V8V Manual to new shape Vantage, a good move?
Discussion
I’ve had my 2017 V8 Vantage S manual for 2 years now, which I love and am happy to keep if i can’t find a suitable replacement. Looking at newer shape Vantage’s (2018 onwards) which are looking good value now. Has anyone made the swap, if so was it a good move? What differences should i expect? I know i need to go and test drive one, but just wanted some feedback from anyone whose already done the swap. Look forward to some feedback.
Wynn
I've had a V8V, driven a mate's manual V8VS a lot, currently have a V12VS and a V8F1 2022 Vantage so i know the cars you want to compare well.
The V8VS is a great analogue sports car with wonderful grip and predictable handling, plenty of power, great sounding, average seats & tech but so much to engage the driver at well above legal speed limits
The new Vantage 2018-2023 (or the new new Vantage 2024 onwards) are completely different, dynamically better, faster, more grip better tech (not much better seats), less driver engagement, less quality V8 sound but still sound ok
depends what you are after and how mucjh money you have to throw at it
drive the new Vantage as you said & decide yourself
Happy hunting
Graze
I've had a V8V, driven a mate's manual V8VS a lot, currently have a V12VS and a V8F1 2022 Vantage so i know the cars you want to compare well.
The V8VS is a great analogue sports car with wonderful grip and predictable handling, plenty of power, great sounding, average seats & tech but so much to engage the driver at well above legal speed limits
The new Vantage 2018-2023 (or the new new Vantage 2024 onwards) are completely different, dynamically better, faster, more grip better tech (not much better seats), less driver engagement, less quality V8 sound but still sound ok
depends what you are after and how mucjh money you have to throw at it
drive the new Vantage as you said & decide yourself
Happy hunting
Graze
Two things you mention in your reply Graze, analogue and driver engagement, those are the things that are important to me and why i love my current car, faster doesn’t mean better on our roads. Also what are the manual versions of the newer car like? There’s a manual one for sale at the moment in a garage in Yorkshire
Wynn432 said:
Two things you mention in your reply Graze, analogue and driver engagement, those are the things that are important to me and why i love my current car, faster doesn’t mean better on our roads. Also what are the manual versions of the newer car like? There’s a manual one for sale at the moment in a garage in Yorkshire
I haven't driven a manual new vantage, so can't comment sorry.I like both of them for different reasons but if i had to chose one it would be my mates V8VS over the F1
Graze
Wynn
its plenty fast enough, although slower than the F1
the interior is better resolved (although I like the new vantage interior unlike many who seem to hate it)
the exterior is plainly better looking
the v8 sound is sublime
the predictable handling and steering give the driver more information and involvement
hope that helps
its plenty fast enough, although slower than the F1
the interior is better resolved (although I like the new vantage interior unlike many who seem to hate it)
the exterior is plainly better looking
the v8 sound is sublime
the predictable handling and steering give the driver more information and involvement
hope that helps
Wynn, your dilemma is one that I am also toying with.
I have driven the 'gen 2 Vantage ... AMG powered' and it is extremely fast in comparison to the gen 1 (VH ) cars ... I say this comparing AM V8 to AMG V8, I have not driven the VH V12 cars.
It may have been the road I was first driven on and latterly drove on that showed the car to be fast ... on the roads I tested it on, I would say too fast. Where the VH cars pull and build their speed over the course of the rev range, the AMG engined cars hit peak torque very low in the revs and hold it until the red line, there is no build up, it just hits and hits hard and doesn't let up.
I have grown to like the gen 2 car interior. It depends if you like buttons, I do. It's nicely put together and although it is old Mercedes tech, its a huge jump over the first two waterfall VH cars, it may be not so good as the last ski sloped dashed, haptic keys VH cars that came in around 2015 ish I think to when the cars ran out, we all have differing opinions but I like the last dash the best of the VH cars.
Having said all this the AMG powered car isn't as engaging to drive as my 2009 Vantage but that hasn't stopped me looking at the classifieds for the last few months and with the gen 3 car coming along there are a lot more gen 2 cars coming on to the used forecourts and prices are reflecting this.
As others have said, go drive the car and see how it feels. The auto box actually has more torque than the 7 speed manual (the same Graziano manual as used on the previous gen V12 cars I understand) but then there is about an 80kg weight saving on the manual car over the auto. I would be happy with either the auto or manual but I have only driven the auto.
