When it comes to the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, there are two concepts that you’re going to have to wrap your mind around – there are things in this world that not only live up to their hype, but exceed it, and that $110,000 is an entry level price. Realize that those two things are related, especially when you’re talking about the rarefied world of Aston Martin.

The V8 vantage has two bigger brothers that sell for about twice what this one does, so, strictly speaking, this is an entry level car. But it’s so far from what most of us call “entry level” that modern science can’t currently measure the distance between this car and, say, a Kia. Let’s not beat around the bush – this car would drink a Kia as a barely acceptable aperitif.

As in every review of Aston Martin, we’re required by tradition to mention that this was the car James Bond drove – the Sean Connery Bond, not the pale pretenders who came later. That should give you an idea of the kind of neighborhood we’re driving through. The only other permanent members in this club are those German high performance sports cars.

But don’t think this car is entirely out of your league. The V8 Vantage is meant to be sold to the merely rich, not the “our wealth exceeds the GNP of third world nations” super rich. It’s good to see Aston Martin diversifying in these troubled economic times.

But does it live up to the press? Simply put, you bet. Some have said it’s the best handling Aston that has ever been built. On a curved road, the driver will find a confident drive, moving well across the lane and returning easily to its original path. Both its steering and chassis are highly communicative, telling the driver everything he needs to know about what’s going on between the tire and the pavement. You should know that there’s some added heft to the car that slows its handling and performance, but the car still has a lot of grip and will perform so well at high speeds that only the most experienced driver will be able to tell a difference between the Aston Martin and its competitors.

And best of all, you can get this beauty in either a coupe or a convertible. The Roadster convertible has a power-operated, cloth convertible top that can be lowered in 18 seconds – it will do this even at speeds of up to 30 mph. Both models have room for just two people and they come with almost the same features. Standard equipment includes an adjustable power driver seat, 19-inch wheels, automatic climate control, a six-CD changer and an iPod interface. The standard upholstery is leather – of course – and, as you’d expect, the leather is available in almost every color combination imaginable. When you buy the Vantage V8, you’ll have the option of customizing the interior design to your taste and preferences – we are dealing with Aston Martin, after all.

So, is it a good buy? The overwhelming answer is yes – in fact, critics agree that this is the kind of car that should come with its own theme music.