I had a great weekend rekindling a bromance with my best mate from uni this weekend. Crazy how time flies and people grow up!

 

But to the point of this thread - he came to visit with his new Aston Martin Vantage S so we decided to spend most of Saturday exploring the B roads of Surrey in a 'sprightly' fashion! He's running 430bhp with a 4.2L V8.

 

Considering I'm running stock boost and don't have the benefit of traction control and a flappy paddle gearbox I was genuinely amazed at how well the Zed kept up with the Aston. Don't misunderstand me, the Aston was faster but he had to push it pretty damned hard to get any real distance between us!

 

I was lucky enough that he let me drive the Aston too at the end of the day and I'm surprised to say that I got out feeling very happy that I have my Zed! Yes the back end gets a bit happy around corners, the steering was comparatively much lighter than the Aston and there's turbo lag but boy is it so much more of an engaging drive than the Aston!

 

I was slightly worried that I'd be left yearning for a more prestigious car after his visit but I'm only more enamoured with the Zed. I just need to finish the suspension work and hopefully completely revamp the interior next year and I think I'll be a very happy boy!

 

I took my Go Pro out as well so have a lot of footage to review and edit together but here's a few pics from the day. I know I'm biased but I think the Zed puts up some good competition in the looks department to the Aston!! :drool:

 

 

 

very nice :) turn the boost up on yours and it'll walk all over the aston

Gotta say thats a very unremarkable looking Aston especially in the 2nd pic next to your lovely Zed. It almost makes the Aston look like a crappy crossover that is currently polluting Britain's roads.

Jaffa - hoping to do so very soon! I've been very bad in not getting the engine mapped since my Jimmer rebuild a few years ago. In the process of fixing some boost leaks but will be getting up to Noel asap!

For me the Aston would make a much more suitable everyday car. I certainly wouldn't have one as a weekend toy.

And visa-versa - I wouldn't have a 300 as an everyday car, only as a weekend toy.

 

But each to their own and all that.

I do like the Aston Martin, i still have an Aston Martin driving experience to book, which i got last crimbo, however the zed will always get more looks from people and as you say there isnt alot on the road that can compare with the grin factor.

I agree with you Lexx but only because the Aston was a 'point and shoot' drive versus the Zed.

 

But I wouldn't have a 2seater/coupe as an everyday car. For both my mate and I, these cars are weekend toys.

I love that pic over your bonnet chasing the Aston that looks smart:tongue_smilie:

 

A friend of mine had a standard Vantage that I keep ticking over once a month while he's away, he's removed a fuse that controls the exhaust valve bypass so it stays open all the time, the sound is phenomenal! I can't wait to get mine on the road and see how they compare

Edited August 19, 201312 yr by Eggs
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I love that pic over your bonnet chasing the Aston that looks smart:tongue_smilie:

 

A friend of mine had a standard Vantage that I keep ticking over once a month while he's away, he's removed a fuse that controls the exhaust valve bypass so it stays open all the time, the sound is phenomenal! I can't wait to get mine on the road and see how they compare

 

Yea, complete fluke! lol. I didn't think to take many photos as was so focused on the taking vids instead. But thanks :)

 

His V8 was an awesome sound to it...and all the way through the rev range too which I was a little jealous of. He put me to shame somewhat on the occasion we'd be driving through a tunnel/quiet village! lol...

I love that pic over your bonnet chasing the Aston that looks smart:tongue_smilie:

 

A friend of mine had a standard Vantage that I keep ticking over once a month while he's away, he's removed a fuse that controls the exhaust valve bypass so it stays open all the time, the sound is phenomenal! I can't wait to get mine on the road and see how they compare

whats the fuse called mate or were is it? cas i can then tell my brother to remove his fuse?>

I think there's a fusebox in the boot so i'd presume that one. Tell him to look in the handbook if he has one it should be pretty obvious from that, if not let me know and i'll send my mate an email

Once zeds are going, on the open road they do pull pretty good. It's that damn 0-40 part that's slow. I have to say Aston really bore me now, those and r8s must be some of the most popular performance cars, I see less m5s than r8s. Lets be honest you buy a car like that for Prestiege if it was purely about the performance there's a long list of things you would part with your money for. I did see an aventador the other week now that thing just blows your mind, mind you they should for that money.

Once zeds are going, on the open road they do pull pretty good. It's that damn 0-40 part that's slow. I have to say Aston really bore me now, those and r8s must be some of the most popular performance cars, I see less m5s than r8s. Lets be honest you buy a car like that for Prestiege if it was purely about the performance there's a long list of things you would part with your money for. I did see an aventador the other week now that thing just blows your mind, mind you they should for that money.

 

Lol...one of my other good mates bought a v10 R8 about a month ago! If only they'd all listened to me and just bought a Zed! haha