V12v: return of the manual??
Discussion
sukh_m said:
Is this really true? 
I think this has been discussed before with no official word from AM on their website, which is what I would expect to see.
CEO publicly stated it at Geneva. Made a big thing of continuing development of the V12 and all models would be available with a manual box. No idea how they would do it with the VanquishI think this has been discussed before with no official word from AM on their website, which is what I would expect to see.
erics said:
I hear that since Geneva, Aston are taking orders on brand new aston v12vs with a manual box.
They finally listened.
The only downside i see is for those who bought into the ltd edition convertible of the previous version.
If it is available then my dealer isn't able to supply it! I enquired and factory said no however Works may be able to do something similar to original Vanquish but at a cost. They finally listened.
The only downside i see is for those who bought into the ltd edition convertible of the previous version.
silverspeed said:
If it is available then my dealer isn't able to supply it! I enquired and factory said no however Works may be able to do something similar to original Vanquish but at a cost.
Well the original Vanquish was a (robotised) manual, so not too difficult. The new one is an autoNeil1300r said:
sukh_m said:
Is this really true?
I think this has been discussed before with no official word from AM on their website, which is what I would expect to see.
CEO publicly stated it at Geneva. Made a big thing of continuing development of the V12 and all models would be available with a manual box. No idea how they would do it with the VanquishI think this has been discussed before with no official word from AM on their website, which is what I would expect to see.
Now firstly, I don't believe that - for instance, I can't imagine they will offer a manual option for the 'big cars' like whatever replaces Rapide, DBX (especially in electric mode), new Lagonda models (particularly if SUV or Taraf replacement), etc so that means the word 'all' is misleading
But secondly, if (it's a big 'if' !), he was being accurate, then one could argue he was referring to when new models are introduced they will have a manual option, rather than necessarily making manual available to existing cars. That makes far more sense to me than suddenly finding they offer a manual option for current DB9, Rapide & Vanquish
My comments have nothing to do with what they may be doing with V12V, simply about the Andy Palmer statements - I guess I may meet him at LM24 so will have a go at clarifying - he's been surprisingly open about model development from what I read
As for current V12VS now being available in manual - rumours keep surfacing but I find this idea 'they have been taking orders since Geneva' somewhat odd bearing in mind at least most dealers seems to know nothing about it
If I were to take a stab in the dark, it would be that we will see a new model launch that sits between current V12VS and the GT12, both in price and performance terms, with some of the cosmetic/performance options from GT12, but not too many so it doesn't p*** off the GT12 owners and helps justify the price - one imagines any such new model will sit well below £200k for that very purpose. Now it wouldn't surprise me if such a car had manual (whether as standard or an option). It's anyone's guess whether such a model is coupe only or has a soft top derivative. I would stress I've read no more on this subject than most others on here with one exception - a tiny snippet somewhere suggesting a dog leg manual may be coming to some form of V12V derivative
Neil1300r said:
I wondered about this extract;
'Which is also a broad hint in there that Aston will move to standardise its non-manual transmission option as a twin-clutcher, instead of the current split between an automated single clutch on the Vantage and a torque converter 'box on the DB9 and Vanquish.'
Are torque converter gearboxes popular, with the owners of Aston's GT cars?
Jon39 said:
Are torque converter gearboxes popular, with the owners of Aston's GT cars?
No answers yet to my question.
I wondered if perhaps DB9, DBS, and Vanquish owners might prefer torque converter autos, rather than twin-clutch type autos in GT cars.
My M-B coupe has a 5 speed torque converter, which suites the car, but apart from knowing that Mercedes gearboxes now have many more gears (and presumably will be in future AMs), I don't know what type of gearboxes they are.
Jon39 said:
No answers yet to my question.
I wondered if perhaps DB9, DBS, and Vanquish owners might prefer torque converter autos, rather than twin-clutch type autos in GT cars.
My M-B coupe has a 5 speed torque converter, which suites the car, but apart from knowing that Mercedes gearboxes now have many more gears (and presumably will be in future AMs), I don't know what type of gearboxes they are.
waremark said:
The functionality of the two types has become so similar that which type it is no longer seems very significant.
So you're saying the two are just as boring then? 
It's pretty much inevitable that this will happen. As torque converters become more powerful and DCT becomes more smooth-shifting it'll be hard for people to tell the difference. Once the initial fascination with using the paddles fades, they both will be driven as a slush box more than 98% of the time anyway. Hence why the manual still holds its appeal for so many; because you take away the option of "putting it in 'D''" and letting the gearbox do the work for you.
KarlFranz said:
waremark said:
The functionality of the two types has become so similar that which type it is no longer seems very significant.
So you're saying the two are just as boring then? It's pretty much inevitable that this will happen. As torque converters become more powerful and DCT becomes more smooth-shifting it'll be hard for people to tell the difference. Once the initial fascination with using the paddles fades, they both will be driven as a slush box more than 98% of the time anyway. Hence why the manual still holds its appeal for so many; because you take away the option of "putting it in 'D''" and letting the gearbox do the work for you.
jonby said:
KarlFranz said:
waremark said:
The functionality of the two types has become so similar that which type it is no longer seems very significant.
So you're saying the two are just as boring then? It's pretty much inevitable that this will happen. As torque converters become more powerful and DCT becomes more smooth-shifting it'll be hard for people to tell the difference. Once the initial fascination with using the paddles fades, they both will be driven as a slush box more than 98% of the time anyway. Hence why the manual still holds its appeal for so many; because you take away the option of "putting it in 'D''" and letting the gearbox do the work for you.
KarlFranz said:
waremark said:
The functionality of the two types has become so similar that which type it is no longer seems very significant.
So you're saying the two are just as boring then? It's pretty much inevitable that this will happen. As torque converters become more powerful and DCT becomes more smooth-shifting it'll be hard for people to tell the difference. Once the initial fascination with using the paddles fades, they both will be driven as a slush box more than 98% of the time anyway. Hence why the manual still holds its appeal for so many; because you take away the option of "putting it in 'D''" and letting the gearbox do the work for you.
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