Aston Martin Vantage
The V8 Vantage was Aston's compact two-seater rival to the Porsche 911.
Made to order: your copy is researched, fact-checked, and typeset to our standard, then delivered within about two weeks. We'll email you the moment it's ready.
About the Aston Martin Vantage (2005-2017)
The Gaydon-era V8 Vantage is the car that made Aston Martin ownership something more than a millionaire's game. Launched in 2005 on a bonded aluminium structure, it carried a hand-built V8 (assembled at Aston's plant in Cologne, Germany) behind the front axle, drove the rear wheels, and wrapped it all in one of the best-proportioned shapes of the century. A Roadster followed in 2006.
The appeal is that it is a genuinely analogue sports car: naturally aspirated, dry-sumped, and available with a six-speed manual throughout the run. Early cars use the 4.3 litre AM05, cars from 2008 the stronger 4.7 litre AM14, and the Vantage S more still. Aston built over 21,000 V8 Vantages, so parts and specialists are easy to find.
Specifications at a glance
| Years | 2005 to 2017 |
| Engine | 4.3 L AM05 V8 (2005 to 2008), 4.7 L AM14 V8 (2008 to 2017) |
| Output | 380 bhp at 7,300 rpm (4.3), 420 bhp at 7,000 rpm (4.7), 430 bhp (S) |
| Torque | 302 lb-ft (410 Nm) at 5,000 rpm (4.3), 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) at 5,750 rpm (4.7) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, or 6-speed Sportshift / 7-speed Sportshift II automated manual |
| Layout | front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, bonded aluminium chassis |
| Built | Gaydon, Warwickshire, England |
| Production | 15,417 V8 coupes and 6,231 V8 Roadsters |
Known issues to check before you buy
- Clutch, especially on Sportshift. The twin-plate clutch and heavy flywheel are the biggest running cost, and the automated-manual Sportshift cars wear them fastest in traffic. Aston diagnostics report remaining clutch wear, so ask for that reading, not just the mileage.
- Front timing cover oil leak. Common on the 4.7: oil stains under the car, a burning smell after a drive, an oily film on the lower engine and exhaust. Inspect on a lift with the underside clean.
- Ignition coil packs. Coils fail where water reaches them, giving a lumpy idle, a misfire, and a check-engine light. Parts are cheap, so a stored misfire code says a lot about the car's care.
- Dampers. The original struts weep and soften with age. Listen for knocks over bumps, check for uneven tyre wear, and look for oil film on the damper bodies.
- Cold shift quality on manuals. Baulky first and second when cold usually means tired shift cables or old gearbox oil: cheap to fix, and a hint about service history.
- Light units and central locking. Condensation inside headlamps and tail lamps is widespread and the units are expensive; door locking motors are a known weak point.
Owning one
Servicing is Aston money, so the cheapest example is rarely the cheapest car: a manual with full specialist history and a documented clutch is the buy. This volume documents the Aston Martin Vantage (2005-2017) specifically: verified specifications, the documented weak points and how to inspect each, the service data, and the parts and owner community behind the car.
Inside this volume
Known issues & a survey guide
The documented weak points for this exact model, how to inspect each, and what a proper fix costs.
Full specifications
Every published figure, engine option, and running change, with the conflicts flagged, not guessed.
Systems & maintenance
Electrical, fuel, cooling, and drivetrain, plus service schedules and torque and fluid data.
Parts & community
Where the parts are, what cross-references, and the clubs and forums that keep the model alive.
Make it your car.
We fold in your year, your engine and options, your refits and modifications, your VIN, and your own car's photo on the cover. The book stops describing the car that left the factory and starts describing the one in your garage.