ferrari (recent designs have been a let-down.) Alfa/Maserati/Aston still have serious head-turning designs out there and one of the three, you can’t get here and the other two you can barely find (and afford) here.

Oh well, instead of in depth analysis of the Aston’s design in person, time to do the same analysis of the styling Mecca called the Toyota wagon-thingy. [shudder...]

I’ve got a girlfriend who’s better than that, but nothing is better than this car, is it?

Take me to the river!

Great review. But, ummmm….you forgot to mention if the option list includes an ejection seat, machine guns, and a rotating license plate….

Even the engine compartment is stunning!

I will always take a good looking car over an uglier, but faster ride, especially in this segment. Sooner or later, somebody will make a more powerful car, but good looks are truly timeless. At the end of the day, I’d rather look back at the Vantage Roadster in my driveway than an M6 Cabrio.

Currently, only the Alpha 8C could be considered its equal in the looks department.

two weeks ago, i might have said the same thing. since then, i watched a recently broadcast episode of top gear, where they compared a series 1 e-type jaguar roadster with an am/db5 coupe and it forever changed my mind. that coupe was the slowest car ever recorded around their track.

I completely agree. The Vantage is not an unattractive car, but its impact has been diluted by the fact that every car Aston has sold in this century has basically looked like a variation of the same thing.

I’m not blown away by the Vantage. I live in west L.A., so I see Vantages and DB9s every couple of days. They’re certainly more tasteful than a Lamborghini and more stylish than a Porsche, admittedly, but their drama level is low. They have the combination of stubby proportions and visual bulk that characterizes Nissan’s sports coupes (G37 Coupe and Z), more hulking and muscular than svelte. An E-type Jag, it is not.

In an era of relentlessly ugly cars (I’m lookin’ at you, BMW 6-series), there’s something to be said for understated taste and a pleasant attention to detail, but it inspires no lust in me.

As a classical music person, this was a coffee-spitting moment. Very, very well played, Mr. Berkowitz :)

The side mirror is the only thing that you want to change on this car? mmmm

I wish I had the “price of admission”, because I think this car would make me look good!

But even with the blemishes, as the song “My Funny Valentine” goes, “…she’s my favorite work of art…”

It is time to correct that statement.

I’d kill half of you for an Aston-Martin Vantage Roadster.

–chuck