Discussion
I had the pleasure of an hour in the V12S manual this morning courtesy of those good folks at AM Edinburgh. After the drive and subsequent discussions I had a two hour drive home to think of some articulate way of describing the comparison with my current V12V. The simplest way to put it is to say that the S manual is just better in every respect.
Paul and Simon the AM guys did a great job of explaining the new gearbox and the trick electronics it packs. Apart from one fluffed 5th to 4th change, I had no issues with the box at all. At times I was trying to ram it through the gears like I have to do with my own car but the shift is much lighter and doesn't need it. The shift is quite a bit shorter so being accurate is pretty easy.
The rev matching on the way down is great and obviously better than I would ever be able to achieve myself. The flat shift on the way up takes a bit of getting used to, to keep your foot in but it works and seems to work really well. Still not sure I understand the benefit of it though.
If you treat the box like a sequential and don't skip gears to start with, there is no problem with missing gears and I'm pretty certain you would soon build the muscle memory to be doing 5th to 3rd, 6th to 4th, etc with no problem at all. The demo car has got 15k on it now and as you'd expect it still seemed pretty tight to me.
The S engine feels completely different from my current car, smoother revving and the suspension is much better. We had the car in track mode for most of the time and it was still less twitchy than my car. Suspension in track, sport mode on and AMshift on would be my default.
There's a few things in the spec of the cars that bugged me, the carbon bonnet louvres are optional, paying for the aluminium filler cap, a huge chunk, relatively, for the highline console, and a few other things. Mr Palmer, don't put a plastic filler cap on an Aston, we don't want plastic.
All in all though, I was mightily impressed and the china grey and yellow is gorgeous in the flesh. I'd delete the yellow stripe along the side but apart from that it looks spot on.
First thing on the options list, lightweight seats. First time I've driven in them and loved them as soon as I got in. My back is sore now from the two hour drive up the road in the normal seats (but that could also be the crap roads and suspension on my own car). Second thing on the options list, Mclaren Mauvine blue paint. I'm sure Wikileaks can get the paint code :-)
cheers,
Paul and Simon the AM guys did a great job of explaining the new gearbox and the trick electronics it packs. Apart from one fluffed 5th to 4th change, I had no issues with the box at all. At times I was trying to ram it through the gears like I have to do with my own car but the shift is much lighter and doesn't need it. The shift is quite a bit shorter so being accurate is pretty easy.
The rev matching on the way down is great and obviously better than I would ever be able to achieve myself. The flat shift on the way up takes a bit of getting used to, to keep your foot in but it works and seems to work really well. Still not sure I understand the benefit of it though.
If you treat the box like a sequential and don't skip gears to start with, there is no problem with missing gears and I'm pretty certain you would soon build the muscle memory to be doing 5th to 3rd, 6th to 4th, etc with no problem at all. The demo car has got 15k on it now and as you'd expect it still seemed pretty tight to me.
The S engine feels completely different from my current car, smoother revving and the suspension is much better. We had the car in track mode for most of the time and it was still less twitchy than my car. Suspension in track, sport mode on and AMshift on would be my default.
There's a few things in the spec of the cars that bugged me, the carbon bonnet louvres are optional, paying for the aluminium filler cap, a huge chunk, relatively, for the highline console, and a few other things. Mr Palmer, don't put a plastic filler cap on an Aston, we don't want plastic.
All in all though, I was mightily impressed and the china grey and yellow is gorgeous in the flesh. I'd delete the yellow stripe along the side but apart from that it looks spot on.
First thing on the options list, lightweight seats. First time I've driven in them and loved them as soon as I got in. My back is sore now from the two hour drive up the road in the normal seats (but that could also be the crap roads and suspension on my own car). Second thing on the options list, Mclaren Mauvine blue paint. I'm sure Wikileaks can get the paint code :-)
cheers,
matrignano said:
You could go Purple Amethyst as per this superb Q'd V12 Vantage:
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/aston-martin/2015-ast...
That's nice but a bit bright for me. This is my old V8V from when I lived in Doha. With some coloured accents, this would be perfect on the S Manual. Mauvine blue is even darker and nicer IMO. http://www.topspeed.com/cars/aston-martin/2015-ast...
AdamV12V said:
Just back from the test drive and I'm pleased to report that the car is epic!
Roll on end October for the Kermit Green Mean Machine to be born!
(Just in case you have forgotten he is going to look like - here is my best photoshop effort)
Great to hear you enjoyed it as much as I did. All of the incremental improvements add up to a cracking car, the like of which we probably wont see again, sadly. Roll on end October for the Kermit Green Mean Machine to be born!
