The very first Aston Martin Vanquish saw its first light of day in 2001, and despite the car’s various failings, it was still being built up to 2007. As a car that frequently compelled its owners to get their vehicle recovery provider on the phone, it might seem odd to call the latest Aston a Vanquish, too.
But while the name is the same, many of the issues with the original Vanquish have been addressed. One of the key ones was that it burnt through gear boxes like nobody’s business.
This first Vanquish was replaced by the considerably more reliable DBS – but now the second Vanquish has superseded that as Aston’s flagship offering. One of the most notable things about this car is that there is only one transmission option (like the first Vanquish), namely a ZF six-speed automatic. Critics argue that there are better transmissions out there, including an eight speed offering from ZF. But the fact that Aston Martin is not owned by any of the big players (VW, BMW etc.) has, some say, meant that it does not have the influence or buying power to get the latest equipment for a low enough price – or indeed, on the waiting list at all.
The styling of the new Vanquish is of course a delight to behold, although some reservations have been raised over the integrated spoiler-cum-boot lid.
Overall, the various automotive juries appreciate the power and handling of this £189,995 super car, but there is a feeling that it doesn’t have that ‘je ne sais quoi’ it needs need to make it a classic
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