RE: Prodrive boosts AM Vantage V8

RE: Prodrive boosts AM Vantage V8

Author
Discussion

joust

14,622 posts

258 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
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grant3 said:
Some how I just can't believe you said that, from the guy who has simply come onto the Aston section of the forum & slagged off the DB9 & the AMV8, the way they look, the way they are made, the way they perform, their interior, their reliability.... and more!
rofl

Oh stop it. You lot make me laugh.

I posted about a Fun weekend I had in a DB9. I was exceptionally complementary about it's engine, the noise, it's looks, the gearbox (given it was a flappy paddle).

I then also, because that's how I saw it, pointed out what was rather distracting. I also pointed out that compared to other cars in the same price bracket, the AMV8 is rather slow (compare it to a Gallardo, 911 etc. and it's undeniable).

Funny enough, Mr Prodrive also seems to think that the speed could do with increasing by the very release of this package. Still, I suppose that makes me and Mr Prodrive both tossers as how on earth could he surely imagine there was anything possible to improve on your blessed perfect Vantages?

Keep the comments coming, it is making me smile a lot over here.

J

grant3

3,635 posts

254 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
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As I said I'm not wasting further breath

Go baiting somewhere else, they may be impressed with your expert opinions, being told how much money you have & looking at photos of your housebyebye


Edited by grant3 on Sunday 3rd December 17:17

petrol_noggin

3,046 posts

219 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
quotequote all

joust

14,622 posts

258 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
quotequote all
grant3 said:
As I said I'm not wasting further breath
So why did you post again. Telling me twice is hardly not wasting any further breath (do you talk to your computer?)

J

scruffy101

540 posts

214 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
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joust said:
grant3 said:
As I said I'm not wasting further breath
So why did you post again. Telling me twice is hardly not wasting any further breath (do you talk to your computer?)

J
Hi just popped over from the porsche forum to say you sound like a cock.Going back now.

Valentin

Original Poster:

3,116 posts

214 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
quotequote all
Back to topic:

Does anyone know if the Prodrive wheels (wich doesn't look as nice as the standard ones, but not to bad) are at least lighter than AM wheels?

And why aren't they offering ceramic brakes? They could easily use the ones of the DBRS9.

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
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Blimey, seeing that flame war you'd start to think money doesn't buy happiness after all

Has anybody seen figures on the aerodynamics? I was wondering if that ducktail spoiler which -in the pic at least- kinda looks like an add-on, completely eliminates lift and if so, how many kg downforce it would develop at what speed. And even more importantly, is that little chin spoiler enough to keep the aerodynamics front/back in balance?

mikial

1,913 posts

261 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
quotequote all
scruffy101 said:
joust said:
grant3 said:
As I said I'm not wasting further breath
So why did you post again. Telling me twice is hardly not wasting any further breath (do you talk to your computer?)

J
Hi just popped over from the porsche forum to say you sound like a cock.Going back now.

Ta scruff that made me laugh laugh

Edited by mikial on Sunday 3rd December 22:48

Honkytonk

47 posts

209 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
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Hi Joust, I have been reading the thread and I think I know what you are saying. I too looked at the DB9 and the V8. Really impressed with the DB9 - fantastic styling, stunningly sexy interior, engine to die for and the sound really does the job especially if you are following one. V8 - great quality and styling again, engine bay was pretty cool too. I know a lot of people who own them and they used to have 996 porsche cars.
The only thing that dissappoints me on the 9 is that the car is a little too big for my use and the V8 is a little less crisp on the drive to say the 997. I suppose the ideal situation would be to have a mid engined Vantage ie similar feeling and performance to the 911. I dont argue that the cars are very different and that you dont drive a Vantage if you are a 997 prospective, however I am not so sure that there are many owners who own both. I do know owners who own the vanquish s and the 997 turbo etc, however I think that the Vanquish S is in another league ie supercar ie price and grunt plus dramatic styling.

