AMV8 4.7 Roadster –3k mile road test & impressions vs 4.3:
Discussion
AMV8 4.7 Roadster; 3k mile road test & impressions vs 4.3
Not much has changed outside; but this is still one of the best looking cars on the road
Introduction: The Vantage was designed to be both Coupe and Roadster from first concept and unlike conventional body shell construction most of its chassis strength is located in the main bonded and riveted aluminium tub, rather than the exterior body panels and roof. Aston have learned from their mistake with the DB9 Volante using thicker extrusion combined with extra bracing and a shorter wheel base, making the Vantage Roadster one of the most rigid soft tops on the market. In fact Aston claim it is more rigid than a Lamborghini Murcielago coupe! I am pleased to tell you that you can have your cake and eat it and the impressive on paper “stats” also transfer to the road. Here is a car that offers near coupe levels of rigidity, top draw handling and feel with as much grunt as you could wish for complete with an exhaust note so loud it can wake the dead! Ladies and gentleman I present the Vantage Roadster, this is NOT a Volante soft top it is a hairy chested sports car in the true British tradition
Sexy new lightweight wheels reduce unsprung weight aiding the new sports pack's improved dynamics
4.3 to 4.7 on the road: You have no doubt already read about the specification changes applied to the Vantage with the introduction of the 4.7 model so I won’t waffle on about these again, rather I will try and give you a feel for how the new model measures up to the hype where it counts, in the driving, after a good few months behind the wheel covering 3k miles!
The first thing you notice when “firing her up” is the new model is quieter on tick over and also on light throttle openings! Don’t panic, the car is just as loud as ever once you press the loud pedal, but now you can choose whether you drive past “incognito” or rip the sides off houses! The only downside is the 4.7 could do with being more “V8-grumbly” on tick over & the engine mods do make it sound a bit "thrashy" if the exhaust isn't on song!
Right time to drive, foot on clutch and a pleasant surprise as it is now lighter and more progressive, a firm push forward and and first is slightly reluctantly engaged and we are off. Into second whilst bashing your elbow (just as before) on the cup-holder and onwards up to third! First gear may still be a little belligerent but this gearbox is now much improved, still chunky and mechanical but now much faster and smoother, creating more controlled and cohesive progress. The same can be said for the new engine, light throttle openings are now accompanied by a smooth powerful thrust forward that completely transforms the cars low rev character. While we are waiting for the engine to warm up I can already feel the benefits of the new engines deeper chested performance low down. The seat of my pants can also feel another benefit; this Roadster is fitted with the new Sports Pack, featuring stiffer springs and up-rated dampers alongside those lightweight sexy 19-inch alloy wheels. There is no doubt that this is a much firmer set up than standard but it is beautifully damped so little harshness reaches the drivers seat, in fact it feels pretty much as comfortable as a standard 4.3, but with improved chassis feel and feedback and better body control with a much more tied down ride (the 4.3 never settles!).
Near coupe levels of rigidity & 4.7 litre V8 grunt make the Roadster a real drivers car
Time to get more serious around some of my favourite bumpy B roads to see how the Roadster fairs. Roof down your senses start to tingle, as your foot pushes down on the throttle the Vantage finds it voice. At first it is a fabulous TVR like V8 “woofle” and then as you start to press further a manic crackling Spitfire style V8 bellow rips through the air as the car fly’s for the red line and the wildlife scatters! The car revs more freely and insistently than before and it now feels genuinely "top-draw" rapid, hang onto the steering wheel adrenalin pumping fast at times, which is something you would rarely experience before. Aston have been very shrewd with the 4.7, not only can you enjoy a big extra hit of mid-range torque, but it feels like they have re-mapped the throttle so light openings give much greater thrust. This means the car seems to lunge forward on medium throttle openings, it sounds like a small change but it transforms the cars B road progress where 3rd and 4th gear are king. When you do stretch it to red line it also rewards with a new high rev eagerness that feels simply spot on and in keeping with the cars chunky V8 persona, the bite is now in keeping with the bark!
The cars handling dynamics are also an improvement on what went before. The Vantage hasn’t been transformed into a pointy chuckable Porsche GT3 (its controls are still a tad over damped/heavy, while throttle response isn’t as accurate as Porks) rather it “flows” better than virtually any other car, along that twisty B road, with superb balance and poise, but now with less pitch/float and more accuracy for improved seat of the pants driver involvement. The chunky steering wheel is still a joy to grip and its meaty weighting allows smooth measured control in the twisty stuff. The Aston allows you to find a groove to flow seamlessly from bend to bend, particularly medium and fast corners. The improvements to the gear change also pay dividends here, the six speed box is still chunky and involving, but where as before it sometimes got in the way of the fun and even slowed progress, it now performs exactly as expected meshing with the new found grunt and grip to create a more cohesive package. Push hard in tight corners and there is some understeer and the new sports chassis combined with that beefy new engine can cause an occasional loss of traction on the bumpy stuff or when pushing first gear. The car also moves around a little under power when attacking your favourite rutted racetrack, but it still tracks straight and true, overall this new dynamic feel adds greatly to the driver enjoyment. Only on the very worst consistently bumpy B roads can I find any hint of chassis flex and then only fleetingly, this is one amazingly rigid soft-top.
