looking for a DBS
Discussion
George H said:
Nice, but I'm sure there was a mention of auto by the OP 
Maddalambo said:
Thanks, that ones a manual and im looking for a auto
go for Manual, go for Manual, go for Manual! :-)the involvement when driving is so much more direct, no torque convertor, and no delay between deciding to change gear and actually doing it! and, as a bonus.......10 km/h higher top speed! (close to Germany here, so that really makes a difference! :-))
good luck with your search!
AWV12 said:
go for Manual, go for Manual, go for Manual! :-)
the involvement when driving is so much more direct, no torque convertor, and no delay between deciding to change gear and actually doing it! and, as a bonus.......10 km/h higher top speed! (close to Germany here, so that really makes a difference! :-))
good luck with your search!
Dittothe involvement when driving is so much more direct, no torque convertor, and no delay between deciding to change gear and actually doing it! and, as a bonus.......10 km/h higher top speed! (close to Germany here, so that really makes a difference! :-))
good luck with your search!
bananarob said:
AWV12 said:
go for Manual, go for Manual, go for Manual! :-)
the involvement when driving is so much more direct, no torque convertor, and no delay between deciding to change gear and actually doing it! and, as a bonus.......10 km/h higher top speed! (close to Germany here, so that really makes a difference! :-))
good luck with your search!
Dittothe involvement when driving is so much more direct, no torque convertor, and no delay between deciding to change gear and actually doing it! and, as a bonus.......10 km/h higher top speed! (close to Germany here, so that really makes a difference! :-))
good luck with your search!
AWV12 said:
go for Manual, go for Manual, go for Manual! :-)
the involvement when driving is so much more direct, no torque convertor, and no delay between deciding to change gear and actually doing it! and, as a bonus.......10 km/h higher top speed! (close to Germany here, so that really makes a difference! :-))
good luck with your search!
There is no torque converter on the sportshift box, it's exactly the same gearbox as the manual. There is more of a delay by the time you have moved the gear stick you will have changed gear Involvement is down to the individual but I far prefer pulling that left hand paddle than changing down by moving a gear stick about. the involvement when driving is so much more direct, no torque convertor, and no delay between deciding to change gear and actually doing it! and, as a bonus.......10 km/h higher top speed! (close to Germany here, so that really makes a difference! :-))
good luck with your search!
IMO the sooner people get over this 'far more involving' 'drivers car' thing, the sooner cars can progress.
George H said:
There is no torque converter on the sportshift box, it's exactly the same gearbox as the manual. There is more of a delay by the time you have moved the gear stick you will have changed gear Involvement is down to the individual but I far prefer pulling that left hand paddle than changing down by moving a gear stick about.
IMO the sooner people get over this 'far more involving' 'drivers car' thing, the sooner cars can progress.
You are right about the Sportshift......this is indeed an "automated manual gearbox", but it is only available on the V8 Vantage. The 6-speed Sportshift was "dramatic", the new 7-speed one seems a little better, but are no match for the dubble clutch gearboxes (DSG, S-tronic, DCT, etc) as seen in e.g. the 458, SLS AMG, etc. So when talking about "progess" hopefully AM one day gets one of these too!IMO the sooner people get over this 'far more involving' 'drivers car' thing, the sooner cars can progress.
However, the DBS (as well as the DB9 and Virage) are all supplied with a "classic torque convertor auto box", so much for "progress" in a new brand new car like the Virage! (for me THE reason NOT to go for the Virage, but for the DBS!) .
AWV12 said:
You are right about the Sportshift......this is indeed an "automated manual gearbox", but it is only available on the V8 Vantage. The 6-speed Sportshift was "dramatic", the new 7-speed one seems a little better, but are no match for the dubble clutch gearboxes (DSG, S-tronic, DCT, etc) as seen in e.g. the 458, SLS AMG, etc. So when talking about "progess" hopefully AM one day gets one of these too!
However, the DBS (as well as the DB9 and Virage) are all supplied with a "classic torque convertor auto box", so much for "progress" in a new brand new car like the Virage! (for me THE reason NOT to go for the Virage, but for the DBS!) .
