RE: Aston Martin Vanquish manual: Driven
Discussion
And relax.....
steveirl said:
I own a Vanquish, it is a rather nice drive, very old school, and feels very special. I still think it is one of the most beautiful looking, and sounding cars ever made. The paddle shift suits the nature of the car, and once you don't treat it as a conventional automatic, it is good to use, especially when downshifting.
I do like the idea of the manual conversion though, and a few weeks ago contacted Aston Works to enquire on the cost. Here, Pistonheads is slightly out of date, as the cost is just over 16k plus VAT!
Someone told me the exterior fit and finish of the original Vanquish is better than the more 'mass produced' range that followed. Since you own one, would you care to provide your view?I do like the idea of the manual conversion though, and a few weeks ago contacted Aston Works to enquire on the cost. Here, Pistonheads is slightly out of date, as the cost is just over 16k plus VAT!
hondansx said:
We had a Vanquish S and sadly, the gearbox did really let it down. It was still an H-Pattern gearbox, which is why it was so slow.
Aston Martin's reason for not offering a manual gearbox was that it would involved cutting through the much publicised carbon fibre tub. Whether it was rigidity, safety, or whatever, it seems customer pressure or the lure of £15k+ was too much to resist.
A few years prior to the Vanquish S, we had a DB7 V12 Vantage with a (fairly rare) manual and it was great, but a test drive in another suggested the gearboxes could be hit and miss.
Otherwise, the car is automotive art and i imagine will be big money in the future, thanks to it's sheer presence (current Vanquish is pathetic in comparison) and the roots to Aston's labour-intensive tradition which is obviously lost somewhat today. To be fair, looking in the classifieds there are one's at decent money considering a couple of Ultimate editions sold for £200k last year.
I'd like to learn more about the upgraded touchscreen nav. I enquired with Works Service about fitting the facelift dash, but they said they don't offer it as it would be so ridiculously expensive.
Anyway, great write up and again, EXACTLY the sort of thing PH is good at.
Yeah, but the H-pattern selector means one can go from any gear to any gear. Fabulous cars. Not the best Aston Martin, but still fabulous. Wouldn't have a manual stick conversion myself. Love the car for what is was; warts and all.Aston Martin's reason for not offering a manual gearbox was that it would involved cutting through the much publicised carbon fibre tub. Whether it was rigidity, safety, or whatever, it seems customer pressure or the lure of £15k+ was too much to resist.
A few years prior to the Vanquish S, we had a DB7 V12 Vantage with a (fairly rare) manual and it was great, but a test drive in another suggested the gearboxes could be hit and miss.
Otherwise, the car is automotive art and i imagine will be big money in the future, thanks to it's sheer presence (current Vanquish is pathetic in comparison) and the roots to Aston's labour-intensive tradition which is obviously lost somewhat today. To be fair, looking in the classifieds there are one's at decent money considering a couple of Ultimate editions sold for £200k last year.
I'd like to learn more about the upgraded touchscreen nav. I enquired with Works Service about fitting the facelift dash, but they said they don't offer it as it would be so ridiculously expensive.
Anyway, great write up and again, EXACTLY the sort of thing PH is good at.
Edited by V8LM on Tuesday 20th May 22:24
hondansx said:
Ours needed a new 'box after about 20,000 miles i think. I think it could have been repaired easily enough, but being under warranty it was shipped to Germany and a replacement sent back. After which, the car developed an electronic fault which meant the car refused to change gear...
As such, if i return to the fold, it will be a manual only!
As you said, the one to get is a late Vanquish S with the DB9 dash. The bargain option is a Vanquish with the 'Works' dynamic pack, which was effectively the same suspension, steering and wheels as the S (and aero bits if you liked), but with the standard engine.
Not wheels. The SD wheels are the best wheels ever on the Vanquish.As such, if i return to the fold, it will be a manual only!
As you said, the one to get is a late Vanquish S with the DB9 dash. The bargain option is a Vanquish with the 'Works' dynamic pack, which was effectively the same suspension, steering and wheels as the S (and aero bits if you liked), but with the standard engine.
