By Kerry Hayes, Photography Nic Baleta
When you receive an invitation to test-drive an Aston Martin, there is only one response: when and what time (and will James Bond be there)?
The Daytona Group, in association with RMB Private Bank, gave limited members of the media the choice of one of five vehicles to drive: the Rolls Royce Ghost, McLaren MP4-12C, or an Aston Martin Vantage S, Rapide or Virage Coupé.
The choice was tough, and I was torn between the McLaren and the Aston Martin Virage – feed my wild side, or indulge in pure luxury, elegance and beauty? Clearly, the latter won out, and I rolled into the Club House parking lot, barely parking like a licensed driver, so distracted was I by the magnificent vehicles waiting to be driven.
My driving partner, Nicolas Naylor from Aston Martin, led the way to the silver beauty.
The body of the Virage is smooth and neat, with clean lines creating a sweeping effect from headlights to tail-end, breathing a quiet potency even at rest.
Being a very aesthetics-aware person, I found the interiors stunning and practical. From the rich, hand-stitched leather to the central panel neatly containing all the major controls, the cockpit brings ergonomics and style together, setting the tone for a comfortable, luxurious and easy drive.
To start the Virage, you insert the stainless steel and glass key fully into the ignition slot. That’s the sum total of the “hard work” you need to do to drive this vehicle – from then on, it’s the touch of a button (literally) on the dash to change gears.
The first flush up your spine happens when you start the car. The low growl and throaty hum, so signature of an Aston Martin, make you feel like you are in a racing car on the Monaco race track. The second, was when we turned a corner and Nic said this was my stretch to test the power and speed of the car. I took that at face value, and simply put my foot down all the way – proving that the Virage does indeed go from 0 to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.
The responsiveness of the car to command, and sensitivity to the driver, were phenomenal – you wouldn’t think you were backing a powerful V12 engine. The comfort and luxury of the drive made bumps and wobbles in the road hardly noticeable. I was also impressed by the brakes, which responded neatly, quickly, but gently.
As a mother, I was more interested in the practical functions than things like torque and ratios, which I posed to Nic while cruising back to the Houghton Golf Club.
How far can I drive before having to fill up my tank?
That depends on whether you’re doing urban driving, or driving longer stretches: 22.3 litres per 100km urban driving, and 10.8 litres per 100km extra-urban (wow that’s a big difference!). And that’s on a 78-litre tank!
If I have a problem with my Aston, can it be serviced with ease?
Absolutely! The Daytona Group holds the South African Aston Martin franchise, with showrooms in Sandton, Johannesburg, and the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, with service managers available at both branches to assist with any queries.
The Virage is a coupé, so there’s a nice place at the back for my handbag. What about my shopping and toddler?
Surprisingly, the boot space in the Virage is quite generous as coupés go. At 184 litres, you can shop for the week with ease. As for the toddler – you’ll have to leave her and her car seat for the Rapide (the luxury sedan).
I am a big technoid when it comes to in-car entertainment – does the Virage have all the bells and whistles to keep me entertained and going in the right direction?
From iPod port (and I love my iPod), to in-built Bluetooth,USB connector to smart fold-away satellite navigation screen – all of this encased in a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound system…what more could a girl want?
Other tidbits of interesting information that Nic shared with me included:
- Maximum speed: 299km/hour (I’ll let you know the day I prove that one)
- Six-speed automatic gearbox
- Steering circle of 11,6m (which brings my parallel-parking problems to an end)
- Emergency brake assist
- Memory seats and exterior mirrors (you can save up to 3 different settings)
- One of my favourites – heated seats, for those cold winter mornings on the morning stretch to work
- Tyre pressure monitor – I find this incredibly useful if I have a slow puncture or tyre problem; alerted in advance so I don’t get stuck on the side of the road
- Boot-mounted umbrella – so you’ll never again be caught out by a rainy day
With a final swoop through the entrance of the golf estate, I gently steered the Virage back to the club house to await the next test driver, and with a sigh and a few yearning backward glances, left a magnificent vehicle that I would be more than proud to call my own.
The results are in, and the Ed says…
I am very impressed by this Aston Martin, and rate it highly as a comfortable, safe and magnificent vehicle, from the outside in. Do consider another model, however, if this is to be your family car – it encourages a more intimate drive, so take your spouse on that much needed weekend away and keep the 4×4 for family outings. So, shaken or stirred? With the Virage – both…
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