Discussion
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Sold my 997C2S and splashed out on a Vantage V8. A few initial observations
The 911 is non-intimidating and pretty easy to drive - nearly anyone could drive one at 140mph on an autobahn with no fuss. The Aston is a snarling beast, the exhaust growls and spits on tickover. Floor it in third and the sound and fury is beautiful.
The Aston feels much rawer. I don't mean the finish or the handling - both 911 and Vantage V8 are immaculate (both made to a very very high standard) - more the driving experience. The Aston gearbox is very short shift and you work it. Suspension is about halfway between standard 911 and the teeth rattling setting with the PASM button.
I had thought that the experience would be similar but the Aston is all thug in a gentleman's suit, the Porsche is all gentleman in a gentleman's suit. I'd trust my sister in the Porsche but not the Aston.
Ah, and did I mention the soundtrack? It's biblical!!! Just awesome. Cannot wait to get it into a decent length tunnel and floor it in third.
Acceleration is impressive - the numbers are about the same as the 911 but it feels more urgent - it feels like there is more torque.
Sold my 997C2S and splashed out on a Vantage V8. A few initial observations
The 911 is non-intimidating and pretty easy to drive - nearly anyone could drive one at 140mph on an autobahn with no fuss. The Aston is a snarling beast, the exhaust growls and spits on tickover. Floor it in third and the sound and fury is beautiful.
The Aston feels much rawer. I don't mean the finish or the handling - both 911 and Vantage V8 are immaculate (both made to a very very high standard) - more the driving experience. The Aston gearbox is very short shift and you work it. Suspension is about halfway between standard 911 and the teeth rattling setting with the PASM button.
I had thought that the experience would be similar but the Aston is all thug in a gentleman's suit, the Porsche is all gentleman in a gentleman's suit. I'd trust my sister in the Porsche but not the Aston.
Ah, and did I mention the soundtrack? It's biblical!!! Just awesome. Cannot wait to get it into a decent length tunnel and floor it in third.
Acceleration is impressive - the numbers are about the same as the 911 but it feels more urgent - it feels like there is more torque.
Congrats John, enjoy. I know I massively enjoyed coming out of a 911 into my Vantage, and and tried a few since and cannot even think about going back.
There is a small procedure you need to do to increase your enjoyment. Go into the boot, in the hatch on the right hand side, take out the tire pump kit, open the fuse box and remove fuse 22. There has been much debate about if this is OK or not to do, but work service will install a switch for you to do the same thing, so I understand from that that there is no issues. I have run mine for over 1.5 years like it and no issues and most people I know with V8 run without it
There is a small procedure you need to do to increase your enjoyment. Go into the boot, in the hatch on the right hand side, take out the tire pump kit, open the fuse box and remove fuse 22. There has been much debate about if this is OK or not to do, but work service will install a switch for you to do the same thing, so I understand from that that there is no issues. I have run mine for over 1.5 years like it and no issues and most people I know with V8 run without it
7RMS said:
Hi all, I have just registered to pistonheads so don't know about fuse 22. What does this do? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Why would you need to switch it?
it enables/disables a flap in the rear exhaust - basically its normally closed up until 4000Rpm and keeps the engine quiet until then, and then it opens up. If you remove the fuse the flap is open all the time so it makes the car sound a lot more meaty right from tickover ...a worthwhile "upgrade" - the car sounds like it has an aftermarket sports exhaust fitted etc 
I'm not really into the mechanical side of cars, it's just not my thing. The purchase decision for the AMV8 was made when I floored it in third and the exhaust snarled like a beast. I've been driving a 997 C2S which makes a very dull turbine like howl under acceleration. But soon as I heard the noise of the V8 I thought "yep, I'm taking this one home with me..."
So remove fuse 22 and go for it!
So remove fuse 22 and go for it!
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