Style. Theater. Drama. That is what a brand needs to balance in order to build the perfect exotic car. And frankly, few companies balance this better than Aston Martin, who have been designing some of the most iconic exotic GT and sports cars for decades. From the DBS featured in Casino Royale to the DB5 of yesteryear, Aston has the formula spot-on for delivering a fantastic exotic car experience.

But what about their take on an exotic sports car from the mid-2000s? Is it possible that the “baby” Aston is the best starter exotic car? Let’s find out.

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About this video: Obviously you can’t talk about what makes a car “exotic” without mentioning design and overall style, and unlike most entry-level exotic sports cars, the Vantage oozes style from every angle. The rule-of-thirds design language used in this generation of Aston has to be one of the most iconic shapes of all time. Still to this day, even early generation DB9s and V8 Vantage models look modern 15 years later after launch.

The V8 Vantage is a car that will fit in any situation you put it in. From exotic car rallies to a night at the country club, the baby Aston feels at home just about anywhere, and thankfully, the design doesn’t just stop on the exterior.

Unlike other “affordable” exotic sports cars, Aston didn’t just give up when it came to the interior. Most manufacturers going after the entry-level market forget that their customers are still spending the same amount as an average starter home in East TN. The interior is finished in high-quality materials, and even after 10 years, the fit and finish is still pretty spot-on, which is surprising for people who know anything about older Astons.

On the note of the interior finishing, all of that comfort comes at a price - weight. But if you live in the US, you’re probably already used to small things being overweight, so that won’t really matter. But for the rest of you, consider this. This version of the Vantage wasn’t designed to be a track-focused monster. It was designed to be the gentleman’s exotic sports car. It’s something you can drive regularly without getting too tired, and it’s comfortable to use on a regular basis.

The Vantage has all of the theater and drama you could want from an entry-level exotic. It has the big V8, the iconic Aston Martin exhaust note, and the sportshift and manual transmission both give the Vantage a sense of character that modern cars just lack.

Driving the Vantage feels special, even when compared to the M4, which has a bit more power and is just as quick to 60 MPH. The Vantage feels alive and full of character and charm, whereas the M4 is simply a very efficient sportscar. It lacks the connection and drama that you get from the Vantage, which brings me to one of the most important points.

The Vantage is also a wonderful car to own and maintain. After the first few model years, most of the weird issues had been sorted, but every model year is fairly simple to own and maintain. In nearly 2 years, there’s been no unexpected breakdowns, repairs, or any major issues. And frankly, I don’t suspect there will be any with continuing its annual service schedule. Aston put together a fantastic car here, and when maintained properly, you really don’t have to worry about much going wrong.

You also don’t spend your time worrying about the Vantage when you take it out. You don’t have to worry someone may intentionally damage the car. It’s not an obnoxious exotic car that makes people angry. Most of the time, people pay no attention to it, and those that do usually just ask about what you think about it.

When you take the Vantage out, you get to focus on what makes the car so great - driving. It really is the perfect step into an exotic sports car.

And with all that, I find that the Vantage is by far the best value of any entry level exotic on the market. It’s cheap to maintain, easy to find a good one, and has every aspect of an exotic car that you could want. It is the most balanced option for someone stepping into exotic cars, and more than that, its just fantastic to own and drive.

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