Discussion
cayman-black said:
Mako V12V said:
Hornbaek- why go down the Porsche/Merc/McLaren route when the new Honda NSX will do the job?! If that car didn't have any badges on it people would be raving about it.....maybe 
Mako did you see motor trend car of the year 16 ? The NSX did not do so well.Hi
After trying the factory demonstrator that everyone has had a go in, I was sufficiently smitten to put my name down for a V12VSMR (getting into hieroglyphics territory now!), and transferred my deposit from a DB11 to one of these. With a heavy heart I sold my V12 back to Wilmslow this weekend, as the price was good and I wanted to bank the equity ready for delivery of the new one in the spring.
Not sure of the spec yet, but one advantage of the current location of Sales at the Service Centre is that you can see loads of different colours and specs, so we're still mulling it over.
In the meantime, for the next two days I have the new V12SM demo car, 48 miles on the clock, Skyfall Silver with black interior and slightly weird white exterior accents. First impressions; tighter than the factory demonstrator, great noise, gearshift is fine and a bit more precise than the last one. Where's the leather strap inside the boot gone? Really useful piece of kit but not even an option now, apparently! The nav/radio screen is clear and so far easy enough to follow.
Only done a few miles, but have used AM Shift once, and I love that piece of tech. Will report back when my loan period ends.
After trying the factory demonstrator that everyone has had a go in, I was sufficiently smitten to put my name down for a V12VSMR (getting into hieroglyphics territory now!), and transferred my deposit from a DB11 to one of these. With a heavy heart I sold my V12 back to Wilmslow this weekend, as the price was good and I wanted to bank the equity ready for delivery of the new one in the spring.
Not sure of the spec yet, but one advantage of the current location of Sales at the Service Centre is that you can see loads of different colours and specs, so we're still mulling it over.
In the meantime, for the next two days I have the new V12SM demo car, 48 miles on the clock, Skyfall Silver with black interior and slightly weird white exterior accents. First impressions; tighter than the factory demonstrator, great noise, gearshift is fine and a bit more precise than the last one. Where's the leather strap inside the boot gone? Really useful piece of kit but not even an option now, apparently! The nav/radio screen is clear and so far easy enough to follow.
Only done a few miles, but have used AM Shift once, and I love that piece of tech. Will report back when my loan period ends.
Great to hear of another buyer and good to hear that the production gearbox is better still than the demo. It goes without staying the demo car would have taken a lot of stick during the various journalist reviews and prospective buyer test drives, plus it was highlighted to me on my drive that it was a pre-production version and the final cars would be better still. Nice to hear somebody confirm that has materialised in the car you current have on loan! 
Just been out for a quick lunchtime run up to Ribchester and back. 100 plus miles, 12mpg (!). Every bit as good as I'd thought after trying the previous one. Gears are really good, with quick, smooth changes. AM Shift can be set as default, which I have done, and I find myself using it quite a bit. For back lane stuff you are generally in 4th or maybe 3rd, though 3rd is quite near the old 2nd, I think. It is bloody quick in any gear, but feels a bit more relaxed in 7th at 80-95 than the old one did in 6th.
Two, probably connected things; front end a bit floaty, faintly corkscrewy, on the motorway at 85+, compared to my previous V12, and there's a bit too much harshness/vibration, causing the interior mirror to vibrate a bit at highish speeds also. On the way back I looked at the TPMS and the rears are at 44psi, which is too high for me, so that might be the whole issue, fronts at 40ish. It feels like it needs to be 3-5 psi down all round. Very surface-sensitive, but I think it has Corsas, whereas my old one had normal P Zeros, which I preferred and were less harsh, and I think are a no-cost option. Don't get me started on the cost options; including the rear badge apparently? WTAF?
Plastic top to gear knob is a bit grim, and I'm pretty sure I prefer the lightweight seats to the standards that are in this car. The system doesn't want to connect to my ipod, but links via Bluetooth to the music on the phone so no problem there. This has the low console but I think I'll spec the high one, which I prefer, despite the gear knob being quite a bit lower than previously.
So far, so very good.
Two, probably connected things; front end a bit floaty, faintly corkscrewy, on the motorway at 85+, compared to my previous V12, and there's a bit too much harshness/vibration, causing the interior mirror to vibrate a bit at highish speeds also. On the way back I looked at the TPMS and the rears are at 44psi, which is too high for me, so that might be the whole issue, fronts at 40ish. It feels like it needs to be 3-5 psi down all round. Very surface-sensitive, but I think it has Corsas, whereas my old one had normal P Zeros, which I preferred and were less harsh, and I think are a no-cost option. Don't get me started on the cost options; including the rear badge apparently? WTAF?
Plastic top to gear knob is a bit grim, and I'm pretty sure I prefer the lightweight seats to the standards that are in this car. The system doesn't want to connect to my ipod, but links via Bluetooth to the music on the phone so no problem there. This has the low console but I think I'll spec the high one, which I prefer, despite the gear knob being quite a bit lower than previously.
So far, so very good.
IanV12VR said:
damianke said:
Don't get me started .on the cost options; including the rear badge apparently? WTAF?
What???? Is that the Aston badge or the model badge. Sounds weird if is not to have an Aston badge on it.Part of the stealth tax increase, although if you were one of the people who preferred to de-badge then its cost neutral.
AdamV12V said:
It's the model badge you have to pay for. The Aston wings are standard fit front and back, but whereas previously having it with no model badge was a no cost option, this is now the default and you need to pay £195 to have the model badge on the decklid now. This applies to ALL Aston models, including DB11 - not just V12VS.
Part of the stealth tax increase, although if you were one of the people who preferred to de-badge then its cost neutral.
