In a word yes, oh yes. The 2018 Aston Martin Vantage will not only deliver you away, far away from anything remotely evil in a blistering 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, it’ll blow your mind on your way.
We recently put the new Vantage through its paces and were beyond impressed. After our last drive of the Vantage S in 2012, you couldn’t have given me an Aston Martin (unless it was vintage). I hated it, convinced I’d never need to drive one again. Six years later they’ve redeemed themselves completely, starting with a proper gear-box. The new Vantage is a drivable car, though not for the wimpy, this baby is one potent beast!
Honestly it was the rear, with that sharp upturned tail which first caught my eye. 
Coupled with the architectural rear diffuser, this had to imply something good, didn’t it?
Then I opened the door and sat in the driver’s seat. Most guys reading this may not understand when I say the seat was like a confident embrace. The angle, the curve of the glove-like leather was pure comfort, not your typical seat in a performance car. I swear my behind has seat memory, the sensation of the seat in the Vantage has not left me.
Steering wheel feels good, thicker than many, easy paddles, with the right amount of controls centrally located. I’ve gotta say, the shape, rounded with sharp corners at 5 and 7 o’clock, is kinda cool. Purposely for serious driving.
The dash and instrument cluster are unique. From a design perspective it is in a word, focused. The whole dash is well played out, not a waterfall thank you – those feel so confining. Control surfaces and dial are served up on what is almost an ergonomically designed tray. Granted it takes a little getting used to the toggle switches and what’s where, but seat times breeds familiarity. The important part are controls are at hand, though at first one does have to move your head, not just your eyes to locate them.
One push of the start button and you know you are in for a good time. The 4.0 twin-turbo V8 growls to attention. Another thank you is in order for removing the dreaded and difficult handbrake from the driving experience. The new Vantage drives like a car should, point and go. The numbers will fool you with 503 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque, the Vantage drives like there is so much more.
The Vantage is precisely nimble. The driving experience is downright audacious. Barely, no make that gently depress the gas peddle and you’re rocketing down the road. (This could almost use a warning sticker: depressing gas pedal may lead to whiplash.)
The designers and engineers at Aston Martin delivered on their promise “the most fun under $150K” and the real plus is you won’t see yourself coming and going like you do driving a Porsche.
The Vantage has style, ample hips, a must for all good looking supercars, curves and grooves in all the right places. 
The distinctive Aston Martin grille is best when you specify a contrasting color in the exterior graphics pack, this punctuates it in a way reminiscent of the vintage race cars. Actually the configurator is great fun and offers you lots of options to customize your vehicle.
In terms of audible enjoyment, you get ample feedback in exhaust notes. The other day we happened to watch the RM | Sotheby’s video on the 1963 Aston Martin DP215 coming the the Monterey Auction in August and I swear you can hear the lineage shared between the new and old.
Aston Martin is building drivable cars, enjoyable cars which on the value scale truly outperform the competition. I am happy to have given them another try, in my eyes they’ve done a complete 180º from my last drive in 2012. Congratulations Aston Martin you’ve got quite a car in this new Vantage V8, you’ve delivered an impressive visual and outstanding driver experience.
Vantage photos via Aston Martin
