Cars & Bids Bargain of the Week: 2012 Aston Martin Virage

2012 Aston Martin Virage on Cars & Bids article highlights:

• The 2011-2012 Aston Martin Virage was an unsuccessful attempt to make a car in between the DBS and DB9
• One of the 1000-or-so examples is currently listed on Cars & Bids
• Although not cosmetically perfect, this used 2012 Aston Martin Virage has a below-average price and extensive service records

We all know Aston Martin is a beloved spy’s favorite supercar brand, but you don’t need to ball like Bond to score a ride. Although new Aston Martins are six-figure cars, used ones are often surprisingly cheap. And no, I don’t just mean the V8 Vantage. There’s another such affordable Aston Martin listed this week on Cars & Bids: a 2012 Virage.

The 2011-2012 Aston Martin Virage tried combining the DBS’s sportiness and the DB9’s comfort

2011 Aston Martin Virage | Jean-Marc ZAORSKI/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Like many automakers, Aston Martin sometimes recycles old names. For example, the original V8 Vantage debuted in 1977. However, you may have forgotten about one of its more recent revivals, the 2011-2012 Virage. But given what the car was supposed to be, that’s rather understandable.

In the 1990s, the Aston Martin Virage was the brand’s flagship model. And although the U.S. missed most of its production run, the OG Virage filled the role rather well. Its 2011-2012 descendant, though, had a very different role: hair splitter.

See, Aston Martin created the Virage as a stopgap between the grand-touring-oriented DB9 and the sportier DBS. So, it’s more powerful than the DB9 but less powerful than the DBS, though its torque specs match the latter. Also, Aston tuned its springs and Bilstein adaptive shocks to fall somewhere in-between the DBS and DB9, Car and Driver explains. In addition, it has the same vented Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes as the DBS, though it doesn’t have as much carbon fiber.

However, the Virage uses the same aluminum chassis and ZF automatic (with model-specific tuning) as the DB9/DBS. Plus, though it’s tuned differently, it has the same V12 engine as those other cars. As a result, the Virage drives, well, like a slightly sportier DB9. In other words, well-balanced, with communicative steering, fluid and controlled body motions, and ridiculously strong brakes, Car and Driver reports. And because its Bilstein shocks are tuned softer than the DBS’s dampers, occupants can better enjoy the rich Bridge of Weir leather and real-metal trim.

But all these strengths couldn’t overcome the 2011-2012 Aston Martin Virage’s biggest flaw: redundancy. Not only was it more expensive than the DB9, but it didn’t look significantly different and wasn’t a better GT. Furthermore, it wasn’t sporty enough for the people who wanted the sportier, more expensive DBS in the first place.

One of these ‘forgotten’ Astons is up for grabs on Cars & Bids

2012 Aston Martin Virage | Cars & Bids

Basically, the Virage was a niche that no one wanted filled; it split Aston’s hairs too finely. Hence why it only lasted two years and why Aston only built about 1000 examples. However, these used Aston Martins occasionally pop up for sale. And this week, there’s a 2012 model listed on Cars & Bids.

In addition to the previously-mentioned features, this 2012 Aston Martin Virage has heated seats, navigation, Bluetooth, front and rear parking sensors, and a Bang & Olufsen Beosound audio system with a six-disc CD changer. Also, it packs a carbon-fiber driveshaft, trunk-mounted umbrella, stainless-steel active exhaust, walnut-wood trim, bi-xenon headlights, LED taillights, and heated power-folding side mirrors.

Plus, this car has a few aftermarket add-ons: a Kenwood rearview camera, Thinkware U1000 front and rear dashcams, and a CC Charger remote for the active exhaust. It has protective film on its headlights, too, as well as a full ceramic coating.

2012 Aston Martin Virage front interior | Cars & Bids

Admittedly, this 2012 Aston Martin Virage has a few flaws. The front-seat leather is a little loose and discolored and the headlight protective film is a bit pitted. The piano-black dashboard veneer trim has a few cracks, too, and the seller says the rear differential makes a grinding noise during tight turns. However, Cars & Bids notes that other contemporary Astons’ diffs made these noises, too, and that it doesn’t signal a problem. But reportedly, using a differential fluid with limited-slip-specific additives fixes the issue.

On the plus side, this used Aston Martin only has 14,200 miles on the clock. Furthermore, it comes with a clean history, factory battery conditioner, all three keys, and plenty of service records. The seller changed the brake and differential fluids as well as the engine oil in December 2021. And in addition to new fluids and a fuel injector cleaning, this Virage received a new alarm module, door shocks, TPMS sensors, washer jet nozzles, and tires in 2020.  

Will an affordable used Aston Martin Virage be reliable?

As of this writing, this 2012 Aston Martin Virage is listed at $45,250 with four days left in the auction. Please note that in 2012, it stickered at $230,982. It’s also worth keeping in mind that the other Virages Cars & Bids sold cost $20,000-$25,000 more. And finally, the cheapest Virage Coupe currently listed on Autotrader costs just $80,000. So, yeah, this is a certified Aston bargain.

Now, a depreciated used Aston Martin is still a high-end car, so potential bidders should get a pre-purchase inspection. Also, although Astons from this era use some Ford parts, not all their parts are that cheap. Case in point, those fancy carbon-ceramic brakes, though cheaper steel replacements are available.

However, if you regularly exercise and maintain them, the DBS and DB9 are pretty stout, especially the later-built ones. And since it shares most of those cars’ components, the Virage should be, too. So, this car might be a way to get into a rare Aston without breaking the bank.

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Keyword: Cars & Bids Bargain of the Week: 2012 Aston Martin Virage