1998 Aston-Martin Vantage 600 Review and Performance Comparison

Aston-Martin Vantage Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1998 Aston-Martin Vantage 600 is a powered by a Petrol V 8. This variant of the Aston-Martin Vantage 600 is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 1998. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1999 Ariel Atom 300 Supercharged and the 1998 Mercedes CLK GTR 6.9 V12.

This particular Aston-Martin Vantage has a 5341cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Aston-Martin Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 8's include the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Vantage shares its Petrol V 8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Vantage's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1970 kgs (4343 lbs) places the Aston-Martin Vantage 600 in a similar weight category as the 2024 Mercedes GT GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ and the excellent 2024 Bugatti Tourbillon V16, give or take 50kg.

The Aston-Martin Vantage shares the same bhp with the 2025 Mercedes Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed Roadster (577 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 5341cc 32 valve, V 8 engine produces around 600 bhp (447 kW) @ 6700 rpm which is comparable to the 2025 Mercedes Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed Roadster (577 bhp) and also the 2025 Maserati MCPURA Cielo 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo (621 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V 8 throws out 600 lb-ft (813.4 Nm) @ 4400 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2025 Mercedes Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed Roadster (590 lb-ft) or the 2025 Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider (621 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1998 Aston-Martin Vantage in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series M5 CS 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 (329.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Aston-Martin Vantage.

The Aston-Martin Vantage has a power to weight ratio of 304.5 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1998 Vantage 600 means you're competing with the 2021 BMW 5 Series M5 CS 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 (329.4 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2012 Audi R8 Plus 5.2 V10 (329.4 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Aston-Martin Vantage 600 generates around 304.5 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (329.4 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S 991 (329.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Aston-Martin Vantage 600 can accelerate 0–60mph in 4.30 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 4.4 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Aston-Martin Vantage 600 include the 2024 Mercedes S Class 580 4MATIC (4.30 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2024 Mercedes S Class 500 4MATIC (4.30 secs).

The V 8 engine of the Aston-Martin Vantage 600 ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2024 Mercedes GT GT 43 (4.40 secs) and the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Aston-Martin Vantage 600 and the Mercedes GT C AMG Roadster

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1998 Aston-Martin Vantage can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.04 secs with a trap speed around 113.1 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Mercedes GT C AMG Roadster (12.05 seconds @ 113.0 mph) and a close race between the Porsche 911 GT3 3.8 991 (12.05 seconds @ 113.0 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1998 version of the Aston-Martin Vantage 600 has a maximum speed of 200mph.

Top Speed of the 1998 Vantage equals the Mercedes GT GT 63 S E Performance (199 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1998 Aston-Martin Vantage 600 then there's the slightly slower the Mercedes GT GT 63 S E Performance (199 mph) or how about the impressive Maserati MC20 Cielo (199 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 1998 Vantage Rivals List.
• 1998 Vantage: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Aston-Martin
• Compare the 1998 Aston-Martin Vantage