Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante 2007

Spotted in Sale a few weeks ago, this Aston Martin V8 Vantage convertible. It obviously has a 4.3 V8 engine under the bonnet which produces 380bhp. 0-62 takes 4.9 seconds and top speed of 175mph or 282km/h. This makes me think that I went to have a look round the Wilmslow dealership a couple of days ago and once again the people there were fantastic: very helpful, knowledgeable and passionate. It might look scary to go in one of these showrooms thinking you cannot afford anything there but they still remain "shops". You wouldn't think twice about going round a clothes shop and leaving it empty-handed thinking the clothes are too expensive, would you? Or would you hesitate to go into a museum to admire works of art? Probably not. Just try, go in, have a look around and remember the sales specialists there are car enthusiasts too who love sharing their passion (and generally cannot afford to drive these cars either!)

http://www.stratstone.com/dealers/aston-martin-dealer-stratstone-aston-martin-wilmslow-328.html 

Lamborghini Aventador 2014

Today a Lamborghini Aventador spotted along the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris. The Aventador is the lastest "big Lambo" with a 6.5 V12 engine developing 700bhp. 0 to 62mph is reached in only 2.9 seconds and the top speed of the beautiful Italian is 217mph or 349km/h. Spray it black and I reckon you end up with a brand new "Batmobile"!

Honda NSX 1999

Spotted about a month ago outside of House of Fraser Manchester this Honda NSX Targa with what looks like a Mugen bodykit on. This NSX has a 3.2 V6 engine with 280bhp which allows it to reach 62mph in just 5.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 170mph or 274km/h. Rowan Atkinson used to drive one but I bet it wasn't bright orange!

BMW i8 2014

After another 3 weeks without a post, this one is definitely worth it. First one I've ever seen, the new BMW i8 spotted a couple of weeks ago in Manchester. It is one of the first hybrid sports car I see on the streets. Powered by a 1.5 turbocharged 3-cylinder engine as well as a 129bhp electric engine, the i8 boasts a 0-62 in just 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 155mph or 250km/h but the most impressive is that the BMW could achieve an average fuel consumption of around 135mpg with 49g/km for CO2 emissions! Not bad hey? Well it still comes at a price: around £100,000 for a new one but up to £140,000 for a second hand one! (yes the second hand models are more expensive than the new ones because dealers have currently run out of stock and the waiting list for a new one is over 2 years!)

Maybach 57S

After yet another few quiet weeks, here is a car worth waiting for, and the first Maybach on the blog! The 57S spotted last weekend in Paris on one of the side streets off the Champs Elysées. Maybach is not a very well-know make. It appeared in the first half of the 20th century before disappearing after the second World War. It was brought back to life in 1997 by Daimler / Mercedes-Benz. The Maybach are big, opulent, ultra-luxurious saloons, out to compete with Bentleys and Rolls-Royce. This particular model, the 57S, has a 6.0 V12 engine which produces 612bhp. 0-62 takes the 57S only 5.2 seconds and its top speed is 171mph or 275km/h.

30,000!

Thanks to those of you who still check the blog regularly. I have slowed down in terms of publishing posts but still continue snapping dream cars on the street.

Insider 20 - Audi RS4 Avant 2014

After a few weeks with no sign of life, here is a new post. It is a new insider, today in the new Audi RS4 Avant. The picture was taken in Audi Warrington.