2015 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster GT

2015 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster GT

Episode 3502 , Episode 3514
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

You know the type: no matter how special a car some folks have, they’re always on the lookout for something…special-er. If that’s you, our next car is one you may not have thought of: the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster GT. Sure you could buy one just for the beauty, or even its rarity. But it’s a whole lot more special than that!

One look at the 2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster GT, and there’s no mistaking that it belongs in the legendary Aston Martin family.

But while traditional styling cues are obvious, and the overall look is far from fresh, there’s no denying this car is truly stunning; and proof that there is still plenty of shelf life left for a design that works this well. 

Sure it’s a beautiful, exotic sports car, but there’s a subtle gentlemanly manner about it that enables it to be appreciated by any age group and members of all income brackets.   

Of course it all flows from the iconic grillwork, here nicely trimmed in white and made of real aluminum, not chromed plastic. This Skyfall Silver livery features additional white accents throughout; and is 1 of 5 special paint schemes you can choose from. 

Things are clean and uncluttered in the rear, with Aston feeling the design speaks for itself, so no need for excessive badging. Though the added GT graphics package on our tester suggests otherwise. 

19-inch graphite forged alloy wheels wear 245-series rubber in front, 285 in the back. The fabric top is power operated and stores itself under a hard tonneau cover and also hides pop-up roll-over protection bars. 

Inside, it’s certainly GT car spacious, not the more cramped feeling of say a Corvette. The gauges resemble fine watch faces, and all interior switch gear have a solid, high quality feel. The leather is deep, lush, and even smells terrific. 

It’s not all great, though, as with hardly any miles on our test car, some interior surfaces are already showing significant wear. The screen for navigation rises from the top of the dash; while a central controller is mounted lower on the center stack. 

And as for options, how about a 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system for $8,330? 

But, trunk space for picking up whatever luxury items the typical Aston Martin customer picks up is fairly limited to just 5.0 cubic-ft. 

We were very pleased to see that our tester also sported a manual shifter! It engages swiftly and is accompanied by excellent clutch feel. The 6-speed can be replaced with a 7-speed automatic should you decide to wimp out. 

Classic British touches abound, like the outboard parking brake handle. But perhaps our favorite feature is sliding the crystal key into the ignition; as it reminds us of Superman accessing the Fortress of Solitude, and the results that it triggers are no less stunning. 

Power erupts from a 4.7-liter V8, and while it doesn’t have the bite of a supercharged Jaguar F-type, its bark is much nastier with a more realistic and primal sound. Make sure you engage Sport mode for full effect. Horsepower is 430; torque comes in at 361 lb-ft.

Our drive time was limited to a few days in the Garden State, so we weren’t able to hit the track, but Aston claims a 0-60 of 4.6-seconds and that seems spot on. 

The suspension is very tight for a GT, with ride quality easily on the firm side, falling just within daily driver parameters. It handles well enough to surprise, so you’ll need much more than sweeping back roads to find this car’s limits.

Horsepower numbers are certainly far from class leading, but as with most classic roadsters, power numbers are not the be-all-end-all. 

As at no matter which speed you’re travelling, this car feels like a true driver’s car; the proverbial extension of your driving soul, if you will. And can both help you remember the joy of driving and forget about whatever was bothering you before you got behind the wheel. 

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are about what you’d expect; gas guzzler tax worthy at 13-City, 19-Highway, 15-Combined. The Energy Impact Score is thus dismal at 22.0-barrels of annual oil consumption with CO2 emissions of 9.6-tons. 

Now for the good news, the V8 Vantage GT in Coupe form is actually the cheapest Aston Martin you can buy, starting at $104,425. Roadster guise of course, costs a bit more at $117,225.

Time may be winding down for this platform, but the 2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster GT still exudes appeal and sexiness that few manufactures can channel. And while you may choose to buy it based on looks alone; after spending only a little time driving it, you’ll quickly realize that motoring is this car’s greatest asset.

Specifications

  • Engine: 4.7 liter
  • Horsepower: 430
  • Torque: 361 lb-ft.
  • 0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
  • EPA: 13 mpg city/ 19 mpg highway,
  • Energy Impact: 22.0 barrels of oil/yr
  • CO2 Emissions: 9.6 tons/yr
2025 Honda Odyssey 13

2025 Honda Odyssey

The Ultimate Family Truckster Loses Base Trim, Gains Style

Episode 4434
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

Back in the day, before the dawn of the SUV era, the station wagon evolved into the minivan as the ultimate family vehicle. And there are still plenty of people living in the van ages, with good reason. Not only do they pack more features than ever, but many have even become quite premium in nature. Which brings us to this latest Honda Odyssey.

