Any Aston Gripes?
Discussion
George H said:
Why? That info isn't really needed for road use, and the dash would look s
te with loads of extra dials.
Just because you think that, doesn't mean it's so....... A lot would depend on whom designs the dash, and what layout they choose, to just say it would look ste with loads of extra dials.te, without giving any thought to how it COULD look, is a very narrow minded comment..Traditionally, the older AM's had a dash full of lovely instruments to look at.... In fact most high end sporty GT type cars had nice instruments, that lead to the overall feel of functionality.... Even my old TVR Griffith had a dash full of clocks, most of which told lies, but non the less, they made the cabin look nice...
One month in with my DB9 and I'd have to agree the messages (ie low washer level) blocking the digital speed display has to be the biggest grip. Never been a fan of digital speedo but it is so clear and well positioned its amazing hope quickly it becomes invaluable. The analogue speedo is pure form over function – looks great but c##p to read. BTW I have a “pogo” fitted so have a backup digital dash – the DB9 digital speedo is very accurate unlike most cars.
I'm guessing Aston could do a software update to have different grades of warnings that the driver could just brush away pressing the button on the stalk. These could then come up again during the next start up system check or by pressing the button again (like the Land Rover systems).
With regards lots of extra information like oil pressure & temperature, on a road car I'm not sure its needed. I have all that and more on a track car and when you are driving hard, its the alarms that get your attention. The individual readings are only interesting once an alarm has gone off.
So 1 month and 2000 miles and all I can suggest is the message centre – just shows what a good car they are........
I'm guessing Aston could do a software update to have different grades of warnings that the driver could just brush away pressing the button on the stalk. These could then come up again during the next start up system check or by pressing the button again (like the Land Rover systems).
With regards lots of extra information like oil pressure & temperature, on a road car I'm not sure its needed. I have all that and more on a track car and when you are driving hard, its the alarms that get your attention. The individual readings are only interesting once an alarm has gone off.
So 1 month and 2000 miles and all I can suggest is the message centre – just shows what a good car they are........
Lunablack said:
Talking of the Aston dash... I'd like it if we had a bit more info via some nice gauges.... Oil pressure, volts, oil temp would be nice
I'd go with that too as a nice to have.Even if they were integrated into the options on one of the LCD displays (eg the one holding the mileage and trip details).
Murph7355 said:
Lunablack said:
Talking of the Aston dash... I'd like it if we had a bit more info via some nice gauges.... Oil pressure, volts, oil temp would be nice
I'd go with that too as a nice to have.Even if they were integrated into the options on one of the LCD displays (eg the one holding the mileage and trip details).
SKeeler said:
One month in with my DB9 and I'd have to agree the messages (ie low washer level) blocking the digital speed display has to be the biggest grip. Never been a fan of digital speedo but it is so clear and well positioned its amazing hope quickly it becomes invaluable. The analogue speedo is pure form over function – looks great but c##p to read. BTW I have a “pogo” fitted so have a backup digital dash – the DB9 digital speedo is very accurate unlike most cars.
I'm guessing Aston could do a software update to have different grades of warnings that the driver could just brush away pressing the button on the stalk. These could then come up again during the next start up system check or by pressing the button again (like the Land Rover systems).
With regards lots of extra information like oil pressure & temperature, on a road car I'm not sure its needed. I have all that and more on a track car and when you are driving hard, its the alarms that get your attention. The individual readings are only interesting once an alarm has gone off.
So 1 month and 2000 miles and all I can suggest is the message centre – just shows what a good car they are........
Agree as well. It would seem to me that it would be relatively easy for Aston to issue a software update that would fix the info center issues. There seems to be an empty line of text under the odometer display. Knocking out the trip odometer rather than the Speedo digital display would give you 2 line of text for alert messages while keeping the Digital speedo. The Analog Speedo is beautiful, but useless. Certain areas where I live will give you a ticket for going 6 miles over the speed limit. It's difficult to determine your vehicle speed when the gauge has 20mph increments.I'm guessing Aston could do a software update to have different grades of warnings that the driver could just brush away pressing the button on the stalk. These could then come up again during the next start up system check or by pressing the button again (like the Land Rover systems).