I suppose I get the feeling that the M400 - which is absolutely superb ticks better boxes than something not quite there for the V8 and 9 for you which I can totally relate too. It seems that money would be better spent on a F430 or Gallardo instead of a half hearted choice on the ticking boxes front. Even a Murci would be a choice if you are looking at a big V12 car.

I have spoken to Bez and Maynards asking if they will put the engine in the back and as expected it was 'nein'and 'no'. (Press day london motorshow and RAC club meeting)

Does this sound on the right lines for you?

With regards all the faff forum punch ups with Joust I think we have all picked up the wrong end of the stick from what he is trying to put accross without response.

What you rekon?

HonkyTonk



Shadytree

8,291 posts

248 months

Monday 4th December 2006
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After a weekend away I logon ths morning to read all this girly swinging of handbags.
FFS guys there have been numerous threads about the pro's and con's of the DB9, and the V8 vs Porsche etc. They are all good cars and for different reasons, it's ultimately a personal choice. So stop bitching and give it a rest please, it's getting a little tiresome and boring.... ENOUGH ! rolleyes
Can we get back on topic, the Pro Drive upgrades.
I agree with errek72 and would like to see some numbers on just how much the aerodynamics are improved yes They would have to significantly improve the handling to warrant and carbon fibre add-ons.

joust

14,622 posts

258 months

Monday 4th December 2006
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Honky,

I can see what you are saying. It is strange some of the Aston owners on here, clearly they believe anyone elses opinion that might suggest Aston's products aren't perfect for everyone isn't correct.

For me the AMV8 didn't check enough boxes for me to warrant going through with the purchase. At the moment I'm happy with the M400 and have on order a Noble M15, and am considering what else I might want to add, but nothing at the moment is significantly attractive enough given what I have to make me want to immediatly spend my money.

The Prodrive upgrades seem an interesting development for the Vantage, particularly in the power and suspension upgrades, although if they are too expensive it will push it towards Gallardo/Ferrari type money which doesn't seem a fair comparison. I guess we'll all just to have to wait for more details on this upgrade to see if it was necessary and if it addresses some of the Vantage's shortcomings.

J

DJC

23,563 posts

235 months

Monday 4th December 2006
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Ill leave the hand bag swinging to others and concentrate on the aeros.

Downforce figures. You neither need them nor want them as the only figures you get will be absolutely meaningless to you...just as they are when anybody else releases them. The aero add ons are not really about downforce anyway, they are much more aimed at reducing lift and increasing stability, esp in the medium to high speed region. The AMV8 isnt really a track car, so ultimate cornering downforce is not the goal. What it does purport to be though is a sports car and GT with high probabilities that their owners will want to enjyo enthusiastic short blats and longer Continent runs at 100mph+ to somewhere sunny and interesting. For that the most effective things you can do are decrease lift, front and rear end and increase high speed arse stability (which in a roadcar doing this sort of work can be argued as just another way of saying decrease lift anyway).

That is the public forum answer anyway. It gives an easy, accurate enough answer without being as boring as fcuk to read. If anybody really does want to be bored stupid and know more techy details and reasons, mail me and Ill reply in private. It saves you looking like a sad geek in public also I long ago accepted that I was, so Ive no shame in admitting in public.

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Monday 4th December 2006
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DJC said:

That is the public forum answer anyway. It gives an easy, accurate enough answer without being as boring as fcuk to read. If anybody really does want to be bored stupid and know more techy details and reasons, mail me and Ill reply in private. It saves you looking like a sad geek in public also I long ago accepted that I was, so Ive no shame in admitting in public.


