2023 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is the most affordable way to get behind the wheel of a drop-top from the British brand. Yes, nobody wants to think "affordable" when assessing an Aston, but fortunately, the Vantage Roadster has enough panache and performance to earn that famous badge on the nose. Although there is a very limited-run V12 Vantage Roadster now, the standard Vantage Roadster uses a twin-turbocharged V8 from Mercedes-AMG that pumps out 503 horsepower. The 0-60 mph time is as low as 3.6 seconds in the case of the 527-hp F1 Edition. For similar money, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet is faster and more dynamically accomplished in GTS guise, but the Vantage has a more charismatic engine and a snazzier design. That's not to say that the Vantage Roadster doesn't come alive in its own distinctive way through the curves. The downsides include an unsettled ride at times and an interior that, while stylish, could do with more refined finishes for the price. Still, it's an Aston, and it lives up to expectations pretty well.

The base Vantage Roadster uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with 503 hp and 505 lb-ft of torque. Power goes to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V8 is sourced from Mercedes-AMG and sounds absolutely glorious as it motivates the drop-top from 0-62 mph in just 3.8 seconds. With 527 hp, the even more potent F1 Edition gets to 62 mph a tenth of a second quicker. Aston has also quoted the more common 0-60 time for the F1 Edition as being 3.6 seconds.

Although not as dynamically gifted as an all-out sports car nor as comfortable as some other GTs, the Vantage Roadster strikes a decent balance between the two. In Track mode, the driver can initiate some oversteer when pressing on, which, combined with the slightly too light but accurate steering, makes the Vantage a lot of fun. Cowl shakes haven't been entirely eliminated from the convertible's structure, but it's not bad enough to unsettle your progress.

On smooth surfaces, the 2023 Vantage Roadster is comfortable and quite civilized, but harsher bumps will filter through to the cabin, and road noise isn't entirely kept at bay. Obviously, lowering the roof is fun on sunny days but will make holding a conversation with your passenger more challenging at higher speeds. We also recommend keeping the roof close if you're ever in a position to chase the top speed of 190 mph.

For a more buttoned-down experience, the F1 Edition comes with not only more power but superior feedback through the major controls. It's stiffer, and the damping has been revised, while the wheels are larger. The cumulative effect of these changes can be felt when driving at the limit.

Looking at the 2023 Aston Martin Roadster's competitors in the USA, it's clear that the British car doesn't exactly blow them out of the water. That list includes the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and Porsche 911 Cabriolet. The Merc is better equipped, and the quality is superior, while the Porsche simply drives better. In fact, it's a bit of a challenge to find one area where the Aston truly dominates. Perhaps the Aston's superiority is in the intangibles: that badge has plenty of cachet and this is a truly pretty convertible. The V8 will never disappoint, and the V12 model will surely elevate the driving experience further. We just wish that Aston Martin took more time polishing the finer details like the interior tech and the ride. At over $150,000 before options, these flaws stick out more than they would in a cheaper car. As it is, the new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is a very good luxury drop-top, but it stops short of being a great one.