V8 4.7 or V8S 4.7?
Discussion
Waitey said:
Is there any particular reason I should go for an S over a normal 4.7?
I do around 1200 miles a month and the car will be my daily over summer.
Does the S justify what seems to be around a 10k premium over a similar mileage 2010 car?
An S is a LOT different to a 2010 4.7, the first customer ones were registered Sept 2011 (mine was one)I do around 1200 miles a month and the car will be my daily over summer.
Does the S justify what seems to be around a 10k premium over a similar mileage 2010 car?
So you be careful on pre September cars (press/media ones
)They updated the std 4.7 with many of the S additions in 2013.
I had a sport pack 2009 4.7 before my S, both are very different.
Off the top of my head the S has the following over the 2010 4.7;
ASM2 gearbox (much better than ASM1)
quicker steering
Sport pack suspension
Sport Button
floating front discs with bigger calipers
N400 air filter boxes (10BHP)
Lots of cosmetic stuff (includuing V12V body kit in carbon fibre)
Hill hold
Best buy Grants book for a comprehensive list!
Edited by mikey k on Friday 21st November 15:54
The earliest S you will find will be 2011 so that will account for some of the price difference you are seeing over a 2010 standard Vantage. 10K was the price difference new (list before discounts)
The latest Vantage and Vantage S share the same steering and suspension etc. whereas this was not the cause at the launch of the S so at your 2011 timeline a standard will not have this or the Sports Exhaust and 'SPORT' switch which changes throttle response and exhaust valves (get Grant's book to get everything explained for each model year and to correct any errors by me here).
Aside from this the main difference is 10 BHP and more torque which makes more difference than you might think
Then there are goodies such as
Carbon Fibre Splitter
Carbon Fibre Diffuser
Platinum Grille and Meshes
Nicer interior stitching detail, piano black and iridium trim
Clear Rear Lamps
Bluetooth, Sat Nav, Cruise (though it would be unusual for these not to have been speciifed as options on a standard)
When specifying my car new an S was a no brainer for me
The latest Vantage and Vantage S share the same steering and suspension etc. whereas this was not the cause at the launch of the S so at your 2011 timeline a standard will not have this or the Sports Exhaust and 'SPORT' switch which changes throttle response and exhaust valves (get Grant's book to get everything explained for each model year and to correct any errors by me here).
Aside from this the main difference is 10 BHP and more torque which makes more difference than you might think
Then there are goodies such as
Carbon Fibre Splitter
Carbon Fibre Diffuser
Platinum Grille and Meshes
Nicer interior stitching detail, piano black and iridium trim
Clear Rear Lamps
Bluetooth, Sat Nav, Cruise (though it would be unusual for these not to have been speciifed as options on a standard)
When specifying my car new an S was a no brainer for me
Sport button also changes the ASM2 gear shift speeds and raises the rev limit. Personally I don't use it very often as I prefer the more linear throttle and the fact it will change up itself on the limit if I get carried away.
Exhaust is 200 Cell so a lot louder than the none S car
While the current cars are similar in terms of shape at the front and back, its black plastic not carbon fibre which looks a bit cheap
Those that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
Exhaust is 200 Cell so a lot louder than the none S car
While the current cars are similar in terms of shape at the front and back, its black plastic not carbon fibre which looks a bit cheap
Those that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
Jon1967x said:
Sport button also changes the ASM2 gear shift speeds and raises the rev limit. Personally I don't use it very often as I prefer the more linear throttle and the fact it will change up itself on the limit if I get carried away.
Exhaust is 200 Cell so a lot louder than the none S car
While the current cars are similar in terms of shape at the front and back, its black plastic not carbon fibre which looks a bit cheap
Those that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
Yes I do find myself hitting the limiter a bit in Sport mode and now winter is here I am more prone to leaving it off as wellExhaust is 200 Cell so a lot louder than the none S car
While the current cars are similar in terms of shape at the front and back, its black plastic not carbon fibre which looks a bit cheap
Those that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
Pretty sure on the suspension, you may have to tick the sport option on the standard
Jon1967x said:
Exhaust is 200 Cell so a lot louder than the none S car
Those that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
The S does not get 200 cell cats from the factoryThose that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
Early S's get sport suspension, later ones get standard suspension with sport as a no cost option.
mikey k said:
Jon1967x said:
Exhaust is 200 Cell so a lot louder than the none S car
Those that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
The S does not get 200 cell cats from the factoryThose that say the suspension is the same on the current none S as S - are you sure?