(Just in case you have forgotten he is going to look like - here is my best photoshop effort)
Edited by AdamV12V on Friday 5th August 13:03
cheers,
I've asked for as late a build date as possible, well into next year. Which is probably just as well as I'm already stressing about paint colours. Your Cinnabar photos got me thinking about orange but think I've discounted it now. Rest of my spec is pretty much sorted except the paint and interior. I have to say your thread on your spec was really useful so thanks for that.
cheers,
cheers,
Absolutely stunning car, congratulations. The anthracite wheels with the green is a great combination.
I'm going for the highline centre console as well, albeit with lightweight seats, which I believe was the combination that some people felt might be awkward. Personally when I sat in the lightweights I didn't think it would be an issue as there's not much throw on the gear lever anyway.
Your comments on the suspension are interesting. Much more poised was probably what I was trying to say but less eloquently! Have you tried it in track yet?
Congrats again!
I'm going for the highline centre console as well, albeit with lightweight seats, which I believe was the combination that some people felt might be awkward. Personally when I sat in the lightweights I didn't think it would be an issue as there's not much throw on the gear lever anyway.
Your comments on the suspension are interesting. Much more poised was probably what I was trying to say but less eloquently! Have you tried it in track yet?
Congrats again!
V8V Pete said:
Chosen the colour yet? 
Yep, I'm 100% sure I'm down to 5 potential colours. 
I've been trying to work out good combinations of colours, like the grey and yellow demo car colour scheme but now i'm thinking so many manufacturers are putting coloured highlights all over their cars maybe I should stick to a plain colour...this is hard work.
12pack said:
incrementally better than the V12V in every way. But with a 6 month wait before the build starts if one ordered now....the whole world could be different by then.
Yup, pretty much how I felt about it as well. Did you get that 6 month figure from the dealer? My spec has to be completed by end of November for a Feb build and end of March delivery.
So far I've only decided on wheels, lightweights and roadster
. On the plus side, I've bought the plate for it! 12pack said:
Yes, that's right. More specifically they said if I was to spec it today, the build would start in March. I'll hang on to the V12V for now while I explore other options if I have the time. Good luck with your new beastie-to-be.
Thanks. That's interesting but I'm in no real rush, the later next year the better tbh. I got the impression that AM would be looking to finish production around April/May. AdamV12V said:
and £1995 for the internal CF door pulls
and £195 for the rear decklid "V12 Vantage S" badge
and £495 for Corsa Tyres (although the std P-Zeros are my preference anyway having driven my V12V on both)
and £695 for the high line console if that's your preference
and £395 for the rear cabin to be in leather, not the now free carpet
and Im sure some of the basic leather/alacantra options are now chargeable that were previously free...
then it would be pretty much the same spec as an old V12V
But other than that.... ;p
All of which I considered to be essentials, and are on the car i'm trading in for it! Frustrating. However, biggest disappointment in the process so far, cant have Union Jack wings. and £195 for the rear decklid "V12 Vantage S" badge
and £495 for Corsa Tyres (although the std P-Zeros are my preference anyway having driven my V12V on both)
and £695 for the high line console if that's your preference
and £395 for the rear cabin to be in leather, not the now free carpet
and Im sure some of the basic leather/alacantra options are now chargeable that were previously free...
then it would be pretty much the same spec as an old V12V
But other than that.... ;p
Jon39 said:
Who thinks the run out special edition Vantage, might have all the 'low rent' items replaced, with the 'real deal' articles within the total price?
Me, and I've added the lot and yes it's frustrating but not enough so to stop me wanting the car. There's a lot of things frustrating about owning an Aston Martin but they're not significant enough to make me want to go and buy a 991 Turbo or an R8 or a...Apologies for bringing this thread back to colours again but I'm looking for some help from the collective.
Has anybody seen Cherry Tree or Scintilla Silver in the flesh? What about Satin Scintilla Silver, seems like there are no photos of this anywhere? Any decent quality photos?
Which of the reds is the most vivid, which is the reddest, the most like Rosso Corsa but metallic?
Does anybody know what colour this is http://www.autogespot.com/aston-martin-v12-vantage...
Ultramarine black looks like it is almost navy in the few photos I can find. I like it but worried it's too blue.
I'd like to use red carbon but there's very few colours it goes with as far as I can tell.
I'm trying to finalise my spec but I'm 4000 miles from the dealer and 1000 miles from the nearest dealer so not easy. Thanks for any help.
cheers,
Has anybody seen Cherry Tree or Scintilla Silver in the flesh? What about Satin Scintilla Silver, seems like there are no photos of this anywhere? Any decent quality photos?
Which of the reds is the most vivid, which is the reddest, the most like Rosso Corsa but metallic?
Does anybody know what colour this is http://www.autogespot.com/aston-martin-v12-vantage...
Ultramarine black looks like it is almost navy in the few photos I can find. I like it but worried it's too blue.
I'd like to use red carbon but there's very few colours it goes with as far as I can tell.
I'm trying to finalise my spec but I'm 4000 miles from the dealer and 1000 miles from the nearest dealer so not easy. Thanks for any help.
cheers,
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