Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT N430 Review First Drive

Brian Makse takes Aston Martin's latest Vantage for a spin in the German countryside.
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Music © 2014 Russell Soares (russellsoares.com), used with permission, all rights reserved with additional music from musopen.org.

[@FRANKYDYNAMITE]

Brilliant video. I’m in the process of buying one of these in sky fall silver. It’s the manual version with lots of upgrades including ceramic brakes, vantage v12 wheels, stainless steel custom exhaust and manifold, bilsteine magnetic adjustable suspension and power increased to 480 bhp. It’s an amazing drive and I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. 😊

[@BrianMakse]

Brilliant choice. Well done.

[@charliecleanup]

Like the reviews as they actually explain how the single clutch transmission works as opposed to just whinging about how it bites... nicely done

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Charles. You're right, though. Customers clearly asked for it because that's an option on V8 Vantage and the only box on the V12 Vantage S we get today. We all know it's a bit slower than a dual clutch, but if you learn to use it, it becomes second nature and is still a blast to drive - and regardless, does that exhaust ever sound wonderful...

[@myZisfantastic]

Great review! I like very much the way you show us these cars. We can see that you have a lot of respect for the cars and the men who build them, no fancy or furious driving, no drifting(of course I'm sure you could do that). Keep up the great work Cheers

[@BrianMakse]

Pat, thank you! I think you truly understand what we're doing here. Yes, I can do all sorts of circus tricks with cars but we leave that to the monkeys. More importantly, I just love cars and I'm glad it comes through in our films. I'd like to send you some cool Aston Martin swag! Please email me at (my first name) at (my last name) dot com.

[@tnewland2383]

Yes, a very good video evaluating an exceptional car. I was so impressed by not only your take but the favorable consensus of a number of other testers that I bought one without having driven one! It's a silver/white roadster with 6 speed. It's fantastic; all that I had hoped for and more.

[@BrianMakse]

Great choice! Thanks for watching!

[@fantasyguru26]

I agree with you manual is a must. I'm in Canada. Never see these vehicles on the road which makes it that much more appealing to me. I'm going to be in the market for a used Vantage shortly the GT N430 definitely appeals to me since they only made it for 3 years.

[@BrianMakse]

Manual only, that automated gearbox is horrific!

[@bturner1976]

Great review Brian, nice to see you enjoying such a fantastic car. I am a huge Aston Martin fan and have driven the DB9 a couple of times plus the DBS and 'old' Vanquish. Seriously loving the Vantage though and relishing the chance to get behind the wheel of one, particularly one with a manual transmission. Stay safe!

[@BrianMakse]

+Ben Turner Cheers! Thanks for watching!

[@EdmondsonPR1]

Brilliant! Great review Brian. I'll take mine in Alloro Green with yellow accents please.

[@647killa]

SAVE THE MANUALS !! I'd be happy with a regular V8 Vantage with a 6 speed manual, as the purpose of this car is to simply enjoy the drive and take the long route home, rather than rip it around a track. Brian, I've watched almost half the videos on your channel so far and its literally been a few hours since I've discovered your channel. Content is amazing and I'd love to just be there while you are filming these exotics and driving down beautiful Ontario roads. God I need to travel out the city more often, I mean it is Ontario- "Yours to discover"

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks again! The V8 Vantage GT with a six speed is one of my favourite new cars. And I love Astons, if you can't tell. They're just gorgeous. If you like Porsches, don't forget to watch the five Singer films. We'd love to have you out on a shoot some time. Usually we shoot during the week, though, so you'll have to let me know if that'll work for you.

[@647killa]

Awesome Brian, I really appreciate the replies. When I'm around Toronto, I'll let you know. In the meantime, I'll be waiting for that 'special' email containing all the secret Muskoka driving roads, whenever you are free of course. I saw the singer 911 series and it was just wonderful. If I had the money, why would I buy a 991 turbo S or GT3 ? It would be awesome if you also filmed a day hanging out with the 'Outlaw 911' guy, Magnus Walker. He's a proper Porsche guy too with some awesome old 911s.

[@BrianMakse]

I've met Magnus a couple of times and he's totally down for an interview. We'll see. It's always hard to make time in California because there's so much car stuff to do. GT3 video goes live on Tuesday btw...

