I Drove An Aston Martin V8 Vantage In Malaysia!

February 1st, 2010 by ShaolinTiger at 4:05 PM UTC - 2,872 views

And no, it wasn't in my dreams!

I've always been a huge lover of Aston Martin, a proper homegrown British luxury car marque. Although it's debatable if Aston is still really British or not (partially Kuwaiti owned now).

The actual car I fell in love with was the Aston Martin Virage Volante convertible.

Anyway a good buddy of mine knew I'd always been a huge fan of Aston Martin vehicles and it so happened, he himself was purchasing one...an Aston Martin V8 Vantage to be precise (the most sporty amongst the Aston Martin cars) and he promised that I would be amongst the first to drive the V8 beast.

And well, let's just say he held true to his promise (thanks buddy!). He was calling me all day long on a fine (but rather busy Sunday) I reached home after midnight and managed to get hold of him and he said he was dropping a friend off them coming over immediately.

I didn't know what the fuss was about as I didn't know he'd gotten the car yet. But I said sure, I'll meet you when you get here. So he called me when he arrived and when I walked out from my appt past the guard house I was greeted with this sight.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

I was gobsmacked, and well so was everyone else that drove past - a few people almost crashed whilst turning into the appt gates from staring at the beautiful Vantage.

It is of course hand-crafted in England as you can see on the kickplate.

Hand Crafted in England - V8 Vantage

It's quite a beast of a car kicking out over 400bhp and the noise of the v8 roar once the variable exhaust valve opens up can be heard 2 miles away (According to Jeremy Clarkson).

Really if you're a Aston Martin fan, there are no other cars for you that can top it.

I took it for a spin around, it was fast...very fast and extremely noisy. The handbrake is a very odd position and there is absolutely no headroom..but who fucking cares IT'S AN ASTON MARTIN FOR GODSAKE.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Awesomesauce is the only word that is truly fitting, it was breathtaking but awestruck kinda hit the spot.

It's a little odd to drive though as the 'auto gearbox' is not semi-auto, or auto..it's actually a fully manual mechanical gearbox driven electronically. So if you don't feather the throttle when you are stationary it feels like it's going to stall! It's called Aston Martin Sportshift.

And of course the part which made me fall in love with Aston Martin is the huge, aggressive grill at the front.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Grill

It was quite an experience, can't wait to test it out again and can't wait until he gets his R35 and take that for a spin too.

Apologies for the picture quality but it was the middle of the night and all I had on hand was my phone!

Tags: am vantage, aston martin, aston martin sportshift, aston martin v8 vantage, aston martin vantage, cars, drinking, luxury cars, sportshift, v8, v8 vantage

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Posted in Cars/Motorsport | 26 comments -

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26 Comments so far

KY on February 1st, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Using Google Chrome 4.0.249.49 on Mac OS X

All I really want to know if it has a cup holder
KY on February 1st, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Using Google Chrome 4.0.249.49 on Mac OS X

also, grammar left the building fml
goldfries on February 1st, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.0.11 on Windows Vista

did you bring your SLR to shoot shoot as well?

Those photos look like taken with N97.
kimberlycun on February 1st, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Using J2ME/MIDP Browser

feel depressed queueing up to wash car in my suzyganas. Even the numberplate is killng me - AM 88. awestruck hit the spot!!!
ShaolinTiger on February 1st, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows Vista

KY: Yah it does and it even comes with a built in Aston Martin pen in the dashboard!

goldfries: See the last sentence

kimberlycun: Hahaha, suzyganas rawks!
JaCJaC on February 1st, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows XP

DB9 naiserrr
ShaolinTiger on February 1st, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows Vista

JaCJaC: DB9 of course naiser, V12 and so cool it got its own category on Top Gear.
Haze long on February 1st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Using Netscape Navigator 5.0 on iPhone OS 3.1.2

Lucky bitch!!!
michaelooi on February 1st, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows 7

loaded friend you have there, you need to intro me some man. *drools on the vantage*
aw on February 1st, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.0.10 on Windows XP

Cool stuff. Well, road tax is abt 20 large ones a year.
Mark on February 1st, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.6 on Windows Vista

OMG, I am so jealous! One of my dreams is to drive an Aston Martin as well especially around the Sepang track! How la like that, need to change profession liao or else cannot afford a car like that haha
Genova on February 1st, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows Vista

my godness. i m in love
foodcrazee on February 1st, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Using Internet Explorer 7.0 on Windows XP

damn . . . .its kewl
ericyong77 on February 2nd, 2010 at 12:46 am
Using Google Chrome 3.0.195.38 on Windows Vista

hehe not bad... the V8 Vantage is however just the Baby Aston.. u need to try the DBS...
sotong on February 2nd, 2010 at 11:15 am
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows 2000

wow... nice car!!!
CT on February 2nd, 2010 at 11:18 am
Using Safari 528.16 on Mac OS X

Lol... just a baby aston... classic.
JD on February 2nd, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Using Internet Explorer 6.0 on Windows XP

Love Aston Martins, especially those in Bond films.
ShaolinTiger on February 3rd, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows Vista

Haze long: Yes I am

michaelooi: Hahaha, Penang got rich fellas also loh.

aw: I checked the tax, it was around RM9xxx but maybe that was just for 6 months.

Mark: Not so sure bout track, it's not really a track car. Prefer to take a Porsche 997 Turbo on the track Aston I'd prefer some nice country lanes or winding mountain roads.

Genova: Me too!

foodcrazee: One of the coolest cars EVAR!

ericyong77: Hahaha V12 power! For me the ultimate Aston is the oldskool Vantage Le Mans with twin Superchargers.

sotong: Very nice indeed!

CT: Haha..yah.

JD: I love all Aston Martins.
Myhorng on February 3rd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Using Google Chrome 4.0.249.78 on Windows XP

i want to drive 222.
yuktsi on February 3rd, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.6 on Windows 7

lol
how much is the car?
ShaolinTiger on February 5th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows Vista

Myhorng: Hehe doesn't everyone!

yuktsi: Should be around RM600,000-800,000.
Tan Yee Hou on February 6th, 2010 at 12:48 am
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.2 on Mac OS X

farkkk a vantage and getting an r35 too?
Ryan on February 7th, 2010 at 3:36 am
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.6 on Mac OS X

Omg looking at the post is giving me goosebumps already!
I am totally in love with this beauty!
Wow for that price of 800k isn't it almost as much as a DB9?
Joey Logano Fan on February 7th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows XP

Man.... that is way too cool
sp on February 9th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.6 on Windows 7

omg u such a lucky 1!
ShaolinTiger on February 11th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Using Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows Vista

Tan Yee Hou: Yah and his daily drive is the Lexus IS-F - BMW M3 killer.

Ryan: Yah orgasmic man, DB9 over 1 mill I think.

Joey Logano Fan: Awesome car!

sp: I am indeed.