I have driven the 'gen 2 Vantage ... AMG powered' and it is extremely fast in comparison to the gen 1 (VH ) cars ... I say this comparing AM V8 to AMG V8, I have not driven the VH V12 cars.
It may have been the road I was first driven on and latterly drove on that showed the car to be fast ... on the roads I tested it on, I would say too fast. Where the VH cars pull and build their speed over the course of the rev range, the AMG engined cars hit peak torque very low in the revs and hold it until the red line, there is no build up, it just hits and hits hard and doesn't let up.
I have grown to like the gen 2 car interior. It depends if you like buttons, I do. It's nicely put together and although it is old Mercedes tech, its a huge jump over the first two waterfall VH cars, it may be not so good as the last ski sloped dashed, haptic keys VH cars that came in around 2015 ish I think to when the cars ran out, we all have differing opinions but I like the last dash the best of the VH cars.
Having said all this the AMG powered car isn't as engaging to drive as my 2009 Vantage but that hasn't stopped me looking at the classifieds for the last few months and with the gen 3 car coming along there are a lot more gen 2 cars coming on to the used forecourts and prices are reflecting this.
As others have said, go drive the car and see how it feels. The auto box actually has more torque than the 7 speed manual (the same Graziano manual as used on the previous gen V12 cars I understand) but then there is about an 80kg weight saving on the manual car over the auto. I would be happy with either the auto or manual but I have only driven the auto.
Edited by BiggaJ on Thursday 8th August 16:04
Do you have a specific reason for wanting to sell your current Aston?
I have both models except my new one is a roadster. If there is a specific reason then I can offer some feedback.
They are both exceptional cars. Maybe the main difference being that the VH is definitely more of a second car and the newer one just has more bandwidth. It can be a smooth, comfortable mile muncher or a complete unhinged lunatic.
I have both models except my new one is a roadster. If there is a specific reason then I can offer some feedback.
They are both exceptional cars. Maybe the main difference being that the VH is definitely more of a second car and the newer one just has more bandwidth. It can be a smooth, comfortable mile muncher or a complete unhinged lunatic.
Davil said:
Do you have a specific reason for wanting to sell your current Aston?
I have both models except my new one is a roadster. If there is a specific reason then I can offer some feedback.
They are both exceptional cars. Maybe the main difference being that the VH is definitely more of a second car and the newer one just has more bandwidth. It can be a smooth, comfortable mile muncher or a complete unhinged lunatic.
DavidI have both models except my new one is a roadster. If there is a specific reason then I can offer some feedback.
They are both exceptional cars. Maybe the main difference being that the VH is definitely more of a second car and the newer one just has more bandwidth. It can be a smooth, comfortable mile muncher or a complete unhinged lunatic.
which one would you keep if you could only have one? and why?
Graeme
Davil
I have no specific reason to sell the car, just the usual itch to try something else. I love the car, it’s a weekend away , fun day’s out and trips away car. It’s hard to describe, it just makes you feel great when you start it up and just drive it on some twisty roads. I just don’t want to make mistake. To give some context, i had a G series M4 Comp, it was a great car, fast and capable but left me cold, and sold it after 11 months. The Vantage is a completely different experience. Is the new Vantage more like the M4 than the VH Vantage?
I’d be interested to hear if anyone has owned or driven a new shape manual Vantage.
I have no specific reason to sell the car, just the usual itch to try something else. I love the car, it’s a weekend away , fun day’s out and trips away car. It’s hard to describe, it just makes you feel great when you start it up and just drive it on some twisty roads. I just don’t want to make mistake. To give some context, i had a G series M4 Comp, it was a great car, fast and capable but left me cold, and sold it after 11 months. The Vantage is a completely different experience. Is the new Vantage more like the M4 than the VH Vantage?
I’d be interested to hear if anyone has owned or driven a new shape manual Vantage.
Wynn432 said:
I have no specific reason to sell the car, just the usual itch to try something else. I love the car, it’s a weekend away , fun day’s out and trips away car. It’s hard to describe, it just makes you feel great when you start it up and just drive it on some twisty roads. ...
I think your comments above, have answered your original question.
If perhaps you might have to spend 2 times the value of your VH car, would then you get;
2 times love for the new car;
2 times it’s a weekend away, fun day’s out and trips away new car;
2 times it just makes you feel great when you start it up and just drive it on some twisty roads.
