V12 Vantage vs R8 V10 - My REVIEW
Discussion
V12 Vantage vs R8 V10 - My REVIEW
Having had my V12 Vantage Carbon Black Edition for a few days now and still in possession of my R8 V10 Manual for one last day, I thought it'd make sense to post up this thread. I struggled to find info when I was comparing the two so hopefully, when people use the search feature on Piston Heads or just Google, this thread will come up for them.
For those of you coming here via search or in the future, you might want to check out the thread I posted which charts the month long journey from wondering which model Aston to test drive all the way to buying the V12V here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Here are my two babies together:
So without further ado let's compare the differences in this comprehensive review:
INTERIOR
This is an easy one. The Aston wins it by a country mile. The Audi looks so ordinary inside. Yes, the aluminium open gated gear knob is cool but the flat bottomed steering wheel is now on almost every Audi. The media system looks the same as from my old Audi A5 and the key couldn't be any more Audi / Volkswagen Auto Group. All the buttons are plastic and there's not enough leather.
The Aston on the other hand feels bespoke, there's leather covering everything, the metal is real metal, carbon fibre door handles, Alcantara steering wheel, leather and Alcantara seats, Alcantara headliner, the glass key, the jewel like dials, the sill plaques, the Aston Martin umbrella in the boot etc.
Yes, the media system is harder to use but the blue OLED display looks so cool and I love the sat nav rising out of the dash only when required. It basically feels like you're sitting somewhere special and luxurious.
EXTERIOR
This is an interesting one. The R8 looks like a super car: low, wide, mid engined with the engine on display. It looks futuristic even now after all these years and I love the carbon side blades. It gets a lot of attention wherever it goes and gets confused for a Ferrari or Lamborghini by the odd person (make of that what you will).
Next to the Audi, the Aston looks slightly higher and less wide. But in black and with those trademark bonnet vents, it looks far more mean and aggressive. And more importantly it retains those beautiful Aston lines. Both cars get you looks from people but the Aston gives you a different type of look. Hard to explain. Just more classy and more of respect than wow! The doors and the general feel of the body just seems so much more luxurious than the R8. It feels really smooth and expensive for example when you shut the doors or boot lid.
The negative part of the Aston though is that there's a carbon fibre splitter at the front so you have to be careful when parking and the car seems more susceptible to bottoming out on bumps.
SOUND
Well, they couldn't be more different. Insert the glass key into the Aston and you have one of the all time greatest V12 growls greet you. It wakes you up on a sleepy morning and puts a smile on your face. Every. Time. There's so much "sound" rather than "noise" to it. It's got a great tone which can only be described as a GROWL and a BARK. With the fuse out (which is a must for all Astons) the car echoes away against narrow roads, under bridges and even against other cars! The sound gets better and better as you rev it more. It sounds like you're underwater and it just burbles along everywhere it goes.
Start up video I recorded here in the showroom:
https://goo.gl/photos/mFEciKdbsf8caXt47
And one in my car park with revving:
https://goo.gl/photos/9mWZeoMhvqRXASoN9
The Audi's V10 start up is epic when starting from cold because it has to build up the oil pressure for the first minute. It's SO loud that it'll easily awake / annoy neighbours in a residential street in the early hours. But then after that the start up is less exciting and the noise, although there is a constant deepness, is far less exciting at low speeds unlike the Aston. As you put your foot down and start accelerating up to the 8,700rpm (!) red line things go insane and you can't help but smile.
The trouble is getting to that red line in normal traffic or in London driving is hard to do without either crashing into the car in front of you or exceeding the speed limit massively. Whereas on the Aston driving at low speeds is great fun thanks to that amazing noise. It causes people to turn around to see what they is and when they see it's an Aston the smile appears on their face. It's a great feeling which makes you and passer bys happy.
In tunnels especially you have to get it just right to get a great sound from the Audi but it still doesn't compare to the Aston's higher pitch and multi layered one which you can get right so much more easily.
DRIVING: INVOLVEMENT
The Aston wins this one. The Audi R8 is far easier to drive, you feel more confident in it and it's more relaxing. But the flip side is that it feels more clinical, and unsurprisingly, it feel like you're driving an Audi(!) most of the time, i.e. when in traffic or on the motorway. Unless you're accelerating and have the space to do so it just seems to lack personality.
The Aston can only be described as such: trying to hold onto a beast.
