RE: Driven: Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
Discussion
I found the opposite with regards to handling. While the 996 feels more agile, it's significantly slower on track. I can brake later and carry more speed in the v8 into and out of corners. The v8 does lack the interesting handling quirks of the 911 but is more neutral and benign.
So I beg to differ! But yo call the v8 awful is overstating it really!!
So I beg to differ! But yo call the v8 awful is overstating it really!!
uuf361 said:
+1
It does look and sound amazing but all the negatives you mention above are just enough to make it not a good car, plus the dodgy clutch and woeful throttle response (it's a feture Sir - no it's appalling), Ford Ka key, Volvo key fob (why not just have one!) door handles from who knows where and a handbrake that was in completely the wrong place and and and............and don't forget the handbook that did not fit in the glovebox
Ahh yes, the handbrake, how could I have forgotten that masterpiece. Now my DB7 hand one of those, I guess it's a long traditional "AM" thing for which I don't really have a problem. What I had forgotten to mention was that each and every time you used the thing you were forced to rub the side of the lever (and your knuckles/rings/watch) up and down the side of the driver seat swab which will wear into the leather over time. Ours only had 5k on the clock when we sold it and you could already see the marks. It does look and sound amazing but all the negatives you mention above are just enough to make it not a good car, plus the dodgy clutch and woeful throttle response (it's a feture Sir - no it's appalling), Ford Ka key, Volvo key fob (why not just have one!) door handles from who knows where and a handbrake that was in completely the wrong place and and and............and don't forget the handbook that did not fit in the glovebox
As for the Volvo fob and Ka key I agree but I gather the new "Emotion" whatever it's called unit does away with all that? No sure on that point. What you forgot to mention (as did I) was the hilarious fact that if you had the steering column pushed right in (either you have arms like an ape, or you are short like my Mrs), you couldn't get the key in or out of the ignition! How mad is that?
And I forgot to add, what car does my Mrs want again next? Another 911. Just got to pursuade her she NEEDS the new Turbo.
Edited by G4HKS on Friday 1st January 17:42
I appreciate what some say about the better lines that the Coupe' has to offer but having owned and now desperatley missing a v8 Vantage please please please anyone thinking of buying MUST try the auto box - its sublime and as for the roof....well whats the point in having that sound track from the engine and not being able to enjoy it to its full. Having the convertible is the difference between a gramophone with a sock in it versus a 7.1 surround sound system implanted firmly between your ears - Its worth the extra!
I appreciate what some say about the better lines that the Coupe' has to offer but having owned and now desperatley missing a v8 Vantage please please please anyone thinking of buying MUST try the auto box - its sublime and as for the roof....well whats the point in having that sound track from the engine and not being able to enjoy it to its full. Having the convertible is the difference between a gramophone with a sock in it versus a 7.1 surround sound system implanted firmly between your ears - Its worth the extra!
So, little has been said regarding the 4.7's performance by the AM detractors -- it's right there with the 997. Having said that, if that last tenth of a second is all that matters, all of the 997 (or 996) owners should have bought Corvettes, especially the Z06 -- considerably faster than a 996/997, and MUCH less expensive (especially in the US). Now, of course, they should all sell their Porsches and just get GT-Rs, if all out speed is the be all and end all.
Regarding the interiors: While many things are subjective, there can't really be any realistic debate over Porsche's interior vs the V8V's. The Aston is in another, far higher league compared to the 997. The 996's interior doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence -- it's simply embarrassing from a quality (or lack thereof) perspective (and I'm a long-term 911 fanatic). The 997's interior is nice, but it's full of "metal-look" (Porsche's term) plastic, as well as a lot of other plastic (nice plastic, but plastic, nonetheless), the switches and controls move around too much in their housings, the door panels are attached with plastic press clips, etc. The Aston's interior is just gorgeous, with metal everywhere, little plastic (and none masquerading as metal), and a very high-quality feel to most of the switchgear. The door panels are fastened with metal fasteners, the center console is made of zinc alloy, the instruments are machined from alumin(i)um, etc. Again, the 4.7's interior is even better than the 4.3's. The (stupidly named) new key is a beautiful thing that, in my experience, becomes easy to use after an initial getting-acquainted period. Finally, the handbrake is that big a deal? With just a little attention paid, I haven't had any difficulty using it without rubbing either the seat or the sill.
