My new Vantage S Roadster
Discussion
)Collection arranged for next Wednesday 
Not quite finished the PID yet
Not a "brave" colour choice but I love it!
Lightning Silver Vantage S Roadster 001 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Lightning Silver Vantage S Roadster 002 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Lightning Silver Vantage S Roadster 003 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Not quite finished the PID yet
Not a "brave" colour choice but I love it!
Lightning Silver Vantage S Roadster 001 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Lightning Silver Vantage S Roadster 002 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Lightning Silver Vantage S Roadster 003 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Edited by mikey k on Friday 30th September 11:40
yeti said:
Lightning as so much... 'life' to it for a silver! Amazing paint.
What colour is your centre console and satnav panel? Can't really see in the sun.
Also interested what type the 'S' tyres are...?
I fell in love with Spectraflair Silver on a TVR T350 and never managed to find a decent one, now I've got something similar on an Aston!What colour is your centre console and satnav panel? Can't really see in the sun.
Also interested what type the 'S' tyres are...?
Console and panel are the standard S fitments. Panel is a "weave" a bit like the V12V standard one. The console is silver rather than black, that carries over to the window switch surrounds and the door arm rests. I just breaks up the black a bit and keep it lighter with the roof up
Tyres and alloys are "interesting" the tyres are 10mm wider versions of the RE050's the wheels are the standard sport pack wheels with no extra width! Should keep the unsprung weight down and the grip up
I'll get some MUCH better ones one I get my hands on it and get it detailed
ETA - you can just see the "new" wipers.
Edited by mikey k on Friday 30th September 13:04
KarlFranz said:
Nice, Mikey. I love how the massive new front brakes ("breaks" LOL) fill up the wheels. And I really like the coarse contrast stitching. I wish that my car had that.
One question though. You have to wait until next Wednesday? What on earth do they do during the PDI that could possibly take that long?
I chose Wednesday as my first clear weekday so I know AM Tracker and the AM techs are in work and available to fix any niggles One question though. You have to wait until next Wednesday? What on earth do they do during the PDI that could possibly take that long?
Peter don't!!
GPM3D said:
Hey Mikey - nice one! Let me just check the forecast........... never mind with or without the sun, I'm sure you'll be smiling like the proverible cheshire cat!
Mines been away in 'storage' for the last month whilst we've had a new garage built. It's great to be back behind the wheel! :-)
Graham
Hi GrahamMines been away in 'storage' for the last month whilst we've had a new garage built. It's great to be back behind the wheel! :-)
Graham
You've been quiet!
BTW I still hold you responible for the colour and seats
robgt said:
Do you think that it would be a good idea to have your wheel hubs painted with VHT paint and the wheels Glass coated prior to you collecting it on Weds? Just a thought.
I was thinking more of showering it in Wonder Wheels and pressure washing my shoes clean afer No seriously I'll be giving the wheels & calipers several coats insulator wax at the weekend.
Just can't get on with it!
Crap Sat Nav, clunky gearbox, wooden steering, too loud, uncomfortable seats.
Vantage S Collection 001 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 007 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 006 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Crap Sat Nav, clunky gearbox, wooden steering, too loud, uncomfortable seats.
Vantage S Collection 001 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 007 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 006 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
First Impressions
Drove in to AM Exeter 10 minutes early to find the techs and the sales guys all over it cleaning it!
Luckily the sun was out in Devon and it looked fantastic!
We had a mooch around it then sat down to do the hand over.
Then we disappeared out to fit my super small plate and apply some body tape to protect it on the 230 mile return home. I still managed to get a small chip on the top of the drivers wing Chipex needs ordering now!
Vantage S Collection 026 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Really happy with the standard grill, it gives a great contrast and compliments the CF splitter. You can see the beam wipers in this pic. I like them alot, they sit almost flush with the bonnet giving a bit more visibility.
