This wasn’t meant to be a supercar showdown, but the folks from The Fast Lane Car on YouTube decided to test how much performance $35,000 can buy today by pitting a Porsche against an Aston Martin in a series of drag races.
On one side is a 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S (997 generation), originally a $90,000-plus sports car. On the other, a 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage that once stickered around $130,000. Today, both can be found for roughly the same money—deep in depreciation territory, but still packing serious pedigree.
The initial standing-start drag favored the Porsche, helped by its lighter weight and rear-engine traction. The Aston driver admitted to a conservative launch to preserve the expensive clutch, so the pair lined up again for a roll race to level the field. From the hit, the Aston’s V8 barked and stayed close, but once again the 911’s relentless pull and gearing advantage gave it the edge, crossing the line first, though never more than a car length ahead.
On paper, the matchup is close. The Porsche’s 3.8-liter flat-six makes 355 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, sent through a six-speed manual. The Aston counters with 380 horsepower and 302 lb-ft from its front-mounted V8, also paired to a manual gearbox. The difference is mass: the Aston carries roughly 450 extra pounds, which shows in straight-line acceleration.
The verdict from the strip is clear. Both cars deliver drama, noise, and old-school engagement, but when it comes to drag racing, the lighter, sharper 997 Carrera S consistently proves quicker. In this budget performance duel, the Porsche takes the win—not by much, but decisively enough to matter.