Regarding the interiors: While many things are subjective, there can't really be any realistic debate over Porsche's interior vs the V8V's. The Aston is in another, far higher league compared to the 997. The 996's interior doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence -- it's simply embarrassing from a quality (or lack thereof) perspective (and I'm a long-term 911 fanatic). The 997's interior is nice, but it's full of "metal-look" (Porsche's term) plastic, as well as a lot of other plastic (nice plastic, but plastic, nonetheless), the switches and controls move around too much in their housings, the door panels are attached with plastic press clips, etc. The Aston's interior is just gorgeous, with metal everywhere, little plastic (and none masquerading as metal), and a very high-quality feel to most of the switchgear. The door panels are fastened with metal fasteners, the center console is made of zinc alloy, the instruments are machined from alumin(i)um, etc. Again, the 4.7's interior is even better than the 4.3's. The (stupidly named) new key is a beautiful thing that, in my experience, becomes easy to use after an initial getting-acquainted period. Finally, the handbrake is that big a deal? With just a little attention paid, I haven't had any difficulty using it without rubbing either the seat or the sill.
Aye the handbrake is a bit of s non-issue. It's also handy to be able to engage first and disengage the handbrake at the same time. I've got so used to it, I keep reaching in the wrong place for it on other cars!!!
The new design console doesn't really do it for me, nicer materials, but the elegance of the original design is lost.
I wasn't tempted to go for the 997. I'm actually itching to get a 993. IMO Porsche seen intent to engineer out some of the 911 character with each iteration. More refinement, variable rack steering etc. Just seems to have made it more dull. Gimme some floor hinged pedals, oil cooled engine and a vertical screen I can rub my nose on, and I might just be tempted again!!
The new design console doesn't really do it for me, nicer materials, but the elegance of the original design is lost.
I wasn't tempted to go for the 997. I'm actually itching to get a 993. IMO Porsche seen intent to engineer out some of the 911 character with each iteration. More refinement, variable rack steering etc. Just seems to have made it more dull. Gimme some floor hinged pedals, oil cooled engine and a vertical screen I can rub my nose on, and I might just be tempted again!!
You didn't comment on the steering column!
Besides all the ponters from me I still adore the AMV8 and it was the roadster we had. As for owning a Z06.... (Now where do I start with knocking the "quality" issues with that one!) Before you jump on me check out my profile..
Besides all the ponters from me I still adore the AMV8 and it was the roadster we had. As for owning a Z06.... (Now where do I start with knocking the "quality" issues with that one!) Before you jump on me check out my profile..
Edited by G4HKS on Friday 1st January 22:36
Stanwan,
Go for the 993 -- they're wonderful. I've had mine 10 years and love it.
Martin,
I saw that -- so you understand (at least partially)
Big,
Wrong -- it delivers superbly, especially in 4.7 Sports Pack form. There have been disappointing Astons, no question. The V8V isn't one of them. I wouldn't have bought it if it were just a pretty face.
Go for the 993 -- they're wonderful. I've had mine 10 years and love it.
Martin,
I saw that -- so you understand (at least partially)
Big,
Wrong -- it delivers superbly, especially in 4.7 Sports Pack form. There have been disappointing Astons, no question. The V8V isn't one of them. I wouldn't have bought it if it were just a pretty face.
uuf361 said:
Unfortunately, in my experience (albeit the 4.3 Roadster) an awful car and disappointing in so many ways 
I so wanted it to be everything it should have been too 
+1 I so wanted it to be everything it should have been too Agreed. Astons look and sounds nice. However the tacky interior full of Volvo and Ford parts and the lack of any real go gave me the same experience. Ditto the DB9, the DBS is at least quick (when you can gt the power down) with a few nice touches of carbon fibre but for 170k it's appallingly bad. As for the keys, whether it's a an old Ford key or the newer style ECU (sic) they're both unforgivable, IMO of course.
unavailable,
Oh, please. "Appalingly bad"? The interior is "full of Volvo and Ford parts"? Simply untrue -- there are very few. No car in the V8V's price range has an interior anywhere near Aston's quality. Do you have a 997 GT3 (from the pic in your profile)? If so, (or if you have any other Porsche), you can't possibly believe (reasonably) that the Aston's interior quality is anything other than far superior. There's no "tacky" "metal-look" plastic (Porsche's own tacky name for it) in the Aston, for example.
"Lack of any real go"? If you owned an Aston, what did you have? The DB9 is a 190 mph car -- that's lacking "go"? The 4.7 V8 Vantage is very nearly as quick as the DBS, which you acknowledge does "go."
While not always the case over the marque's history, the current Astons are far better than merely looking and sounding good -- the substance, including performance, is there in abundance.
Oh, please. "Appalingly bad"? The interior is "full of Volvo and Ford parts"? Simply untrue -- there are very few. No car in the V8V's price range has an interior anywhere near Aston's quality. Do you have a 997 GT3 (from the pic in your profile)? If so, (or if you have any other Porsche), you can't possibly believe (reasonably) that the Aston's interior quality is anything other than far superior. There's no "tacky" "metal-look" plastic (Porsche's own tacky name for it) in the Aston, for example.
