Minneapolis Street Sighting: Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

I'll be honest--as a car spotter, most modern cars leave me with shivers, and not in a good way. They're boring, either mind-numbingly fast, or just painfully slow. All electronic driver's aids, and wretched company fascias let casual pedestrians know what company took your money and in return gave you a soulless appliance that just happens to haul ass, and drink gas. The art of building cars is largely left to big-bucks supercars, and grand tourers, but even those cars are largely lacking in soul, in driver involvement, and most of all, a glorious engine note.
Aston Martin has not forgotten this; sure, they build the Rapide--which is hideous, but every premium brand is building a four-door "coupe", so why not? It allows Aston more business, and gives them more money to focus on building the cars Aston likes.
In the Aston stable, there are quite a number of cars, but this "entry level" Aston is what I will focus on today. Launched in 2005,the Vantage was initially offered in V8 trim. A short while later, a convertible was offered as well, called the Volante (Aston speak for roadster). In model year 2008, a much faster, much quicker V12 Vantage joining the ranking of the model range, and sent the V8 Vantage S into the middle of the Vantage totem pole. Fear not, though, the Aston V8 Vantage S is far from just a pretty face.
With 430 horses on tap, and a hair over 360 ft/lbs, Aston's middle-ground supercar can run with the best from America and Germany. Unlike its American and German competition, the Aston V8 Vantage doesn't quite have the wild model range the Corvette and 911 do. But that's not the point. Astons are fairly rare, and each one is special. Chances are, you won't see multiple Astons in the same day on the same block.









With cars this new, I really can't "rate" the condition, nor can I talk about blemishes in the paintwork. What I can judge is the paint color; here, the gray looks absolutely fantastic. Understated is what works best for these British brutes; having something like an Aston in a bright, brash color would be an insult. Yes, these cars do make a statement, but unlike Porsches, Astons need not be flamboyant. The exhaust snarl speaks for itself.
While I despise the wheels on the V8 Vantage, and the DB9, I adore the rolling stock on this Vantage S; brutish, without being hideous. Good sense of porportion, mixed with a slightly classier 5 spoke design--and they don't look generic, nor do they pass for aftermarket cheapies. Aston has perfected the GT car, from engine and gearbox, right down to the massive rolling stock. A 911 this isn't; it's much more special.