The Smoking Tire's Matt Farah loves the Vanquish. He's owned a first-gen model for the best part of a decade so when Aston Martin announced it was reviving the nameplate for 2014 the portly presenter was keen to squeeze his considerable bulk behind the new leather-clad steering wheel and take it for a spin. With a $280,000 asking price, buyers will have to decide whether the hand-built Grand Tourer represents better value than the more opulent Bentley Continental GT or sexier Ferrari 458 Italia.

Farah thinks it comes down to the statement you want to make as a well-healed driver. The sound and sophistication of the 6.0-liter V12, rated at 565 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, is hard to resist. But if your all about lap and drag times, better look elsewhere.