Aston Martin is one of the greatest sports car and GT car manufacturers on the planet and has made some pretty good cars. Unfortunately, as with all automakers, Aston has also produced some questionable models – mostly due to financial constraints or part-sharing with its various parent companies.
Aston Martin started out in 1913 building race cars and grand tourers. In the 1950s, the British marque became known for their comfortable and fast GT cars and powerful engines, eventually leading to the DB5 becoming the iconic choice of vehicle for James Bond 007. The company went through many difficult times – mostly relating to economic recessions – and was bought by different companies through the years, including the Ford Motor Company. Aston Martin also has an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to use their AMG engines in cars – specifically the 4.0-liter twin-turbo M177 V8.
While Aston Martin may not have had the easiest of pasts, their cars have become British cultural icons and have still been able to compete with the very best the rest of the luxury GT segment has to offer. The company is even showing profits since 2017, after more than two decades of loss. With that, here are five Aston Martin models we’d definitely buy used and three we’d rather stay away from.
8 We’d Buy – DB9
The Aston Martin DB9 was one of the best grand tourers on sale between 2004 and 2016. It was only available as a luxury model and was fitted with Aston Martin’s fabulous 5.9-liter naturally aspirated V12. The car was available with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed semi-automatic transmission.
In 2012, the DB9 got a major update, replacing the short-lived Virage. The refresh involved a new platform, new styling, and better features. No matter which version of the DB9 a potential customer would look at, it is a fantastic car.
7 We’d Buy – DBS V12
The DBS V12 was the DB9’s sportier model. The DBS featured a wider body and more aggressive styling to accentuate its sportiness as well as a performance increase from the engine – still the 5.9-liter naturally aspirated V12.
The DBS was available with an automatic, but we recommend getting the manual to get the best out of the car. This combined the luxury and comfort aspect of the GT side of the car as well as the involvement of shifting gears with the sports car side – resulting in a car perfect for a super spy. Wink-wink.
6 We’d Buy – V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is one of the best luxury sports cars. Featuring a 4.3 or 4.7-liter V8 – depending on the model year – and available with a manual gearbox, the V8 Vantage looks great, drives great, and sounds great.
The V8 Vantage is perfect for anyone who wants a luxury sports car with an elegant body, throaty exhaust sound, and a proper sports car experience. The Vantage was even updated with a larger engine and better features.
5 We’d Buy – Rapide S
The Rapide was Aston Martin’s modern version of their classic four-door Lagonda from the 1960s. The modern Rapide was based on a stretched version of the DB9’s platform and shared many of its parts. It was styled to fall in line perfectly with the rest of the Aston Martin lineup, simply looking like a four-door DB9.
The Rapide was only available with the company’s 5.9-liter V12 – but in different states of tune based on the trim levels. Power was sent to the rear wheels only via a 6-speed automatic, which was later upgraded to an 8-speed. The Rapide was discontinued in 2020 to make way for the DBX SUV, right before Aston Martin was to release an electric version.
4 We'd Buy – DB7
The Aston Martin DB7 is one of the most successful models in the British marque’s history. It sold well over 7,000 units between 1994 and 2004, mostly thanks to the two engine choices. The DB7 was available with either a 5.9-liter V12 from the Vanquish or a supercharged inline-6 from Jaguar.
The DB7 was the car that saved Aston Martin from financial ruin and even went on to help Jaguar with their troubles as the DB7 shared many components with the Jaguar XK. Even though the DB7 has a great history, getting parts for the car and completing maintenance is a difficult task and can quickly get very expensive. Still, these cars are some of the biggest supercar bargains on the used market.
3 Stay Away – Cygnet
The Aston Martin Cygnet came along after the company was forced to comply with new European emissions regulations. Aston Martin asked Toyota if they could use one of their cars – the IQ – and spice it up. Toyota agreed, and the Cygnet was born.
The Cygnet had the same drivetrain as the IQ – a 97 hp 1.3-liter inline-4 – but had modified exterior panels and a new interior designed to follow the Aston Martin ethos. The Cygnet was discontinued after just two years on sale as they only sold around 300 units instead of the proposed 4,000 a year.
2 Stay Away – Vanquish
The Vanquish was the epitome of the Aston Martin range in the 1990s and early 2000s. It was designed as the biggest, most powerful, and most luxurious model offered by the company. While it was all these things, it lacked the handling to accompany the brutish force under the hood.
Aston Martin released a Vanquish S with the focus on fixing the handling, but even then, it did not quite do it. Ian Callum, the man behind the Vanquish, set up Callum Design and went about fixing the Vanquish. The only unfortunate part is that the Vanquish 25 – Callum Design’s car – costs about three times what a brand-new DBS costs. Ouch.
1 Stay Away – Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda is a car that very few people like, but the ones who do like it a lot. Designed in the early 1970s, the Lagonda was a return to form for the British automaker and was supposed to help avoid bankruptcy. As with most high-end cars of this era, it was wedge-shaped with some pretty weird features.
The Lagonda was the first car to have a fully digital instrument cluster. The car's electronics alone cost around three times more than the entire budget – and they rarely worked properly. The Lagonda was also a huge sedan, but the interior was compact and uncomfortable.