Calling AMV8 owners

[grant3]

Hi Guys after some advice,
I have a 996TT, have had for over 3 years, love the car, it is very hard to replace, the new 997TT is out, but there is long wait & it will cost me a boat load of cash to upgrade, so an AMV8 has been tempting me as something completely different, there are a lot about at the moment in the press, so prices are looking better!
1/ What extra spec is a must have?
2/ Is the standard stereo any good?
3/ The press say it is slow, is it quick enough to have fun in?
4/ Has anyone made the move from Turbo to AMV8 & if so what do you think, I'm worried that I will miss the grunt, mine has a sports exhaust/cat system so 440-450bhp?
5/ Does it squeak & rattle or is it well put together.
6/ Any bad experiences from owners?
7 Any other info gratefully received.
Apologies for all the questions, but you can't beat good advice from real owners.
Thanks in anticipation.

>> Edited by grant3 on Wednesday 15th March 14:09

[dazren]

rich1231 who you met at Gaydon has swapped over from the Turbo to a AM V8.

DAZ

[shadytree]

Have a word with Rich1231, he's come from a 996TT to a AMV8 and going onto a 997TT.

1.Extra Spec.

19" Wheels a must
Upgraded Hi-FI a must
Sat Nav is a must (for residuals as well)

the rest is personal prefrence.

2. Not as good as teh upgraded, big difference imo

3. Not 996TT fast , but plenty quick enough and oh that noise

4. Rich1231

5. Brakes squeek, all Aston brakes do for some reason. otherwise feels solid.

6. Dissapointed with my dealer, but I've addressed that situation. love the car

7. Don't buy one for fuel economy


Shady

[sadlerj]

On the road I don't think you'll notice much difference between the two, maybe booting it on the motorway you'll get to 170mph quicker but surely that is not the point, but the noise the V8 makes getting there make it feel much like you are really driving. I am finding the V8 takes a little more driving when you are tooling along A and B roads, it is a but more 'figity' than the 996 (athough mine was a C2 and not a turbo) and this 'figity' feeling to me make it seem like I am driving faster than I really am. On the motorway tho I am finding her really smooth, and people get out of the way much more quickly!

As far as options:
1. Please spec a different colour rather than Silvers or Greys.
2. The 750w option Kicks!
3. Xenons

Mine seems very well put together, it feels 100% more special to be in over the Porkie!

[ChopperEllis]

Hi Grant,

Snap. I could have written that post. Stuck in the same position as you - if stuck is the right word.

I placed an order for the AMV8 which I could have had before Christmas but didn't take it because I didn't think the standard car would be as good as the 996TT. I test drove the V8 just before Christmas and was glad I hadn't jumped in before driving it.

Don't get me wrong, it's a well put together car and looks the part but it's no match for our car. I've kept my deposit with AM to be first in the queue for the AMV8 GT (or whatever they call it) which is rumoured to be out in 2007/8!!!

I also drove a Vanquish (not an S) and was unimpressed with that too.

What else are you thinking of?

Rob

[grant3]

Hi chaps, thanks for the info, much appreciated, please keep them coming.

Daz... Thanks, so Rich ordered one from the pre-release meet at Gaydon? But I notice he still has the TT as well, I await his comments he is well placed to compare.

Rob... I'm glad it is not just me, the TT is damn hard to replace! Fancy a Gallardo, but they are depreciating like a stone & my nearest dealer is in London, plus the clutch issue doesn't bode well! The latest spec looks best with shorter gearing etc etc , but I'll wait until they are cheaper! Thought about a 997S, but drove one & it didn't float my boat enough after the TT. Thought about a 360, but they are a little too flash for me, lovely looking cars, but can't put any miles on them. Looked at the 997TT, but at £48k to change it will just be a better version of what we have and my bank balance would be 50 big ones lighter, so!!!
It comes down to three, 1/keep the TT, 2/ I REALLY FANCY a new GT3, it would be as quick as the Turbo, more of a road racer & now has a better ride, traction control & decent options as a daily driver, BUT dealers are saying a years wait. 3/ The other option is the AMV8 although it isn't any where near as fast as our TT I thought it would be something completely different, perhaps with more character, better looks & a great image. In some ways I think the TT is too fast, it is up to such high speed so quickly one fears for the license, so if the AMV8 is involving enough & doesn't float & pitch like a standard 996 then I'm tempted...you did ask.
What have you looked at?

