Is there a cooler car on the road? Certainly there are more powerful cars (Bugatti Veyron), more exotic cars (Pagani Zonda), even those with arguably more pedigree (Ferrari) but the Aston Martin simply oozes class.

The DBS shares its basic architecture with the DB9 but a subtle body kit, huge carbon ceramic brakes and larger rims set it apart. Under the aluminium and carbon fibre-skinned exterior the mechanics have been greatly reworked to provide a car worthy of replacing the mighty Vanquish.

For such a big car the cabin is surprisingly snug, at least for those who find themselves squeezing into the rear seats. For the driver though, the finely contoured leather seat grips you firmly and instantly you feel you are at one with this 510 bhp machine.

The engine turns over with a precise mechanical sound not unlike a Formula 1 race car and bursts into life with a thunderous roar. As I venture out onto the road, it immediately strikes me how civilised this car feels. There is very little external noise in the cabin and even on the Island roads the Aston displays a surprising ability to absorb bumps. There are a variety of damper modes to soften the set-up or tie the car down when you’re up to some high speed antics.

Aston Martin claim a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed approaching 200 mph. If you dare floor the throttle in a DBS you are rewarded with a seemingly endless thrust of mammoth proportions. I’d been warned about the brakes, 398mm carbon ceramic discs with equally impressive callipers stop the car in a fraction of the time mere mortal car, yet I found them superb with just the right balance and feedback.

The DBS is not perfect, some of the switchgear is too fussy and for me the gearstick is a little too far back due to the position of the engine, the steering is a little rubbery but these are minor criticisms, as a continent busting GT, the DBS has the few rivals this side of the £200,000 Ferrari 599.

As the light faded at the end of the first day, I was left to ponder, perhaps if I was to re-mortgage the house, drag the kids out of school and send them to work, maybe, just maybe I could afford a DBS of my own. Forget the fuel consumption (c17 mpg) or the significant running costs or even the high Co2 emissions (most DBS wont do many miles anyway) and simply dream….