The steering wheel is the perfect size and feels really weighty in your hands, both practically and in the steering feel and the feedback you get back from the road. The car feels on edge and you're always wondering how much you're allowed to provoke it before it bites back. It's harder to drive fast but it's a hell of a lot more involving and rewarding and of course fun.
Of course having the standard P-Zero Corsas on it makes things feel more on edge when the weather is cold and on a really cold day you may struggle to get traction even in third gear! I personally am gonna get the tyres changed to the non-Corsa P-Zeros or the Michelin Pilot Super Sports as it should add a lot more confidence.
The sound of the Aston's growly V12 and the more involving feel really makes the Aston more enjoyable to drive at "normal" speeds which is basically 90% of most people's driving.
DRIVING: ACCELERATION
The Audi's acceleration is breath taking. If you have a passenger, they just don't expect it, you put your foot down and some of them even close their eyes and hold onto the door. My wife still hates it every time I do it - she says it makes her stomach feel sick. I just can't help myself though...
Plus there's nothing like revving up towards that 8,700rpm deadline. The power really does feel amazing.
Now don't get me wrong, the Aston isn't slow, but I think thanks to having a rear wheel drive system compared to the Audi's four wheel Quattro system, it just can't accelerate in the same way. Having owned a V8 Vantage though I can tell you that the torque is the most immediate difference on the V12 Vantage. You can really feel it as it pushes you forward from the rear wheels. I would say the V12V is right in the middle, performance wise, between the R8 and the V8V. And as you can barely use the power of the R8 in normal traffic (especially in London!) it doesn't really matter.
DRIVNG: HANDLING
I know the Corsa tyres are supposed to provide amazing grip in the summer weather but it's not summer at the moment so I can only compare the tyres in the current weather. As I said above, I will be changing them soon. Right now though the R8 has immense grip: you can throw it any corner at any speed and just feel the g-forces. It's amazing and so confidence inspiring. It really does feel like you're driving a proper supercar.
With the Vantage you feel like you might push it a bit too far. Thankfully you can feel the rear tyres go early on so can act appropriatley (or start a crazy slide). But it does give it that edge which of course adds to the excitement factor. It really does feel like you're in control and responsible whereas in the Audi it feels like the Quattro system has you sorted and is doing all the work for you.
Basically, you have to really put the effort in to drive the Aston properly as it's a more old school car. But it feels so much more rewarding when you manage to go around the corner...and not die.
DRIVING: COMFORT
I'm amazed by this actually. Despite my R8 having adaptive dampers (MagRide) and always amazed by how comfortable it was, the Aston with its passive dampers is more comfortable! I was always worried that it would be too stiff as that's what a lot of the reviews said. I had the Sports Pack on my V8 Vantage which had sports suspension and I found that too firm. This is feels a lot nicer.
The biting point of the clutch is also a lot higher than on the R8. The advantage of this is that it's much harder to stall the car. While on the R8 when parking for example it's a lot easier for it to accidentally happen. The downside of a high biting point of course it that it means you end up revving the engine more unintentionally when moving from standstill, especially on a slope. But that means you make even more glorious noise! Oh and non-auto Astons are really bad on slopes...don't even think about reversing up a hill whether in a manual or my previous semi-automatic V8.
But the best thing is that despite feeling more comfortable than the Audi, it still feels more involving and you get a lot more steering feel and feedback. The car feels shorter and less wide and it feels like the weight just pushes everything on the ground into submission whereas you feel it a lot more in the Audi. You feel at one with the car.
The seats are an interesting one. In every Aston I've driven (DB9, Rapide S, DBS, V12VS, V8V) my lower back starts to hurt after a bit. My R8 has bucket seats and they feel great. With the Aston though I've found the perfect solution: a cushion. Simply put a cushion down and suddenly no more back pain! Of course you can also get the lightweight seats in the V12 Vantage but I've only been in them on the passenger side and for a short ride so I can't comment on how much better / worse they are. I do miss being able to bolster yourself in tightly on the R8's bucket seats so that you don't move at all when going around a corner.
PRACTICALITY
The Aston wins this. It has an actual boot! And it's hatchback so you can really fit things in. In fact the boot is bigger than on the DBS or the DB9. You can actually put a suitcase in there (well one at least). The R8's boot is at the front and ridiculously small although quite deep. The swan doors are extremely useful as well as a couple of times the R8 has hit the kerb when opening the door. Also the R8's door are LUDICROUSLY long and heavy and makes it a really challenge to open in tight parking spaces.
