The first `V8 Vantage Roadster` takes the idea of the small Aston sports car and adds a more hedonistic layer to it. With the `4.3-litre V8`, a very rearward driving position and a fabric hood, it is more about sensations than absolute efficiency. A later Jaguar F-Type feels more modern, but the little Aston still carries a lighter, more handcrafted appeal.
This roadster remains fairly firm and serious in the chassis, which avoids the usual softened-convertible feeling, but it also means the hood, seals and body structure need close attention. The `4.3` engine and transaxle drivetrain feel vivid only when maintenance has been kept up and the car has not spent too long parked. Plenty of examples look attractive without delivering the discipline the drive should reveal.