V8 Roadster

[stevemtaylor]

Hi,

I'm thinking about buying a V8 roadster within the next couple of months and have a few questions I hope some of you may to able to help me with. I haven't owned or driven a manual car for some time now so perhaps the sport shift is the best option for me but from what I've read the manual is the preferred gearbox any thoughts on this would be helpful.

Steve

[Laser Sag]

Sportshift is a bit of a marmite subject, some love it some hate it. There are different versions of the system which will be dependent on the model year you would be looking at, Grant's book at the top of this forum would help you with what is available and from when.
I have the original sportshift box and to date have found that so long as you do the clutch learn at each start up, only takes a few seconds each time, and give the throttle a slight lift on up shifts then it is very good for an automated manual.
If you are looking for auto or DSG style gear changes then you will be dissapointed'
Best bet is to go out and drive a few and you will soon make up your own mind, don't drive it in the auto mode though or you almost certainly won't like it.

[bentley01]

It was only a manual that I wanted and I love it. Everyone is different but I do know of people who have sold their car because they didn't like the sportshift gearbox. Less manual gearboxes around though which makes the search a little harder.

[mikey k]

Laser Sag said:

Sportshift is a bit of a marmite subject, some love it some hate it. There are different versions of the system which will be dependent on the model year you would be looking at, Grant's book at the top of this forum would help you with what is available and from when.
I have the original sportshift box and to date have found that so long as you do the clutch learn at each start up, only takes a few seconds each time, and give the throttle a slight lift on up shifts then it is very good for an automated manual.
If you are looking for auto or DSG style gear changes then you will be dissapointed'
Best bet is to go out and drive a few and you will soon make up your own mind, don't drive it in the auto mode though or you almost certainly won't like it.

to all that
Also ask your self where and how you are going to use it, Sport Shift can be VERY marmite around town

[Laser Sag]

bentley01 said:

It was only a manual that I wanted and I love it. Everyone is different but I do know of people who have sold their car because they didn't like the sportshift gearbox. Less manual gearboxes around though which makes the search a little harder.

I am surprised that anyone who has taken a sportshift box out for a decent test drive would then decide after purchase that they didn't like it. It doesn't get any better or worse with use it just is the way it is.
Can appreciate that the short initial test drive some dealers offer wouldn't be a fair evaluation but I for one wouldn't buy any car without taking it on an extended test drive and especially so if I am spending Aston type money.
A good test over the various roads you normally drive will soon tell you if like the sportshift or any other aspect of the car for that matter.

Whichever gearbox the OP goes for I am sure he will be very happy, they are lovely cars full stop.

[X7LDA]

Had both - prefer the SS. From experience the people that don't like it haven't experienced it properly. I think it's great around town and much better on a fast drive. My manual coupe would always jam in 1st and 2nd.

[bentley01]

[quote=Laser Sag]

I am surprised that anyone who has taken a sportshift box out for a decent test drive would then decide after purchase that they didn't like it. It doesn't get any better or worse with use it just is the way it is.
Can appreciate that the short initial test drive some dealers offer wouldn't be a fair evaluation but I for one wouldn't buy any car without taking it on an extended test drive and especially so if I am spending Aston type money.
A good test over the various roads you normally drive will soon tell you if like the sportshift or any other aspect of the car for that matter.

Whichever gearbox the OP goes for I am sure he will be very happy, they are lovely cars full stop.[/quote

I guess your test drive needs to be the same type of driving that will be your everyday use. When I was looking for my car a forum member told me he had changed his 2009 Vantage for a later car mainly because he didn't like the gearbox around London.

[Laser Sag]

bentley01]aser Sag said:

I am surprised that anyone who has taken a sportshift box out for a decent test drive would then decide after purchase that they didn't like it. It doesn't get any better or worse with use it just is the way it is.
Can appreciate that the short initial test drive some dealers offer wouldn't be a fair evaluation but I for one wouldn't buy any car without taking it on an extended test drive and especially so if I am spending Aston type money.
A good test over the various roads you normally drive will soon tell you if like the sportshift or any other aspect of the car for that matter.