Vantage S Collection 006 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Had a bit of a teach in on the Garmin sat nav. It has full postcode, traffic alerts with rerouting and speed cameras (not sure how to update these yet) the interface is still "clunky" as it uses the same "knob" as the Volvo one. The screen is alot better with a lot more info on it and can be configured to add as much extra info as you like. Only really annoying thing is the audible alerts and directions cut in and fade out the stereo far too frequently. Just really annoying with them all on. So I switched off the audible directions and alerts so I could enjoy the stereo whilst the roof was up in the rain In all a vast improvement over the Volvo system, I will use it more than I did the Volvo one for day to day stuff, but will still use my Tom Tom for itinerary & holidays.
(pics to follow)
The console cover is great, it is the standard S embossed finish, it reflects light back in when the roof is up but does not glare in the full sun. The centre stack now has metal knobs that have a much better feel to them than the old ones. The edges of the stack, the centre console, window switches, speaker grills and door handles are a light graphite colour and again lighten up the interior compared to my old one.
It took a while for me to find the sweet spot with the light weight seat but once I adjusted the lumbar pads and settled in they are very comfortable.
(I'll get some pics of the interior up later in the week)
Starting it up is a joy much more aural than my last 4.7, it draws a fair bit of attention when it fires up 
I chose to drive up the M5 in auto with the cruise on and the roof up as it was raining It is super quiet, quieter than the Coupe IMHO as you don't get the exhaust and transmission noise through the hatch back boot. The new ASM2 7 speed box is very smooth in auto, it does the same as all autos and flys through the gears to 7th and is crap at kick down for overtakes. But then I never drove the last one in Auto and will do the same with this one
I got bored on the M6 and the rain eased off so down came the roof and in went the sport button.
I think I will be leaving the sport button in all the time The sharper throttle makes it more responsive and easier to drive, plus it makes all the right noises all the time! I love the popping when you lift off the throttle and the growl when you get on the throttle.
Steering is much much better, better weighted for more feedback and quicker for better turn in.
A nice surprise was the auto folding mirrors and the dipping passenger mirror in reverse
The iphone4 was a bit of a swine to pair to the blue tooth and tracker but we managed on the 3rd attempt
So I need to get it prepped, paint filmed and find some dryer Snowdonia roads to really get to grips with it
Then I might decide to keep it
A few more pics for you until I can get some decent ones.
Vantage S Collection 023 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 007 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 004 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 001 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Drove in to AM Exeter 10 minutes early to find the techs and the sales guys all over it cleaning it!
Luckily the sun was out in Devon and it looked fantastic!
We had a mooch around it then sat down to do the hand over.
Then we disappeared out to fit my super small plate and apply some body tape to protect it on the 230 mile return home. I still managed to get a small chip on the top of the drivers wing
Chipex needs ordering now!Vantage S Collection 026 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Really happy with the standard grill, it gives a great contrast and compliments the CF splitter. You can see the beam wipers in this pic. I like them alot, they sit almost flush with the bonnet giving a bit more visibility.
Vantage S Collection 006 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Had a bit of a teach in on the Garmin sat nav. It has full postcode, traffic alerts with rerouting and speed cameras (not sure how to update these yet) the interface is still "clunky" as it uses the same "knob" as the Volvo one. The screen is alot better with a lot more info on it and can be configured to add as much extra info as you like. Only really annoying thing is the audible alerts and directions cut in and fade out the stereo far too frequently. Just really annoying with them all on. So I switched off the audible directions and alerts so I could enjoy the stereo whilst the roof was up in the rain
In all a vast improvement over the Volvo system, I will use it more than I did the Volvo one for day to day stuff, but will still use my Tom Tom for itinerary & holidays. (pics to follow)
The console cover is great, it is the standard S embossed finish, it reflects light back in when the roof is up but does not glare in the full sun. The centre stack now has metal knobs that have a much better feel to them than the old ones. The edges of the stack, the centre console, window switches, speaker grills and door handles are a light graphite colour and again lighten up the interior compared to my old one.