[@nickbusato7138]

647killa There is really one road that is better than all the rest in that area... HW13

[@JohnInSale]

Nice review and car !!! I hope they'll offer the manual and dials as an option on a normal V8 for those of us who wouldn't buy it with the awful racing paint/interior colour schemes ?? !!

[@mgc861]

Brian, You are right, the 4.7 Liter engine is very good and reliable. It was developed and based off the original Ford Modular V8 engine that are still used in Ford cars today. Taking a page book from Lotus in using a Toyota V6 engine and tweaking it the Lotus way, Aston Martin has achieved the same results and reliability. Gone are the days of tweaking triple carbs and Lucas electrics. My MG has more in common with the old Astons than the new ones have except for the badge and price. BTW, there is nothing better than driving my old MG. almost 50 years going strong.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Robert! Love the Vantage and that 4.7 ain't so bad either! What kind of MG do you have?

[@mgc861]

Brian, Thanks love the video and the Aston Martin Vantage. Wish I could afford one. I have a 1967 MGC-GT. That had the in line 6 cylinder motor. I have triple SUs on it, dual exhaust. Click on my name and you can see a walk around video of it.

[@BrianMakse]

Robert A Wow! Your car looks fantastic! I bet it's a blast to drive. Well done. Is that the original plate on the front?

[@nickbusato7138]

Its shared gene pool with the Ford Modular V8 is apparently a myth. The Astons engine is based off of the Jag AJ-V8 and that engine was said to be a clean slate design. The AJ just happened to be shipped to america for duty in the LS and Thunderbird.

[@mgc861]

Nick. I recently read the same thing also. It appears that Ford ok the funds for the engine and let Jag/Aston develop the engines to their particular specifications. Still I would prefer having the Aston over the XK.

[@Gunbei2]

Great driving review Brian, and what a remarkable car!

[@BrianMakse]

+Gunbei2 thanks - and thanks for watching!

[@whuang23888]

great review, good sounds, really enjoy looking at the car, are the colored stitching, alcantara interior, and BO system extra? how much is that exact model that you tested?

[@BrianMakse]

The base car is $99,000 USD or $105,000 CAD. Which market are you in? Pricing should be available now for every country. The B&O is my favourite option in any Aston Martin!

[@kbossgaming3540]

You Are So Lucky To Drive These Amazing Cars

[@BrianMakse]

That's for sure! Thanks for watching!

[@kbossgaming3540]

Your welcome! What cars do you have lined up in the next few weeks?

[@BrianMakse]

I'm driving some very cool stuff this summer, so stay tuned for that. Recently, we've tested and filmed WRX STI, Panamera Turbo S, Civic Si, Corvette Stingray Z51, Juke NISMO RS, Cadillac CTS Vsport. Phew. That's a lot of work!

[@kbossgaming3540]

OMG! There all of my fave cars!!! I am definitely telling my friends :)

[@BrianMakse]

Cool! Please do! More great stuff coming. My Instagram is always a good hint at what we're working on.

[@15h26]

Great review - As it seems to be in the price range of a 911 Carrera (or maybe event the Carrera S), which one would you go for?

[@BrianMakse]

That is the question, isn't it? The GT is a great way to put Aston Martin in your garage at a compelling price and the 911 is utterly iconic. Decisions, decisions...

[@BlackPenquinn]

Nice review. How us it more focused than the regular V8?

[@BrianMakse]

It's available in a simple spec, just a few options available and only colours are as described.

[@sky96moony07]

I'm considering to get this car. Just want to ask is the sport shift working Good for you? Can you drive it like a automatic? And how is the nav system did they update it? cuz my friend had a older version of the vantage s and his nav were terrible. Great review living this car!

[@carbonshwartzmetalic]

great review.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks!

[@ChanceFavors310]

Brian, Awesome video, I typically wouldnt assume any Aston would be a daily driver other than the rapide but considering the price is so attractive, could this be a daily commuter?

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, mate! For sure you can daily a Vantage. A bloke around the corner from me does!