Both cars lack rear seats but have parcel shelves. The one on the Audi is a joke though: it's too narrow and there's a gap between it and the seats so things fall down all the time. On the Aston though the shelf is much closer to the seat and so can actually be used. Seriously being able to go away for a weekend or even longer and not have to worry about what baggage to leave behind makes life so much better!
In other respects though the R8 wins. The glove box is far larger than the Aston's. In fact if you keep the manual in the glove box of the Aston then nothing else can fit in there! Haha.
The sun visors are proper sized - not the joke sized ones on the Aston. The buttons are easier to press and better located on the Audi and it has basic things such as auto light and auto wipers (although this did become standard in later models - I have a 2011).
On the R8 the windows feel smoother when they go up and down (I know that's really pedantic but you notice the difference!) along with the wipers. Obviously the media system interface is better and easier to use and buttons are in more easy to reach places. For example the seat heating buttons on the Aston are hard to get at. Basically the Audi is German and that means ergonomically it works really well and has been well laid out. Of course on the flip side you do get that "character" on the Aston....haha.
CONCLUSION
So what's the conclusion? Well, in an ideal world I would just keep both cars. The Aston as my crazy daily driver and long traveller and the Audi as my weekend country lane driver. Although the Aston is obviously brilliant fun on the country lanes as well. So the Aston does it for me. Well, I have just bought one so I can't say otherwise!
The most important thing to take away is this: the Audi is faster and safer and will stick to the ground like glue. When travelling outside of traffic it's an amazing car that wants to be revved as the power increases and the tone of the sound gets better. It really is a race car and looks like a supercar.
The Aston is a crazy luxury sports car. It keeps you on your toes and the sound alone will put a smile on your face. It feels special to be in and there's nothing quite as cool as saying you own an Aston Martin when people ask. It's a car that demands respect and is more fun for the kind of driving that most people do. In the end you have to test both cars for yourself. I originally wanted a V12 Vantage S or a DBS but having test driven both of them and then the V12 Vantage, this car just seemed perfect and I couldn't be happier.
Any questions just ask: even if you've accidentally found this thread three years later (how's that Trump presidency coming along?!). I'll be happy to answer and give advice. Cheers.
Loads of PHOTOS that've I've taken and a few videos can be seen here:
https://goo.gl/photos/jCMCzgayB7pn2j3t5
Having had my V12 Vantage Carbon Black Edition for a few days now and still in possession of my R8 V10 Manual for one last day, I thought it'd make sense to post up this thread. I struggled to find info when I was comparing the two so hopefully, when people use the search feature on Piston Heads or just Google, this thread will come up for them.
For those of you coming here via search or in the future, you might want to check out the thread I posted which charts the month long journey from wondering which model Aston to test drive all the way to buying the V12V here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Here are my two babies together:
So without further ado let's compare the differences in this comprehensive review:
INTERIOR
This is an easy one. The Aston wins it by a country mile. The Audi looks so ordinary inside. Yes, the aluminium open gated gear knob is cool but the flat bottomed steering wheel is now on almost every Audi. The media system looks the same as from my old Audi A5 and the key couldn't be any more Audi / Volkswagen Auto Group. All the buttons are plastic and there's not enough leather.
The Aston on the other hand feels bespoke, there's leather covering everything, the metal is real metal, carbon fibre door handles, Alcantara steering wheel, leather and Alcantara seats, Alcantara headliner, the glass key, the jewel like dials, the sill plaques, the Aston Martin umbrella in the boot etc.
Yes, the media system is harder to use but the blue OLED display looks so cool and I love the sat nav rising out of the dash only when required. It basically feels like you're sitting somewhere special and luxurious.
EXTERIOR
This is an interesting one. The R8 looks like a super car: low, wide, mid engined with the engine on display. It looks futuristic even now after all these years and I love the carbon side blades. It gets a lot of attention wherever it goes and gets confused for a Ferrari or Lamborghini by the odd person (make of that what you will).
Next to the Audi, the Aston looks slightly higher and less wide. But in black and with those trademark bonnet vents, it looks far more mean and aggressive. And more importantly it retains those beautiful Aston lines. Both cars get you looks from people but the Aston gives you a different type of look. Hard to explain. Just more classy and more of respect than wow! The doors and the general feel of the body just seems so much more luxurious than the R8. It feels really smooth and expensive for example when you shut the doors or boot lid.
