Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Review

When it comes to British brands, few are more famous than Aston Martin. When I was looking at buying my Evora, I wanted to try a V8 Vantage S. Unfortunately, I never got to drive one.
Luckily for me, my friend Tony (not THAT Tony) recently bought one and was kind enough to let me have a go. Enjoy!
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[@lyndonwilliamson3779]

Hi James I own a Vantage V8 for me it has the perfect combination of looks and style coupled with power and torque to match other prestige cars. The inside is spacious and boot has enough room for two overnight cases so for me it ticks all the boxes. Great car great sound and great marque

[@justsomeguy1141]

One of the best looking cars ever made

[@2005pierric]

I confirm there are some in manual : sp10 in France. I own one with carbon lightweight seats as well. What a car !

[@cristianfederico2411]

Hi James, im a subscriber from Argentina, i had been subscribe for a year now and i like to said that your videos are getting a lot better, you look more relax on cam and the content is awesome!

[@merstrand1]

I have changed my clutch to a twinplate type and a lightweight flywheel, completely changed the Sportshift II gearbox....

[@graycav56]

Just catching this today. Awesome seeing how the channel has technically improved since then. You could see the potential even then though!

[@bturner1976]

Great overview of the Vantage James. Succinct, accurate, good knowledge and a fair representation of the model. You've gained a subscriber and looking forward to future content.

[@ThorburnJ]

My Dad's had a trio of Vantages - a 2009 V8 Vantage 4.7 (SportShift, Roadster), 2012 V8 Vantage S (SportShift II, Roadster) and his current car, a MY16 V12 Vantage S (SportShift III, coupe). Never drove the first one, but have with the other two, along with a couple test drives of other cars. To be honest, I never liked the V8 Vantage S - for me it is probably the worst car in the Vantage range. It was far too heavy to be a 'sports' car, but the ride was pretty terrible - very firm and fidgety and not very 'Aston' like. It just wasn't a particularly nice way to travel any kind of distance. The V8 I'd really want to try would be a later facelift, manual, V8 non-S, coupe. The V12 Vantage S by contrast has switchable dampers and rides far better, and thankfully the suspension modes are separate to the Sport buttons throttle mapping and exhaust valve opening. Only complaint on my Dad's car I have is it doesn't have the lightweight seats, which feel like big Elise seats and are far more comfortable for me than the standard seats. The gearbox in both the V8 S and V12 S is, in my opinion, dreadful for low speed maneuvering and frustrating in stop-start traffic. Reversing is horrendous as the gearing on the reverse gear is comically long and the clutch engagement means it wants to start going backwards pretty quickly, then cuts drive when you lift back off the throttle - try and reverse uphill and you'll be smelling clutch - when he traded in the V8 S it was ready for a replacement at less than 20k miles! Like you say it works best with a bit of a lift, which always frustrates me as the computers are controlling the throttle, the gear selection and the clutch actuation, so why do I have to second guess them rather than having it modulate the throttle for me? Also a minor point on the video, there is a third dash type - for MY16 they received a major revision which takes the styling and functionality originally introduced in the Vanquish. The difference between this and dash introduced with the 4.7's is probably functionally greater than that between the 4.3's and 4.7's. Oh, and the noise of the V12 is spectacular. ;)

[@ThorburnJ]

Can't say I've been brave enough to switch off the electronic assists, but I've never found that to be the case - it certainly produces a LOT of forward motion. It is far better at pushing you out of a corner than say, his M135i. I believe the early V12 Vantage and the later V12 Vantage S are very different though - the earlier car had a very stiff, non-switchable, setup and certainly has a reputation for being quite a handful as standard.

[@ThorburnJ]

Not experienced that with the V12 S, it certainly produces PLENTY forward motion! The original V12 had a reputation for being a real handful as it had a very stiff, non-switchable, suspension setup.

[@altjenberberi]

Looking to buy an old (used) version aston martin, is your dad selling any of those?

[@ThorburnJ]

@@altjenberberi He traded each car in for the one that followed it. Unfortunately he passed away - I have the V12 and no intention of selling it for now.

[@altjenberberi]

@@ThorburnJ aw man, sorry to hear that. Thank you for letting me know.

[@DonDon-df5ie]

Wow you can really see the difference in video quality from when you started to now.

[@ThexMJT]

What a noise!! Still remember the top gear episode with this on isle of man

[@banpowel9784]

Wish I had friends like yours, who would allow me to drive their exotic cars

[@Number27]

Nice vid J.. and you're almost at 2k subs!!

