Paddle shift v8 Vantage
Discussion
did you try it in stop-go traffic? thats usually where manual paddle shift boxes struggle. If im right i think this is manual box with paddles rather than the db9 which is auto with paddles, please correct me if im wrong.
Question:
how much less should you pay for a AMV8 without sat nav? is it a big no no for eventual resale?
thanks
Question:
how much less should you pay for a AMV8 without sat nav? is it a big no no for eventual resale?
thanks
That's a suprise. I too understood that Coupe production stopped a few weeks ago - to make way for roadster - and wouldn't start again for some months and that the first paddle shift cars (demo and customer) would be Roadsters. A senior developement guy at Aston told me that the manual was still his choice and in an abmittedly brief drive I didn't think the new system was that brilliant. The usual problem - not a true sequential box but not as smooth as a conventional auto in 'slush' mode either. What dealer are you at?
sxo said:
Was at Gaydon this week to spec my Roadster - Coupes still on the production line and saw a number of complete Roadsters which were intended for dealer demos. Didn't nose inside the Coupes to check whether manual or new semi box
Yep - I was there doing the same a week or so back - apparently Coupes will dry up by end of this month.
Nice write up of the XKR v The Vantage in April edition of Top Gear Magazine. They don't particularly like the paddle shift on the Vantage which I guess is no surprise. But for the fact that I'm delighted with my 07 Vantage I would have definitely considered the Sportshift model. Having previously owned an SMG M3 and a current owner of the DSG system from VW I am a convert although I'm not so sure, after reading the TG article, I'd like to be the owner of one of the initial Sportshift releases.
'The crux of the matter is that despite Aston's engineer's best efforts, Sportshift just isn't the way you want to order your car if you like driving - you'll always end up wishing for a manual more times than you'll really appreciate the lack of a clutch to push. This is the Tiptronic Porsche effect - harcore purists just can't see the appeal, while it's those it's those that are jusging the car on more subjective aethetic parameters who are exactly the people marketeers are hoping to con some dollars from,, but this isn't an auto, and shouldn't be considered as such. Aston itself hints at the fact that the Sportshift is aimed more at 'other markets' (i.e. America).....'
'.....Unfortunately it's only just about OK. The paddleshift works, but despite the best efforts of the engineers, it just doesn't snap through the gears like, say, the F1 box from a Ferrari F430, which is the only type of F1 box I would ever really consider over a straight manual. It's not that it's hard to operate when you're schlepping about: moving between shift modes from, say, drive to reverse is smooth enough - as long as you wait for the gears to engage properly and don't rush - but the 'box always seems to focus your attention on it, when you really just want to get on with the driving.'
It's true that you can mitigate some of the more obvious excesses: hit a paddle and you will instantly be in manual mode, which is by far the most satisfying way to drive this car. Downshift blips make you sound like a particularly competent heel-and-toe artist, and if you pile into a hairpin looking for revs, the car will ride the limiter without changing up and spoiling your corner exit - something the Vantage needs to do to keep the engine on the boil and pulling hard.
'The crux of the matter is that despite Aston's engineer's best efforts, Sportshift just isn't the way you want to order your car if you like driving - you'll always end up wishing for a manual more times than you'll really appreciate the lack of a clutch to push. This is the Tiptronic Porsche effect - harcore purists just can't see the appeal, while it's those it's those that are jusging the car on more subjective aethetic parameters who are exactly the people marketeers are hoping to con some dollars from,, but this isn't an auto, and shouldn't be considered as such. Aston itself hints at the fact that the Sportshift is aimed more at 'other markets' (i.e. America).....'
'.....Unfortunately it's only just about OK. The paddleshift works, but despite the best efforts of the engineers, it just doesn't snap through the gears like, say, the F1 box from a Ferrari F430, which is the only type of F1 box I would ever really consider over a straight manual. It's not that it's hard to operate when you're schlepping about: moving between shift modes from, say, drive to reverse is smooth enough - as long as you wait for the gears to engage properly and don't rush - but the 'box always seems to focus your attention on it, when you really just want to get on with the driving.'
It's true that you can mitigate some of the more obvious excesses: hit a paddle and you will instantly be in manual mode, which is by far the most satisfying way to drive this car. Downshift blips make you sound like a particularly competent heel-and-toe artist, and if you pile into a hairpin looking for revs, the car will ride the limiter without changing up and spoiling your corner exit - something the Vantage needs to do to keep the engine on the boil and pulling hard.
TG never have the car long enough to now what they are talking about.
