The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster and the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabrio could not be more different. They are two answers to the same basic question, but their approaches and style of execution are so vastly different that you would most likely not cross-shop between them.
Right off the bat, the Aston is not and never will be faster than the 911, either on the track or out on the road. It may have a tad more power, but between its lower torque figure, old-fashioned gearbox and extra weight, there’s really no comparison.
Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe tries to save British pride here and tries putting the Aston in a different context – he says it sounds great (which it sure does), feels special and expensive and with 565 hp it’s still fast enough for even the most spirited of drives.
You won’t reach your destination as quickly and effortlessly as you do in the Porsche, but there is a chance your smile will be greater.