If you weren't able to see the two side-by-side, what's the best way to tell an Aston Martin V8 Vantage from a DB9? Based on photos, I'm having difficulty picking out unique styling cues. Simply the size of the two cars seems to be the most obvious difference, and that's hard to tell without seeing them next to eachother.

I ask because I saw three of them (yellow, dark grey, light grey) driving around the same area last night and I originally thought they were AMV8s, but now I'm not so sure. (The yellow, by the way, looks absolutely amazing on that car.)

 

I have to say I find it hard to tell the new Astons apart. I've seen the DB9 once at the track and it seems to be longer, more GT-esque than the V8. Think Ferrari 612 vs 599.

 

I agree they both have similar features and differ in proportion and details.

Here is a good tip from the front.

THe DB9 has two openings on either side of the lower grill opening.



The Vantage lacks these and just have the upper and lower main grill openings





For the rear it's easy

The DB9 has a trunk mounted license mount



While the Vantage has it's plate on the bumper

 

Oh if it was Yellow it must have been a Vantage because the DB9 does not come in that Yellow.

 

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of either new Aston. The company's trademark look really seems to have been watered down. I think the Jag XK is a better looker than the DB9. The Vanquish is still the best looking Aston.

Regarding colors, I thought you could order any color you wanted on an Aston. I remember reading that their color palette was something like 20,000 colors or something.

 

Right I forgot about that color matching thing they can do.

Yellow is not one of the "normal" colors for the DB9

http://www.astonmartin.com/configurator/db...td=UL&x=14&y=5#

 

I have seen both up close & right next to each other. Big difference visually when they are together. The DB9 is much longer, more elegant looking. The Vantage V8 just seemed like a cut rate Aston when it was sitting next to the DB9.

 

The DB9 has a crease at the bottom of the door. The Vantage does not.

 

On it's own the V8 looks great, next to the DB9 it looks cut off and unfinished.