*CQ* said:
Nice write up of the XKR v The Vantage in April edition of Top Gear Magazine. They don't particularly like the paddle shift on the Vantage which I guess is no surprise. But for the fact that I'm delighted with my 07 Vantage I would have definitely considered the Sportshift model. Having previously owned an SMG M3 and a current owner of the DSG system from VW I am a convert although I'm not so sure, after reading the TG article, I'd like to be the owner of one of the initial Sportshift releases.
'The crux of the matter is that despite Aston's engineer's best efforts, Sportshift just isn't the way you want to order your car if you like driving - you'll always end up wishing for a manual more times than you'll really appreciate the lack of a clutch to push. This is the Tiptronic Porsche effect - harcore purists just can't see the appeal, while it's those it's those that are jusging the car on more subjective aethetic parameters who are exactly the people marketeers are hoping to con some dollars from,, but this isn't an auto, and shouldn't be considered as such. Aston itself hints at the fact that the Sportshift is aimed more at 'other markets' (i.e. America).....'
'.....Unfortunately it's only just about OK. The paddleshift works, but despite the best efforts of the engineers, it just doesn't snap through the gears like, say, the F1 box from a Ferrari F430, which is the only type of F1 box I would ever really consider over a straight manual. It's not that it's hard to operate when you're schlepping about: moving between shift modes from, say, drive to reverse is smooth enough - as long as you wait for the gears to engage properly and don't rush - but the 'box always seems to focus your attention on it, when you really just want to get on with the driving.'
It's true that you can mitigate some of the more obvious excesses: hit a paddle and you will instantly be in manual mode, which is by far the most satisfying way to drive this car. Downshift blips make you sound like a particularly competent heel-and-toe artist, and if you pile into a hairpin looking for revs, the car will ride the limiter without changing up and spoiling your corner exit - something the Vantage needs to do to keep the engine on the boil and pulling hard.
'The crux of the matter is that despite Aston's engineer's best efforts, Sportshift just isn't the way you want to order your car if you like driving - you'll always end up wishing for a manual more times than you'll really appreciate the lack of a clutch to push. This is the Tiptronic Porsche effect - harcore purists just can't see the appeal, while it's those it's those that are jusging the car on more subjective aethetic parameters who are exactly the people marketeers are hoping to con some dollars from,, but this isn't an auto, and shouldn't be considered as such. Aston itself hints at the fact that the Sportshift is aimed more at 'other markets' (i.e. America).....'
'.....Unfortunately it's only just about OK. The paddleshift works, but despite the best efforts of the engineers, it just doesn't snap through the gears like, say, the F1 box from a Ferrari F430, which is the only type of F1 box I would ever really consider over a straight manual. It's not that it's hard to operate when you're schlepping about: moving between shift modes from, say, drive to reverse is smooth enough - as long as you wait for the gears to engage properly and don't rush - but the 'box always seems to focus your attention on it, when you really just want to get on with the driving.'
It's true that you can mitigate some of the more obvious excesses: hit a paddle and you will instantly be in manual mode, which is by far the most satisfying way to drive this car. Downshift blips make you sound like a particularly competent heel-and-toe artist, and if you pile into a hairpin looking for revs, the car will ride the limiter without changing up and spoiling your corner exit - something the Vantage needs to do to keep the engine on the boil and pulling hard.
Timmmmmmo said:
my local dealer has a coupe with paddles ready for sale right now 94 k its well specced
would it be a good buy as im very tempted to swap my 05 55 in for it??
help please
No. It won't incorporate the suspension and steering upgrades that Roadster has and that Coupe won't get until '08 model (sept '07). Steering in particular is meant to be quite an improvement. I've only had a brief drive in the paddle shift and didn't rate it - see various comments above - and the road tests I've read so far seem to agree. would it be a good buy as im very tempted to swap my 05 55 in for it??
help please
My F 430 Spider is the first car I have had with the paddles. Great driving but I really miss the clutch when I need to get round a tight corner and into my garage. Both the Times and the Telegraph tested the V8 and said the paddles caused clutch wear.
I have ordered a V8 Roadster but I think mine will be manual.
I have ordered a V8 Roadster but I think mine will be manual.
bad company said:
My F 430 Spider is the first car I have had with the paddles. Great driving but I really miss the clutch when I need to get round a tight corner and into my garage. Both the Times and the Telegraph tested the V8 and said the paddles caused clutch wear.
I have ordered a V8 Roadster but I think mine will be manual.
Good call - the F430 system is the only one out there that works well enough for me to consider it. The AM system isn't in the same league. I have ordered a V8 Roadster but I think mine will be manual.
