For A Porsche 911 Cabriolet may be a fraction sharper to drive, but the Aston wins outright for the noise its engine makes and for its ability to drop jaws with its looks.
Against There's not as much mid-rev punch as you might expect from a V8, which means using more revs than in some rivals. Visibility not great with the hood raised.
What Car? says
It's not cheap, but the Roadster offers levels of exclusivity and desirability that Porsche owners can only dream of, although the odd cheap-looking switch is slightly off-putting.
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View the whole Aston Martin Vantage Roadster range
Cheaper
-
Roadster 4.7 V8 N420 2dr
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Roadster 4.7 V8 2dr
£98,995 -
Roadster 4.7 V8 S 2dr
£110,700
More expensive
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Roadster 4.7 V8 N420 2dr
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Roadster 4.7 V8 2dr
£98,995 -
Roadster 4.7 V8 S 2dr
£110,700
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
At last, an Aston Martin that is almost affordable for the masses yet retains all of the hand-made charm that has characterised the British firm's best work.
The Vantage may share much of the style of its more expensive brethren, but it has lower maintenance bills, though you'll still have to fork out plenty at the fuel station.
However, the Vantage rewards in other ways, such as its sublime handling, the amazing acceleration and noise from its 4.7-litre V8 heart, and the surprisingly good refinement that makes it a serious everyday proposition. A 300-litre boot for the coupe model means it can carry a set of golf clubs, though space is tighter in the open-top Roadster.
Aston hasn't skimped on the equipment list, either, and the Vantage comes with all of the goodies you'd expect of a car of this class, calibre and cost. A pity, then, that Aston doesn't include curtain airbags.
Vantage rivals
Vantage used rivals
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