AsifScoob

Was coming home from a meal for my birthday the other day, got out of the car then did a double take as a Vantage pulled up outside my neighbours house across the road and out popped my neighbour from the passenger seat!

I was too shocked to say anything but hello, rather sheepishly.

His son then got out of the car and said hello too, then waved me over.

Turns out that John, my neighbours Son, has recently got a job with AM and one thing he does is to test new innovations they produce.

In this case it was a new form of electronic handbrake. Basically they fit it to the car, give him the keys, then send him on his way. He must do no less then 250 miles or so, during which time he must periodically test whatever they have put on the car.

I stress that I don't believe that they are expecting him to do handbrake turns in the thing, just to test it as a normal handbrake.

Anyway forget all of that, after about a minute of me drooling over it he asked if I fancied a little spin in it, so off we went!

What a motor? Absolutely ferocious acceleration, yes even compared to my Scoob, and tremendous stopping also. Really nice on the inside also, most galling thing was the design of the speedo. Where mine would say 30mph, around an 8 o'clock position, the Vantage has 100mph indicated!

Top number was 220mph!

Really nice and I was chuffed to bits to get a ride in one of my favourite makes of car. Rounded off my birthday very nicely.

I'm sure a few of you have ridden, or even driven in even nicer motors, particlularly Aston's. How would it compare to a Vanquish for instance, or a DB9?

Asif

Nürburg_Ringa

Lovely motors but really are not that quick, still you get away with it in them as they look so good.

Its a good 12 seconds to hit 3 figures....

davyboy

The comedy sounding "Subaru Impreza WRX STI TYPE RA SPEC C" would have it in the twisties.

Nürburg_Ringa

your not wrong

Adam M

no but you're wrong, it's you're not your!

ps. I patent all those gismos your matey is testing.

His job sounds like more fun.

billythekid

A friend of mine is one of the senior test drivers at AML. Mainly based in the middle east as thats where they do all their pre production testing - he has been in Evo a few times recently.. anyway the DB9 is another world and they are serious cars - I doubt any standard production subaru would keep up unless it was really very wet, the V8 Vantage is more 997 C4 teritory (£85k ish) where as the Vanquish is a true hyper car. But at almost 200 grand it should be!

TopBanana

The DB9 isn't a hypercar (the Veyron is). You might also say it's more a GT than a supercar too, but it's definitely where my lottery money would go!

billythekid

Hyper cars are >200mph right?.

The Vanquish can easily crack 200 in standard trim let alone "S". AML will custom build it too - so if you want more power then its not a problem, but 520bhp in "S" trim is more than enough for most people, dont get me wrong Aston have built a lot of bad cars in their time but th DB9VS is very special.

TopBanana

Remember supercars were the ones which could crack 120mph not so long ago. The game has moved on, even some saloons will do 200mph now! I'd say hypercars today are Veyrons, Keonigseggs etc

Yes it's a great car. Surprisingly light too.

billythekid

Quite true my good man.

Nürburg_Ringa

Your a ****! English is not my main language, can't you read my location? Jeeez!

CupraDave

iTrader: (1)

You are a lucky boy Asif, would love to have a run in a new Aston. Deffinately my fave supercar manufacturer.

Saw this at the Autosport the other week and simply froze, I stood there for what felt like an hour then left with a moist patch

AsifScoob

LOL! Best comment on this thread. Great pic's too.

Asif

Edcase

There's one outside right now, looking down on it I can't believe how small it is, looks like an Exige from above!

Mangel

Sister and two mates all work for them (engine builder and Test driver) Awesome cars. Vanquish is still my fave.