Early S's get sport suspension, later ones get standard suspension with sport as a no cost option.
Grants book under 2012.5 model year changes for the vantage says the current car is now closer to the S but says the S has more powerful and charismatic engine, sports exhaust, sports suspension (plus carbon, nav, bluetooth, cruise, wider sills, clear lens..). If they've become options its not clear when that occurred.
Here's a bit of recent first hand experience. I took my 2013 V8S into the dealer for it's first year service last weekend, with 5,750 trouble free miles on it. Due to various timing issues they had to keep it for the weekend, so lent me a brand mew standard V8 manual. I covered about 350 miles and I have to say I was astounded by the difference. The S is just better in every single respect. (See above for the actual spec differences).
I did test drive a standard V8 before deciding on the S, and noticed the difference then, but after living with the V8 for two days I was a little disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, the standard V8 is still a very fine car, it's just that the S is better.
So I would definitely try one and see how you get on with the SSII gearbox. I way prefer it over the manual, but most don't.
Anyway, before I left I made the costly mistake of test driving a Vantage V12S......
More on that when I pick it up at Christmas when I'm next in the country
I did test drive a standard V8 before deciding on the S, and noticed the difference then, but after living with the V8 for two days I was a little disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, the standard V8 is still a very fine car, it's just that the S is better.
So I would definitely try one and see how you get on with the SSII gearbox. I way prefer it over the manual, but most don't.
Anyway, before I left I made the costly mistake of test driving a Vantage V12S......
More on that when I pick it up at Christmas when I'm next in the country
Jon1967x said:
Hmm.. No idea what mines got then!
Grants book under 2012.5 model year changes for the vantage says the current car is now closer to the S but says the S has more powerful and charismatic engine, sports exhaust, sports suspension (plus carbon, nav, bluetooth, cruise, wider sills, clear lens..). If they've become options its not clear when that occurred.
Grants book under 2012.5 model year changes for the vantage says the current car is now closer to the S but says the S has more powerful and charismatic engine, sports exhaust, sports suspension (plus carbon, nav, bluetooth, cruise, wider sills, clear lens..). If they've become options its not clear when that occurred.
nothing new for AM there!I know there have been a few S/SP10's with the soft suspension come out the factory in the last year or so
As far as I know you can only have Sport suspension on Roadster S but you can tick the Comfort box on the Coupe S but it 'should' have Sport as standard:
Vantage S
SK05 Sports Suspension (Standard on Roadster) STANDARD (Coupe)
SK00 Comfort Suspension (N/A on Roadster) NC 0.00 0.00
EX23 Sports Exhaust STANDARD
On the Standard Vantage this reads:
Vantage
SK05 Sports Suspension (Standard on Roadster) OPTION (Coupe) 829.16 995.00
SK00 Comfort Suspension (N/A on Roadster) STANDARD (Coupe) 0.00 0.00
EX23 Sports Exhaust OPTION 829.16 995.00
Vantage S
SK05 Sports Suspension (Standard on Roadster) STANDARD (Coupe)
SK00 Comfort Suspension (N/A on Roadster) NC 0.00 0.00
EX23 Sports Exhaust STANDARD
On the Standard Vantage this reads:
Vantage
SK05 Sports Suspension (Standard on Roadster) OPTION (Coupe) 829.16 995.00
SK00 Comfort Suspension (N/A on Roadster) STANDARD (Coupe) 0.00 0.00
EX23 Sports Exhaust OPTION 829.16 995.00
Edited by hashluck on Friday 21st November 19:03
Waitey,
If you want the paddle 'box, the S (and the post-MY12.25 standard V8V) has the 7-speed 'box, which is clearly better than the earlier 6-spd paddle 'box, and the decision may be over right there. However, if you are considering a manual 'box, I think it may be a more difficult decision. I have a MY09 V8V Coupe with the Sports Pack and a manual 'box. IMO, the original (pre-MY12.25) Sports Pack suspension is the best setup for the V8V, at least where I live -- where the roads are often poorly surfaced. It's considerably firmer than the standard suspension, and it handles considerable more sharply. I love it. The S (with sports suspension, as all early Ss were) is a LOT firmer still. Yes, it handles even more sharply. For me, however, the S's additional handling sharpness (including the quicker rack) isn't worth the still-firmer ride compared to a MY09-12 Sports Pack car. BTW, my comments are for Coupes. Mikey has had Roadsters, and the suspensions are set up differently for Coupes and Roadsters. Also, IMO the 10hp and 15 lbs/ft are really quite minor differences, and nothing like the difference between a 4.3 and a 4.7. As is so often the case, the best way to find out is to drive them.
