Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster Sportshift 2dr Car Review - February 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £100,080
Tax Band: M
Insurance Group: N/A
MPG: 21.9
CO2: 299
0-62 Mph: 4.8 secs
BHP: 420 BHP
Range: 385 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
The Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster Sportshift has a gorgeous body and offers owners a high quality driving experience. The car handles great and gives a punchy performance with its powerful V8 engine. A stylish and sophisticated sports car, it comes fitted with beautiful interiors, and advanced driving and communication technology.

PROS:  The Vantage V8 Roadster Sportshift is a stylish and good looking sports car. The car's powerful V8 engine gives owners a strong and reliable performance. As a top end Aston Martin model,the Roadster Sportshift enjoys a good reliability record and high resale values.

CONS:  The Roadster Sportshift is a gas guzzler which requires regular refills and incurs high fuel costs. As an Aston Martin model, servicing and repair costs for the car are also high.

Behind the Wheel

The Roadster Sportshift is agile, composed at high speeds, and handles well. The 4.3 litre V8 engine delivers significant power to the car with 420 bhp at 7000 rpm with torque figures at 346 lb-ft at 5750 rpm. With a top speed of 180 mph, the Roadster Sportshift goes from 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds. However, the car suffers from poor fuel economy with a mileage of 21.4 mpg.

Buyers can choose between a conventional six speed manual and a six speed paddle operated gear box. The car comes with a heavy clutch which can make driving in urban areas slightly tiring.

The Roadster Sportshift is able to isolate road noises on most surfaces, but there is a little buffeting when the roof is down.

Looks & Equipment

The Vantage V8 Roadster Sportshift has a stylish look and comes equipped with beautiful and comfortable interiors. The car's technology includes stability control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, rear parking sensors, MP3 connectivity, a six-disc CD multi-changer, 18-inch alloy wheels and a fully electric roof. Aston Martin offers buyers additional features at extra cost to spruce up the car's technology, which include satellite-navigation, Bluetooth, an in-car telephone, and cruise control.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The Vantage V8 Roadster Sportshift has limited space for oddments and a small boot which can fit only a couple of soft bags. The car has a comfortable car which can easily accommodate two occupants.

The safety kit in the car has limited features, which include stability control, electronic break-force distribution, and twin front and side airbags. Car buyers have the option to install a Tracker system to help trace the car if stolen.

The V8 Roadster Sportshift has a three year warranty with unlimited miles. The car also enjoys Aston Martin’s high quality and strong reliability record. However, like many sports cars, the Roadster Sportshift has poor green credentials with a EURO 4 emissions rating, and a significant carbon footprint of 312 g/km. Nonetheless, the car has the lowest emission rates in the Vantage range.

Value for Money

The V8 Roadster Sportshift is not for drivers worried about running costs. Priced at £102,995, the car comes fitted with a high performance engine, and high quality body work which incur heavy additional costs. Nonetheless, the significant investment delivers style, performance and reliability to sports car lovers. Additionally, Aston Martin custom building services add personal touches to cars through additional technology or body work.

Be it comfortable travel around town or the thrill of speed on a long highway, the Vantage V8 Roadster Sportshift delivers the sports car experience, similar to other sports cars in the Aston Martin range like the DBS and the Virage.

Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster Sportshift 2dr Car Review - by 
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