You can consider me a lost cause, so no worries.
The fast-ish cars I've driven fast so far (I live near the German border) tend to go light with increasing speed -which gives this nasty sweaty feeling when arriving early at destination. (Please note that I did not say I actually own them, the one fast(ish) car i do own has the Cw of a flying brick.)
In German car mag "Sport-Auto" cars are wind-tunnel tested and given front and rear downforce figures, which can be quite telling - especially when their Hockenheim test times are taken into consideration, hence my interest in the Prodrive Aston's.

grant3

3,635 posts

254 months

Monday 4th December 2006
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I was lucky enough to drive one of the Prodrive prototypes, fitted with the aero-kit, switchable suspension package & the engine upgrade.
I must confess that conditions were appalling on the day, so I couldn't really push the car, but I can give you guys some positive feedback, although I can't really comment on the effect the aerodynamics had on the car.
First the engine, it feels pretty similar to the standard car up to around 4.5k revs, put changes character above this & absolutely fly’s upwards to the red line. There is a lot more top end grunt & this combines with the slightly higher rev limit to add a harder even more sporting edge to the cars feel. Prodrive have very cleverly added a switchable exhaust package, this is great, you can either have it in quiet mode, which is still louder than the standard car's quiet, nicely judged though! At the touch of a button it changes the car into "loud" mode & this makes the standard uncorked car sound quiet! There isn't a problem with booming or resonance, it is simply sounds louder & meaner inside & out! I wouldn't want loud all the time, but this where the switch comes in, you can be in stealth mode one minute & ripping the sides off houses the next, sounds awesome on full chat!!
The suspension package, works very well, you can choose the sporting mode which firms up the handling a fair bit over standard, but it isn't overly harsh, just better controlled & more planted. At the time of testing the softer setting was being tweaked & I believe they are aiming to make this more comfortable than the standard Vantage set up, the theory being you can have two cars in one, a more comfortable GT & road racer at the switch of a button, great idea. Of course it all comes at a cost & this is yet to be finalised, although I do have an idea what that would be.
I think the Vantage is a fabulous car as standard, but there is no doubt that these modifications are very profesionally engineered & well thought out, Prodrive have used owners, car journalists, racing drivers & their own techheads input into fine tuning the packages, which bodes well for the final product!

Shadytree

8,291 posts

248 months

Monday 4th December 2006
quotequote all
grant3 said:
it all comes at a cost & this is yet to be finalised, although I do have an idea what that would be.


Which is?

grant3

3,635 posts

254 months

Monday 4th December 2006
quotequote all
Shadytree said:
grant3 said:
it all comes at a cost & this is yet to be finalised, although I do have an idea what that would be.

Which is?


It was indicated that the engine/exhaust/racing cats upgrade would be about £6k fitted including a warranty & the active switchable suspension about £3.5k fitted. what do you think?

joust

14,622 posts

258 months

Monday 4th December 2006
quotequote all
That is very interesting, would make the whole package less than £100k and gives two cars in one.

Hmm...

Any idea what the 0-60 drops to? I know it's like comparing dick sizes, but it does give a bit of a feel for the change in engine character.

J

Shadytree

8,291 posts

248 months

Monday 4th December 2006
quotequote all
grant3 said:
Shadytree said:
grant3 said:
it all comes at a cost & this is yet to be finalised, although I do have an idea what that would be.

Which is?


It was indicated that the engine/exhaust/racing cats upgrade would be about £6k fitted including a warranty & the active switchable suspension about £3.5k fitted. what do you think?


10k is what I was guessing actually. I would probably only go for the engine upgrades at first glance. Depends on disposable wonga

chumley-warner

310 posts

256 months

Thursday 7th December 2006
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I'm planning on some tuning either by a shop recommended by my dealer (Circa 410bhp) but no effect on warranty, or the prodrive 425bhp.

I'm not really after extra power - I'm after more torque twixt 2k-5k revs to make it more driveable. I don't tend to exceed 6k revs so absolute power figure not that important.

Anyone had some ECU programming done? If so what were the results?

Alfahorn

7,758 posts

207 months

Friday 15th December 2006
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I was fortunate to recently have a tour of Prodrives facility in Banbury. I was able to see DBR9's been built as well as the Building/rebuilding of WRC Scoobies, a very impresive company and I had a fantastic 3 hours there.

Prodive claim to be the UK's third largest car manufacturer, they build 50 Impreza's a year not sure how many Astons they build I will try and get a gallery set up of my visit to Prodrive.