The negative part of the Aston though is that there's a carbon fibre splitter at the front so you have to be careful when parking and the car seems more susceptible to bottoming out on bumps.
SOUND
Well, they couldn't be more different. Insert the glass key into the Aston and you have one of the all time greatest V12 growls greet you. It wakes you up on a sleepy morning and puts a smile on your face. Every. Time. There's so much "sound" rather than "noise" to it. It's got a great tone which can only be described as a GROWL and a BARK. With the fuse out (which is a must for all Astons) the car echoes away against narrow roads, under bridges and even against other cars! The sound gets better and better as you rev it more. It sounds like you're underwater and it just burbles along everywhere it goes.
Start up video I recorded here in the showroom:
https://goo.gl/photos/mFEciKdbsf8caXt47
And one in my car park with revving:
https://goo.gl/photos/9mWZeoMhvqRXASoN9
The Audi's V10 start up is epic when starting from cold because it has to build up the oil pressure for the first minute. It's SO loud that it'll easily awake / annoy neighbours in a residential street in the early hours. But then after that the start up is less exciting and the noise, although there is a constant deepness, is far less exciting at low speeds unlike the Aston. As you put your foot down and start accelerating up to the 8,700rpm (!) red line things go insane and you can't help but smile.
The trouble is getting to that red line in normal traffic or in London driving is hard to do without either crashing into the car in front of you or exceeding the speed limit massively. Whereas on the Aston driving at low speeds is great fun thanks to that amazing noise. It causes people to turn around to see what they is and when they see it's an Aston the smile appears on their face. It's a great feeling which makes you and passer bys happy.
In tunnels especially you have to get it just right to get a great sound from the Audi but it still doesn't compare to the Aston's higher pitch and multi layered one which you can get right so much more easily.
DRIVING: INVOLVEMENT
The Aston wins this one. The Audi R8 is far easier to drive, you feel more confident in it and it's more relaxing. But the flip side is that it feels more clinical, and unsurprisingly, it feel like you're driving an Audi(!) most of the time, i.e. when in traffic or on the motorway. Unless you're accelerating and have the space to do so it just seems to lack personality.
The Aston can only be described as such: trying to hold onto a beast.
The steering wheel is the perfect size and feels really weighty in your hands, both practically and in the steering feel and the feedback you get back from the road. The car feels on edge and you're always wondering how much you're allowed to provoke it before it bites back. It's harder to drive fast but it's a hell of a lot more involving and rewarding and of course fun.
Of course having the standard P-Zero Corsas on it makes things feel more on edge when the weather is cold and on a really cold day you may struggle to get traction even in third gear! I personally am gonna get the tyres changed to the non-Corsa P-Zeros or the Michelin Pilot Super Sports as it should add a lot more confidence.
The sound of the Aston's growly V12 and the more involving feel really makes the Aston more enjoyable to drive at "normal" speeds which is basically 90% of most people's driving.
DRIVING: ACCELERATION
The Audi's acceleration is breath taking. If you have a passenger, they just don't expect it, you put your foot down and some of them even close their eyes and hold onto the door. My wife still hates it every time I do it - she says it makes her stomach feel sick. I just can't help myself though...
Plus there's nothing like revving up towards that 8,700rpm deadline. The power really does feel amazing.
Now don't get me wrong, the Aston isn't slow, but I think thanks to having a rear wheel drive system compared to the Audi's four wheel Quattro system, it just can't accelerate in the same way. Having owned a V8 Vantage though I can tell you that the torque is the most immediate difference on the V12 Vantage. You can really feel it as it pushes you forward from the rear wheels. I would say the V12V is right in the middle, performance wise, between the R8 and the V8V. And as you can barely use the power of the R8 in normal traffic (especially in London!) it doesn't really matter.
DRIVNG: HANDLING
I know the Corsa tyres are supposed to provide amazing grip in the summer weather but it's not summer at the moment so I can only compare the tyres in the current weather. As I said above, I will be changing them soon. Right now though the R8 has immense grip: you can throw it any corner at any speed and just feel the g-forces. It's amazing and so confidence inspiring. It really does feel like you're driving a proper supercar.
With the Vantage you feel like you might push it a bit too far. Thankfully you can feel the rear tyres go early on so can act appropriatley (or start a crazy slide). But it does give it that edge which of course adds to the excitement factor. It really does feel like you're in control and responsible whereas in the Audi it feels like the Quattro system has you sorted and is doing all the work for you.
