Okay, so this is a bit of an extreme comparison. No Aston Martin customers are going to cross-shop the BMW 8 Series. Not that the 8er is an inferior product but because the Aston Martin badge is a lot more prestigious than a blue and white roundel. However, since seeing the 8 Series Concept and then the production car, we’ve felt that it looked more like a “BMW by Aston Martin” than a traditional Bimmer. It’s low, sleek, relatively short and wide, like a proper sport GT car. It’s also almost as pretty as the Aston Martin DB11, maybe even prettier in some respects. So we thought it’d be fun to compare the two.
When you actually look at the two back-to-back, it’s actually not as blasphemous a comparison as many might think. The BMW 8 Series is the prettiest, most exotic looking BMW in a very long time. And it genuinely can stack up with one of the best looking GT cars on the planet.
From the front, there’s no question that the DB11 is prettier but the 8 Series is no slouch. It’s still a very pretty car and its headlights are very attractive. Though, the Aston still sports the better looking mug. Plus, that Aston Martin winged badge adds some gravitas.
In profile, the two cars are far closer than I actually previously thought and I was the one who advocated this comparison. In fact, I actually think there are aspects of the 8 Series that are prettier than the DB11. For instance, the rear haunches of the 8er are positively seductive, while the floating C-pillar of the Aston sort of hides it.From the back, the 8 Series has pretty taillights but they seem chunky compared to the slinky-thin and genuinely sexy taillights.
On the inside, the 8 Series looks good and is the more functional, ergonomic of the two. The Aston might look a bit more expensive and more premium but the 8 Series looks like the car I’d rather sit in, actually. The Aston is probably awesome for a few minutes but after having to deal with its odd ergonomics for awhile, I’d miss the BMW’s smarter layout and better tech.
As a whole, I’d still probably take the Aston because, well, it’s an Aston Martin. However, the BMW 8 Series is no joke and it can certainly hang with the Aston Martin.
What’s with the B pillar?
Check what Chris Bangle had to say about 645i. Or buy a Cabriolet.
what did he say about b pillar
Not design, engineering. Like adding a roll cage to a NASCAR.
The Astons brand stands upper then bimmer? Don’t think so. Only in just few years Aston start to produce really modern cars. All the other time they made outdated machines with mediocre for sportcar dynamics
BMW has built a gorgeous Mustang GT.
Funny, I’m old enough to remember that being said about original AM DBS V8. Wrong then. Wrong now.
The DB11 in itself, was a bit of a disappointment to me, simply because it diverted too much from what I loved from the brand – the head lights for one, very generic.
To my eyes, the Aston is slightly more exotic vs the 8, but not by much. It’s in the detail where the Aston shines.
I’d still choose the 8 Series simply for its technology and, well, it’s still a BMW. Plus, I love this new 8 and its front end is super agro.
Ford ruined Aston when they turned the XKF into the DB7, no modern AM compares to a David Brown classic. Ford didn’t even change the Jag engine, now it’s Mercedes’. RIP, Aston Martin.
Aston Martin should thank Mercedes Benz for it’s tech and engine!
8 series wins on price compared to AM where there’s additional premium just for the “Aston Martin” badge.
8 series won’t break down due to “over usage”. Can’t say the same for AM DB11 and a host of other sports cars, save for the 911 which like 8 series is a daily driver sports car.
Being a BMW, with extensive network coverage, maintenance won’t be an issue either in locating a nearby point or in term of cost.
Everyone’s zigging but I’m going to zag and go with the 8 series.
First point.. You do know that is a stupid argument yes? Even bmw by name there is a price premium.
As for as break down to over use.. Man you are funny. You have not been in recent bmw. Have you seen the latest recall on the new m5? Won’t break down.. I’m still laughing at that statement. Not to mention after 61k miles my f10 is getting a new engine because the carbon build up turned acidic. Lucky for me bmw will cover it but I wouldn’t put that under reliability.
As far as bmw extensive network.. What are you talking about? There are just as many bmw dealers as Austin dealers where I live.
But whatever makes you fall a sleep at night and feel warm and fuzzy. But stop fooling yourself and spreading lies.
Take a chill pill dude, nothing in my comment is stupid. First off, I am in recent BMWs, one of which is a X4 M35d (end, 2016 reg) and the other is M6 GC (early, 2017 reg) do I know what I’m actually talking about. BMW is more of a daily driver than the Aston Martin DB11. In my apartment complex, just on the lower section of the underground parking facility, there are two or three Aston Martin DB11s. One of them, the chap hardly ever drives, perhaps once every 2 weeks, and the other the owner is always seen bent over looking into the hood trying to figure something out because it’s giving him grief. It never leaves where it is parked and he never gets to enjoy it. I’ll take the pictures of both cars and post them here so you can see that one is brand new and the other is quite new cars. Across London, there are 3 or 4 times more BMW dealerships that there are Aston Martins, so that proves the point I made. None of my BMWs has caused me a single problem and I drive them like crazy across the country and cross country when I visit France, Belgium, Germany or other countries so I’ll have to chuck your issues with your car down to your driving style. Maybe you’re just a little bit too thumpy on the pedal and herky jerky on your brakes. I don’t know, you figure it out. And you’d be deluded to think he price premium on BMW badge is just as much as that on Aston Martin. In fact, you’ve got to be trolling me, right? None of what you’ve said registers as having any bit of sense in it. You need to go back to bed.
You’re sounding like a kid speaking about his fathers car.
You summed him up perfectly.
Kids type better.
Isn’t that “Winged badge” from Hyundai’s Genesis?
Its the other way around.
Hyundai designer from Audi.
Hyundai engineer from BMW.
Hyundai badge maker from Aston Martin.
AM engine from AMG.
I think I prefer the looks of the 8 series, but if someone offered me either car I would probably take the Aston. I feel like the DB11, and especially the Vantage look worse than their predecessors.
Love the styling of the 8 series! Exotics do not seem that exotic to me anymore especially when EV’s of the future have better performance. The 8 series is exotic enough and with more BMW electrification, in the future, it is also the better deal.