For those of you who know me or read my stories, you likely know by now that my single favorite car marque is Aston Martin. Yes, I know that I am very involved with BMW, but the Aston brand has a mythology and history that, to me, is unequaled by any other car manufacturer in the history of the automobile. Sure, Ferrari is very strong, especially in the mythology department, but owning and driving or just simply gazing at an Aston is something else entirely. Add the fact that, despite being equals in most ways to Ferrari cars, used Astons almost always sell for considerably less money, which simply makes the marque even more attractive.
The Pick of the Day is one of those cars, a 2016 Aston Martin Vantage GTS coupe located at a dealer in Costa Mesa, California.
The story of the modern Aston Martin Vantage begins in 2003 with the unveiling of the AMV8 Vantage at the North American International Auto Show. It was universally applauded by journalists and prospective owners alike and the production Vantage was introduced at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show.
Unlike the DB9, which was always meant to be a true GT car or gentleman’s express, the Vantage from the very beginning was designed to be Aston’s true sports car, one to compete with the Porsche 911 and V8 Ferraris. It featured a set-back V8 engine with dry-sump lubrication and a rear transaxle. It was offered with either a six-speed manual or the seven-speed single-clutch automated Sportshift II transmission with paddles. Personally, the premium you have to pay for a six-speed Vantage makes a Sportshift-equipped car look like a serious bargain.
The best part of this car, besides a fantastic driving experience, is the stunning styling. While it’s officially credited to Henrik Fisker, I happen to know that the credit should really be given to Ian Callum, who designed 80 percent of the Vantage. If you question this, ask any journalist who was at the Geneva Auto Show and witnessed the interaction of Callum and Fisker.
This specific Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a limited-production GTS model which only sold in the U.S. This specific example is one of the cars in “Sport” trim. This included carbon fiber accents, a black grille and headlight bezels, and a sport suspension. Happily, it also features Aston’s improved AMi III infotainment and navigation system, which was the first decent infotainment setup in an Aston and one that can easily pair with your phone.
The seller describes this Vantage GTS as finished in its original Stratus White paint over an Argento Grey leather interior. Options include a polished aluminum fuel cap, a leather ECU key pouch, front parking sensors, glass switches, and piano black fascia trim. This car has only covered 11,493 miles from new and looks to be in exceptional condition.
The seller adds that this Vantage GTS has led a pampered life in California and Nevada and has always been stored indoors. Of great import is the service history of any car like this. This car includes documentation of the following:
- At 10,798 miles on 2/16/22: Vegas Auto Gallery performed the Aston Martin factory 10,000-mile service.
- At 11,361 miles on 6/4/24: Mark Douglas Motorworks performed an annual service, including a brake fluid flush, and adjusted the sway bar.
- At 11,406 miles on 6/20/24: Aston Martin Newport Beach replace the docking station for the key.
I have driven these cars and I can say the Vantage GTS truly is a sports car. It handles amazingly well and has a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds and a 186-mph top speed – pretty amazing for a naturally aspirated 4.7-liter V8. Combine that with the stunning interior and the fine Swiss watch look of the instruments and you have a car that nothing can really compare to.
The Vantage GTS is an exceptionally rare vehicle with a total of only 100 of these fine British cars being delivered to the U.S. That exclusivity easily makes it considerably more rare than a run-of-the-mill Ferrari 458 or 488 and in a whole different solar system than any Porsche 911. I say that having owned about 30 different 911s over the years, so don’t hate that comment. Instead, take a hard look at what makes these cars so special and different from the competition. Remember: They are all hand-built.
When you combine all of this with styling that those cars could only dream about and with an asking price of only $79,500 this car looks like a no brainer. and one of the true bargains in the world of collector cars. Consider than when new it cost $150,712.50 and you can see how this car looks to be an amazing buy.
If you do decide to buy it I guarantee that the 2016 Aston Martin Vantage GTS coupe is one you will always glance back at when you park it in your garage and that is a hard thing to put a price on.
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