The old Aston Martin DB9 and its successor DBS are two models that catapulted the brand into the 21st century and made it so successful today. But between the two and the latest models lies the Vanquish which is largely overlooked nowadays. Its name might be one of the reasons why as it’s shared with the old Aston Martin flagship from the 2000s, although the two have nothing in common. While the second generation uses the same basic engine, the second generation Vanquish horsepower is much higher, not to mention it uses much more modern transmissions. And that’s about where the similarities end. The Vanquish was built on the VH platform as all other Aston Martin models of the 2010s so it’s essentially an evolved DBS. But despite being better in every way, the Vanquish’ price was actually a bit lower than that of the DBS, and even today, the prices are quite similar making the Vanquish extremely tempting. That’s especially true when we consider that Vanquish uses the last N/A V12 to ever find its way into an Aston. But before we take this Vanquish review further, check out the examples currently for sale here at Exotic Car Trader.
The original Aston Martin Vanquish which came out in 2001 was built as the flagship for the brand. In the internal hierarchy, the Vanquish sat above the old DB7 and above the new DB9. But as it went out of production, the DBS took over and as there was no place for a more expensive model, the Vanquish would only return in 2012 as a replacement for the DBS. That said, the second generation Vanquish was also the flagship so it didn’t downplay the name one bit. The Vanquish was the most powerful and the fastest model Aston Martin made at the time, and of course, the most expensive one as well. The Vanquish also tied together the DB9’s classic design with the DBS’ sporty edge and the two design philosophies blended perfectly. It’s worth mentioning that the early models built until 2014 used the old six speed automatic while the later models got an 8 speed which improved the performance substantially. Apart from that, the Vanquish didn’t receive any notable facelifts until the Vanquish’ S came out in 2018. As to how many Vanquish were produced between 2012 and 2018 the number sits at just under 1,500. And each example came out of the Gaydon factory in case you are wondering where was the Vanquish made. Overall, it wasn’t as successful as the DBS but this Vanquish review will now explain why it was better, at least in terms of performance.
Until 2014, all Aston Martin models used the old six speed automatic transmission which was in use since the early 2000s. The same goes for the Vanquish which had a 4.1 second 0-60 time and a 188 mph top speed with the old transmission. However, the Vanquish 0-60 time dropped to just 3.6 seconds after it got the 8 speed transmission. At the same time, the post 2014 Vanquish top speed was increased to 201 mph both of which made it a true supercar rival instead of being just a quick GT. The Vanquish also got a much better braking system than the old DBS with 298mm, carbon ceramic front rotors squeezed by six piston calipers. It’s also worth noting that the models with the six speed weighed 3,834 lbs while the 2014 Vanquish’ weight increased to 4,065 lbs. But that’s a small price to pay for the extra performance which is solely achieved by the transmission since the initial Vanquish has just three horsepower less. The post 2014 Vanquish horsepower and torque was rated at 576 and 465 lb-ft. And here we will mention the disappointing flaw and that’s the lack of a manual transmission option as found in the previous DBS. While that was only natural and won’t bother the vast majority of customers, it would certainly have been appreciated.
The Aston Martin Vanquish interior was somewhat redesigned compared to the old DBS. The center console is now much cleaner and more usable as there was no need to leave space for a manual transmission. At the same time, the dashboard was completely redesigned using much more interesting shapes and lines. That said the radio and climate controls were still very similar to those of the DBS but even they looked much more modern. The signature transmission buttons and the key slot was still found on top of the dashboard and the gauge cluster remained the same only it got a new font and it now went to 240 mph. The fresh Vanquish design also included new seats while the steering wheel remained the same. Also, the old foldable Volvo navigation system remained which is the biggest downside of the Vanquish’ as it was already outdated in 2012 and by the end of production it looked borderline archaic. As for the rear seats, they are as cramped as they ever were, but then again, the Vanquish remained a 2+2 coupe so that’s to be expected.
The Vanquish exterior is where most changes happened compared to the DBS, but even so, the Vanquish is still easily recognizable as its replacement. The Vanquish design essentially evolved just like every 911, and that’s a good thing since the DBS is one of the most beautiful cars ever. Overall, the Vanquish used the same basic shape but the lines were now much sharper and more focused starting with the headlights and a new front bumper which reminded of the one found on the V12 Vantage. Hood vents completed the front end while the side profile got a beautiful vent with a bulging line that extended into the doors. That made the side look much more muscular than before and so did the pronounced side skirt which made the doors look recessed into the body work. New, more modern, wheel designs were also a must although the most common polished over black finish does look cheap nowadays. However, the rear looks everything but cheap. The Vanquish now has a sloping spoiler that almost makes it look like the trunk lid is cut, which isn’t found on virtually any other coupe. New LED tail lights look much better and are now finished in red which is a bit of a let down. And lastly, the rear diffuser is now miles more aggressive while exhausts poke out at roughly the same place as before.
As we already mentioned, the Vanquish didn’t change much over the old DBS in terms of modern technologies like driver aids and infotainment systems. But where the Vanquish technology did improve is under the skin. The Vanquish got new monotube adaptive suspension both front and rear with anti squat and anti dive geometry. The suspension was three way adjustable with a normal, sport and track mode. Aluminum was also extensively used making the entire suspension system much lighter than before, and the standard carbon ceramic brakes helped with weight saving too. Again, the front used six piston calipers while the rear end had four pistons.
Back when it was new, the Vanquish’ had an MSRP of $280,000. That made it one of the most expensive GTs money can buy just like the old DBS. But, how much is the Vanquish worth today? Early examples with the six speed transmission go for between $75,000 and $150,000 depending on the specifications, mileage and condition. The later models rarely dip under six figures and at the same time can reach as much as $200,000. On the used market, the Vanquish is quite a bit more expensive than the DBS and especially the Rapide. But even so, it had lost at least half of its value in most cases.
Ultimately, the Aston Martin is fairly special as it's the last GT to use the naturally aspirated V12 engine which carried the brand throughout the 21st century. And while the new models are infinitely faster and more advanced, the Vanquish chapters the brand’s classic charm much better. If you are looking to add one to your collection, Exotic Car Trader always has a few examples available. Buying one through Exotic Car Trader gets you escrow protection, delivery and first inspection just to name a few amenities. The same goes if you are looking to sell a car through Exotic Car Trader or even trade it with one of our current customers. To conclude this Aston Martin Vanquish review, it’s the perfect choice for those who love comfort and luxury, but also an engaging driving experience which is usually only found with mid engined supercars.
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