HMMMM, same transmission, same enablement software and electronics provider. I am not sure I understand "same league". I would say that Aston Martin still has work to do to bring it up to Ferrari standards, but this will be a software issue. Ferrari has had 10years to get it right. For what it is worth, I think the Vanquish "S" shifts just as well, if not better than the last 360 I drove.
amvntage said:
HMMMM, same transmission, same enablement software and electronics provider. I am not sure I understand "same league". I would say that Aston Martin still has work to do to bring it up to Ferrari standards, but this will be a software issue. Ferrari has had 10years to get it right. For what it is worth, I think the Vanquish "S" shifts just as well, if not better than the last 360 I drove.
By not in the same league I meant that, irrespective of the hard - or soft - ware, the AMV8 paddle shift does not work as well as the F430's. Fact. Also, if you are making a comparison with the 360 it doesn't apply to my comments as the F430's change is a HUGE improvement on the 360 and it was the F430 that I was commenting on and comparing the AM's to. Finally even if the gearbox in the F430 is from the same supplier - Riccardo - I doubt it's actually the same as the AMV8's. I've been known to be wrong though!
First ever post!! Woohoo!!
Just spent the weekend with a paddle shift roadster and it was a million times better than I expected it to be. I've always been a hardcore manual fan and whilst the system still has its flaws (reverse parking uphill - hmmm whats that smell?? Clutch!!!) on the right road full throttle up-shifts in sport can't help but bring a smile to your face - and those within ear shot (about a 2 mile radius then!)
Just spent the weekend with a paddle shift roadster and it was a million times better than I expected it to be. I've always been a hardcore manual fan and whilst the system still has its flaws (reverse parking uphill - hmmm whats that smell?? Clutch!!!) on the right road full throttle up-shifts in sport can't help but bring a smile to your face - and those within ear shot (about a 2 mile radius then!)
flat-over-crest said:
First ever post!! Woohoo!!
Just spent the weekend with a paddle shift roadster and it was a million times better than I expected it to be. I've always been a hardcore manual fan and whilst the system still has its flaws (reverse parking uphill - hmmm whats that smell?? Clutch!!!) on the right road full throttle up-shifts in sport can't help but bring a smile to your face - and those within ear shot (about a 2 mile radius then!)
Was that a V8 Roadster? and if so how did you wangle that but, more to the point, what did you think of the steering and suspension mods and how it drives in comparison to Coupe? Just spent the weekend with a paddle shift roadster and it was a million times better than I expected it to be. I've always been a hardcore manual fan and whilst the system still has its flaws (reverse parking uphill - hmmm whats that smell?? Clutch!!!) on the right road full throttle up-shifts in sport can't help but bring a smile to your face - and those within ear shot (about a 2 mile radius then!)
amvntage said:
HMMMM, same transmission, same enablement software and electronics provider. I am not sure I understand "same league". I would say that Aston Martin still has work to do to bring it up to Ferrari standards, but this will be a software issue. Ferrari has had 10years to get it right. For what it is worth, I think the Vanquish "S" shifts just as well, if not better than the last 360 I drove.
The transmission may be from the same manufacturer (I believe it's Graziano), but it will be different. The linkages will be different, the ratios different, the way they're installed in the different case will be different etc.
The engine is also very different. Power delivery characteristics, ultimate power, torque. All different.
The way the engines and gearbox are connected together are very, very different.
The diff is different, and the way it functions.
The software is likely to be pretty different too.
In fact aside from the name on the box, and the overall way it does changes, I'd suggest there are more key differences than similarities.
I also suspect Aston wouldn't necessarily want it to work the same as the Ferrari application owing to the respective natures of the beasts.
The manual box in the Vantage is very nice IMO. I'd like a go in the Sportshift, but suspect I'd be disappointed.
murph7355 said:
amvntage said:
HMMMM, same transmission, same enablement software and electronics provider. I am not sure I understand "same league". I would say that Aston Martin still has work to do to bring it up to Ferrari standards, but this will be a software issue. Ferrari has had 10years to get it right. For what it is worth, I think the Vanquish "S" shifts just as well, if not better than the last 360 I drove.
The transmission may be from the same manufacturer (I believe it's Graziano), but it will be different. The linkages will be different, the ratios different, the way they're installed in the different case will be different etc.
The engine is also very different. Power delivery characteristics, ultimate power, torque. All different.
The way the engines and gearbox are connected together are very, very different.
The diff is different, and the way it functions.
The software is likely to be pretty different too.
In fact aside from the name on the box, and the overall way it does changes, I'd suggest there are more key differences than similarities.
I also suspect Aston wouldn't necessarily want it to work the same as the Ferrari application owing to the respective natures of the beasts.
The manual box in the Vantage is very nice IMO. I'd like a go in the Sportshift, but suspect I'd be disappointed.
Spot on - oh and I don't know where I got Riccardo from in my own response to amvntage!
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