>> Edited by grant3 on Wednesday 15th March 16:48

[dmitsi]

ChopperEllis said:

I've kept my deposit with AM to be first in the queue for the AMV8 GT (or whatever they call it) which is rumoured to be out in 2007/8!!!

It will be worth the wait from what I've heard.

[rich1231]

grant3 said:

Hi Guys after some advice, I have a 996TT, have had for over 3 years, love the car, it is very hard to replace, the new 997TT is out, but there is long wait & it will cost me a boat load of cash to upgrade, so an AMV8 has been tempting me as something completely different, there are a lot about at the moment in the press, so prices are looking better! 1/ What extra spec is a must have? 2/ Is the standard stereo any good? 3/ The press say it is slow, is it quick enough to have fun in? 4/ Has anyone made the move from Turbo to AMV8 & if so what do you think, I'm worried that I will miss the grunt, mine has a sports exhaust/cat system so 440-450bhp? 5/ Does it squeak & rattle or is it well put together. 6/ Any bad experiences from owners? 7 Any other info gratefully received. Apologies for all the questions, but you can't beat good advice from real owners. Thanks in anticipation. >> Edited by grant3 on Wednesday 15th March 14:09

Hi Grant :-)
Got some answers to your questions.. I had ordered the car before we went to Gaydon those many moons ago.

1 I agree with Shady on the spec front, i ticked pretty much every box on the options list. Sat nav and heated seats oh yes!!!!!

2 no idea, the upgraded streo is much better than i expected, it really is impressive, or Im easily impressed.

3 Oh yes, while not as fast as the TT, you will have a grin whenever you drive it, its faster than the press gave credit for and it handles brilliantly... really shocked me how chuckable it is.

4 well my Turbo was 490hp.... its gone now..must update profile.. Do I miss it? Well i owned both together and didnt get in the TT once..

5 well built but a few squeaks...oohhh the breaks :-0

6 none at all, delays are a pain but to be fair to AM and the dealer they are getting better all the time

7 Well I have the S or GT on order, and A 997 TT arriving in late July. I am a porca man at heart but the V8 is a incredible car, no doubt about it. I use mine as a daily driver and its not put a fut wrong so far. Outright acceleration is not everything, sometimes I can see that arriving somewhere in the Aston is an event. In the Porca, Im just a tosser, to some.

[grant3]

Thanks for that Rich, much appreciated, I have to say the looks (particularly in Tungsten)& "not flash" image are very appealing. You must be one of the very first into the 997TT, that should be one mean beast, hope you have the overboost option included.
Couple of other questions, how bad are the squealing brakes, is it all the time? How does it handle the twisty stuff when you really press on, I had 996 c2 without the 10mm lowered suspension & it rolled, floated & pitched FAR more than one with 030 sports suspension (alla Turbo) how does the AMV8 compare to the TT?
To compound my problem the Porker dealer thinks he may be able to get me into 997GT3 for October,VERY tempting with the new more road orientated spec. it comes in at AMV8 money with Turbo grunt!

[beej]

don't want to put a cat amongst the pigeons (which means I do really) but according to EVO, the AMV8 is only a fraction slower round Bedford than the TT. If the point to point performance is important to you then bear in mind the AMV8 is no slouch.

BTW, the pads squeal, when cold, because they are Pagids.

[:J:]

An 'average' driver will be able to get the same time from a V8 around a track as they would the Porsche. Unless you are a ten tenths on the limit 911 driver, you will not notice much difference in times