The Honda Odyssey has been on a people-pleasing crusade to make family life as easy as possible for Americans since 1995, and today exists as a true feature-packed oasis of space and flexibility in the desert of look-a-like SUVs. For 2025, this fifth-generation Odyssey, which has been on the streets since 2018, gets a host of updates to keep it at the top of the segment.

Upgraded style is part of the plan. Up front, there’s a new grille with a chunkier crossbar, along with a slightly different shape to make room for larger headlight lenses. The rear fascia gets its own reshaping; reflectors on the ends move from horizontal to vertical, and there is now a diffuser-style cutout in the bumper. All trims get new wheels ranging from 18 to 19 inches. Everything done to accentuate the Odyssey’s width and to portray a more premium vibe.

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Tech upgrades include a new 7-inch instrument cluster that brings back the look of actual gauges instead of just having a digital speed display. A high-mounted 9-inch touchscreen is now standard for infotainment and works with faster processing speeds. The optional Rear Entertainment System gets a big upgrade with a larger 12.8-inch his-res screen, along with improved functionality and connectivity.

Technically, there’s more standard content here than before, but in reality, it’s because they’ve removed the base EX from the lineup, this comes after removing the base LX 2 years ago. So, clearly Odyssey buyers are looking for lots of content, and that’s what they’ll find in Elite which remains the top option. It comes with two-tone ventilated leather seats, heated steering wheel, premium audio, and hands-free liftgate.

The Odyssey has remained one of the most entertaining [minivans] to drive.

Unlike many family vehicles, Honda doesn’t make you choose between three-place bench or two captain’s chairs, it gives you both with a bench that has a removable center section. There’s a great 32.8 cu.-ft. of space behind the third row, and 86.6 cu.-ft. after easily stowing them in the floor. Max capacity with the second-row seats removed is 140.7 cu.-ft.

Same VTEC single overhead cam version of Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 engine under the hood, with the same 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque that’s it’s been rocking out since 2018. It gave us plenty to work with at our Mason Dixon test track, feeling fine off the line with a 7.2-second 0-60 trip. Power delivery stayed consistent down the track; no real peaks or valleys, just a steady flow only briefly interrupted by quick gear changes in the 10-speed automatic transmission. Overall, just a smooth and steady quarter-mile experience that lasted 15.6 seconds, ending at 92 mph.

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Throughout the many comings and goings of vehicles in the minivan segment over the years, the Odyssey has remained one of the most entertaining to drive, providing lots of feedback, and responding quickly to steering inputs. But, the suspension is obviously tuned more for long distance comfort, so body roll and understeer will both eventually show up if you push too hard. No problems when pushing the brake pedal hard, as the Odyssey consistently came to well-controlled stops of 115 feet from 60 mph, with moderate nosedive.

For more important family vacation getaway maneuvers, the Odyssey remains a solid highway cruiser, with a quietness to it that rivals many luxury sedans, or just makes all that familia noise from the backseats seem all that much louder. Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 19 City, 28 Highway, and 22 Combined; we averaged a good 25 mpg of Regular. That’s an average Energy Impact Score; with use of 13.5 barrels of oil annually, with CO2 emissions of 6.5 tons.

With a base EX no longer in the mix, pricing now starts with EX-L at $43,670; top Elite goes for $52,630.
The Odyssey continues to dominate its segment. One third of all minivan sales are credited to a Honda dealership. We’re doubtful that will change anytime soon, as the 2025 Honda Odyssey not only packs in more and more of the features that families are looking for, but looks better than ever. It also remains one of the most engaging minivans to drive. Now, that’s a combination that’s hard to beat.

Specifications

As Tested

  • Engine: 3.5-liter V6
  • Transmission: 10-speed auto
  • Horsepower: 280
  • Torque: 262 lb-ft
  • EPA: 19 City | 28 Highway | 22 Combined
  • 0-60 mph: 7.2 seconds
  • 1/4 Mile: 15.6 seconds at 92 mph
  • Braking, 60-0 (avg): 115 feet
  • MW Fuel Economy: 25.0 mpg