"Lack of any real go"? If you owned an Aston, what did you have? The DB9 is a 190 mph car -- that's lacking "go"? The 4.7 V8 Vantage is very nearly as quick as the DBS, which you acknowledge does "go."
While not always the case over the marque's history, the current Astons are far better than merely looking and sounding good -- the substance, including performance, is there in abundance.
bazking69 said:
Great car but the colour and wheel spec are far from ideal.
Give me a Coupe in black with tan leather everyday.
TAN leather...... you've got to be kidding.Give me a Coupe in black with tan leather everyday.
Black leather is the only interior to have on these - you can just about get away with the edges of the seat being piped in silver, but anything else just isn't Aston
Edited by K50 DEL on Wednesday 6th January 20:45
You are right of course and after the many cars I have owned over the years (and enjoyed immensely) none of them are. Best value for money comes right out of your country though and when both cars were sitting on the drive it was the Z06 I always chose. Now maybe the AM was the V12 version I might not be saying this. ("value for money" wouldn’t come in to it again though!)
Speedraser said:
unavailable,
Oh, please. "Appalingly bad"? The interior is "full of Volvo and Ford parts"? Simply untrue -- there are very few.
Yes I was generalising, apologies, I'll be more specific. (rattling!) Sat Nav, stalks, window buttons, mirror buttons, key, seatbelts. And these are the parts you can see. Under the trim there are more 'Ford MoCo.' stickers than I personally like at that price range.Oh, please. "Appalingly bad"? The interior is "full of Volvo and Ford parts"? Simply untrue -- there are very few.
Speedraser said:
No car in the V8V's price range has an interior anywhere near Aston's quality.
Jag XK, BMW and any current Audi. IMHO of course. The grill slats that have come out of alignment on every one so far, and the Tyre Pressure monitoring system than has gone wrong on every one. And the fuel filler flap release, always having to go into the boot to open it with the manual release. Which come to think of it is easier to find than the electronic release in the cabin. The stitched leather is the only real quality item in the cabin really, and the dials look nice but are hard to read, hence the digi readout in the rev counter, which is OK unless you have a Tyre Pressure Warning on it.
Or you have just reset the trip computer... The central locking has gone wrong on numerous occasions also.
Speedraser said:
Do you have a 997 GT3 (from the pic in your profile)? If so, (or if you have any other Porsche), you can't possibly believe (reasonably) that the Aston's interior quality is anything other than far superior.
Quality 'where' though? The feel and ergononics of any Porsche beat the Aston any day as nothing in it feels 'that' (as in £80K) nice to use or touch. The covering used for the buttons comes off, (after 3-4000 miles) The only nice feeling controls are for the heating/AC. All in my opinion of course. Speedraser said:
"Lack of any real go"? If you owned an Aston, what did you have? The DB9 is a 190 mph car -- that's lacking "go"? The 4.7 V8 Vantage is very nearly as quick as the DBS, which you acknowledge does "go."
I've run a DB9, a Vantage, a Vantage Roadster and a DBS. When I refer to 'go' I should clarify I mean acceleration. I never do above 100mph (officer) and by the feel of the DB9 (or DBS, which has too much power for the chassis IMO) I wouldn't have wanted to to do 190mph! I guess the cars other than the DBS never felt 'that' quick to me. The engines always needed lots of revs and made a lot of (great!) noise, which wasn't in tune with the performance they delivered. To me anyway. We all have our own benchmarks and ideas of what's what, and that's what makes this an interesting World. Speedraser said:
While not always the case over the marque's history, the current Astons are far better than merely looking and sounding good -- the substance, including performance, is there in abundance.
I'm glad you enjoy the:Power.
Beauty.
Soul.
Best,
Jon
Edited for spelling and typos.
Edited by unavailable on Thursday 7th January 16:39
Jon,
Volvo parts, there are some, but I don't think there are any that are also used in a Ford. Also, all of those parts you listed have a high quality feel to their operation, except that the column stalks feel a bit average (my car is a MY09 4.7 V8V Coupe). Those window buttons, for example, feel far better in their operation than those in the new M-B SL63 I looked at. The Nav is not the car's greatest feature, as has been well discussed. I didn't know that seatbelts are marque-specific -- that's a new one on me. Are Ferrari belts Ferrari-specific? Given the number of Fiat parts in Ferraris and Maseratis, I doubt it. And Ferrari interiors look like they have 40,000 miles of use when they only have 7,000. The Audi R8's switchgear (and the Gallardo's) looks just like that in an A4, as does the rest of its interior. It's beautifully built, but it's not special or bespoke. The Aston key is no longer Volvo from MY09 and is beautifully executed (yes, the previous keys were cheap). Whether you like the new "key" is a different question. Bentley Conti -- it's a VW Phaeton, albeit a very nice VW Phaeton. So, using a small number of mostly quality parts from Volvo isn't ideal, but it still results in an interior that is leagues above the competition (IMO, of course).