With regards lots of extra information like oil pressure & temperature, on a road car I'm not sure its needed. I have all that and more on a track car and when you are driving hard, its the alarms that get your attention. The individual readings are only interesting once an alarm has gone off.
So 1 month and 2000 miles and all I can suggest is the message centre – just shows what a good car they are........
While I'm at it, more interior storage in 6speed manual cars would be welcome. Also, most high end cars have better tactile controls. The steering column stalks have already been mentioned. Another would be the glovebox that just klunks open when you press the release rather than smoothly lowering as in other cars.
I also wish the LEDs in the front were much brighter and could be left on as DRLs without turning on any other indicator lights. Sometimes I can't even tell the LEDs are on in daylight because they are so dim.
Finally, things like cruise control, Homelink, and HID headlights should be standard on a car of this caliber.
Oh, and it would be nice if the Vantage had an electric moonroof option. I prefer the shape of the coupe over the roadster, but it would be nice to open the roof and hear the beautiful exhaust on nice days.
Edited by KarlFranz on Thursday 29th December 07:20
Stupid key, one piece sport seat not easy to get comfy, needs to be split so u can adjust back away from wheel when u are comfy on clutch, and no seat heating on sport seat ,arm rest pad is a joke, valve springs snap at 8k rpm, I pod integration very fiddley , small display screen for audio etc , sat nav way behind on technology , wipers should be out of sight not sitting on
window like a ford Capri , keyless entry would be nice and a proper power boot lid . Rear boot very small on roadster , depreciation that makes the eyes water, otherwise I love it
window like a ford Capri , keyless entry would be nice and a proper power boot lid . Rear boot very small on roadster , depreciation that makes the eyes water, otherwise I love it
spice said:
Stupid key, one piece sport seat not easy to get comfy, needs to be split so u can adjust back away from wheel when u are comfy on clutch, and no seat heating on sport seat ,arm rest pad is a joke, valve springs snap at 8k rpm, I pod integration very fiddley , small display screen for audio etc , sat nav way behind on technology , wipers should be out of sight not sitting on
window like a ford Capri , keyless entry would be nice and a proper power boot lid . Rear boot very small on roadster , depreciation that makes the eyes water, otherwise I love it
Are you sure you love it? window like a ford Capri , keyless entry would be nice and a proper power boot lid . Rear boot very small on roadster , depreciation that makes the eyes water, otherwise I love it
spice said:
Stupid key, one piece sport seat not easy to get comfy, needs to be split so u can adjust back away from wheel when u are comfy on clutch, and no seat heating on sport seat ,arm rest pad is a joke, valve springs snap at 8k rpm, I pod integration very fiddley , small display screen for audio etc , sat nav way behind on technology , wipers should be out of sight not sitting on
window like a ford Capri , keyless entry would be nice and a proper power boot lid . Rear boot very small on roadster , depreciation that makes the eyes water, otherwise I love it
Best post of the thread! window like a ford Capri , keyless entry would be nice and a proper power boot lid . Rear boot very small on roadster , depreciation that makes the eyes water, otherwise I love it
The length of the reverse gear.
The illegibility of the speedo - it's beautiful, but utterly useless.
The satnav - improved, but still not great and why can't it integrate with the info centre?
The column stalks - just horrible and such a contrast with teh quality finsih of just about everything else inside the car.
The illegibility of the speedo - it's beautiful, but utterly useless.
The satnav - improved, but still not great and why can't it integrate with the info centre?
The column stalks - just horrible and such a contrast with teh quality finsih of just about everything else inside the car.
bogie said:
yeah, the instrument pack must save a lot of money, as they use the same for all models (it seems) ..well except the Cygnet thing 
its nice having a speedo where 100Mph isnt even 1/2 way around the dial, even though the car "only" does 170mph ish
but they changed it a bit for the V12V - the figures are italic and it's got red and blue marks on the temperature gauge.its nice having a speedo where 100Mph isnt even 1/2 way around the dial, even though the car "only" does 170mph ish
To be fair to Aston Martin, they have addressed some of these gripes, haven't they?
