Off to test a DBS and V12VS tomorrow...Any advice?
Discussion
AMDBSNick said:
Twin plate clutch, light as a feather. 3rd may as well be "D" unless you need to stop. As Tony said the 2010 car with B&O just needs buying 
Looks like I'll have to add a manual DBS to the test drive rota!Phil74891 said:
Striking colour. Not on Autotrader though - maybe sold?
£105k as well. Anyone know the likelihood of price negotiations at Aston dealers? I'm sure I've read from here the answer seems to be ZERO?? You negotiate extras instead, right?
I'm no footballer, I hate black wheels but somehow they work on the V12 Vantage S, they complete the mean/racing derived look. I don't think they have the same negative effect as on other more mainstream cars, you know what I mean. And they're not just standard wheels painted black, they are actually lightweight.
[quote=Nijius Maximus]
AMDBSNick and AMDBSTony: are you two twins?!
How do you two find your DBS? Is the manual DBS good in traffic?
Are we twins, nahhh, I'm just too good lookin to have a twin
I had the clutch replacement a few years ago and have to say its light as a feather and no issues in traffic. The manual is a different animal to the auto IMO but it really boils down to personal choice.
In my limited experience, the DBS is a long distance comfy cruiser that will go round bends really well when pushed. The V12V is better on the twisty stuff but not by that much........that said it is better. The ride in the Vantage is more harsh but it depends what you want. Both are great cars and little to choose between them.
For real noise maybe consider decat pipes and a switch to close the baffles for quieter cruising, best money you will ever spend
AMDBSNick and AMDBSTony: are you two twins?!
How do you two find your DBS? Is the manual DBS good in traffic?
Are we twins, nahhh, I'm just too good lookin to have a twin
I had the clutch replacement a few years ago and have to say its light as a feather and no issues in traffic. The manual is a different animal to the auto IMO but it really boils down to personal choice.
In my limited experience, the DBS is a long distance comfy cruiser that will go round bends really well when pushed. The V12V is better on the twisty stuff but not by that much........that said it is better. The ride in the Vantage is more harsh but it depends what you want. Both are great cars and little to choose between them.
For real noise maybe consider decat pipes and a switch to close the baffles for quieter cruising, best money you will ever spend
Edited by AMDBSTony on Friday 22 January 01:06
CSK1 said:
Make an offer on the few cars you like and take it from there. Business is not that easy and a dealer might want to clear stock so timing is key.
End of January must be almost the best time of year for buyers for getting offers accepted. When I got the DB9 it was an easy 10%, I don't do haggling either.
Edited to add, that was a £55k car not £110k though!
In a way i agree with Phil , V12V, V12VS,DBS are the best Astons but for me i would have a manual so v12v or manual DBS its close.(i thought a lot about these two) I for one though do not think that the DBS is any better looking than the V12V. IMO the DBS,s front lights look older and less modern than the v12vs also can look a bit DB9 ish. Where as the v12v with its carbon bonnet vents and shaped bonnet looks a more aggressive and compact car and it is a very pretty shape. No doubt the s is great but with mixed reviews about its gearbox, right or wrong it will not have the same cult status of the manual all imo of course.
cayman-black said:
No doubt the s is great but with mixed reviews about its gearbox, right or wrong it will not have the same cult status of the manual all imo of course.
The mixed reviews were from journalists who expected Sportshift to be as smooth as an automatic gearbox. Those who have actually taken the time to drive the car in manual mode like it, some may prefer a stick shift but haven't heard a bad comment about the gearbox on here.If Works do a manual conversion for the S in future like they did for the original Vanquish, there goes your cult status of the original V12 Vantage because the S is clearly the better car.
CSK1 said:
cayman-black said:
No doubt the s is great but with mixed reviews about its gearbox, right or wrong it will not have the same cult status of the manual all imo of course.
The mixed reviews were from journalists who expected Sportshift to be as smooth as an automatic gearbox. Those who have actually taken the time to drive the car in manual mode like it, some may prefer a stick shift but haven't heard a bad comment about the gearbox on here.If Works do a manual conversion for the S in future like they did for the original Vanquish, there goes your cult status of the original V12 Vantage because the S is clearly the better car.