Basically, you have to really put the effort in to drive the Aston properly as it's a more old school car. But it feels so much more rewarding when you manage to go around the corner...and not die.
DRIVING: COMFORT
I'm amazed by this actually. Despite my R8 having adaptive dampers (MagRide) and always amazed by how comfortable it was, the Aston with its passive dampers is more comfortable! I was always worried that it would be too stiff as that's what a lot of the reviews said. I had the Sports Pack on my V8 Vantage which had sports suspension and I found that too firm. This is feels a lot nicer.
The biting point of the clutch is also a lot higher than on the R8. The advantage of this is that it's much harder to stall the car. While on the R8 when parking for example it's a lot easier for it to accidentally happen. The downside of a high biting point of course it that it means you end up revving the engine more unintentionally when moving from standstill, especially on a slope. But that means you make even more glorious noise! Oh and non-auto Astons are really bad on slopes...don't even think about reversing up a hill whether in a manual or my previous semi-automatic V8.
But the best thing is that despite feeling more comfortable than the Audi, it still feels more involving and you get a lot more steering feel and feedback. The car feels shorter and less wide and it feels like the weight just pushes everything on the ground into submission whereas you feel it a lot more in the Audi. You feel at one with the car.
The seats are an interesting one. In every Aston I've driven (DB9, Rapide S, DBS, V12VS, V8V) my lower back starts to hurt after a bit. My R8 has bucket seats and they feel great. With the Aston though I've found the perfect solution: a cushion. Simply put a cushion down and suddenly no more back pain! Of course you can also get the lightweight seats in the V12 Vantage but I've only been in them on the passenger side and for a short ride so I can't comment on how much better / worse they are. I do miss being able to bolster yourself in tightly on the R8's bucket seats so that you don't move at all when going around a corner.
PRACTICALITY
The Aston wins this. It has an actual boot! And it's hatchback so you can really fit things in. In fact the boot is bigger than on the DBS or the DB9. You can actually put a suitcase in there (well one at least). The R8's boot is at the front and ridiculously small although quite deep. The swan doors are extremely useful as well as a couple of times the R8 has hit the kerb when opening the door. Also the R8's door are LUDICROUSLY long and heavy and makes it a really challenge to open in tight parking spaces.
Both cars lack rear seats but have parcel shelves. The one on the Audi is a joke though: it's too narrow and there's a gap between it and the seats so things fall down all the time. On the Aston though the shelf is much closer to the seat and so can actually be used. Seriously being able to go away for a weekend or even longer and not have to worry about what baggage to leave behind makes life so much better!
In other respects though the R8 wins. The glove box is far larger than the Aston's. In fact if you keep the manual in the glove box of the Aston then nothing else can fit in there! Haha.
The sun visors are proper sized - not the joke sized ones on the Aston. The buttons are easier to press and better located on the Audi and it has basic things such as auto light and auto wipers (although this did become standard in later models - I have a 2011).
On the R8 the windows feel smoother when they go up and down (I know that's really pedantic but you notice the difference!) along with the wipers. Obviously the media system interface is better and easier to use and buttons are in more easy to reach places. For example the seat heating buttons on the Aston are hard to get at. Basically the Audi is German and that means ergonomically it works really well and has been well laid out. Of course on the flip side you do get that "character" on the Aston....haha.
CONCLUSION
So what's the conclusion? Well, in an ideal world I would just keep both cars. The Aston as my crazy daily driver and long traveller and the Audi as my weekend country lane driver. Although the Aston is obviously brilliant fun on the country lanes as well. So the Aston does it for me. Well, I have just bought one so I can't say otherwise!
The most important thing to take away is this: the Audi is faster and safer and will stick to the ground like glue. When travelling outside of traffic it's an amazing car that wants to be revved as the power increases and the tone of the sound gets better. It really is a race car and looks like a supercar.
The Aston is a crazy luxury sports car. It keeps you on your toes and the sound alone will put a smile on your face. It feels special to be in and there's nothing quite as cool as saying you own an Aston Martin when people ask. It's a car that demands respect and is more fun for the kind of driving that most people do. In the end you have to test both cars for yourself. I originally wanted a V12 Vantage S or a DBS but having test driven both of them and then the V12 Vantage, this car just seemed perfect and I couldn't be happier.
Any questions just ask: even if you've accidentally found this thread three years later (how's that Trump presidency coming along?!). I'll be happy to answer and give advice. Cheers.
