FIVE CLASSIC TRIALS 2003 ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH
First shown to the world in concept form some 25 years ago, the Aston Martin Vanquish remains as special as it ever was. But as Keith Adams discovers, you can still buy one for a fraction of its new price…
If you have a soul, an Aston Martin Vanquish can seduce you in seconds. An opening shriek, followed by the urgent, cultured bark of its V12 is all that it takes to beguile you. Yes, the styling is something to behold, but it’s under the bonnet where the magic happens. I know, because one push of the starter button followed by a quick blip of the throttle, and I’m hooked.
Maybe I was already in love. Rewind a little, and there’s a lot to take in. Unlike many of its rivals – and its predecessor, the mighty 600bhp Vantage – this isn’t a car that intimidates the driver. The svelte styling, which manages to be simultaneously muscular and curvaceous, sets altogether more welcoming expectations. This is a car that you wear rather than sit in, despite its generous length and width.
I’ve long since concluded that the Vanquish is Ian Callum’s finest piece of styling bar none. It revolutionised the firm’s model line and set the precedent for DB9 and Vantage, both of which are generally regarded to be among the most beautiful Aston Martins ever made. Combine those looks with an aluminium and carbon tub of unusual cleverness and you’re looking at a super GT that could worry the blue bloods at Ferrari.
Before the off, I take the time to drink in the interior. The driving position is perfect – reclined enough to feel sporty, but not so much as to not be alert enough to pilot it properly. The upright, fat-rimmed steering wheel and paddle shifters of this two-pedal car are perfectly sited while the firm, supportive seat envelops in the most intimate way. This is clearly a car that’s been designed to spend a lot of time in.
Swiftly overlooking the Ford switchgear that a spotter like me can’t help but notice, it’s time to get going. Insert the key, wait for the start-up lights to go out, put your foot on the brake, select neutral and hit the starter button. This piece of theatre quickly becomes a rigmarole compared with older (and some newer) cars but it’s all good fun before the novelty wears off.
Never mind, because the V12 fires into life with a brief bark before settling to a cultured idle. I finger the paddleshifter into Drive and pull away. Trickling the throttle has me up and running and, as I pull the paddle to take second gear, I’m glad that I’ve remembered to back off the throttle to keep the smoothness intact. It’s a good rule of thumb – this transmission system rewards delicacy and finesse. I like that – it makes driving a bit of an art form.
The roads have opened up by now so it’s time to build speed and enjoy this car’s towering performance as best you can wi
