Aston Martin V8 Vantage coupe (2005-2017)

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a beautiful sports car that boasts a virtually timeless design. It’s also great fun to drive thanks to a glorious V8 engine that has the power to match its gorgeous sound. The car went on sale in 2006, but revisions to the engine and chassis over the years since then have ensured it doesn't lag behind cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT coupe, Jaguar F-Type and Porsche 911 when it comes to performance. The original 4.3-litre engine has been enlarged so that it’s now 4.7 litres in size, making the Vantage even more powerful.

The car is very expensive to buy – you pay a lot for the prestige of the Aston Martin badge on the bonnet and it costs a lot to keep the car running once you’ve bought it, but that’s true of many cars offering this kind of performance.

With 420bhp (or 430bhp if you go for the more expensive S model), the V8 Vantage is expensive to fuel, tax and insure, but if you want a luxury two-seater GT that has a quality feel and a sense of occasion, then the British-built V8 Vantage is an excellent choice.

A series of special-edition 'N' V8 Vantage models have been made to help maintain interest in what is now a fairly old model. The latest N430 adds more power and a few exclusive extras to give the car added allure. The N430 costs more than the standard V8 Vantage, but offers the same 430bhp power output as the more expensive Vantage S, making it a car that could loosely be described as a 'bargain' in Aston Martin terms.

We think the basic V8 Vantage offers the best mix of performance and comfort: it's still hugely quick, but it's more forgiving over bumps than the firmer Vantage S. What's more, it's cheaper to buy – only those looking to use the car on track frequently will see value in the Vantage S.