just how bad is the vanquish tranny?

just how bad is the vanquish tranny?

Author
Discussion

rpk

Original Poster:

29 posts

270 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
thinking of getting a vanquish as a daily driver, but the horror stories of fragile trannies making me think twice. anybody have any experience with them?

gfb

5 posts

214 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
Dont worry about it Clarkson is not always right. I have had 2 Vanquish an early one 2001 was a bit dodgy and jerky , a 2003 excellent car no problems at all and just purchased a 2005 Vanq S which is a simple as can be. Remember it is a dead handbrake on your right (assuming a right hand drive car ) and you dont hold them on the clutch like a manual so takes a little getting used to the set up for holding on hills etc but after a day or so easy to master.As a driving experience there are faster cars , better handling cars but cant think of anything that is more enjoyable , also best looking and sounding car on planet in my opinion. I also have a 430 spider , 997 turbo , Lambo Gallardo 2004 and new M5 so have plenty of opportunity for comparison. Go ahead and enjoy it. They now do a manual gearbox conversion for 13k plus VAT if you want a pure manual.

cheers

nda

22,345 posts

232 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all

I didn't find the Vanquish transmission too bad - but it certainly feels fragile. Just moving the monster in and out of the garage produces a clutchy smell.

I would definitely not use one as a daily driver, it does not like stop start traffic.

However the manual conversion could improve it - I've yet to hear any decent reviews of this conversion though.

DJC

23,563 posts

243 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
Ive yet to hear any views of the conversion, good or bad.

Does the final edition come with a choice, man or paddles?

AMpilot

37 posts

212 months

Monday 5th March 2007
quotequote all
The conversion makes the Vanq more silent and refined. Short-throw changes are great, although I found going down from fourth to third a tad notchier. It distracted me a couple of times before I got used to it when all the remaining changes were spot on without any extra effort. Matching engine speeds to the box and playing with the Vanq along a nice undulating road is easier with the manual box.
Works Service who developed the conversion also go through the instrument binnacle electronics and modify the signalling that goes to the gear/tranny mode lights on the unconverted cars.
Expensive but worth it.

DJC

23,563 posts

243 months

Monday 5th March 2007
quotequote all
AMpilot said:
The conversion makes the Vanq more silent and refined. Short-throw changes are great, although I found going down from fourth to third a tad notchier. It distracted me a couple of times before I got used to it when all the remaining changes were spot on without any extra effort. Matching engine speeds to the box and playing with the Vanq along a nice undulating road is easier with the manual box.
Works Service who developed the conversion also go through the instrument binnacle electronics and modify the signalling that goes to the gear/tranny mode lights on the unconverted cars.
Expensive but worth it.


Kewl...thankyou for the info.

There we go, our first review.

gfb

5 posts

214 months

Monday 5th March 2007
quotequote all
AM Pilot is your conversion ona Vanq or Vanq S ?

Thejackal

1 posts

212 months

Saturday 17th March 2007
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hi

I have in Feb sold my DB9 and aquired a new Vanquish S i have coverd 15000 miles already and there is just no foundation for the rumours about the gearbox.

The car is brilliant and compared to a manual its a great gearbox, you just need to have a mindset that your driving a manual thats easier and faster to change gear in!

You would never keep the pedal to metal in a maula whilst changing up or down, the Vanquish allows to do that and even blips the throttle on up changes!

I can drive the car and make rapid prgress changing gear imperceptabley just need to use the grey matter!

Some say the car is not worth the extra money, i can tell you that the car is twice the DB9 its much more solid sounds better and even more stunning to look at.

AMPilot

37 posts

212 months

Saturday 17th March 2007
quotequote all
gfb said:
AM Pilot is your conversion ona Vanq or Vanq S ?


It's on an S,completed before delivery.