Aston Martin Vanquish manual: Driven
What is a Vanquish really like with three pedals and a stick rather than paddles? PH finds out
That's more like it, don't you think?
They didn't, because of the desire to give the Vanquish a technological-leader image. The 21st century Bond doesn't shift a gearlever, he uses paddles - and back in 2001, paddleshifters were still a little bit space age. Every single one of the 2,500 Vanquish and Vanquish S built between 2001 and 2007 was thus duly equipped.
A lesson in avoidance
Sadly, as we know, the shifts themselves weren't so space age. They were smooth enough and downshift blips were amusing but, even then, they seemed laggy. Today, it's like switching back to a Windows 95 PC. That's the thing when electronics form a major part of a car - electronics evolve, and so too do our expectations.
Development car now running S spec
In theory, then, this manual V12 Vanquish should be rather nice. Particularly as those fearing a bit of a lash up will be amazed at how factory-fit it all seems. The gearknob, donated by a V8 Vantage, looks like it was born to be there, and the position of the lever is ergonomically perfect (anyone remember the awkward canting over of the Reliant Scimitar SS1..?). If you didn't know the Vanquish never came as a manual, you'd think there was nothing extraordinary here. Goodness, there's even just enough space for the clutch, meaning no original 911-like feelings of pressing down into the passenger footwell.
As if it would be a lash up, though: this is the work of, well, Aston Martin Works, the crack development department based at the firm's spiritual HQ in Newport Pagnell. They've neatly used the central ashtray to house the lever (for the Vanquish S, it became a cupholder) and because Aston covers it all in leather matching the rest of the interior, the slight remodelling required to ensure the lever has full fore and aft travel without your fist smashing into the centre console is completely hidden. The steering wheel cowl hasn't been forgotten either (the paddles are removed, not left redundant...).
Now control your own heel 'n' toe!
But for all this, you'll still pause as you start up. For a decade, this has been a paddleshift car. How do you drive a manual Vanquish? As it turns out, because of the quality of the shift, just like a normal manual (a light and crisp one at that). It snicks into first cleanly, the meaty clutch is not the feared brutal switch as you let it out and, well, everything gels nicely from the off. The only surprise is shifting from second to third, and later from third to fifth: it has an extremely narrow gate that requires a delicate hand. Mindful of expensive V12-munching downshifts, maybe Aston should revive that Vanquish driver training with a revised gearbox training module...
It soon starts to flow, so the rest of the revived Vanquish can be explored. The other surprise? How it still stands scrutiny. It feels like a classic front-engined V12 coupe, with all the handling confidence you'd hope for (the fact this original development hack was converted for Vanquish S trials helps - and explains why Y-plate registration doesn't match S-spec grille, front splitter and rear spoiler). Drive normally and it's nice and neutral, press on and it becomes satisfyingly rear-influenced, with the predictability and directness of the gearshift giving you further confidence (rather like as Dan discovered recently with the difference between manual and DCT BMW M3). It maybe even lets you drive that bit quicker, because you feel more keyed into the car beneath you - and on twisty British roads, complete predictability is what you need when piloting a sports car that's more than 1.9 metres wide. An intelligent nicely damped ride is too; you sense the magic of Lotus.
Still pretty fabulous to drive as well
It's a super conversion, that makes the Vanquish the car it perhaps ought to have been back when manual gearboxes really were in vogue. This, and the allure of the Aston Martin Works stamps and stickers, is why so many (we're talking hundreds rather than handfuls) are now having it done, despite the upwards-of-£15,000 cost (most have a few other Works tweaks while there - modern-grade touchscreen sat nav being a favourite). Vanquish manual? Thanks to Works, we know it works.
ASTON MARTIN V12 VANQUISH S MANUAL
Engine: 5,935cc V12
Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 520@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 425@5,800rpm
0-62mph: 4.8 seconds (est)
Top speed: 200mph +
Kerbweight: 1,875kg (est)
MPG: 16.9 NEDC combined (est)
CO2: 396g/km (est)
Price: Used Vanquish + c.£15,000
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I remember TG doing a review against the Ferrari with Damon Hill and have wanted one ever since! Manual conversion would be perfect. How much are these these days? *walks off to the classifieds*
I do like the idea of the manual conversion though, and a few weeks ago contacted Aston Works to enquire on the cost. Here, Pistonheads is slightly out of date, as the cost is just over 16k plus VAT!
British racing green Vanquish S with manual conversion - Aston Martin perfectionThe Vanquish/S (2001-2007) is to me the best modern Aston Martin.
It is the last hand-built Aston at Newport Pagnell factory, only 2578 ever made (1086 of them were Vanquish S with 520 bhp).
For sure the best sounding Aston ever. I guess the paddle shift suits the car well, but with a real manual gearbox, it should be memorable.
STUNNING car. So much charisma, so raw. The best would be a Vanquish S of 2006-2007 with the DB9-inspired dashboard (big navigation screen and overall more modern appearance).
Aston Martin's reason for not offering a manual gearbox was that it would involved cutting through the much publicised carbon fibre tub. Whether it was rigidity, safety, or whatever, it seems customer pressure or the lure of £15k+ was too much to resist.
A few years prior to the Vanquish S, we had a DB7 V12 Vantage with a (fairly rare) manual and it was great, but a test drive in another suggested the gearboxes could be hit and miss.
Otherwise, the car is automotive art and i imagine will be big money in the future, thanks to it's sheer presence (current Vanquish is pathetic in comparison) and the roots to Aston's labour-intensive tradition which is obviously lost somewhat today. To be fair, looking in the classifieds there are one's at decent money considering a couple of Ultimate editions sold for £200k last year.
I'd like to learn more about the upgraded touchscreen nav. I enquired with Works Service about fitting the facelift dash, but they said they don't offer it as it would be so ridiculously expensive.
Anyway, great write up and again, EXACTLY the sort of thing PH is good at.
Concerning the gearbox, I know a 2002 Vanquish owner who bought it new and didn't have a single problem with the gearbox.
The only thing to note is that the original Vanquish clutch would run 20 000 miles maximum but since 2004, when replacing the clutch, Aston puts the S clutch which is more resistant.
My friend has done over 30 000 miles with the S clutch and it doesn't show any kind of wear, still perfect.
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