Ferrari vs. Aston Martin

Ferrari boasts a rich history of excellence on the road and track, but the same can’t be said for Aston Martin.

Ferrari began its life in 1929 as Scuderia Ferrari, then the racing division of Alfa Romeo, but it wasn’t until 1947 that Ferrari laid the foundation for what it’s become today by producing its first vehicle, the 125 S. Since then, Ferrari has built a sterling reputation by producing supercars and hypercars for the road and track that consistently push the limits of what is possible from a vehicle. Along the way, it’s earned an impressive array of accolades and recognition, including 16 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships.

Aston Martin was founded earlier — in 1913 — and produced its first vehicles in 1921, making the gap between it and Ferrari that much more notable. For instance, Aston Martin has been involved with Formula 1 for decades, but has never won a Constructors’ Championship. This gap may come down to a lack of focus as an automaker: while Ferrari has deep roots in the racing world and has been focused on creating world-class performance vehicles since its inception, Aston Martin has been juggled by numerous owners with disparate visions. As of 2013, Aston Martin penned a deal with Daimler AG to equip new Aston Martin vehicles with Mercedes-Benz AMG engines – something you’d expect more from a typical luxury sedan or sports car than a world-class performer. And the consequences show when you look at what an Aston Martin can do compared to a Ferrari.

Performance

Pick almost any comparable vehicles out of the Aston Martin and Ferrari lineups, and chances are high that the Prancing Horse will outperform the competition. Here are a couple of recent examples from each automaker’s lineup:

• Ferrari Portofino vs. Aston Martin Vantage: The Portofino can jump from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 200 mph, while the Vantage can reach 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and can reach only 195 mph.
• Ferrari Roma vs. Aston Martin DB11 V8 Coupe: The Roma can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and achieve a top speed of 197 mph, while the DB11 V8 Coupe takes 4 seconds to reach 60 mph and tops out at 187 mph.

So Which is Better: Aston Martin or Ferrari?

Ferrari’s racing heritage, consistently impressive performance, and the desirability of its classic models have given the Prancing Horse impressive brand power. Of course, that brand power only exists because of the strength of the product. Research analyst Max Warburton spoke to this in Forbes, saying that “In the new car market, Ferrari cars are in greater demand, have waiting lists and sell at full price. Modern used car prices reflect this, with Ferraris having better residuals than Astons.” In other words, Ferraris are more than just higher-performing vehicles than Aston Martins: they’re also superior investments.