Aston Martin DBS Volante: Beautiful looks and raucous sound

1.602336-3341572429 — There is a lot of character tech in there, but it's still a boulevard cruiser. Although a very, very good one. Image Credit: Supplied

If I had to describe the DBS Volante in one word, it would be ‘gorgeous'. Not awesome or astonishing. Gorgeous. It's one of those cars that you want rather than need. If you need a fast exotic droptop, you buy the Ferrari California, the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder or the superb new Audi R8 Spyder. When it comes to dynamics, the Italians and the Germans will blow this Brit cruiser out of the water.

But how does it stack up against its closest rival, the front-engined California? With its 4.3-litre direct injected and normally aspirated V8, the Fezza develops 454bhp and will demolish the 100kph marker in 4.1 seconds. Now to put that into perspective, the DBS Volante will despatch the same run in 4.3 seconds. One tenth slower than a two-tonne Porsche Panamera Turbo (it didn't win our 2009 Best Super Saloon award for nothing). Naturally you would expect the Aston to be much cheaper than the Ferrari, but, it is bafflingly more expensive.

You get more of everything for much less money in the Cali. So with your sensible hat on, that's the car you'll buy if you need a convertible supercar. Why then, you must be thinking, would anyone even consider the DBS? Simple: it's beautiful, plus it's an Aston. People who buy an Aston Martin want an Aston Martin. Period. The DBS's super spy connotations, the glorious V12 wail and the fact that it's actually a very, very good car are just an added bonus.

The 6.0-litre V12, plucked out of the DBS coupé, makes a very un-brashish 510bhp, but the way it goes about its business is remarkable. No matter where the rev needle is, there's always bucket-loads of torque at the disposal of your right foot. What's even better though, is the way it sounds. It's brutal and sweet at the same time. Sort of like a hybrid between a racecar and a cello — if such a thing exists. Drive through a tunnel with the roof down once and I promise you will never want to listen to the radio again.

The six-speed ZF transaxle is faster too, swapping cogs in milliseconds, but a PDK it still ain't. The handling is near perfect (although not as good as the coupé), the steering is crisp and chunky and the ride is good enough for a supercar. To sum it up, the DBS Volante is a great car but it's still far from perfect. The interior quality could be better, the performance isn't earth-shattering and the price, astronomical. It just doesn't add up. Or does it? Take a good look at the images on this page. Don't be shy, stare away. Now, would you rather have this or a dainty California? Bet it's the DBS. It's a decision you cannot rationalise. And I perfectly understand where you're coming from.

Specs & rating