• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Tesla Owners Stung by Capitalism
  • Mercedes Updates GLE Models for 2024 Model Year
  • First Look: Mazda’s Bigger, More Luxurious New CX-90
  • GM Net Income Rises for Q4 But Falls for Full Year 2022
  • GMC Launches Production of Hummer SUV; Needs Until 2024 to Fill Outstanding Orders
  • Vehicle Sales Up for January Despite Ongoing Challenges
  • Bidding Adieu to Bugatti’s W16 Engine
  • Ford “Significantly” Raising Production of Mustang Mach-E While Reducing Prices “Across the Board”
  • Week Ahead: Numbers, Numbers and More Numbers
  • The Rearview Mirror: All That the Name Implies
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R 4x4 Super Crew
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
    • First Drive: 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
    • A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
    • A Week With: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Suburban Z71
    • A Week With: 2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport
    • A Week With: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4Matic
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > reviews > First Drive: 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

        First Drive: 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

        The bratty, if brawny, younger brother of the line-up.

        Larry Printz
        Larry Printz , Assistant Managing Editor
        April 08, 2021
        The 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is derived from the coupe that debuted three years ago.

        We all know someone who has survived despite cataclysmically bad health or made poor decisions in life. And so it goes with Aston Martin. This is a company that very nearly went bankrupt for the EIGHTH time last year, having declared bankruptcy seven times since it was first incorporated in 1913. The company’s finances can be explained by their P&L statement — mostly L.

        Aston Martin lost $83.6 million in 2018, $144.4 million in 2019 and $96.4 million in 2020. But the company been restructuring after a mid-year cash infusion by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, and an increase in Daimler AG’s equity stake, now at 20%, up from 2.6%.

        That German influence can be seen at the top the company: the firm’s newest CEO, Tobias Moers, is the former chief executive officer of Mercedes-AMG, replacing Andy Palmer.

        Nevertheless, Aston Martin has been actively building on the Vantage GT’s racing success, after garnering 26 titles in 2020. It continues refining its entry-level sports car with the addition of a roadster to join its coupe counterpart.

        Overview

        The Vantage’s shape and tautly stretched skin accent a stance and demeanor that were shaped with two reasons in mind: speed and sex appeal.

        Do I have to mention that the Vantage is a sports car? Of course not. Its beguiling appearance broadcasts it, as does its forceful exhaust note. The coupe is derived from the newest Vantage that debuted in coupe form in the summer of 2018, right around the time the company launched its IPO on the London Stock Exchange. With the exception of changes made for going topless, the Roadster shares its bits with its older relative.

        Exterior

        Much like an athlete’s attire speaks to their profession, the Vantage’s shape and tautly stretched skin accent a stance and demeanor that were shaped with two reasons in mind: speed and sex appeal. The power top stows in just a few seconds, although finding the power top button is a challenge. For the uninitiated, it’s on the lower part of the driver’s door near the map pocket. How eccentrically British.

        “… Looking good costs money, and it clearly shows on this little lovely ….”

        Once it does, the Vantage Roadster is ready for its close-up — particularly in the test car’s $5,000 “Yellow Tag” paint, with $18,400 worth of carbon fiber, $1,600 worth of dark chrome, $3,100 gloss black diamond 20-inch snowflake wheels, with $1,600 yellow brake calipers.

        2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster cockpit
        The interior of the Vantage Roadster is simple and clean — ideal for a driver.

        Interior

        Climb inside and you’ll find space for two and but not much for accompanying lifestyle debris. There are two small cupholders, a shallow map pocket on each door and a vertical glovebox mounted between the two seats at the rear of the cabin.

        Of course, if you need to haul stuff, get a truck. This is a sports car. While some parts of this interior truly shine, such as the incredibly firm, supportive, yet all-day comfy seats, the cabin lacks the glamor of larger, pricier Astons thanks to some trim details that seem cheap, such as the air-conditioning vents.

        Powertrain

        Any misgivings you might have disappear once you hit the start button. That’s when the beast under the hood awakens, in this case, a Mercedes-AMG twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that generates a smile-inducing 503 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque through a rear-mounted ZF 8-speed automatic transmission on its way to the rear wheels.

        As in the coupe, not only does the engine carry over, so does the active suspension, torque vectoring, and limited-slip rear e-differential. And yes, there are driving modes, but this car’s mission is clear. You won’t find Comfort or Eco driving modes, only Sport, Sport+ and Track.

        Some parts of this interior truly shine, such as the incredibly firm, supportive, yet all-day comfy seats.

        Safety and Technology

        Thankfully, there are no driver-assistance aids, like lane-keeping assist. This is a true driver’s car.

        But there is an 8-inch flatscreen that anchors the instrument panel, controlled by a rotary knob and ancillary buttons on the center console for audio, navigation and Bluetooth. It’s clearly a Mercedes-Benz COMAND system hand-me-down, and somewhat of a letdown, which is perhaps why Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not offered, but you probably won’t care. The Vantage exhaust’s brawny baritone makes for an intoxicating symphony — one that you’ll rarely tire of hearing.

        Driving Impressions

        Despite 132 pounds of added weight due to the top mechanism and extra bracing required, Aston Martin states the Roadster hits 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, a mere two-tenths of a second slower to 60 than the coupe. Only track hounds will notice the difference. Top speed is 190 mph, 5 mph less than the coupe. Again, only Fast and Furious types will care.

        In a marque renowned for its comfortably fast, exquisitely built GTs, the Vantage is the bratty, if brawny, younger brother. The Vantage is all about performance, nimbly absorbing the worst road abrasions while remaining taut and entertaining, thanks to its adaptive damping system. Thankfully, the tail will dance when commanded while still allowing exquisite driver control.

        Popping through the different modes dials up the vehicle’s wild child nature; driver discretion is advised. Yet as fierce as this car performs, there’s an underlying civility that separates it from its Continental compatriots in other countries. There’s an ample supply of civility; this is still a GT, making this a whole mess of fun and comfort. Of course, there is road noise and tire noise, even when the snug roof is raised, but that’s to be expected.

        One final note: despite the AMG powerplant and Mercedes-Benz infotainment system, this doesn’t feel anything like a Mercedes-Benz, any more than an Aston’s last V-12 made the car feel like a Ford. After all, Aston’s V-12 was little more than the matrimony of a pair of Ford Duratec V6s.

        Wrap Up

        It’s easy to assail the Aston Martin for its minor flaws, such as the infotainment system. But that fits into its spot in the automotive marketplace. It’s a refined red-hot bauble for Blue Bloods, one that may not have cutting edge latest technology, but more than enough to be current. It’s a product of class production, not mass production and, like all Aston Martins, an automotive gem that’s meant to be savored.

         

        2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster wheel

         

         

         

         

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published
        2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8 best front

        A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8

        Jan. 25, 2023

        A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

        Jan. 20, 2023
        2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate best

        A Week With: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate

        Jan. 18, 2023

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        What Are You Looking For?

        See More
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: