ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE ROADSTER

One of the best-looking cars in the world with a neat electric fabric convertible roof – and this wasn’t some chop-shop drop-top either, the Roadster was designed to be stiff from the outset - says it all really. Now has the pace to match the noise with the new 4.7-litre V8

• Comfort

  Generally the Vantage Roadster offers decent GT comfort, even for something capable of turning quite snarly when it wants. The hood is well insulated for both sound and temperature, the seats are comfortable over distance and the suspension soaks up the worst of the lumps. Even 14-hour trips to the Alps/SoFrance are no hassle, so long as you bring a couple of credit cards for fuel.

• Performance

  The new 4.7-litre V8 finally brings the Vantage’s bark in line with its actual bite. Where the old car sounded fast and then tended to be just a little flatter than you imagined, the new one feels infinitely more brawny. It’s a strange one because the figures aren’t all that different from the old car; bhp is up from 380 to 420 giving just 0.1 of a second’s edge 0-62mph. There’s also ‘only’ a 5mph increase in top speed to 180mph, but its in the mid-range (overtaking, corner-exit) that you’ll notice. This car goes hard and looks good.

• Cool

  Surprisingly cool for women – who seem to have more innate poise in a convertible car – less so for men, who just look either gay, or mid-mid-life crisis. A convertible Aston is not the enthusiasts choice, but possibly only ‘enthusiasts’ give a stuff about that sort of thing, so who really cares?
  
  

• Quality

  There have been murmurs about electrical issues, but that could be a hangover from a few very early cars. The new ones certainly feel rock solid, with some of the most exciting interiors to come from any car manufacturer. The roof stows neatly and quickly enough and everything has a decent haft to it. Strangely, the manual gearbox has a habit of feeling quite loose and sometimes is sticky to get into first.

• Handling

  Tick the box for the new sports suspension and you’ll have a car that can carve an apex better than any Aston has before. The steering has improved since recent revisions, the ride is better judged between grip and GT ability, it doesn’t wobble and overall it’s a deeply impressive performance. Body control is superb, but the Vantage – even with the roof off – will still ride acceptably well, with virtually no scuttle shake. It even turns out to be a hoot on a track – which is not something you’d usually get to say about something this upper crust and poseury.

• Practicality

  Seats two and a decent portion of luggage – the boot hold 300-litres – and there are no stupid rear seats, just more storage. The tank holds 77-litres, so driven carefully you can manage a decent range, and the roof works so well that you can sometimes forget you’re in a drop-top. Can’t say fairer than that.

• Running costs

  Group 20 insurance, 35-percent tax (obviously), 328g/km. The news isn’t good if you’re Vantage Roadster shopping on a budget. Oh, and the quoted combined mpg figure is 20.4mpg. You’ll get better than 30mpg on a good long motorway hike, but start hitting the backroads – or the odd trackday – and you’ll happily be into single figures. Seriously.