Imagine the automotive love child made when a luxury Bentley rogered a bonkers TVR TuscanS................
then you are getting a taste of what the Vantage 4.7 Roadster is about!
Summary: So in summary this isn’t an all-new experience, it is simply the fine-tuning, improvement and development of the already great 4.3. The Vantage’s core qualities and personality are still there but now with a more athletic honed package, the 4.3 has been to the gym and it is fitter, more powerful and fleet of foot. The combined changes now give the car a more complete feel, with acceleration that is savage, after 3k miles have loosened the engine, and a chassis/steering that is more feel some and cohesive when you are in the mood to press on!
Having owned both tin & rag top, I think the Roadster could well be the pick of the Vantage range. Roof up it is pretty much as refined as the coupe, in fact more so as a slight downside of the carpeted rear boot is reduced exhaust noise. Roof down it is a completely addictive assault on the senses and the handling flow & gruntier mid-range mean you can enjoy plenty of driving pleasure without having to cane or push the car, which is good news on today’s ever busier roads.
Pressing on down a favourite road, the sun on your face and wind buffeting hair is just the start. The handling is solid involving and predictable, the engine now provides just the right amount of go to make the acceleration effortless and addictive, while the stunning hit of awesome V8 in your ears when the taps are open, roof down, has to be heard to be believed!
The new 4.7 puts British beef back on the menu, its the car we all hoped for first time around
I can honestly say on a sunny day, roof down it doesn’t get much better than this, in fact although there are still things to improve, Aston have honed the Vantage to become the car we all hoped for first time around!
Edited to add Steves piccy!
Edited by Grant3 on Wednesday 15th April 17:19
What colour is that by the way? It is spectacularly beautiful.
I guess what you are saying is that a 4.7 roadster would be a better choice thana 4.3 roadster, despite the difference in cost, and even than an N400 roadster.
I wonder if anyone produces a special brush that will let you clean the narrow gaps between the spokes on those alloys. I can see that's how I would be spending my weekends.
I guess what you are saying is that a 4.7 roadster would be a better choice thana 4.3 roadster, despite the difference in cost, and even than an N400 roadster.
I wonder if anyone produces a special brush that will let you clean the narrow gaps between the spokes on those alloys. I can see that's how I would be spending my weekends.
Edited by cardigankid on Wednesday 15th April 07:31
Thanks guys, two books already published but the writing bug still takes hold, apologies for the length... this was the short version 
cardigankid said:
What colour is that by the way? It is spectacularly beautiful.
Cheers Cardigan, its a special order Ferrari colour Grigio Titanio, the colour varies according to the light (edited to add & yes the gap in the wheel spokes are a pain!!!)...........................Edited by Grant3 on Wednesday 15th April 19:28
I must admit that I find the wheels quite easy to clean but then I've had a lot worse!
Nice write-up
Your car must be faulty though - someone's stuck a stubby little leather-clad pole on to the centre console, just in front of the stereo.... 
Hope you don't mind but had a play with one of the pics to give it some more "motion" ...
Nice write-up
Your car must be faulty though - someone's stuck a stubby little leather-clad pole on to the centre console, just in front of the stereo.... Hope you don't mind but had a play with one of the pics to give it some more "motion" ...
Edited by steve_amv8 on Wednesday 15th April 14:54
Nice write up G!
Even more convinced that the end of the month will see me back in something with a drop top. Always loved them and never been convinced that any - imagined or real - differences coupe v. cab ever outweighed the pleasure a convertible gives and which you so eloquently describe. You're a bad influence on the wallet man.
Even more convinced that the end of the month will see me back in something with a drop top. Always loved them and never been convinced that any - imagined or real - differences coupe v. cab ever outweighed the pleasure a convertible gives and which you so eloquently describe. You're a bad influence on the wallet man.
XXXAngelXXX said:
he couldn't afford the Fezza - that's why the colour 
It's part of this modern multicultural world... Italian paint colour, English interior & a German built American/Brit engine steve_amv8 said:
Hope you don't mind but had a play with one of the pics to give it some more "motion" ...