If you want the paddle 'box, the S (and the post-MY12.25 standard V8V) has the 7-speed 'box, which is clearly better than the earlier 6-spd paddle 'box, and the decision may be over right there. However, if you are considering a manual 'box, I think it may be a more difficult decision. I have a MY09 V8V Coupe with the Sports Pack and a manual 'box. IMO, the original (pre-MY12.25) Sports Pack suspension is the best setup for the V8V, at least where I live -- where the roads are often poorly surfaced. It's considerably firmer than the standard suspension, and it handles considerable more sharply. I love it. The S (with sports suspension, as all early Ss were) is a LOT firmer still. Yes, it handles even more sharply. For me, however, the S's additional handling sharpness (including the quicker rack) isn't worth the still-firmer ride compared to a MY09-12 Sports Pack car. BTW, my comments are for Coupes. Mikey has had Roadsters, and the suspensions are set up differently for Coupes and Roadsters. Also, IMO the 10hp and 15 lbs/ft are really quite minor differences, and nothing like the difference between a 4.3 and a 4.7. As is so often the case, the best way to find out is to drive them.
Think I've worked out the confusion... It's the sp10 that dropped the sports suspension as std... Some guy called mikey was discussing it a while back
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
For an everyday driver save yourself £10k and get the standard 2010 4.7 in a spec you want. You can have all the other stuff added and more for less then £10k if you really want/need it. The premium doesn't make sense to me.
Example. I bought my 2010 4.7 with 20k miles, 2 months ago. It's Hammerhead Silver (not seen another Vantage in this colour), has sports pack, light weight seats (c£4k option from new, very rare in a V8) plus everything else I wanted/needed. I paid £50k for it from an AM dealer with a 12 month warranty. To get that car with an S on it, it would have cost me c£65k. I'm getting 200cell cats and a sport switch put in for £2k in December and that will give me 10bhp more then the S. So for £52k I've got a car that is quicker and has all the options I want and I've saved myself £13k.
Example. I bought my 2010 4.7 with 20k miles, 2 months ago. It's Hammerhead Silver (not seen another Vantage in this colour), has sports pack, light weight seats (c£4k option from new, very rare in a V8) plus everything else I wanted/needed. I paid £50k for it from an AM dealer with a 12 month warranty. To get that car with an S on it, it would have cost me c£65k. I'm getting 200cell cats and a sport switch put in for £2k in December and that will give me 10bhp more then the S. So for £52k I've got a car that is quicker and has all the options I want and I've saved myself £13k.
justin220 said:
Just to warn you, the Vantage is almost nothing like a modern TVR that most people make out.
It it not nearly as raw/exciting as the T350/Sagaris.
Have you driven any yet?
I'm not looking for a TVR replacement.It it not nearly as raw/exciting as the T350/Sagaris.
Have you driven any yet?
I'm looking for a car to take to work and take around Europe this summer.
Finding a nice S which isn't black for circa £60k is proving difficult!
Barnezy said:
I'm getting 200cell cats and a sport switch put in for £2k in December and that will give me 10bhp more then the S. So for £52k I've got a car that is quicker and has all the options I want and I've saved myself £13k.
How are 200 cell cats going to give you a big BHP increase?Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff