New Vantage Model
Discussion
Just driven a Roadster S!!
Bloody hell - WANT!
OK, so I've got a 4.3 manual, and never driven any car with a flappy paddle, but the gearbox on the S is fantastic. The engine's not bad either
. Got a lot more torque than the 4.3 and in Sport mode it takes off like a scalded rabbit. Unlike some I don't have a problem with the throttle response on my 4.3, however, put the S in Sport mode (sharper throttle response, exhaust valves open) and it just revs - find yourself quickly having to grab another gear (for Mikey K - like an S2000 about 6000rpm - but throughout the rev range on the Aston)
Gearbox is brilliant in Auto mode around town, actually operates like an auto. Unless you have it in Sport and Auto mode and stamp on the accelerator - best not to do it with anything in front of you - was cruising in 6th (Auto had put it there) at ~40mph, hard on the accelerator, and it immediately went down 3 gears and shot off bloody quickly.
In manual mode even in a 30 minute test drive I could get it changing quiet smoothly – no need to come off the throttle on an up change – although does help at very high revs. On downshifts it blips the throttle – not sure if I would ever get bored of hearing it do that in Sport mode.
Not only has the gearbox got 7 gears, its significantly lighter than the previous model – something in the region of 15kgs. Tyres are wider front and back. Traction control now has 3 modes- On / Off / Track – didn’t try it though.
Interior now has some extra stitching on the door cards and coming up around the dash from the footwells. Looks like 3 elongated S shapes close together – sounds horrible but looks really good.
I see it as a development of the 4.7, so yes think Vantage S is a good name for it. Not 100% convinced by the side sills etc - think the original shape doesn't need any additional body addons.
Bloody hell - WANT!
OK, so I've got a 4.3 manual, and never driven any car with a flappy paddle, but the gearbox on the S is fantastic. The engine's not bad either
. Got a lot more torque than the 4.3 and in Sport mode it takes off like a scalded rabbit. Unlike some I don't have a problem with the throttle response on my 4.3, however, put the S in Sport mode (sharper throttle response, exhaust valves open) and it just revs - find yourself quickly having to grab another gear (for Mikey K - like an S2000 about 6000rpm - but throughout the rev range on the Aston)Gearbox is brilliant in Auto mode around town, actually operates like an auto. Unless you have it in Sport and Auto mode and stamp on the accelerator - best not to do it with anything in front of you - was cruising in 6th (Auto had put it there) at ~40mph, hard on the accelerator, and it immediately went down 3 gears and shot off bloody quickly.
In manual mode even in a 30 minute test drive I could get it changing quiet smoothly – no need to come off the throttle on an up change – although does help at very high revs. On downshifts it blips the throttle – not sure if I would ever get bored of hearing it do that in Sport mode.
Not only has the gearbox got 7 gears, its significantly lighter than the previous model – something in the region of 15kgs. Tyres are wider front and back. Traction control now has 3 modes- On / Off / Track – didn’t try it though.
Interior now has some extra stitching on the door cards and coming up around the dash from the footwells. Looks like 3 elongated S shapes close together – sounds horrible but looks really good.
I see it as a development of the 4.7, so yes think Vantage S is a good name for it. Not 100% convinced by the side sills etc - think the original shape doesn't need any additional body addons.
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