Home

Aston Martin

Vanquish

Reviews

You Might Finally Be Able To Afford An Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish combines timeless styling, a screaming naturally aspirated V12, and serious depreciation.

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Coupe: Review

Jeff Glucker

By: Jeff Glucker

Oct 27, at 12:00pm ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

There are few things in the automotive world more appealing than a naturally aspirated V12. Add some beautiful bodywork, a properly luxurious interior, and the right badge on the hood, and you have the Aston Martin Vanquish.

When it was new, the second-generation Vanquish cost around $300,000. That put it firmly in Ferrari, Bentley, and Lamborghini territory. But more than a decade after the Vanquish arrived, depreciation has made Aston Martin's flagship grand tourer significantly more attainable.

Today, you can find early examples for less than $100,000, while even the later, more powerful Vanquish S has lost a significant chunk of its original value. Sure, that's still a lot of money—but for a hand-built British grand tourer with a naturally aspirated V12, it's pretty compelling.

Why Buy The Aston Martin Vanquish?

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Coupe: Review

That glorious V12 engine.

Underneath the Vanquish's long, sculpted hood sits a 5.9-liter naturally aspirated V12 (often marketed as a 6.0-liter). Early versions produced 565 horsepower, while the later Vanquish made 568 hp. The final Vanquish S increased output to 595 hp in US specification, with 465 pound-feet of torque.

Those aren't particularly amazing numbers by modern standards. But the Vanquish isn't about winning drag races—it's about the experience of driving something truly special.

When we drove the 2018 Vanquish S, we praised its incredible power delivery, rewarding steering, and the way it balanced serious performance with long-distance comfort:

'Among his many words of wisdom, automotive journalism legend David E. Davis, Jr., had a firm belief that everyone should drive (or own) a V12 car at least once in their life.'
'There is a heft and a level of feedback to this setup that even the best electronically assisted units cannot match, and it’s this connection with the Vanquish that gives me more and more confidence as I hustle it down winding roads.'
'On the long stretches of freeway that lead out of Los Angeles into the mountains, I’m enjoying a relaxed, comfortable ride, with a huge reserve of power available for zipping around that infamous Left Lane Prius.'

The Vanquish S could reach 60 mph in approximately 3.5 seconds and continue to a top speed of 201 mph. More importantly, it delivered that performance with a soundtrack that modern turbocharged engines can't touch.

How Much Is A Used Aston Martin Vanquish?

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Coupe: Review

According to Kelley Blue Book, early Vanquish coupes have lost well over half their original value. Some have depreciated by nearly two-thirds. Here's what Kelley Blue Book estimates buyers should pay for a used Vanquish coupe with around 50,000 miles, depending on model year:

2014 Vanquish: $102,000
2015 Vanquish: $110,000
2016 Vanquish: $155,000
2017 Vanquish: $120,000
2018 Vanquish S: $151,000

Values are KBB national Fair Purchase Price estimates as of October 2026, based on typical-condition dealer purchases. Actual prices depend heavily on mileage, condition, equipment, and location. The 2017 value represents the standard Vanquish, not the S.

Used Aston Martin Vanquish Listings

Which Aston Martin Vanquish Should You Buy?

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Coupe: Review

The sweet spot is the 2015 or newer Vanquish coupe.

For 2015, Aston Martin replaced the original six-speed automatic transmission with a much better eight-speed gearbox from ZF. The upgrade improved acceleration, responsiveness, and the overall driving experience.

The 2014 model needed approximately 4.1 seconds to reach 60 mph and topped out at 183 mph. The updated 2015 model brought those figures down to around 3.6 seconds and up to 201 mph, respectively.

If your budget stretches further, the 2017–2018 Vanquish S is the one to have. Beyond its additional horsepower, the S received revised intake manifolds, recalibrated suspension, sharper transmission programming, and updated aerodynamics. There's also a more aggressive front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a distinctive quad-exhaust arrangement.

What Could Go Wrong?

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Coupe: Review

Well, a few things.

The Vanquish may have depreciated like an expensive luxury car, but it still has the maintenance costs of a hand-built exotic. A $100,000 Vanquish won't have the running costs of a $100,000 Chevrolet Corvette, for example.

The biggest concerns involve maintenance history, expensive consumables, and the condition of the bodywork. Carbon-ceramic brakes were standard equipment, and replacing damaged or worn discs can be painfully expensive. Have a specialist inspect them before buying.

The carbon-fiber bodywork is another concern. Those beautiful panels are costly to repair or replace after an accident, so previous damage is worth investigating carefully. You should also check for failing interior trim adhesives, sagging leather, worn door and hood struts, electrical glitches, and problems with the adaptive suspension.

A pre-purchase inspection from an Aston Martin specialist is essential. Find one with documented maintenance and evidence of careful ownership, not simply the lowest mileage or cheapest asking price.

What Else Could You Buy?

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Coupe: Review

There are plenty of alternatives to the Vanquish, although few offer quite the same combination of luxury, naturally aspirated V12 performance, and distinctive styling.

Some obvious choices include:

And while a used DB11 V12 offers more modern technology and greater outright performance, there's something appealing about the Vanquish's older, more analog personality.

Why The Aston Martin Vanquish Makes Sense

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Coupe: Review

The Aston Martin Vanquish isn't the fastest car you can buy for $100,000. It isn't the most practical, the most reliable, or the least expensive to maintain. But that's not really the point.

What do you think?

View

Comments

For roughly a third of what some examples cost when new, you can put a naturally aspirated V12 in your garage, wrapped in some of the most beautiful carbon-fiber bodywork Aston Martin ever created.

Yes, you'll have to budget for maintenance. And yes, the aging infotainment system will remind you exactly when the car was designed. But none of that matters very much when you fire up the V12, find an empty stretch of road, and let the engine sing.

More Why Buy

Remember The Ford Flex? This Weird SUV Is Now A Great Used Buy

The Porsche Macan Once Cost $80,000. Now It's A Used-Car Bargain: Why Buy?

A Used Toyota Tacoma Isn't Cheap. Here's Why It's Still Worth Buying

Why A Used Lexus LC 500 Is A Great Buy

2025 Aston Martin Vanquish Aston Martin Vanquish

Engine 5.9-Liter V12

Output 595 Horsepower / 465 Pound-Feet

Transmission Eight-Speed Automatic

Speed 0-60 MPH 3.5 Seconds

Maximum speed 201 Miles Per Hour

Drive Type Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Price $312,950 (2018)

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

Audi's Full-Size SUV Was Worth The Wait: Driven

Audi Reveals Which Models It Plans To Build In America

The 15 Best Movie Cars of All Time, Ranked

Mazda Drops The CX-70 For A Two-Row CX-90