Former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer once said it would be the last sports car manufacturer to offer a manual transmission.
That was then. New CEO Tobias Moers, who replaced Palmer in August 2020, just announced that Aston Martin will end the option by 2022 leaving the current Vantage coupe (not the Roadster) as the last car in the lineup to offer a manual.
Moers explained that there simply aren’t enough enthusiasts out there anymore who want to buy a manual Vantage.
What does this mean for the value of 2005-2022 manual Aston Martins?
If 2017 wasn’t the time to buy one of the VH platform manuals, now is really the time to buy one. If the Ferrari F430 6-speed serves as an example, these Aston Martins should hold their value well if not appreciate further.
The DBS has already increased by $50k in less than a year. Its pedigree as a DB car, production number of less than 1000 for the manual, and association to Daniel Craig’s James Bond seems to make this the more desirable than the Vantage. While the V12 Vantage was also limited at 1199 units for the 6-speed and another 100 with the 7-speed dog leg, it hasn’t enjoyed the same price leap. Nonetheless this model’s resale should do well in the years to come.
As for the 2018-2022 manual Vantages, reviews for the car have been mixed. Between the new turbo V8, the polarizing design, and the newness of the car, prices will fall before creeping up again.