It took a while for me to find the sweet spot with the light weight seat but once I adjusted the lumbar pads and settled in they are very comfortable.
(I'll get some pics of the interior up later in the week)
Starting it up is a joy
much more aural than my last 4.7, it draws a fair bit of attention when it fires up I chose to drive up the M5 in auto with the cruise on and the roof up as it was raining
It is super quiet, quieter than the Coupe IMHO as you don't get the exhaust and transmission noise through the hatch back boot. The new ASM2 7 speed box is very smooth in auto, it does the same as all autos and flys through the gears to 7th and is crap at kick down for overtakes. But then I never drove the last one in Auto and will do the same with this one I got bored on the M6 and the rain eased off so down came the roof and in went the sport button.
I think I will be leaving the sport button in all the time
The sharper throttle makes it more responsive and easier to drive, plus it makes all the right noises all the time! I love the popping when you lift off the throttle and the growl when you get on the throttle.Steering is much much better, better weighted for more feedback and quicker for better turn in.
A nice surprise was the auto folding mirrors and the dipping passenger mirror in reverse
The iphone4 was a bit of a swine to pair to the blue tooth and tracker but we managed on the 3rd attempt
So I need to get it prepped, paint filmed and find some dryer Snowdonia roads to really get to grips with it
Then I might decide to keep it
A few more pics for you until I can get some decent ones.
Vantage S Collection 023 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 007 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 004 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Vantage S Collection 001 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Edited by mikey k on Wednesday 5th October 20:37
Fank U Muchly
Just waiting on my touch up paint for the stone chip I got on the M5
Then the paint film
Then Snowdonia (sorry Quinny )
A few other things I've noticed.
Those wing mirrors are MAAAHOOSIVE! I think air traffic control might find them useful!
The tyre pressure system is great, the right hand panel in the dash now has an extra screen showing the tyre pressure in each tyre. Showed an issue with the PDI though, they were all over the shop! Soon fixed that though! A bit annoying it is right at the end of the scroll, I'd prefer it to be right after the digital speedo.
That CF front splitter sticks out a fair way when the no plate holder is removed I'm going to have to be careful with that at £4k each!
With the light weight seat in "comfy" position there is not much clearance to get to the storage behind them (in a roadster ) Paint film on the back of them is needed I think!
That little £100 rest that goes in the cupholder really does save your elbow!
The combination of the wider tyres, quicker rack and uprated suspension make it a bit fidgety on poor Mways & A roads. Not a great problem as I like a car that talks even if it is gibberish sometimes
Just waiting on my touch up paint for the stone chip I got on the M5
Then the paint film
Then Snowdonia (sorry Quinny
)A few other things I've noticed.
Those wing mirrors are MAAAHOOSIVE! I think air traffic control might find them useful!
The tyre pressure system is great, the right hand panel in the dash now has an extra screen showing the tyre pressure in each tyre. Showed an issue with the PDI though, they were all over the shop! Soon fixed that though! A bit annoying it is right at the end of the scroll, I'd prefer it to be right after the digital speedo.
That CF front splitter sticks out a fair way when the no plate holder is removed I'm going to have to be careful with that at £4k each!
With the light weight seat in "comfy" position there is not much clearance to get to the storage behind them (in a roadster
) Paint film on the back of them is needed I think!That little £100 rest that goes in the cupholder really does save your elbow!
The combination of the wider tyres, quicker rack and uprated suspension make it a bit fidgety on poor Mways & A roads. Not a great problem as I like a car that talks even if it is gibberish sometimes
Not a bad ideaapotek said:
just back from capetown and wine run to Portugal got in last night to see that nice new car Mike spot on just needed to be a coupe!!
I am in for a trip if you guys don`t mind taking yours out in the damp
regards john
I am in for a trip if you guys don`t mind taking yours out in the damp
regards john
JohnI'll get some dates together and have a think about a nice run.
I'm not bothered about the wet it's spent >80% of its current mileage in the rain coming up from Exeter
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