Ha! That's an easy decision then. Astons loss as most people say they can't tell our cars apart Part of the stealth tax increase, although if you were one of the people who preferred to de-badge then its cost neutral.
Anyone got any idea on the current lead time for a V12VR Man ?
I'm avoiding the conversation with a certain coffee purveyor at Works as those sorts of conversations always start with a "just asking" and end up going west rather quickly, so until I am ready to pull the trigger i'm steering clear
I know they have a Manual coupe demo down there (think it's divine red) which i'm sorely tempted to try out, but again all sense will leave me at that point so best to ask questions on here where I can't do any real damage.
It'll be the Roadster I do the deal on as that's what the wife has suggested, although i'm still totally confused re colours, but that's a conversation for another day.
@Adam - When's Kermit arriving ?
I'm avoiding the conversation with a certain coffee purveyor at Works as those sorts of conversations always start with a "just asking" and end up going west rather quickly, so until I am ready to pull the trigger i'm steering clear
I know they have a Manual coupe demo down there (think it's divine red) which i'm sorely tempted to try out, but again all sense will leave me at that point so best to ask questions on here where I can't do any real damage.
It'll be the Roadster I do the deal on as that's what the wife has suggested, although i'm still totally confused re colours, but that's a conversation for another day.
@Adam - When's Kermit arriving ?
Big Ry said:
AdamV12V said:
Confirmed today that build still scheduled to start on the 12th ie 1 week today!
Are you going to Gaydon watch some of the build ?How long after build until you get your mitts on it ?
I'm told it should be ready to collect about one month after build starts, so mid November all being well.
If you can make it Adam do whatever you can to see it in build. We have seen both of our V12VR's being built and it is so, so special. The silver one we caught right at the end of build (seats going in, doors being put on) and the blue one was at very early stage.
I think having nearly missed the silver one they wanted to make sure there was no chance of that with the blue on. Just one of the things that make Aston ownership so special!!
I think having nearly missed the silver one they wanted to make sure there was no chance of that with the blue on. Just one of the things that make Aston ownership so special!!
Adam - f you can get to Gaydon to see the build then I would say t is a must. They can predict the "marriage" of the chassis and body pretty accurately and we went the day before took plenty of pictures and were able to "autograph" the seats before they were fitted. Our car was delivered to the day one month later after the marriage. Exciting stuff!
Thanks, judging on my recent years' experiences I don't think you could do 85 on the M25! This was on the relatively quiet bit of the M6 north of Preston.
Gave the key back yesterday. Deeply impressed with the development of the V12 base over the last few years. The engine is just better than ever, more power, torque and flexibility at every speed. The gearbox is a perfect match, though you still have muscle memory telling you that 3rd is where 2nd or 4th should be.
Mrs Damianke thought it quieter and more refined than our previous V12, until the Sport button opened the exhaust valve! She absolutely loved the AM Shift party trick and positively shrieked when she upshifted with her foot hard on the accelerator and the car just 'did it'. I set AM shifts default, and I think you can set Sport as default also, but in first you get too many revs in sport mode, and progress is a bit lumpy.
No float with the lower tyre pressures but still a bit of vibration, so maybe balancing/tracking need looking at. The car hadn't really been PDI'd as there were bits of masking tape everywhere still, so it might need a proper once over yet.
I couldn't make my iPod work and it completely lost DAB radio which I couldn't get back, so I don't know what happened there. I think if any Vantage owner tries one he or she will fall in love, and AM Shift brings the manual up level with Sportshift on the rapid acceleration issue, which is one of the downsides of the old manual box.
Back to speccing now, will revisit Wilmslow for more colour/spec thinking.
Gave the key back yesterday. Deeply impressed with the development of the V12 base over the last few years. The engine is just better than ever, more power, torque and flexibility at every speed. The gearbox is a perfect match, though you still have muscle memory telling you that 3rd is where 2nd or 4th should be.
Mrs Damianke thought it quieter and more refined than our previous V12, until the Sport button opened the exhaust valve! She absolutely loved the AM Shift party trick and positively shrieked when she upshifted with her foot hard on the accelerator and the car just 'did it'. I set AM shifts default, and I think you can set Sport as default also, but in first you get too many revs in sport mode, and progress is a bit lumpy.
No float with the lower tyre pressures but still a bit of vibration, so maybe balancing/tracking need looking at. The car hadn't really been PDI'd as there were bits of masking tape everywhere still, so it might need a proper once over yet.
I couldn't make my iPod work and it completely lost DAB radio which I couldn't get back, so I don't know what happened there. I think if any Vantage owner tries one he or she will fall in love, and AM Shift brings the manual up level with Sportshift on the rapid acceleration issue, which is one of the downsides of the old manual box.
Back to speccing now, will revisit Wilmslow for more colour/spec thinking.
I am looking at getting back into AM ownership and was looking at the V12 but 12mpg over 100 miles seems bad.
I may wait to see if AM bring out any V8 Vantage specials before the new one arrives as not a fan of the DB11 Merc instrument interior, which I am sure will be part of the new Vantage.
I used to average 20mpg in my 4.7 Vantage and did not dip even when driving hard.
I may wait to see if AM bring out any V8 Vantage specials before the new one arrives as not a fan of the DB11 Merc instrument interior, which I am sure will be part of the new Vantage.
I used to average 20mpg in my 4.7 Vantage and did not dip even when driving hard.
SHIFTY said:
I am looking at getting back into AM ownership and was looking at the V12 but 12mpg over 100 miles seems bad.
I used to average 20mpg in my 4.7 Vantage and did not dip even when driving hard.
Nearly 1 year in the V12VSR and the average MPG read out is stuck at 10.1 I used to average 20mpg in my 4.7 Vantage and did not dip even when driving hard.
It never changes.
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