Advice needed on Sports Pack for V8V coupe

[smilev8]

Hi, I am new to this site and looking for help ! Looking to buy my first aston 4.7 V8V Coupe (aim is quantum silver, obsidian black leather & silver stitching and N400 Sills). Debating about whether to add the sports pack and would appreciate advice on this. Live in London and would use the car a small amount in town and also for regular drives to the south coast and oxford (also plan to move out of london some point next year which would probably mean more country road driving unless i get tempted with commuting into the City in it). Is the ride with sports pack very harsh ? I test drove cars with and without but to be honest a 10 minute spin on the A40 is not enough to give a true feel of how the car is to live with. I've read the sports pack makes for better handling. Would be interested to know if the better handling is enough to compensate the firmer ride. And if fitted with sports pack, whether you can enjoy a 3 hour drive without needing back surgery! All advice gratefully appreciated.

[Steve*B]

I think that the way to look at this is to analyse your surroundings and the routes available to you. If you enjoy a 'spirited' drive on, and have regular access to, long twisty roads then get the upgrade. If you rarely find the chance to do anything else than get from A to B on congested roads then don't. The ride is noticeably firmer with the Sportspack and you will find yourself paying more attention than normal to the road surface than you would without it.

It's a tough call but even if you make the wrong decision you won't want to hang yourself as a result. Other option is to get the Sportspack fitted at a later date once you've had time to familiarise yourself with everything and how you'll be using the car.

[GlynMo]

I've had 2 without and 1 with and would recommend the sportpack without hesitation, regardless of the type of roads you drive. I don't consider it at all harsh, just a bit firmer but with better control. Worth the extra!

[smilev8]

Thanks for the posts and emails - very helpful - sports pack it is

[Speedraser]

I test drove both, and bought the Sports Pack. I live in the northeast part of the US, and the roads are just terrible. The Sports Pack car rides noticeably more firmly than the standard car, but by no means harshly. I think the low speed ride where the firmness is most apparent -- at higher speeds the ride is quite good. The difference in handling is clearly noticeable. The Sports Pack car is beautifully balanced, very neutral and adjustable -- exactly what you would hope for from a very well-balanced front-engined, rear drive sports car. In fairness, the standard suspension was very good, the handling still excellent, and the ride is definitely more compliant. However, the Sports Pack car understeers significantly less, and is clearly sharper and more precise -- if you like that extra measure of sharpness and precision, IMO the Sports Pack is definitely the choice.

[polar8]

I recently bought a 2010 V8 Vantage in Quantum Silver with Sportspack and Sills and lightweight seats. I drive the car every single day to work in central London. It's my 3rd V8 and 5th Aston in 3 years (had a DBS last).
Trust me - get the sportspack and get the lightweight seats - absolutely brilliant. It's a firm ride but it's great and the carbon seats are WAY more comfortable than the sports seats which gave me chronic back ache after 20 mins

hope that helps!