Retro-Comparo, Round 1:

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Vs.

Porsche 911 Turbo (997)

In this series we take a contemporary look at two classic rivals. The Porsche 911 has been an enduring icon of sports vehicles and a top contender for the hearts, minds, and wallets of would be buyers. We look back at some of those other contenders, explore what made them stand out at the time, and view them based on what they can offer today in terms of experience, style, and value. For comparison purposes the prices and specifications listed are from the model years of the pictured examples, along with performance numbers taken from the manufacturers press releases where possible.  

For this first edition we compare the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo. Both cars are equipped with a six speed manual transmission. 

When They Ruled the Showroom

V8 Vantage Price New (starting) : $120,850 While the earlier Vantage sported a 4.3 liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine, the later run saw that engine upsized to 4.7 liters. This bumped horsepower from 380 to 420. 0-60 was claimed at 4.7 seconds, along with a top speed of 180 MPH. Curb weight: 3610 lbs.

911 Turbo Price New (starting) : $130,795 The 997 was the last Turbo model to use the venerated Mezger architecture in its engine. The output was rated at 480 horsepower, with an overboost function that could slightly increase output for a few seconds. Claimed 0-60 was 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 193 MPH. Curb weight: 3720 lbs.

What the Press Said

Vantage Back in 2009, Motor Trend raved about the Aston’s interior appointments. “The cabin has so many luscious details: the leather-covered forward door frames curling up from the wide aluminum-covered rocker panels (...) the thick white stitching in the supple black leather, which is everywhere you look, not just in the form-fitting chairs…” A more plush car for your GT adventures to be sure. A little slower in the performance department than the 911, though with a price drop to match. Not all perfection though, as Car and Driver at the time mentioned being surprised at the cost of some options that maybe shouldn’t have been optional (like cruise control in 2009, really?)

911 Turbo At the time, Car and Driver was raving about the “steering that delivers more information than your credit report.” In a comparison against the then-new Nissan GT-R and a contemporary BMW M3, they said that it clearly stands out as the sports car of the group, saying “The classic 911 ASS MASS and the 92.5-inch wheelbase make for a weight-sensitive and reactive (but never twitchy) chassis.” Given similar reactions by other outlets at the time, it seems that despite its hefty price premium over its competitors, it delivered on a promise of performance that was deemed well worthwhile.

Neither car was particularly surprising at launch. These were two manufacturers releasing models built upon generations of tradition. Porsche pushed technical boundaries with a smaller, highly strung turbocharged engine, designed to shrink Germany with blistering autobahn speeds, pit-stopping for a quick lap of the Nurburgring along the way. Aston Martin continued a tradition of grand tourers made slightly too wide for Britains B-roads, instead perfect for the journey between London and Monte Carlo. While appealing to similarly deep pockets amongst potential buyers, these two could not be further apart in ideology. 

Motor Trend said it best when they declared: “Those in search of spectacular tailoring and engine fireworks will adore this new Aston Martin, Porsche however, has not a thing to worry about.”

 

Now That They’re old classic

Vantage Expect to pay (thousands USD): Coupes: 40-75  Convertibles: 30-60  With current pricing and performance on paper akin to a contemporary mustang GT, there’s no escaping the fact that part of the Aston Martin tradition is crippling depreciation. A curse upon the first handful of owners, a blessing on the rest of us. The V8 Vantage of this era offers something missing from new cars today, absolute class. The most classic of sports car formulas, dressed in a tailored suit, for pony car money.  While understood to be softer than some of its rivals at the time, compared to the modern Vantage this 2009 model delivers all of the style, and in many ways, far more of the charm. The relative mechanical simplicity of the formula; a front mid engined, naturally aspirated V8, and a manual transmission driving the rear wheels; along with hydraulic, mechanical steering and straight-forward suspension is something we long for in the cars of today.  If you can forgo the annoying ‘mod-cons’ of advertisement-laden satellite radio, and fancy radar cruise control, then this V8 Vantage can eat up the miles with the best of the best. The V8 Vantage still has plenty of power to make an entrance onto the freeway, with a glorious soundtrack to boot.

911 Turbo Expect to pay (thousands USD): Coupes: 90-140  Convertibles: 80-120  Looking at the performance numbers twenty years later you wouldn't be remiss wondering what Porsche has been doing. On the road, the facts and figures of the 997 and a modern 911 Turbo are barely separable. The used pricing echoes that head-scratching trend. In many ways the biggest contemporary competitor sales-wise for the 997 is the 991. This starts to make sense when we dive into what was lost in transition between the two.  The 997 turbo being the last generation of the Mezger engine all but guaranteed a future classic. Much like the Aston, this was a mechanical masterpiece of a motor, albeit dressed with the cutting edge of VTG turbocharger technology to deliver what is still considered exceptional performance . The 997 Turbo was the last generation starring the best combination of hydraulic power steering and a manual gearbox. Each drive is an occasion rewarding the driver with industry defining steering and shifting feedback.  There is an understanding that this edition was a highpoint of the 911 tradition. A last hurrah of the evolution of the aircooled engine with most of the kinks ironed out. This isn't a blast from the past; it is a scalpel as sharp today as it was on debut.

A Value Proposition

Regardless of the wicked speed of both vehicles, there is no outrunning the elephant in the room. In 2025 a 997 turbo is both twice the price of the Vantage, but also probably the ‘cheaper’ purchase. Over the last half decade or so we have seen a predictable year over year rise in 997 turbo values, while the Vantage market has for the most part flatlined. Sensibly bought and maintained, a 997 turbo owner can expect to sell the vehicle in a number of years and probably break even in real terms of spend and operating costs, enjoying the experience along the way. The V8 Vantage buyer of today can probably only expect back 80 cents on the dollar. 

Ignoring speculative values, the momentum starts swinging towards the Vantage. For half the entry price of the 997 you get an arguably much more exotic badge, and far fewer conversations explaining that you have “the good one.” If being parked front and center in your favourite local valet is important to you, the choice is clear. 

If driving is what you’re after, you could do a lot worse than either of these beautiful machines.