Loads of PHOTOS that've I've taken and a few videos can be seen here:
https://goo.gl/photos/jCMCzgayB7pn2j3t5
Edited by Nijius Maximus on Monday 15th February 14:00
Edited by Nijius Maximus on Monday 15th February 14:03
hashluck said:
Nice write up thanks. As a long term Audi owner (latterly A5 and A7 two years ago) I have to say when I test drove a new R8 it was light years behind even the A5 on tech and I did not find the overall driving experience particularly nice. I was quite surprised as I was expecting to love it. I bought an Aston instead
(though to be fair the R8 was never really going to happen as I fancied a change of brand in any case and there are a lot of other cars to consider at the R8 price point. You get the entry level car into other marques versus absolute top of the range in the Audi, bit like buying the cheapest house in the best street
Thanks my friend!(though to be fair the R8 was never really going to happen as I fancied a change of brand in any case and there are a lot of other cars to consider at the R8 price point. You get the entry level car into other marques versus absolute top of the range in the Audi, bit like buying the cheapest house in the best street
I agree completely with the technology. My brother in law has an A3 from work and the tech in that is miles ahead of my R8. Never made any sense why Audi fitted their top of the range car with bottom of the range technology.
I like your "cheapest street" analogy. And when that street just happens to be called Aston Martin who cares which house you have - they're all amazing!
Which Aston did you go for?
Minglar said:
Nijius
Very nice write up. Well done!
Never been an avid fan of the bloated TT myself and most of your comments on the Audi are what I expected.
I think you have summed up the V12V very well indeed. Get yourself a new set of rubber (I switched to the regular P Zeros four months after I bought mine, which coincidentally was also early in the year) and you will see the car in a totally different light, in terms of handling, stability and grip.
Enjoy your new toy!
Best Regards
Minglar
Thank you Minglar! I can't wait to see how changing the tyres changes the handling of the car. Gonna have it done this week hopefully. Very nice write up. Well done!
Never been an avid fan of the bloated TT myself and most of your comments on the Audi are what I expected.
I think you have summed up the V12V very well indeed. Get yourself a new set of rubber (I switched to the regular P Zeros four months after I bought mine, which coincidentally was also early in the year) and you will see the car in a totally different light, in terms of handling, stability and grip.
Enjoy your new toy!
Best Regards
Minglar
mblade123 said:
Nice write up Nijius.
Having had mine for a couple of years now and owning the V8V before I can relate to everything you say.
What I did find surprising with the V12 was the clutch was lighter and the ride much better and not as stiff.
And change the tyres. I did, Just PZeros. Made a massive difference. We never have enough warm weather here lol
Thanks mblade! I'm amazed as well, I always thought that the V12V would have a hefty clutch and gearstick - proper old school. The reviews were wrong: it's so easy to drive! Wife finds it more comfortable than the R8 and loves the boot space. Win win. Having had mine for a couple of years now and owning the V8V before I can relate to everything you say.
What I did find surprising with the V12 was the clutch was lighter and the ride much better and not as stiff.
And change the tyres. I did, Just PZeros. Made a massive difference. We never have enough warm weather here lol
Zod said:
Great write-up. I did one a couple of years ago after I had a V8 R8 Spyder for a few weeks - less of a comparison on the power side,
of course. I actually found the R8 more prone to bottoming out than the V12V, with a full on whole undertray ground contact in one spot where my Aston manages just to avoid it.
As to tyres, I've just done a weekend of serious driving in the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Park. I have Sottozero IIs on my car and, while they can't match the Corsas' summer grip levels, they do allow for proper fun driving. This weekend, the Corsas would have had me tiptoeing around at 20 mph.
Thanks Zod! You got a link to your comparison? Love to see what you thought as I rented out a V8 R8 for a week some time ago. Found it more nimble than the V10 if my memory recalls correctly.of course. I actually found the R8 more prone to bottoming out than the V12V, with a full on whole undertray ground contact in one spot where my Aston manages just to avoid it.
As to tyres, I've just done a weekend of serious driving in the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Park. I have Sottozero IIs on my car and, while they can't match the Corsas' summer grip levels, they do allow for proper fun driving. This weekend, the Corsas would have had me tiptoeing around at 20 mph.
jarodw said:
Very interesting read. I have a similar car history, coming from a Vantage V8 Coupe to an Audi R8 V10 Spyder, and I am currently thinking moving towards a Vantage V12s Coupe. Like you did, I really miss the Aston, how it feels, how it looks and how it sounds. What I love at the R8 though is, that it's a all day supercar. You can really use it as a daily driver and you can have serious fun with it if you want. Also, as I am living in Switzerland, you can drive the R8 all year round, even in snowy conditions - thanks to quattro.