MonteV said:
Someone told me the exterior fit and finish of the original Vanquish is better than the more 'mass produced' range that followed. Since you own one, would you care to provide your view?
I can not compare the fit and finish to any other model, bar the DB9, and it is a step above, but then it should be given the price difference! My Vanquish is now 11 years old, but feels and looks a small fraction of its age. A very emotive car to own and drive.Wills2 said:
Lovely car from the outside and they sound superb, but that dashboard is a joke,same with the DB7 beautiful but then you open the door and look inside.
How can they pen just gorgeous cars but lose the plot when it comes to the inside.
Look at page 2 of the topic, you can get a much nice dashboard with the 2006/2007 model-year Vanquish S.How can they pen just gorgeous cars but lose the plot when it comes to the inside.
AyBee said:
Such a good looking car 
I remember TG doing a review against the Ferrari with Damon Hill and have wanted one ever since! Manual conversion would be perfect. How much are these these days? *walks off to the classifieds*
That takes me back, I was driving that Vanquish for Top Gear on that day, we went to the Isle of Wight and I drove the 575M back. The AM gearbox lunched itself after a few miles and the car went into 'limp home mode'. I remember everyone who drove it wanted a manual and was surprised when AM didn't even offer a limited run. That being said, the 575M blew me away. beautiful car. Today, I'd love a manual DBS. Happy days! I remember TG doing a review against the Ferrari with Damon Hill and have wanted one ever since! Manual conversion would be perfect. How much are these these days? *walks off to the classifieds*TurboTerrific9 said:
I've been lucky enough to own both an early S model with the original dash and a later UE car.
As the pictures suggest they are absolutely beautiful cars, very masculine and aggressive in their appearance.
Both cars had the flappy paddle gearbox, although by the time the later cars rolled out this was much improved. I never had any issue with my UE gearbox at all and it really felt much more solid and reliable. The early S gearbox played up a couple of times but nothing too major, I drove an early non-S car and that felt much less sorted by comparison.
IMHO the early dash, which was pinched from the XK8, suited the car much better and whilst the later dash looked more modern - it just didn't seem to fit the interior of the car too well. SatNav was somewhat laughable.
So the car is way to heavy, not particularly dynamic to drive hard, had a bit of an ugly rear lighting setup, dodgy interior, terrible driving position......
.... but show me a better looking car, utterly sublime design.
I'm not upset I sold mine, but I miss it's beauty and presence.
I think the old dashboard gives a nice "vintage" touch to the car, but yes the late dash is much more modern. If I had choice, I would go for a 2006/2007 without hesitating.As the pictures suggest they are absolutely beautiful cars, very masculine and aggressive in their appearance.
Both cars had the flappy paddle gearbox, although by the time the later cars rolled out this was much improved. I never had any issue with my UE gearbox at all and it really felt much more solid and reliable. The early S gearbox played up a couple of times but nothing too major, I drove an early non-S car and that felt much less sorted by comparison.
IMHO the early dash, which was pinched from the XK8, suited the car much better and whilst the later dash looked more modern - it just didn't seem to fit the interior of the car too well. SatNav was somewhat laughable.
So the car is way to heavy, not particularly dynamic to drive hard, had a bit of an ugly rear lighting setup, dodgy interior, terrible driving position......
.... but show me a better looking car, utterly sublime design.
I'm not upset I sold mine, but I miss it's beauty and presence.
The Vanquish has a great presence and so much charisma.
Phil Dicky said:
AyBee said:
Such a good looking car I remember TG doing a review against the Ferrari with Damon Hill and have wanted one ever since! Manual conversion would be perfect. How much are these these days? *walks off to the classifieds*
Wasn't that Steve Coogan?...or am I going mad I remember TG doing a review against the Ferrari with Damon Hill and have wanted one ever since! Manual conversion would be perfect. How much are these these days? *walks off to the classifieds*
Steve Coogan - early Vanquish S v 575 GTC ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3rP7Bxgx3w )
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff