What´s your experience of V8 Vantage S as a trackday car?
Discussion
I live in Germany and bought my first Aston in September 2012. A V8 Vantage S. Have been driving AMG's for many years but problem with overheating engine and engine failure I decided to go for an Aston. Why? I use my cars only to drive on trackdays on Nordschleife/Nurburgring. Aston has a great racing heritage and the management is race fans.
POSITIVE THINGS
- The building quality is much better than any other German carmaker.
- The gearbox Grazziano 2 is a true racingearbox. It,s is excellent fast.
- The handling is outstanding
- The engine is working perfectly, no cooling issues
The car have now 45.000km and 35.000km on Nordschleife/Nurburgring. That's about 1.600 laps in 2,5 years.
MINOR ISSUES
- A sensor in the gearbox was broken
- A parking sensor failure
UPPGRADES
- Tyres, Micheln PS2 Cup. Front 265. Back 305
- Suspension. Bilstein MDS GT4
- Aerodynamic package, spitters front, wing back
Aston have got some criticism that the cars is old school. but what is wrong whit that? Old school works and that what matters.
And what,s your experience? Sorry if my English is not perfect
POSITIVE THINGS
- The building quality is much better than any other German carmaker.
- The gearbox Grazziano 2 is a true racingearbox. It,s is excellent fast.
- The handling is outstanding
- The engine is working perfectly, no cooling issues
The car have now 45.000km and 35.000km on Nordschleife/Nurburgring. That's about 1.600 laps in 2,5 years.
MINOR ISSUES
- A sensor in the gearbox was broken
- A parking sensor failure
UPPGRADES
- Tyres, Micheln PS2 Cup. Front 265. Back 305
- Suspension. Bilstein MDS GT4
- Aerodynamic package, spitters front, wing back
Aston have got some criticism that the cars is old school. but what is wrong whit that? Old school works and that what matters.
And what,s your experience? Sorry if my English is not perfect
Sounds interesting, I would have thought standard car is way too heavy as a regular trackday tool. However, you have clearly put that argument to bed given the considerable Kms of track you have covered, at a pretty unforgiving location!
We need photos!
We need photos!
Edited by Omaruk on Saturday 6th September 21:07
Edited by Omaruk on Saturday 6th September 21:08
Thanks for the post and sharing the success of your track endurance in your V8Vs, what does you car look like with the rear spoiler? Photos please... Have you stripped out any weight from the car?
Was there any reason you did not buy a GT4, this would have been the same price and faster?
I highly recommend you change your exhaust downpipes, 200 cell cats etc. Maybe you have done this already? I have done this on my car, unrecognisable performance change.
Was there any reason you did not buy a GT4, this would have been the same price and faster?
I highly recommend you change your exhaust downpipes, 200 cell cats etc. Maybe you have done this already? I have done this on my car, unrecognisable performance change.
W1111AM said:
Thanks for the post and sharing the success of your track endurance in your V8Vs, what does you car look like with the rear spoiler? Photos please... Have you stripped out any weight from the car?
Was there any reason you did not buy a GT4, this would have been the same price and faster?
I highly recommend you change your exhaust downpipes, 200 cell cats etc. Maybe you have done this already? I have done this on my car, unrecognisable performance change.
Was there any reason you did not buy a GT4, this would have been the same price and faster?
I highly recommend you change your exhaust downpipes, 200 cell cats etc. Maybe you have done this already? I have done this on my car, unrecognisable performance change.
This is how the car looks.
GT4
- GT4, it,s not road legal in Germany. You need a road legal car to participate in track days.
CLUTCH
- Not a big issue, have changed it 1 time.
TYRES
- Has be to be replaced 3-4 times per year. Go for wider tyres in the front 265 and 305 in the rear. The grip is outstanding. Michelin PS 2 Cup
BRAKES
- Pads
I recommend Endless long distance brake pads or Dixcel endurance racing pads. You will save money.
- Discs
The original discs are excellent, no need to upgrade
THE WEIGTH
- The weight of the car is not a problem
SUSPENSION
- It,s too soft in the front. Bilstein MDS GT4 is a better option
GEARBOX - GRAZIANO SPORTSHIFT 2
- It,s a great gearbox on the track. No issues
It's great car,………...
thom1010 said:
W1111AM said:
Thanks for the post and sharing the success of your track endurance in your V8Vs, what does you car look like with the rear spoiler? Photos please... Have you stripped out any weight from the car?