The PDK box is great at putting in super fast shifts but you just don't feel part of the process, exit roundabout pull paddle 3 times glance at speedo and think how did I get to that speed I should back off then.
If you are a convert to the PDK way of changing gear then it is fantastic, a good friend and manual man all the way has recently swapped to a Cayman with PDK and absolutely loves it. Meanwhile I am looking to come back to a sport shift. Definitely horses for courses.
At the end of the day it is a lovely dilema to have DBS or V12 Vantage and manual or sportshift. Can any of the options really be wrong.
CSK1 said:
The mixed reviews were from journalists who expected Sportshift to be as smooth as an automatic gearbox. Those who have actually taken the time to drive the car in manual mode like it, some may prefer a stick shift but haven't heard a bad comment about the gearbox on here.
If Works do a manual conversion for the S in future like they did for the original Vanquish, there goes your cult status of the original V12 Vantage because the S is clearly the better car.
Better for you but not for me. As i have said before even if the s is better even now there seems more of a following for the original v12v with a manual box and even if a new manual comes out it wont be the original and so will make no difference.If Works do a manual conversion for the S in future like they did for the original Vanquish, there goes your cult status of the original V12 Vantage because the S is clearly the better car.
As i said its a cult car !
I could of bought a manual V12V but stumped up the extra and went for the S instead. More power, better suspension, change of grille etc etc.
Going from a manual 4.3 to Sportshift III took some getting used to but I now love it, no issues at all.
I thought I'd miss a clutch pedal but it's in fact the complete opposite.
As above, they're all great cars and only time will tell where the S sits in the mix.
I don't regret my decision though.
Going from a manual 4.3 to Sportshift III took some getting used to but I now love it, no issues at all.
I thought I'd miss a clutch pedal but it's in fact the complete opposite.
As above, they're all great cars and only time will tell where the S sits in the mix.
I don't regret my decision though.
JaseB said:
End of January must be almost the best time of year for buyers for getting offers accepted.
When I got the DB9 it was an easy 10%, I don't do haggling either.
Edited to add, that was a £55k car not £110k though!
10% off a £55k DB9? In that case I should offer £94.5k for the £105k V12VS and they'll bloody well like it... When I got the DB9 it was an easy 10%, I don't do haggling either.
Edited to add, that was a £55k car not £110k though!
It is near the end of January now, as it gets closer to Spring and sports cars get more popular this seems like the last chance for a stab at a discount. I never would've thought a year ago if I had £100k to spend that'd it be so damn hard to find the car I want. Oh, pity me(!) Them's the (first world) breaks though...
Also, a quick update: had a couple of missed calls today from Sevenoaks but we kept missing each other. So gonna call first thing tomorrow morning to see whether they have the V12V in yet or not. The more I think about it: cheaper, more solid residuals, lower mileage than the next cheapest V12VS for sale and more cult status, it might be the one. I love heavy steering. Does anyone know how the steering feel compares between the S and normal V12V models? And how about the exhaust noise difference?
Also gonna call Stratstone Amersham to see how flexible they are with pricing on their V12VS. Let's see what happens...!
Before you make a final decision, please test drive a manual(!) DBS too! It is a completely different experience than the DBS with classical automatic gearbox with torque convertor. I test drove a DBS automatic once, and I was not impressed, not a car for me. Of course the looks and performance are still great, but not so much involvement when driving. Some time later I test drove a manual DBS and ........... I was sold immediately!
The torque of the V12 is more then enough to drive the manual relaxe, also in busy traffic, and since you drove a R8 V10 Manual, you know what that means. The DBS manual combines the GT specs (longer wheelbase, sitting in the car, heavier, etc) with the involvement and emotion of the manual gearbox (as in the V12V).
Also test drove the V12VS with the latest Sportshift gearbox, but way too nervous for me. Great driving machine on the track, but not for driving home relaxing after a long day at work.
The torque of the V12 is more then enough to drive the manual relaxe, also in busy traffic, and since you drove a R8 V10 Manual, you know what that means. The DBS manual combines the GT specs (longer wheelbase, sitting in the car, heavier, etc) with the involvement and emotion of the manual gearbox (as in the V12V).
Also test drove the V12VS with the latest Sportshift gearbox, but way too nervous for me. Great driving machine on the track, but not for driving home relaxing after a long day at work.
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