[@ChanceFavors310]

Brian Makse Then allow me to pose this question, another car I believe you are familiar with the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe.... between the two which would you choose!?

[@BrianMakse]

ChanceFavors310 For me, and as much as that F-Type is stunning and amazing to drive, it's an Aston all day long.

[@mitukadesign229]

You see one of my favourite cars are Aston Martins and wondering if this car could be used every day as it is classified as a sports car and it a super car.

[@ngtCoaching]

Great car, great music which suits the class of the Aston Martin! Is it Joseph Haydn? Thanks for it!!!

[@BrianMakse]

Glad you enjoyed. That was such a long time ago, we don't remember. It might be Haydn.

[@ngtCoaching]

I guess, it's a Haydn string quartett! Here is one of my films with a Aston Martin DB7 and sung by myself: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqnIk4dne81mjqc

[@surreyarborist]

I have one, great cars.

[@BrianMakse]

Yes they are!

[@jhomrich89]

down the road I would love to see this with the V12 and the 6 speed as an option, might be viable for competing with the V10 Audi R8 and the GTR

[@BrianMakse]

That car already exists - the V12 Vantage. It was only available with a manual, but down a few horses on this latest one.

[@jhomrich89]

Brian Makse no the V12 Vantage as of 2012 has no manual transmission, you can still get the traditional V8 vantage for 30 grand more you're paying for bells and whistles and what not, I want a V12 in this car and manual; no frills just the features it needs, 6 speed, no back seat like this one is, just pure strip down sports car, if they could do that for let's say $140,000 even that would be awesome and a good contender with a 911 turbo

[@BrianMakse]

Oh yeah, I'd really like to see the 565 hp V12 mated to a six speed manual in the Vantage chassis. That would be brilliant.

[@nickbusato7138]

Jon Homrich The sad part is that the take rate is so low on the manual box its hard to make a marketing case. Add to that the addition of the 7th gear in the automated box also allows for better gas milage (on paper). I can be upset all I want that we don't have such a combo from aston, but I should really just be happy they offer a V12 at all at this point. Its those buyers who want the v12 auto that allow us to have that engine in this chassis in the first case.

[@jhomrich89]

never said anything about the 7th gear, just stick with 6 gears, 5 and 6 speeds have done the job just fine for the past 3-4 decades no need to change that

[@donaldduck5731]

OK I'm not likely to own a 911 or Aston Martin in the near future, however I have spent many evenings on my Xbox 360 with one of them pretend steering wheels practising the Nuremberg Ring with BMW M3's Porsche 911's and Aston 's just in case I come into luck and can afford one some day. And I can do much faster laps in the Aston Martin than any of the other cars, don't know why, every review says the Aston is slower than it's rivals but it just seems infinitely more controllable and forgiving, on the Xbox at least!!

[@myZisfantastic]

I forgot to ask you if you know the title of the beautiful, I guess trio, beginning at 6.54!

[@BrianMakse]

That's the work of our composer, Russell Soares. Perhaps he'll chime in here.

[@spoonie1972]

Pat, I'll dig that info up when I have some free time; it's a royalty-free piece from musopen.

[@myZisfantastic]

Russell Soares Thank you very much Russell!

[@myZisfantastic]

Russell Soares Thanks to sha..m! I found it. It's Baby brainiac by Rising Star(or the opposite)

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Brian: would a 6'-5" 250 pound football player have enough leg room in this car ..... I had a hard time with the JAG f-TYPE ... NOT ENOUGH LEG ROOM with seat all the way back.

[@BrianMakse]

That's a tough one. I used to be 250 lb, but not that tall lol. It's going to be a tight fit and I think you'll have to try it to be certain. I do think there is less leg room in the Jag.

[@FooFahFoeFum]

My M.A dealer says that the Vantages are no more on sale or available until the 2018 model. I'm trying to reach by email the British headquarters of A.M. (to give my opinion of what I would like on the next generation model ) but no response from H.Q. nor ... Q ... hip hip ... tali- ho and all that .. Keep up the good work ... find me a super car for a 6'-5" guy ...

[@Bruthah]

The paint is just ugly.

[@BrianMakse]

The paint is ugly? Or do you mean that you don't like the colour of the paint?