Was there any reason you did not buy a GT4, this would have been the same price and faster?
I highly recommend you change your exhaust downpipes, 200 cell cats etc. Maybe you have done this already? I have done this on my car, unrecognisable performance change.
Was there any reason you did not buy a GT4, this would have been the same price and faster?
I highly recommend you change your exhaust downpipes, 200 cell cats etc. Maybe you have done this already? I have done this on my car, unrecognisable performance change.
This is how the car looks.
GT4
- GT4, it,s not road legal in Germany. You need a road legal car to participate in track days.
CLUTCH
- Not a big issue, have changed it 1 time.
TYRES
- Has be to be replaced 3-4 times per year. Go for wider tyres in the front 265 and 305 in the rear. The grip is outstanding. Michelin PS 2 Cup
BRAKES
- Pads
I recommend Endless long distance brake pads or Dixcel endurance racing pads. You will save money.
- Discs
The original discs are excellent, no need to upgrade
THE WEIGTH
- The weight of the car is not a problem
SUSPENSION
- It,s too soft in the front. Bilstein MDS GT4 is a better option
GEARBOX - GRAZIANO SPORTSHIFT 2
- It,s a great gearbox on the track. No issues
It's great car,………...
The rear spoiler is a game changer, completely transforms the road look. I think on your black car it looks menacing and appropriate for a track car. Functionally - what is the experience on down-force - do you notice it? i don't think you physically need it do you?
Drove my car round Spa on the 16th Sept, simply epic day, still living the dream
Great info and fab looking car
For all the TG jokes etc, we should remember that AML have a facility at the Nurburgring and the cars are tested extensively there. They are more than capable of standing up to track day use.
On some Aston models, some consumables will add up to considerable cost if the cars are tracked regularly and cosmetically, they are such beautiful cars inside & out, they will show wear & tear worse than many other cars but mechanically, there are no issues at all and they are very satisfying cars to spend time on track with
For all the TG jokes etc, we should remember that AML have a facility at the Nurburgring and the cars are tested extensively there. They are more than capable of standing up to track day use.
On some Aston models, some consumables will add up to considerable cost if the cars are tracked regularly and cosmetically, they are such beautiful cars inside & out, they will show wear & tear worse than many other cars but mechanically, there are no issues at all and they are very satisfying cars to spend time on track with
Well done, 2.5k laps is impressive. I'd love to know how the brakes fare, I understand that is the weak part of the "road" package and they ideally need a LOT more cooling. IIRC the GT4 version radically altered the cooling*. I do agree on the damping, did need sorting - nodding all over the place.
Disclaimer: I might be talking massive bks,
Disclaimer: I might be talking massive bks,
MrOrange said:
IIRC the GT4 version radically altered the cooling*.
Disclaimer: I might be talking massive bks,
You're not: Disclaimer: I might be talking massive bks,
"Brakes
• Four-piston monoblock calipers fitted with high-performance Pagid RS 29 race pads
• Uprated two-piece front brake discs
• Twin front brake cooling ducts "
...from http://www.astonmartin.com/en/racing/race-cars/van...
I have a 2007 V8V 4.3L manual and I track my car a lot. I've even got 4 track days in a row in November.
I put together a beginner's guide to track days, covers the basics as well as some info about Astons in particular:
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/aston-martin/34...
I put together a beginner's guide to track days, covers the basics as well as some info about Astons in particular:
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/aston-martin/34...
thom1010 said:
UPPGRADES
- Tyres, Micheln PS2 Cup. Front 265. Back 305
- Suspension. Bilstein MDS GT4
- Aerodynamic package, spitters front, wing back
Is the aerodynamic package straight from the actual GT4? Love the look of it!- Tyres, Micheln PS2 Cup. Front 265. Back 305
- Suspension. Bilstein MDS GT4
- Aerodynamic package, spitters front, wing back
Edited by telum01 on Wednesday 1st October 20:16
Great postt. And I agree with you. The Vantage is I think much underrated by most people as a competitive car. Having just spent 2500 miles in the alps with a collection of Ferrari 458's, Porsche GT3's and BMW M3's we were never embarrassed in any way!! OK on the track with professional drivers things may be different, but that is an extreme few of us will encounter. I'm really happy with my SP10 and quite happy to 'mix it' with anything else on the road within reason.
Nice line there William!
Nice line there William!
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