I agree, I want AM to go for a double clutch set up for all cars in their range. The SLS gearbox is brilliant and DSG/PDK is just sublime. I think the V8V especially would really suit one of those type gearboxes. I think AM should make a double clutch DSG style gearbox the only option so they don't have to waste money trying to get the same box to do for both manual and automatic set ups when manual represents such a small percentage of the market.However, the DBS (as well as the DB9 and Virage) are all supplied with a "classic torque convertor auto box", so much for "progress" in a new brand new car like the Virage! (for me THE reason NOT to go for the Virage, but for the DBS!) .
I still think the torque converter box suits the DB9/DBS/Virage more than a manual though. I just can't see one advantage in having a manual box. Manual GTs just seem wrong imo. People seem so full of the 'manual box makes it a driver's car' mentality, but I just don't see it. Give me a flappy paddle system any day of the week. The noise it makes in sport mode when I pull the left hand paddle is just fantastic. Not to mention the flexibility of the auto box, stick it in D for traffic, sport mode and flappy paddles for twisty back roads. The best of both worlds imo.
The manual gearbox is a driving tradition George, the same reason we're still using normally aspirated engines rather than forced induction (which is cheaper and more economical), aluminium body panels when plastic is cheaper and so on. It's what our pedecessors used to blat to the South of France, win Le Mans in 1959 and outrun Goldfinger's henchmen (for a while).
Yes it's an anachronism, I'll admit that; it's less efficient, slower to 60mph, but three pedals and a manual shift give me a lot more driving pleasure, I have had TipTronic Porsches and TT1 in my DB7, good systems but no substitute for me. We are a dying breed though, clearly.
If it was all about being cutting edge, the future, you've be in a hybrid or something hydrogen powered, not a crude internal combustion powered car. Schurrrely?
Get thee to Tesla, Satan.
Yes it's an anachronism, I'll admit that; it's less efficient, slower to 60mph, but three pedals and a manual shift give me a lot more driving pleasure, I have had TipTronic Porsches and TT1 in my DB7, good systems but no substitute for me. We are a dying breed though, clearly.
If it was all about being cutting edge, the future, you've be in a hybrid or something hydrogen powered, not a crude internal combustion powered car. Schurrrely?
Get thee to Tesla, Satan.
I know it's a tradition and some people prefer it, but I cannot see one benefit of it. With forced induction as per your example, you can still have benefits of not going to it - i.e. better power low down on the rev range, noise, etc.
With the manual gearbox I cannot see anything that shows me it's worth keeping.
With the manual gearbox I cannot see anything that shows me it's worth keeping.
Edited by George H on Sunday 4th March 23:45
I had an auto DB9 followed by a manual DBS. Both boxes are good and suit the cars but the manual, especially in the DBS, which is a super GT rather than a GT (by that I mean it is able to combine many elements of a GT car and a track focused sports car) makes you feel more connected and directly involved.
I don't think that is old fashioned at all. There will be many sporting cars made in the future using a manual box. For Ferraris, where the emphasis of the brand's heritage is the racetrack it is natural that paddle shifting is a focus for development - it is quicker but still 'manual'. Does this apply to Aston? Not sure about that.
Overall, my manual box DBS is excellent and unless you spend your time in traffic, much the better option.
I don't think that is old fashioned at all. There will be many sporting cars made in the future using a manual box. For Ferraris, where the emphasis of the brand's heritage is the racetrack it is natural that paddle shifting is a focus for development - it is quicker but still 'manual'. Does this apply to Aston? Not sure about that.
Overall, my manual box DBS is excellent and unless you spend your time in traffic, much the better option.
George H said:
I know it's a tradition and some people prefer it, but I cannot see one benefit of it. With forced induction as per your example, you can still have benefits of not going to it - i.e. better power low down on the rev range, noise, etc.
With the manual gearbox I cannot see anything that shows me it's worth keeping.
George have you got an Auto only driving licence?With the manual gearbox I cannot see anything that shows me it's worth keeping.
Edited by George H on Sunday 4th March 23:45
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