2006 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish: Extreme Everything

I've yet to be disappointed by a European car. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe I just always pick the good ones, or maybe the Europeans only send their best to the states. Aston Martin, though British in make, is a pretty big name in the states, and not just because of their combination of the highest possible performance and luxury. James Bond made history with the Aston Martin DB-5, and although the V12 Vanquish doesn't offer a smokescreen or missile launcher options, it doesn't fail to live up to the Aston Martin name; if anything, it sets a new standard.

I admit I'm a little biased; the specific Vanquish I got to drive was my favorite combination of black paint on black interior. I've always been a fan of the 'evil car' look, and it certainly delivered. Unlike other supercar makers, Aston Martin doesn't offer the Vanquish in bright and flashy attention-grabbing colors like yellow and orange, and it really doesn't need them. A solid black or white makes the beautiful engineering stand out better than it would with a lime green, and the metallic-paint choices aren't too shabby either. Like I said, the one I drove was coincidentally exactly what I'd want with an Aston Martin, but the other options I took a look at were all extremely gorgeous. If looks are important to you in your supercar purchasing decisions, the V12 Vanquish passes with flying colors, albeit low-key ones.

The interior was much roomier than I expected, and standing at 6'1" I fit very comfortably. High quality leather, a very well laid out dashboard, and the thrill of simply sitting behind the wheel; all these things combined make for an exhilarating experience, both in the city and on the speedway. Did you really expect any less?