What is your experience with the V12V and 'bad' weather conditions?
I heard is not that easy to drive. This is what concerns me a bit. Not that I am driving around in snow storms all winter ;-), but the R8 could really manage every weather condition if it had to. How does the Aston compare to this?
Cheers, J
There's no question about it. The R8 you can basically "throw" at the road and any corner at almost any speed. On the following morning after getting the V12V I took both out for a spin at around 6/7am if I recall.What is your experience with the V12V and 'bad' weather conditions?
I heard is not that easy to drive. This is what concerns me a bit. Not that I am driving around in snow storms all winter ;-), but the R8 could really manage every weather condition if it had to. How does the Aston compare to this?
Cheers, J
It was cold outside and the R8, even without being properly warmed up, just took the road in its stride. You never felt scared or lacked confidence in it.
On the other hand, the Vantage was losing traction even in third gear! Which surprised me quite a lot although it did get a lot better as the tyres warmed up. Have to admit that has never happened to me again since. It's been driving perfectly. But you HAVE to respect it, it's not as easy to drive as the R8 which ultimately makes it a lot more involving and fun.
The thing is, having driven it to the office for the first time today, I realised that the Aston is a lot more fun and puts a smile on your face even when doing 30mph. Whereas you really have to push the R8 to get that feeling.
In Switzerland of course the weather I can imagine would be pretty extreme at times but hopefully winter tyres, as mentioned by zod above, would help quite a bit! I'm happy with the Corsas on mine for now but will change them when it's time to replace them as the weather is getting nicer now...
Octavarium said:
Nice write-up Nijius. I enjoyed that 
You never mentioned you were getting a V12V. When did that happen ?
You never mentioned you were getting a V12V. When did that happen ?
hashluck said:
I think it came as a surprise to us all.
Mako V12V said:
HAHAHA....lmao.....got to be THE best one-liner on here this year
You cheeky bunch of... And here I had plans to put up another ten threads talking about my V12V...
jarodw said:
I follow in the footsteps of Nijius Maximus and interchange my Audi R8 V10 spyder with a AM V12Vs. I pulled the trigger yesterday, and should receive delivery of the V12Vs in 2 weeks time.
Saying goodbye to the R8:
Welcoming the V12Vs:
jarodw, CONGRATULATIONS! Great photos as well, of both cars, can't wait to see more when you've taken delivery. Saying goodbye to the R8:
Welcoming the V12Vs:
I assume you found similar differences to myself over the two cars with the V12VS being more involving and fun to drive in the end?
Are you gonna miss the convertible though with the summer around the corner...?
Those two weeks are gonna be a long one...
Edited by Nijius Maximus on Thursday 17th March 15:13
jarodw said:
Its lovely. The ride is so much better than I expected. I also like the SportShift III, I have to say. I like it better then the R-Tronic from the Audi. Well, and the V12, it is just an amazing peace of an engine, i really like how it delivers the power, though in Switzerland I can not get even close to its potenzial. I think I have to visit a German Autobahn soon ;-)
The only thing I am a bit disappointed is the engine sound from inside the car, and that there are no 'blips' on downshifts, as the V8 Vanatge had...
YES! I agree completely with the ride. All the reviews said it was quite firm and I was expecting the worst but it's actually pretty good.The only thing I am a bit disappointed is the engine sound from inside the car, and that there are no 'blips' on downshifts, as the V8 Vanatge had...
I had the misfortune of driving an R-Tronic R8 for a week. Hated it. Whereas even the SS on my earlier Vantage 4.7 was so much better.
Are there really no automatic blips on downshift on a V12VS?? Can anyone here confirm? For the sound on my V12V I just keep the windows opened a bit. Keeps me happy but the Mrs cold...
Hello guys! It's been AGES since I created this thread. Great to see it's helped other people and people have shared similar thoughts to myself.
Unfortunately I can't stop buying / changing cars so I moved onto a Vanquish AND McLaren 12C combo after the V12 Vantage.
Then I added a Ferrari 458 Spider, a Huracan and a 720S. I sold the Vanquish and Ferrari but still own the rest. So three damn supercars.. Haha.