Probably not.
( The selling dealer might disagree with me. -
) I'm having exactly the same issues, currently have an 06 V8 Vantage and during winter got itchy feet while it was SORNed and figured out an early 'new shape' Vantage was the answer.
I haven't jumped yet, partly because the right car is yet to come along and partly because the monetary value of my current car is considerably less than the emotional value.
The price to change would be my car+£60k (although there does appear to be be cars starting in the mid 60's now), and I just don't see me getting an extra £60k of enjoyment from it.
I knew when I bought the Aston that the problem would be what do you replace it with, it seems that the answer isn't even 'another Aston.
I have driven the 7 speed manual, and didn't like it, I think if you owned one and drove it quite a lot you would get used to the gearbox/stick and it would be a rewarding experience but on the short test drive I was constantly worried about dropping down 4 gears instead of my intended 2
I haven't jumped yet, partly because the right car is yet to come along and partly because the monetary value of my current car is considerably less than the emotional value.
The price to change would be my car+£60k (although there does appear to be be cars starting in the mid 60's now), and I just don't see me getting an extra £60k of enjoyment from it.
I knew when I bought the Aston that the problem would be what do you replace it with, it seems that the answer isn't even 'another Aston.
I have driven the 7 speed manual, and didn't like it, I think if you owned one and drove it quite a lot you would get used to the gearbox/stick and it would be a rewarding experience but on the short test drive I was constantly worried about dropping down 4 gears instead of my intended 2
Graze01 said:
David
which one would you keep if you could only have one? and why?
Graeme
Such a difficult question to answer. They are both so awesome. which one would you keep if you could only have one? and why?
Graeme
I think overall the new one. One big reason is that it is a roadster. It gives joy at all times. The VH gives joy when you are on special roads. In that scenario it is very hard to beat but you do have to drive to those roads.
Weirdly enough the roadster sounds better than the VH at normal driving speeds. The VH sounds like a maniac once you get past 3500rpm.
Wynn432 said:
Davil
I have no specific reason to sell the car, just the usual itch to try something else. I love the car, it’s a weekend away , fun day’s out and trips away car. It’s hard to describe, it just makes you feel great when you start it up and just drive it on some twisty roads. I just don’t want to make mistake. To give some context, i had a G series M4 Comp, it was a great car, fast and capable but left me cold, and sold it after 11 months. The Vantage is a completely different experience. Is the new Vantage more like the M4 than the VH Vantage?
I’d be interested to hear if anyone has owned or driven a new shape manual Vantage.
I completely agree. The VH really is a special event. It rewards the driver and you feel so connected. I have no specific reason to sell the car, just the usual itch to try something else. I love the car, it’s a weekend away , fun day’s out and trips away car. It’s hard to describe, it just makes you feel great when you start it up and just drive it on some twisty roads. I just don’t want to make mistake. To give some context, i had a G series M4 Comp, it was a great car, fast and capable but left me cold, and sold it after 11 months. The Vantage is a completely different experience. Is the new Vantage more like the M4 than the VH Vantage?
I’d be interested to hear if anyone has owned or driven a new shape manual Vantage.
I spent quite a bit of time in a G82. It’s a very impressive car but there is zero man machine interface. You just feel like a passenger in a precision engineered vehicle that does everything you’d want without ever bothering you. The sound (piped in) has no emotion. You don’t feel the car in the seat of your pants. The ZF implementation isn’t very involving either. The steering is precise but again, no feel.
I do have the roadster which of course brings a much more visceral experience, but it is much, much more of a driver’s car than a G82. It feels fun at any speed. That’s a big one for me. You can feel the car through the seat of your pants as it so well balanced rather than engineered to overcome compromises that come with a family saloon platform. Plus of course the sound is on another planet. It also feels much more special, the smell, the event of greeting it, firing it up. You know you in for an experience rather than a commute.
Davil said:
Graze01 said:
David
which one would you keep if you could only have one? and why?
Graeme
Such a difficult question to answer. They are both so awesome. which one would you keep if you could only have one? and why?
Graeme
I think overall the new one. One big reason is that it is a roadster. It gives joy at all times. The VH gives joy when you are on special roads. In that scenario it is very hard to beat but you do have to drive to those roads.
Weirdly enough the roadster sounds better than the VH at normal driving speeds. The VH sounds like a maniac once you get past 3500rpm.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff