V8 Vantage S as everyday car on UK roads

[timbals]

What is the general opinion on driving a V8VS as an everyday car compared to a V8V?

Is the suspension much harder?

Does it sound much different?

Is ASM2 easy to live with every day?

I've test driven a 12.25MY V8V and it felt much stiffer than an early V8V, in both steering and suspension, whilst also being a fair bit quieter and more mechanical/metallic sounding, is that a fair assessment?

Thanks!

[1973ja]

Not sure I could drive either as a daily driver. I love my v8s and have had it 12 months now from new without issue, I liked it more than the V8 as it made a better sound and was tighter on the steering. The suspension on both is similar but in the v8s reverse into parking spaces, the front carbon splitter sticks out a lot

[alscar]

Never having had the " non S " V8 I cannot compare but I used my V8S ( SP10) daily - physically not an issue although leaving it in some places may be. Mine had the exhaust switch fitted but still noisy enough to potentially upset the village at 6.00 in the am - mind you compared to the V12S it was practically silent ( according to my wife ).Suspension on the V8S was standard ( not sports ) so for our pot holed roads fine. Using an Aston daily does put you in a good frame of mind for the journey home irrespective of how cr*p the days been though.

[hashluck]

Same here

I cannot compare to a V8V ASM1 but I use my V8V S ASM II every day with no issues at all. 8K miles so far (1K miles a momth).

Sports suspension can be a bit firm but that will likely be improved by swtiching from Bridgestones to Michelin Pilots.

[timbals]

Do you have any trouble with the ground clearance? Is it much different to a standard V8?

You've given me hope that it is usable every day!

Do you know if 2011 is new enough to stream spotify via bluetooth or do I need a newer model? I can't find anything about this in Grants book.

[hashluck]

timbals said:

Do you have any trouble with the ground clearance? Is it much different to a standard V8?

You've given me hope that it is usable every day!

Do you know if 2011 is new enough to stream spotify via bluetooth or do I need a newer model? I can't find anything about this in Grants book.

Again I cannot compare with a V8V but I have had no problems with ground clearance and have to negotiate many a speed hump.

Not sure on BT streaming. Mine does it but is MY15

Cheers

[Big Ry]

I drive an SP10 manual (so a V8VS) as a daily driver and it's no problem at all. I do have the comfort suspension but honestly, having just done a 500 mile round trip to the Lake District it was spot on. I do panic slightly when I see a kerb though as that splitter sits further forward than you think

[propaganda]

I had the sports suspension on mine - hated it as a daily drive - too harsh. To be honest it ruined the experience for me and I always wished I had the standard suspension instead.

[timbals]

Is the comfort suspension is the same as the standard one? or is there "comfort" suspension?

[Jonsv8]

timbals said:

Is the comfort suspension is the same as the standard one? or is there "comfort" suspension?

Now that there's a question! As far as I know there's no third 'comfort' suspension option as such and different cars have different suspensions as standard so standard depends on the model and I think even then the setups are slightly different for the roadster and coupe even when they're called the same thing. I imagine it's also changed a bit over time.

But to answer your question there are roughly just the 2 setups. Sport and the other one, sometimes called normal, comfort, regular etc but in effect just the softer setup.

[Big Ry]

Jonsv8 said:

Now that there's a question! As far as I know there's no third 'comfort' suspension option as such and different cars have different suspensions as standard so standard depends on the model and I think even then the setups are slightly different for the roadster and coupe even when they're called the same thing. I imagine it's also changed a bit over time.

But to answer your question there are roughly just the 2 setups. Sport and the other one, sometimes called normal, comfort, regular etc but in effect just the softer setup.

Agreed, as far as I know there's only Sport and "other"......which on my build sheet is called Comfort.

[Grant3]

timbals said:

Do you have any trouble with the ground clearance? Is it much different to a standard V8?

You've given me hope that it is usable every day!

Do you know if 2011 is new enough to stream spotify via bluetooth or do I need a newer model? I can't find anything about this in Grants book.

Bluetooth streaming was only introduced for the 15MY so it is only covered in the latest editions of the guide. But... A.M. have now introduced a new Bluetooth upgrade kit which can (for £££££££) be fitted to a 2011 car to give you streaming, see here"..... http://www.astonmartin.com/en/accessories/v8-vanta... this is fully covered in detail in the latest 10th edition

The S has the same ride height as the standard V8 and ground clearance is good for a sports car.

There really isn't any issues with using an S as a daily driver, bar depreciation from higher miles, and it's worth test driving a standard V8 as well as this will offer slightly better comfort on a bumpy road. ASM2 is probably better than a manual in a daily driver, although not for ultimate driving involvement.

[woodsypedia]

Don't bother with the Aston kit. Get a tune to air and use airplay from your phone. Works a charm - allows you to stream spotify playlists etc. Fantastic investment and a fraction of the price. Also means other people in the car can stream without having to do a bluetooth pair.

http://www.amazon.com/ViseeO-Tune2air-WMA1000-Blue...

Chris

[Jonsv8]

ASM is a pain in stop start traffic if you do a lot of that although generous use of neutral helps.

Anyone know if they can retrofit DAB officially? Probably a lot cheaper to aftermarket

[timbals]

Jonsv8 said:

ASM is a pain in stop start traffic if you do a lot of that although generous use of neutral helps.

You have me worried now since I live in London...

[Phil74891]

timbals said:

Jonsv8 said:

ASM is a pain in stop start traffic if you do a lot of that although generous use of neutral helps.

You have me worried now since I live in London...

I've driven a manual V8 and ASM II and III in London. I'd take ASM every time. Definitely no worse than a clutch pedal thingy. Clicking into neutral does help too. Plus, you can always stick it in 'D' as well if you fancy a laugh.

[Jonsv8]

Mine can be quite bumpy at low speed as if it can't make its mind up. In a manual you'd dip the clutch and have control. Pulling both paddles puts it into neutral so you can roll. Pulling a single paddle puts it in gear and this can sometimes create a jerk or annoyingly if you're slow enough require you to stop and start again. I don't do enough low speed driving to master the art. It's really only a problem in creeping traffic at less than say 10 mph

[timbals]

Phil74891 said:

I've driven a manual V8 and ASM II and III in London. I'd take ASM every time. Definitely no worse than a clutch pedal thingy. Clicking into neutral does help too. Plus, you can always stick it in 'D' as well if you fancy a laugh.

Thanks! How did you find the ride in London?

[timbals]

Grant3 said:

Bluetooth streaming was only introduced for the 15MY so it is only covered in the latest editions of the guide. But... A.M. have now introduced a new Bluetooth upgrade kit which can (for £££££££) be fitted to a 2011 car to give you streaming, see here"..... http://www.astonmartin.com/en/accessories/v8-vanta... this is fully covered in detail in the latest 10th edition

The S has the same ride height as the standard V8 and ground clearance is good for a sports car.

There really isn't any issues with using an S as a daily driver, bar depreciation from higher miles, and it's worth test driving a standard V8 as well as this will offer slightly better comfort on a bumpy road. ASM2 is probably better than a manual in a daily driver, although not for ultimate driving involvement.

Grant or anyone else, any idea what ££££££ converts into?

[timbals]

timbals said:

Grant or anyone else, any idea what ££££££ converts into?

Ok, going to answer my own question!

http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

If that thread is to be believed, it looks like for a S it would be about £300 + labour, which isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be