But most importantly the V12 Vantage is the ONLY car I regret selling and want to rebuy one. Anyway, on holiday at the moment so will update when back...
Unfortunately I can't stop buying / changing cars so I moved onto a Vanquish AND McLaren 12C combo after the V12 Vantage.
Then I added a Ferrari 458 Spider, a Huracan and a 720S. I sold the Vanquish and Ferrari but still own the rest. So three damn supercars.. Haha.
But most importantly the V12 Vantage is the ONLY car I regret selling and want to rebuy one. Anyway, on holiday at the moment so will update when back...
Ladies and gentlemen it is in fact TRUE. Alas, I was caught speeding in my 720S last year.
Then again a month later outside the Aston Martin Welwyn dealership it all places (!)
6 points for first one. 6 points for second meaning 12 points and ban. Thankfully LESS than three months to go and already getting my new cars ready to climb straight into....
I currently only have the 720S but managed to get to 9.7k miles from new! So been enjoying it a lot.
Also the V12V is the ONLY car I regret selling. Need to get one in my life again.
And finally predicting the Trump presidency amazes even me... Stay tunes for my next 3 year prediction on politics and economics...
Then again a month later outside the Aston Martin Welwyn dealership it all places (!)
6 points for first one. 6 points for second meaning 12 points and ban. Thankfully LESS than three months to go and already getting my new cars ready to climb straight into....
I currently only have the 720S but managed to get to 9.7k miles from new! So been enjoying it a lot.
Also the V12V is the ONLY car I regret selling. Need to get one in my life again.
And finally predicting the Trump presidency amazes even me... Stay tunes for my next 3 year prediction on politics and economics...
Pumatwin said:
Thanks for that comprehensive review!
How much wider did the R8 feel?
No problem my friend. Good to see after all these years it's still providing useful to people!How much wider did the R8 feel?
The problem with the bonnet of the R8, if I remember correctly, is that it just falls off at the front so it's really hard to place where the front wheels are. Especially in car parks and tight roads. The Vantage (V12 or V8) feels much smaller when going round tight multi storey car parks. And it is! It's a smaller car width and length wise but with a really good size boot amazingly.
I never kerbed the wheels in the Vantage but definitely did in the R8...although I do live in central London... haha
Edited by Nijius Maximus on Tuesday 23 July 12:25
cayman-black said:
Nijius ,those bad arse boys in blue must of saved you a couple of hundred grand.
I wish mate! I already ordered two new Lambos earlier in the year. My Huracan EVO Spyder arrived at my dealer last week and with 2.5 months to go on the ban I can't decide whether to take delivery or not.......... #FirstWorldProblemsKen Figenus said:
Ohh mate - goss is meant to be error prone! Sorry to hear that - I too had a 3 month cycling holiday 12 years ago; you have to up your game a bit after that. Get some tech (Cameralert App is great combined with MK1 paranoid Eyeball) but best include a bungee tied to the roof for that right foot!
I've recently had a test drive in a 570S (in a total monsoon) and very nice it was but glad you are hankering after a V12 Aston too - they are quite special and more than adequate for most of us
Nice one using that Macca properly - those engines and boxes seem pretty solid (?) and so I hate the mileage paranoia even more.
Count the sleeps & all the best.
I'm hanging in there mate! Also Knowles and Drinkwater had to tell me who you were as I didn't recognise this username of yours on PH... haha.I've recently had a test drive in a 570S (in a total monsoon) and very nice it was but glad you are hankering after a V12 Aston too - they are quite special and more than adequate for most of us
Nice one using that Macca properly - those engines and boxes seem pretty solid (?) and so I hate the mileage paranoia even more.
Count the sleeps & all the best.
Haven't been out with you guys for ages. Let's get a trip going once ban lifted...!
avinalarf said:
Rumour has it that he's not doing very well, down to his last three supercars and having to look behind the sofa cushions to scrape up enough to buy an Aston.
Notwithstanding the sad news I've met the geezer at an Aston meet he arranged a couple of years ago at Aston Grange.
He's a nice lad but unfortunately he took my advice on which shares to invest in.
Haha...must never listen to you again.... Notwithstanding the sad news I've met the geezer at an Aston meet he arranged a couple of years ago at Aston Grange.
He's a nice lad but unfortunately he took my advice on which shares to invest in.
Been too long. Will arrange another event, this time at the newly moved Aston dealer in Hatfield, when ban lifted....
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