2004 Aston Martin Vanquish 5.9L Petrol · C1 SCV

Fuel economy for the 5935cc V12 Vanquish typically sits in the mid-teens at best, with owners reporting around 14-18 mpg in mixed use and worse under performance driving. Road tax for a 5935cc petrol car of this age falls into the higher brackets, and insurance will be expensive given the vehicle's value, performance and specialist status — expect a premium well into four figures annually for comprehensive cover.

Typical maintenance costs are substantial. A major service on a Vanquish V12 can easily exceed £2,000-£3,000 at a specialist, and tyres, brake discs and pads are larger and pricier than on mainstream cars. Allowing for fuel, tax, insurance, servicing and a contingency for V12-related repairs, an annual running cost estimate of £6,000-£9,000 is realistic for an owner who actually drives the car. Buyers planning only light use may see somewhat lower servicing costs but will still face high fixed overheads.

Prioritise a diagnostic scan of the supplementary restraint system to confirm the airbag warning lamp fault recorded in January 2025 has been genuinely resolved rather than simply cleared. The clutch pedal assembly is a known weak point on the Vanquish due to the automated manual 'Touchtronic' transmission mechanism, so test for smooth gear changes and any slipping. Inspect the aluminium body panels carefully for delamination — the 2026 test flagged delamination to the offside front aluminium bell, and corrosion of bonded aluminium is a known issue on these cars.

Check the anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and rear shock absorber bushes in person, as both have appeared as advisories or failures recently. Examine all four tyres closely for cracking, cuts and age-related perished rubber; tyres on a car that has covered only 19,618 miles may still be old and degraded from age rather than wear. Finally, verify the condition of the brake discs on all four corners and budget for replacement given the wear advisories on the most recent test.