[@senshibat8920]

the carbon trims nice.. now all you need is those roads from Portugal and more sunshine to enjoy with it

[@minibus1351]

How is the DB7 a copy of the DB6?

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Grille, slash cut windows at the back

[@PorscheCayenneS]

Saw the first five seconds. Instant thumbs up hahaha

[@tomsmith8511]

Best Vantage review I have come across so far. What is the ride like on the bumpy country roads and how comfortable is it to sit in on long motorway journey's?

[@greathey1234]

I know it's been 4 years but if it helps my V8V rides better than my mk2 TT

[@mrjdgibbs]

C4 Corvettes, 80s transaxle Porsches also have the outside handbrake

[@ryanmoloney99]

Newly subscribed fantastic content

[@ryanmoloney99]

***** your very welcome keep up the good work

[@T72bogie]

Great review, just a small pedantic correction - theres only 2 steel panels on the car, the rest is composite. Has been since 2005.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

I thought they had a lot of aluminium too? I wasn't aware of many composite panels beyond the bumpers?

[@ryanmcmahon2610]

C4 corvette also has the e-brake like that

[@amphilbey]

Great stuff James, enjoyed the review. Think the Aston works best as a manual and last of the analogue cars, would love a V12. What's next? Be interested to see how the Evora compares vs. the more 'hardcore' Exige V6 as a drivers car on the road.

[@greathey1234]

I personally prefer the sportshift because the clutch in the manual is too heavy. The SS also usually has better clutch life.

[@tysonwoo8015]

excellent review

[@DJ-qi4ry]

Jay, it is not a fly off handbrake.

[@Nana-bd6bi]

Great video!!!

[@AndrewL31413]

What year is this?

[@dokkata]

My dilemma is this or Audi R8 4.2 R-tronic!?

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Tough choice. The Audi is a better car but feels less special.

[@janlala1710]

Id say the aston has more soul. Alot more. But the audi looks better (in my opinion), more confy, a bit quicker... But still.. Just an audi...

[@patrickadsuar8710]

Nice Review James. Its why my 2014 Vantage S is a manual, because as you note, the auto is the downfall of the Aston range until 2015 models using the ZF gear box. The attention to detail on the interior and all the exterior Carbon Fiber bits on mine really do feel like a step up from other cars.... Kinda why one goes with an Aston in the end.

[@ThorburnJ]

The Vantage uses a completely different gearbox to the rest of the range - automated manual in the Vantage, torque-converter automatic in the DB9/DBS/Rapide/Vanquish.

[@patrickadsuar8710]

That is correct, still its weak point by most accounts. I never did test drive an auto Vantage, but did try the torque-converter auto in a 2014 Vanquish which didn't win me over to the idea.

[@ThorburnJ]

Not tried the torque converter in an Aston (our DB11 test drive was cancelled because they'd pulled up the forecourt at the dealership to relay it and the car was stranded in the showroom!), but have driven other traditional automatics and they are generally easy to drive around town. The Vantage automated manual is much more clunky and obstructive as you've got the clutch engagement to contend with.

[@patrickadsuar8710]

I think you'll like the DB11 transmission just fine. Its the much used ZF 8 speed (I have one in my Jag XE 35t and it works beautifully) and from most reviews its been set up well by the folks at AM

[@utgbanduk]

porsche 944 also had a fly-off handbrake

[@JimZRyd]

Jon Page Yep. As did the C4 Corvette

[@DUFFY_33]

Funny video of this piece of handmade car

[@Benjamingt4]

Ayyy, 53 likes no dislikes.

[@johnc5clive]

15 mpg? I get more than that from my V12 Vantage!!

[@canuckbucks]

At 2:30ish I think the camera's focus lock had an issue, however, it might've been my eyes glazing over. Doling out data is every presenter's primary challenge and many formulae have been tried over the years and many of the better ones are losing their effectiveness by nature of viewer over-familiarity. I'm brainstorming now, so you might want to stop reading... try hard cuts between stand-ups, in-car, in car w/ passenger, establishment beauty, drone shots, thus with the primary, and only, cohesion coming from voiceover. Challenge us to take it in. We expect introductory information matched with establishing-type visuals, we expect a ramping up of energy visually as the script homes in on the car's 'kinematic' proposition (yeesh). Change, upend, that - creatively, surprisingly, wittingly, experimentally and see what works with people, other people. Being a serious car reviewer does not demand ordered, bedtime story narrative arcs..... and with used-market items there is tremendous opportunity to weave some of the car's "baggage" in, and out, of the narrative in clever and unexpected ways. An experiment might be your narrative as the constant over a number of different drivers, hard cut but with the drive's space-timeline as the remaining constant... their reactions and expressions.. the unexpected and nuanced facial expressions each makes, often confirming but sometimes as bold counterpoint to the script - show us some human-auto archetypes, stereotypes, and the reverse. This space is going to become so crowded as to redefine the word, and I think there's more in you than you're letting on. Give us a reason.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