Thanks, that's much better I pinched it & added it to piece, clearly I need Adobe Photoshop! Pugsey said:
Even more convinced that the end of the month will see me back in something with a drop top. Always loved them and never been convinced that any - imagined or real - differences coupe v. cab ever outweighed the pleasure a convertible. You're a bad influence on the wallet man.
I must confess I hate chassis flex & steering wheel shimmy, but the AMV8 Roadster is a revelation on this front, wouldn't have believed it myself unless I'd tried it first on track. Anyway you have already fleetingly done the Roadster thing so you know already.... what tempts you... Lambo or 430 cab? Grant3 said:
I must confess I hate chassis flex & steering wheel shimmy, but the AMV8 Roadster is a revelation on this front, wouldn't have believed it myself unless I'd tried it first on track. Anyway you have already fleetingly done the Roadster thing so you know already.... what tempts you... Lambo or 430 cab?
Yep I love soft tops and have had many over the years - MGB, TR6, Healey 3000 (no I'm not THAT old, they were already classics, honest!) TVR, Boxster, Elise, Caterham, M3 etc., etc., etc. I'm currently VERY tempted by the idea of an F430 Spider until the V12V arrives. My only problem is the same one as I have with Porsche - as in, I love Boxsters but wouldn't give the (IMHO) pug ugly 911 Cab garage room. Similarly I don't think that the Ferrari drop top is as attractive as the coupe and I also feel it has an image problem and ask myself could I really drive it down my local high street top down? But then I imagine screaming through my favourite Alpine passes and tunnels this summer and, you know what? I think sod the image We'll see..............Carry on enjoying your beautiful beast and get it over to the Continent this year.
Pugsey: one of my neighbours had a fully tuned black Novitec F430 Spider until he saw my DBS then he sold the car to buy a DBS too 
http://www.novitecuk.com/prod-430.html
http://www.novitecuk.com/prod-430.html
Edited by XXXAngelXXX on Thursday 16th April 08:16
XXXAngelXXX said:
Pugsey: one of my neighbours had a fully tuned black Novitec F430 Spider until he saw my DBS then he sold the car to buy a DBS too
http://www.novitecuk.com/prod-430.html
Wow! (And only partly in a good way).http://www.novitecuk.com/prod-430.html
Edited by XXXAngelXXX on Thursday 16th April 08:16
What that pic has confirmed is that if I go for a Spider then, unlike my Coupe which HAD to be red as my first Ferrari, I'll go for a dark colour I think.
Pugsey said:
Grant3 said:
I must confess I hate chassis flex & steering wheel shimmy, but the AMV8 Roadster is a revelation on this front, wouldn't have believed it myself unless I'd tried it first on track. Anyway you have already fleetingly done the Roadster thing so you know already.... what tempts you... Lambo or 430 cab?
Yep I love soft tops and have had many over the years - MGB, TR6, Healey 3000 (no I'm not THAT old, they were already classics, honest!) TVR, Boxster, Elise, Caterham, M3 etc., etc., etc. I'm currently VERY tempted by the idea of an F430 Spider until the V12V arrives. My only problem is the same one as I have with Porsche - as in, I love Boxsters but wouldn't give the (IMHO) pug ugly 911 Cab garage room. Similarly I don't think that the Ferrari drop top is as attractive as the coupe and I also feel it has an image problem and ask myself could I really drive it down my local high street top down? But then I imagine screaming through my favourite Alpine passes and tunnels this summer and, you know what? I think sod the image We'll see..............Carry on enjoying your beautiful beast and get it over to the Continent this year.
ETA: sorry Grant; great write up.
Edited by matc on Thursday 16th April 14:42
Pugsey said:
XXXAngelXXX said:
Pugsey: one of my neighbours had a fully tuned black Novitec F430 Spider until he saw my DBS then he sold the car to buy a DBS too
http://www.novitecuk.com/prod-430.html
Wow! (And only partly in a good way).http://www.novitecuk.com/prod-430.html
Edited by XXXAngelXXX on Thursday 16th April 08:16
What that pic has confirmed is that if I go for a Spider then, unlike my Coupe which HAD to be red as my first Ferrari, I'll go for a dark colour I think.
I have the same problem as you - love open tops and I would like to try a fezza but the image is all wrong .
derestrictor said:
Quite simply, 
DER... how much money have you got??? It must be vast reserves in order to pay off those Car Republic chaps to edit the test video to show the M6 overtaking a 997TT Only joking, that piece did rather prove your point matc said:
How about a Gallarbo Spyder; arguably better looking than the Coupe.
I agree & in darker shades its not as flash as a Fezza!hartley said:
I have the same problem as you Pugsey - love open tops and I would like to try a fezza but the image is all wrong .
It is hard to understand why some soft tops are macho... (TVR, Cobra, Lotus maybe... etc) & others including the 911 & fezza aren't.. why is that
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