- Roof aerial - disappeared from about 2008 onwards?
- Sat Nav - now a Garmin unit, and by all accounts miles better than the old one
- Sat Nav screen shows current speed (not really a substitute for the range indicator knocking out the digital speedo, but it's another alternative; also turns red when exceeding speed limit)
- Storage space improved after 2008
- HID headlamps are now standard (though not cruise control or Homelink, though I don't know what that is)
- Windscreen wipers are much more sleek on new models
- Roof aerial - disappeared from about 2008 onwards?
- Sat Nav - now a Garmin unit, and by all accounts miles better than the old one
- Sat Nav screen shows current speed (not really a substitute for the range indicator knocking out the digital speedo, but it's another alternative; also turns red when exceeding speed limit)
- Storage space improved after 2008
- HID headlamps are now standard (though not cruise control or Homelink, though I don't know what that is)
- Windscreen wipers are much more sleek on new models
cellardoor said:
...
- Windscreen wipers are much more sleek on new models
Offset by the elephantine wing mirrors - Windscreen wipers are much more sleek on new models
Zod said:
but they changed it a bit for the V12V - the figures are italic and it's got red and blue marks on the temperature gauge.
Isn't the 80's Nissan font and crayola colouration on all the later cars with the new type dash? Made me shudder looking at it.Wipers are easy 2&6 (IIRC) then switch the ignition on MY12 wipers sit below the bonnet now
New Garmin Sat Nav is loads better than any update on the Volvo one
Steering rack is quicker on the S but a good geometry set up helps the Vantage's
Paddy - no sanding marks in my last two including the MY12 car, though wet sanding clean up could be better
The speedo over ride is annoying but I think they have reduce it on the MY12 cars and it is easy to rest with the read button and always comes up on my two 4.7's
Bogie - that lip is cheap as chips and easy to replace, it was designed like that to protect the bumper, 911 GT3's are the same.
Spice - light weight seats wouldn't be light weight if they split them in two they are derived from Recaro race seats
Roadster storage space is better than the SL, 997 and Gallardo cabs
Reverse in the S is ALOT better no more wincing up hill
I would like to see oil temp (so I know it's time to get "on it") and voltage (so I can see if the electronics have killed the battery ) But not at the cost of a trip meter I use that to trigger a fuel stop before the light comes on and switches the display
Forget the gripes get out and drive it
New Garmin Sat Nav is loads better than any update on the Volvo one
Steering rack is quicker on the S but a good geometry set up helps the Vantage's
Paddy - no sanding marks in my last two including the MY12 car, though wet sanding clean up could be better
The speedo over ride is annoying but I think they have reduce it on the MY12 cars and it is easy to rest with the read button and always comes up on my two 4.7's
Bogie - that lip is cheap as chips and easy to replace, it was designed like that to protect the bumper, 911 GT3's are the same.
Spice - light weight seats wouldn't be light weight if they split them in two they are derived from Recaro race seats
Roadster storage space is better than the SL, 997 and Gallardo cabs
Reverse in the S is ALOT better no more wincing up hill
I would like to see oil temp (so I know it's time to get "on it") and voltage (so I can see if the electronics have killed the battery
) But not at the cost of a trip meter I use that to trigger a fuel stop before the light comes on and switches the display Forget the gripes get out and drive it
spice said:
Mickey like all your comments and most of the gripes are minor , still can't see why the seat can't split all my Ferrari carbon seats split and would only add a few Kilo , the Vantage is hardly lightweight anyway especially when i get in after all I've eaten and drunk over Xmas
In true Aston style they have reworked an existing piece of kit. IIRC it is based on the Recaro SPA CF race seat. They will say it is for maximum weight reduction Porsche used the same seat in the 996 GT3's but moved to a Recaro two piece in the 997
Ferarri make their own AFAIK.
Forgot to mention there are lumber adjusters in the AM light weight seats, peel the cushion back and reposition them.
BTW I'm working on a retrofit heating kit for them
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