+Christopher Zylstra Thanks for your feedback Chris. I am constantly trying to improve the quality of my videos but the biggest issue is time - I often have to jump in a car, drive it, deliver an opinion and film it all within a couple of hours. Hopefully in future I will have more time for more elaborate videos, but thankyou for watching

[@chronodiver300]

DB 11---the looks are just not there.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

+chronodiver300 agreed

[@chris9650]

Anyone here in 2020

[@272CRU]

if you drove v12 you probably woundn 't want to drive the v8 ever again!

[@banemihajlovic6638]

DB7 copy of DB6 ? Not even close!

[@nguyenthiphuongmai9040]

best

[@DUFFY_33]

AH AH funny show. Thx

[@Demoaccount-i2k]

What you missing in this pictures is good haircut

[@nbuckner1967]

I have watched two of JayEmms videos now and it seems no car is as good as the Evora on his drive... I’m sorry, your opinions are tainted...the Aston is 100% a better car than an Evora that smells of plastic!! Sorry resin... and to criticise the colour of the leather in an Aston when your own car is yellow. Really...

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Drive an Evora, then come back to me and tell me that the Aston drives better. It simply doesn't. Also there are plenty of reviews with little to no mention of my Lotus.

[@DauntingGecko]

Such good content James. Your videos are improving time and again; it's a joy to watch. I can see you becoming a semi pro at presenting some day. Really good work. :)

[@dusanlonco4448]

An Aston Martin Vantage is an Aston Martin Vantage. Point.

[@yskr0102]

This channel is completely new for me, but I subscribed right away. You really know what you're talking about, pretty rare in youtube these days. Keep up the good work!

[@johnnyboy1586]

They should have made a 5 litre v8 500hp

[@26Tackle.reviews]

still sounds awesome" but little old looking these days" can you really feel a lack of torq in the v8 aston? does it push you back in your chair when you push the gas?

[@adampetten5349]

This is the same motor as the DB10 which did that awesome OO7 burnout. Motor Trend did a 4.1 0-60 and Car and Driver and Road & track did it in 4.2 ; in a regular Vantage with 420 bhp and 346 lbs of torque. This car has 430 bhp and 361 lbs of torque. The DB10 is 100 kg lighter than this car but it shares drivetrain including engine. The early V8 Vantages only had 300 lbs of torque.

[@CTP1111]

there is no lack of torque in the post 2009 4.7L motor

[@bladerunner6282]

the aston uses a jag block that's been re-bored. everything attached to it is proprietary. AFAIK.

[@TommyWalls007]

Your videos have come on a lot in 5 years. You don't tend to pull out of people's driveways so much these days 🤣

[@zardosspinosa6944]

Ahh, I think these days the attraction of an Aston is the manual gearbox. If I wanted an auto I would buy a Merc and at a much cheaper price.

[@Zettinger]

Great video and review! Is the Quicksilver exhaust are Sport? Sounds not as brutal as the SuperSport. FYI all Aston transmissions on VH platform are trans axle and build by Graziano. The 7 speed manual is available in the V12VS with Dog leg.

[@gtrman9706]

I nearly bought one.My son then had a daughter and I needed a 2 plus 2,so I bought a DB9.The baby seat only fits, if the passenger sits up right with their knees on their chin. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@1183newman]

amazing video, thought about buying an early vantage, but not sure i could afford to run it, will likely get an evora s next.

[@shokid24]

Wonderful video and description.

[@johnholmes2517]

I cope just fine in my evora without a camera....

[@Jasongy827]

Awesome reviews, I'm from the US I really want to own a Aston Martin what do you suggest? Entry level suggestion?

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Go for the Vantage 4.3

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Hi. I saw a white version of that in person, it looks more beautiful in person, the video and photos not su much. God bless, Proverbs 31

[@dangrbitch]

i want one. I"m looking for one right now. I like this center stack in the interior better than the current one that they replaced it with.