2006 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish: Extreme Everything

I've yet to be disappointed by a European car. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe I just always pick the good ones, or maybe the Europeans only send their best to the states. Aston Martin, though British in make, is a pretty big name in the states, and not just because of their combination of the highest possible performance and luxury. James Bond made history with the Aston Martin DB-5, and although the V12 Vanquish doesn't offer a smokescreen or missile launcher options, it doesn't fail to live up to the Aston Martin name; if anything, it sets a new standard.

I admit I'm a little biased; the specific Vanquish I got to drive was my favorite combination of black paint on black interior. I've always been a fan of the 'evil car' look, and it certainly delivered. Unlike other supercar makers, Aston Martin doesn't offer the Vanquish in bright and flashy attention-grabbing colors like yellow and orange, and it really doesn't need them. A solid black or white makes the beautiful engineering stand out better than it would with a lime green, and the metallic-paint choices aren't too shabby either. Like I said, the one I drove was coincidentally exactly what I'd want with an Aston Martin, but the other options I took a look at were all extremely gorgeous. If looks are important to you in your supercar purchasing decisions, the V12 Vanquish passes with flying colors, albeit low-key ones.

The interior was much roomier than I expected, and standing at 6'1" I fit very comfortably. High quality leather, a very well laid out dashboard, and the thrill of simply sitting behind the wheel; all these things combined make for an exhilarating experience, both in the city and on the speedway. Did you really expect any less?

Of course, performance is extremely important to any supercar buyer. If you're spending $150,000 on a car, it better be fast. The V12 Vanquish is certainly no Enzo in that respect, but anyone who says the car isn't a monster on the road is kidding themselves. The shifting is smooth, and acceleration is sharp and quick, it handles beautifully, and most importantly for me, the roar of the engine is simply spine-tingling. If you aren't revving at every Honda with a body kit, there has to be something wrong with you. I've driven a lot of supercars, but this is one of two that I've simply been unable to restrain my childish urges in.

Two suggestions to both owners and buyers of any high-performance vehicle - first, make sure you get a stick shift. It's simply a waste to be sitting on so much horsepower and not be using it to its full extent at every opportunity. Second, if you don't drive your car hard, you're risking some nasty carbon build-up. While this is true for every car, most cars' engines don't cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair or replace. If you're buying a supercar just for the looks, by all means, more power to you, but at least give it the hard drive the engine was built for once a week.

In short, the 2006 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is in every way a cross-breed of the best in performance with the best in driving experience. You'll be just as comfortable at 35 as you are at 135. If you can afford it, there's no reason not to get it.