Whichever gearbox the OP goes for I am sure he will be very happy, they are lovely cars full stop.[/quote

I guess your test drive needs to be the same type of driving that will be your everyday use. When I was looking for my car a forum member told me he had changed his 2009 Vantage for a later car mainly because he didn't like the gearbox around London.

Hi Darren

I think that is the main point, the test drive needs to be long enough and cover the type of driving you would be doing, if not it would be easy to get it wrong.
I was lucky and managed to borrow a demonstrator for a day and a bit and was able to use it on all types of driving I would normally do. It was enough to convince me that I would be happy with the sportshift box.

[JohnG123]

Loved my 2008 V8V Roadster Sportshift.

Did 15000 miles over 4 years never ever drove it in D always used the paddles.


Just traded it in with Graypaul Ferrari in Birmingham it's the glacial blue one.

[stevemtaylor]

Thank you one and all for the replies, the reason I'm asking and not out there test driving is my nearest dealer is a 4 hour round trip from me plus I do not want a left hand drive car so I intend to buy in England drive it back and reregister it here in France.

[Laser Sag]

stevemtaylor said:

Thank you one and all for the replies, the reason I'm asking and not out there test driving is my nearest dealer is a 4 hour round trip from me plus I do not want a left hand drive car so I intend to buy in England drive it back and reregister it here in France.

Long round trip i know but I would still try to get a drive in a few different versions, i was amazed how much difference there was between cars with the same gearbox. If I had only driven the first sportshift I tried I would never have gone on to buy one as it was awful.

[Phil74891]

I test drove a 4.7V8V manual, a 4.7V8S with SSII, and a V12V manual in that order on the same day earlier this year.

As you would imagine, each was a step up on the previous. In the end the V8S with SSII did it for me. Didn't touch the auto button and the SSII was fine in traffic, and brilliant when pushing it.

I'm 5ft 8" and I just didn't feel comfortable with the manual gear stick position with the seat adjusted to suit me.

I went for the V8S in the end due to the available deal, the way it felt so well balanced, plus I found the SSII was a lot of fun to drive. Most of my driving will be on the open road, so no city driving issues. All personal choice.......

Incidentally, I wonder if anyone's ever measured gear change times between SSI/II/III and Manual?

Also, Could you re-map an SSII to an SSIII? Not looked into this - just thought of it.

My biggest pain is that I'm still working abroad so won't get the car til Q1 2014. Ah well, getting closer.....

[J12MOC]

Good advice there from everyone. It's completely personal...I had a manual V8 for a year and a bit then traded up to an SP10 which is another manual. I drove a SS both around town and on winding roads. It's very good when you wind it up, but I didn't like it in town, especially manoeuvring into parking spaces. I prefer a gear lever...it just feels right!

[mikey k]

Phil74891 said:

Could you re-map an SSII to an SSIII? Not looked into this - just thought of it.

Whilst you may be able to flash an update of the software to ASM3 there are a couple of mechanical which make a difference
ASM3 recovers the air/oil radiator ASM2 lost
It has different ratios designed to give the V12VS some of it performance "enhancements"

[SS972]

Hi Steve,
I see you are in France near Cognac,you could join our french club/forum http://aston-passion.com/phpBB3/index.php,we even have another Brit expat in Bordeau not far from you with a 4.7 roadster.We organisde regular outings.

Seb

[stevemtaylor]

I'm back in the UK at the end of December for 6 weeks with plenty of time available for test drives and will hopefully be returning in my long awaited dream Aston…
My budget should get me a good low milage 4.3 car, the N400 and 4.7 are out of my reach.

[hanny1973]

I've had a Sports shift roadster since July. It took me a while to get used to but as the previous post has said as long as you lift the pedal at each gear change it's fine. If you're after a true automatic you're looking at the wrong car.

Happy hunting...