It's not just the Aston's leather that is high quality. The instruments are gorgeous, and machined from alloy. No, the speedo isn't easy to read, but the digital display cures that, and with a little familiarity I now have little difficulty reading the analog speedo. If a message appears in place of the digital speedo readout, a simple push of a button brings the speedo back. The center console is made from alloy rather than plastic. The switchgear on the
console is machined from alloy, it works smoothly and crisply, and the knobs don't wobble on their axes like they do in some competitor's cars. Even the mirrors on the sun visors are set into metal and attached to the alcantara visor. Porsche, Audi, BMW, M-B, Ferrari, Maserati -- they're all full of plastic. I am a fan of the XK, but it's interior is also full of plastic, some of it quite cheap-looking -- the touch-screen's surround, for example, and the stalks are nothing special either). You really think that the Aston's materials don't feel "'that' (as in £80K) nice to use or touch" but those in a new Porsche do??? Hmmm, plastic vs. alloy... don't really have to think about that one.
Regarding "go," benchmarks are certainly individual, but since you do consider the DBS quick, have you driven a 4.7 V8 Vantage? It's just fractionally off the DBS's pace and is, I think, quicker around a track. Also, it doesn't need lots of revs to deliver its pace (the 4.3 does).
When you say you've "run a DB9, a Vantage, a Vantage Roadster and a DBS" do you mean you've driven them or that you've owned them? I would take "run" to mean you've owned them, but it seems unlikely that you would have kept buying Astons given that you don't think they're much good beyond their looks. In any event, if your experience of the V8V is with the 4.3, you really should try a 4.7 -- I think many of your criticisms regarding both quality (I'd have been VERY unhappy if the coatings on the switchgear came off) and performance have been addressed.
Volvo parts, there are some, but I don't think there are any that are also used in a Ford. Also, all of those parts you listed have a high quality feel to their operation, except that the column stalks feel a bit average (my car is a MY09 4.7 V8V Coupe). Those window buttons, for example, feel far better in their operation than those in the new M-B SL63 I looked at. The Nav is not the car's greatest feature, as has been well discussed. I didn't know that seatbelts are marque-specific -- that's a new one on me. Are Ferrari belts Ferrari-specific? Given the number of Fiat parts in Ferraris and Maseratis, I doubt it. And Ferrari interiors look like they have 40,000 miles of use when they only have 7,000. The Audi R8's switchgear (and the Gallardo's) looks just like that in an A4, as does the rest of its interior. It's beautifully built, but it's not special or bespoke. The Aston key is no longer Volvo from MY09 and is beautifully executed (yes, the previous keys were cheap). Whether you like the new "key" is a different question. Bentley Conti -- it's a VW Phaeton, albeit a very nice VW Phaeton. So, using a small number of mostly quality parts from Volvo isn't ideal, but it still results in an interior that is leagues above the competition (IMO, of course).
It's not just the Aston's leather that is high quality. The instruments are gorgeous, and machined from alloy. No, the speedo isn't easy to read, but the digital display cures that, and with a little familiarity I now have little difficulty reading the analog speedo. If a message appears in place of the digital speedo readout, a simple push of a button brings the speedo back. The center console is made from alloy rather than plastic. The switchgear on the
console is machined from alloy, it works smoothly and crisply, and the knobs don't wobble on their axes like they do in some competitor's cars. Even the mirrors on the sun visors are set into metal and attached to the alcantara visor. Porsche, Audi, BMW, M-B, Ferrari, Maserati -- they're all full of plastic. I am a fan of the XK, but it's interior is also full of plastic, some of it quite cheap-looking -- the touch-screen's surround, for example, and the stalks are nothing special either). You really think that the Aston's materials don't feel "'that' (as in £80K) nice to use or touch" but those in a new Porsche do??? Hmmm, plastic vs. alloy... don't really have to think about that one.
Regarding "go," benchmarks are certainly individual, but since you do consider the DBS quick, have you driven a 4.7 V8 Vantage? It's just fractionally off the DBS's pace and is, I think, quicker around a track. Also, it doesn't need lots of revs to deliver its pace (the 4.3 does).
When you say you've "run a DB9, a Vantage, a Vantage Roadster and a DBS" do you mean you've driven them or that you've owned them? I would take "run" to mean you've owned them, but it seems unlikely that you would have kept buying Astons given that you don't think they're much good beyond their looks. In any event, if your experience of the V8V is with the 4.3, you really should try a 4.7 -- I think many of your criticisms regarding both quality (I'd have been VERY unhappy if the coatings on the switchgear came off) and performance have been addressed.
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