An Aston Martin V8 Vantage Could Be Your (Affordable) License to Kill
If you grew up watching James Bond action movies, driving an Aston Martin car may make you instantly feel equal parts suave and powerful. But with the cheapest new Aston Martin starting at $150k, these exotics are out of the budget of even the most senior MI6 agents. Luckily, 10-20 year-old Aston Martins are approaching peak depreciation. Cars such as the 2015 V8 Vantage GT currently listed on Cars & Bids are more affordable than comparable grand tourers such as Ferraris.
Here are MotorBiscuit, we’ve long been singing the praises of the Aston Martin Vantage. The automaker first rolled out the badge to differentiate its cars with the older I6 from the new 1972 Aston Martin V8. It has brought the badge back several times. The 2005-2017 Vantage–especially with the V8–was priced as an entry-level car. It was introduced right after the new flagship DB9. But some Aston Martin fans actually preferred that era’s V8 Vantage.
The DB9 was a continuation of the long-bodied DB line of coupes built for touring. It had a small back seat and a big V12 engine. While it was available with a manual transmission, some stick shift enthusiasts found it a bit sluggish. The Vantage was designed just a couple years later, but many reviewers felt it was a decade more advanced. Not only did it offer a more precise manual transmission, but it was a much better balanced and stiffer car. The lighter V8 helped it in the corners. But it was also a shorter car with no back seat. You can think of it as less of a Jaguar competitor and more of a 911 basher.
But one of the best things about the V8 Vantage of this era is how quickly its depreciated. We are beginning to see some of these cars resell for $40k or less. The rare V12 Vantage goes for more. Special editions, recent models, and low mileage cars also command a higher price. But after the ten-year factory warranty sunsets, the value of these cars plummets.
Obviously, those values are dropping because of fears around reliability. At least in part. But even the more complicated DB9 doesn’t have to be a money pit. Used 2005 Aston Martin DB9 owner Steve McEvoy–of Aston1936.com–revealed that over three years of ownership (and 13,000 miles) he spent $0.68/mile on maintenance, or $7.50/day. With insurance, fuel, and purchase taxes, his exotic car cost him $12.43/day or $1.12/mile.
The 2015 V8 Vantage GT on Cars and Bids is from late in the model’s run, so it has a more powerful V8 than most. It also is a stick shift with just 19,300 miles. So it will probably end up being one of the more expensive Vantages around. But it also has many miles of life left. I’d call this Aston Martin a bargain.
Next, find out why a used exotic supercar will cost you twice as much as owning an airplane, or watch Hagerty’s buyers’ guide to the V8 Vantage in the video below:
