An Aston Martin Vanquish takes more than 396 man hours to build. Each car goes through around 2,000 stages of construction and uses eight cow hides for the interior trim.

It is facts like these that elevate the Vanquish from being merely a car to an automotive masterpiece. But unlike other examples of fine art, a Vanquish depreciates and you can pick up a used one for half the original price of £170,000.

Launched in March 2001, the Vanquish was the definitive Aston Martin. Hugely powerful, stunningly attractive, it persuaded the makers of the James Bond film Die Another Day to restore Aston to its rightful role of 007 car after a brief flirtation with a BMW. The 6 litre V12 engine produces an astonishing 460bhp, powering the car from 0-60mph in 4.9sec and a top speed of 196mph.

In true GT style the Vanquish makes light work of continental jaunts, relishing the cut and thrust of motorways and twisting mountain passes. An enormously rigid chassis allows the Vanquish to sit on slightly softer suspension than many other high-performance cars and long treks can be tackled in relative comfort.

But as with any supercar there are some compromises. Rear visibility is pretty poor through a small back window, and the standard-fit paddle shift gearbox is an acquired taste. You need to time your gearchanges with care to ensure the engine and gearbox work in harmony. The steering feels just about perfect and provides all-important feedback when you are pushing on at pace. The brakes, too, are hugely powerful.

In the flesh a Vanquish is an impressive sight, the squat body giving it a purposeful, almost menacing, expression. But big on the outside does not translate to big on the inside. The front seats are more comfortable than a Ferrari’s and more luxurious than a Porsche’s but headroom is limited. Boot space is also restricted.

When buying new, customers should pay the £1,500 extra for a 2+2 seating configuration. Although the rear seats are of little practical value — a trip from the villa to the casino in Monaco is about as far as you would want to travel in the rear of a Vanquish — they are good for resale.

Some buyers may be a little disappointed to find a few bits from the Jaguar parts bin adorning the Aston’s dashboard, but I’d rather accept the reliability of well-proven components than a prettier but possibly more fragile bespoke item.

When buying used, pay attention to the tyres. They are of massive size and massive cost and a car will eat a set in 6,000-10,000 miles. The service history on a used model should be impeccable, with original invoices detailing any work carried out, including warranty work.

The use of soft leather in the interior and the seats’ deep supportive sides combine to make them prone to wear. The leather needs feeding regularly. An Aston dealer will be able to help.

Always run the car through an HPI check for any outstanding finance or undeclared accident and police interest. Just because the car is very expensive doesn’t mean it can’t have a chequered history.

Boot space Tiny 226-litre boot limits the car's grand tourer aspirations

Exhaust note Fabulous V12 produces monumental soundtrack, particularly as the revs climb above 4000rpm

Rear bumpers Poor rearward visibility means you need to check for scrapes

Chassis Incredibly rigid chassis endows the car with superb handling and allows a relatively soft suspension set-up

Suspension Aluminium double wishbones front and rear reduce weight and handle poor road surface well

Brakes Powerful disc brakes produce enormous stopping ability but eat discs and pads

Steering Speed-sensitive system is beautifully weighted

Seats Optional rear seat creates 2+2 configuration but rear leg-room is still non-existent

Colours Titanium (a dark grey), green, silver and blue are most popular colours

Gearbox Effectively a six-speed clutchless manual but the dashboard-mounted button to engine reverse is awkward

Satellite navigation £1,795 option but it lacks the sophistication of a BMW or Lexus system

Insurance If you can afford the purchase price you can afford the group 20 insurance

Vital statistics

Model Aston Martin Vanquish 2+2
Engine 5935cc, V12
Power 460bhp
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel 16.9mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 4.9sec
Top speed 196mph

The one to buy

Aston Martin Vanquish 2+2 V12 coupé 2002 52 registration with 10,000 miles. Pay £106,250 at a main dealer or £100,000 privately

Or for similar money...

2004 53-reg Lamborghini Gallardo E-Gear

2004 04-reg Bentley GT

2004 04-reg Ferrari 575M

2004 04-reg Ferrari 360M F1

2005 05-reg Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet

Values: Aston Martin Vanquish 2+2 coupé



2+2 models are worth about £1,500 more than equivalent two-seater coupés. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer