Porsche 911 vs Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Aston Martin and Porsche – two instantly recognizable names in the motor industry. Aston Martin, a name forever associated with James Bond, reflects all the qualities of perhaps their most famous driver: sophistication, charm, and an understated sex appeal. Porsche, meanwhile, will forever be associated with the 911 – a compact package of speed and efficiency, promising fun and good times to be had, whether speeding down a European coast or blazing a trail across the American desert.

Photography by Stéphane Capela
This article is going to pit these two marques against each other, with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage facing off against the Porsche 911 for sale, to help you decide which is more deserving of your cash. The Vantage name has a proud history, previously being used on what was heralded as “Britain’s First Supercar”, introduced in 1977, and again from 1993-2000, and finally once from 2005 through to today.
The modern Aston Martin V8 Vantage for sale owes a great deal of its style to the Aston Martin DB7 and Aston Martin DB9, featuring a wide grille and narrow headlights, but on a leaner body than is to be found on those models. Behind this grille, you’ll find either a 4.3 or 4.7 litre V8, capable of producing 380 and 420 horsepower, respectively. To avoid confusion, this article will use the 4.7 litre’s figures. 0-60 is completed in 4.7 seconds, with the car then blasting on up to 180mph.

Photography by Stéphane Capela
A description of the 911 is somewhat unnecessary at this point, with the 911 being the very archetype of a Porsche. The 997, which rivaled the Vantage for many years came in a variety of engine sizes, but for the closest comparison, we’ll focus on the Carrera S, which totes a 3.8 liter flat six, generating 350bhp. Despite the smaller engine, the Carrera S tops the Vantage’s top speed, reaching 181 mph, as well as reaching 60 mph a tenth of a second quicker.
Both of these cars are great to drive, too. The Vantage has oodles of grip, and has an agility that larger Astons lack, with its traction control working as a keen overseer of proceedings, but if you decide you’ve had enough of the namby-pamby driving aids, you’ll find the car is still controllable without it. Steering is light, but gives strong feedback, keeping you in touch with the road throughout. If you go for a model featuring the optional sports pack, the steering is more weighty, and is accompanied by a firmer ride.

Photography by Stéphane Capela
The steering in the 911 is typically German, i.e. very precise, with this precision also reflected in the car’s manual gearbox, which features a good, smooth gear change. This precision comes in seriously handy, and lets the 911 find its way through any corner with ease. The ride can be a little shaky when the car is thrown into its sports suspension mode, but nothing too major.
Ultimately, there’s very little separating these cars. For those who love their drive to have a bit of understated cool, the Aston will likely win out, but for those who desire a better driving machine over their marque’s image, the Porsche will probably just nose ahead. Whichever you decide to pick though, one thing is for sure – you won’t be disappointed.