Nürburgring Nordschleife - Aston Martin V8 Vantage

[topshaft]

I agree 1600kg is not the lightest car but Aston do things differently to other car manufacturers, it wasn't designed for outright performance, its a mix of everything and as far as looks go a porsche 911 doesn't even come close. I've owned most cars including 911's , R8, M3 etc and now run a vantage convertible and it stops people in their tracks.

[EccentricRichard]

Now, I know they've since bumped the power up, but, let's face it, it's no nimbler or faster than an M3, and it's less practical. It just happens to be prettier - but if you want pretty, you've got the 911. If beauty is enough to sell this car, that's fine, but I want more than just that.

[EccentricRichard]

I'm sorry, but 1600kg is WAY too heavy for a supposedly small, nimble sports car. Aston's VH architecture is outdated and overweight, despite its aluminium construction - and, for the money, 380hp wouldn't be enough to tempt me into one from my hypothetical 911 GT3 or XKR.

[budojon]

@EccentricRichard

the audi r8 is also about 1600kg. but i admit, around 1300kg would be way better. my celica vvti is just 1170kg and handling + braking is fantastic !

[EccentricRichard]

@budojon - given that carbonfibre is becoming cheaper, I think we'll see more all-carbon cars. Combine a 2-seat all-carbon body with a Porsche flat-six (preferably a small one, like the 2.7) rebuilt (as in the Ferrari 599GTO) with low-friction internals and so on for a very high specific power output, but lightness overall too... these 1.5 ton+ monsters would be exposed for the frauds they are.

Where's Colin Chapman when you need him?