10 years on, there's not much quite as thrilling as a 7-speed, 12-cylinder Aston Martin
10 years on, there's not much quite as thrilling as a 7-speed, 12-cylinder Aston MartinThere’s no powertrain configuration out there quite as glamorous as the manual V12. There’s all the power and theatre of a dozen cylinders, with the control and excitement of pairing the potency with your own gearshifts.
Ferrari is probably the most famous exponent of the manual V12, but it’s not the cheapest way into it - not with 456 values having been brought up of late. Thanks to cars like the DB7 Vantage and DB9, however, Aston Martin still represents the most affordable way into a V12 with three pedals. In very handsome cars, too,. Sure, the engine may not be the most thoroughbred of V12s, and it’s a brave soul who takes a punt on a 25-year-old British super GT, though it’s always going to remain a very appealing prospect. Until they’re £40k and you’re kicking yourself at missing the opportunity. is very far from the cheapest Aston Martin with a manual and a V12, though it could well still be the most desirable. The first V12 Vantage was a bit of a brute all things considered, and was noticeably improved with the ‘S’ overhaul of 2013, which revised the suspension and steering as well as freeing some extra power for a better driving Vantage. But the six-speed manual had gone in favour of a Speedshift auto, and that was worse. It was so near and yet so far for the V12 S. The introduction of the seven-speed manual in 2016 finally brought the best from the package: the interaction of a clutch pedal and lever, with a properly honed chassis. Better late than never at all. It was a fitting farewell for a much loved era; not the fastest car point to point, but hugely involving, as capable as anyone would really need, and very cool. To nobody’s surprise, the manual S V12s are now significantly more valuable than the original cars and the later Speedshifts. Both of those are available for £70k or less, and what a huge amount of style, swagger and speed that’s going to buy. But to get a seven-speed manual, more than £100,000 is needed; there are fewer of them, and they’re the best ones, so it stands to reason. As a 2018 car this must be one of the last, and the colourway is very special: £14k was spent to add the yellow accents inside and out against the Heritage Racing Green that are intended to evoke the DB4 GT. That was commissioned by its only owner, who’s driven it just 25,000 miles and always serviced it at Aston Martin Works. Just the kind of connoisseur to whom a V12 S manual would appeal. Every MOT has been flawless, of course, as is the overall condition. So it’s for sale at £134,000, or barely any less than the original RRP. That’s the power of a fabulous manual V12.
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