Vantage V8 roadster questions
Discussion
Hiya
I have now taken delivery of my new baby Aston - named Jess after her previous owners niece apparently...
Anyway. I have noticed a few things.
1. It's an S.O.B to park when the engine / gearbox is gold - mine is a speed shift and it sort of lurches about it hops and stops and parking speeds - is this SOP?
2. I'm not over joyed with some of the handling of the car - I'm sure there is a great car in their somewhere but It needs sorting and will be sorted very soon.
3. Does the roadster have a different front ARB than the coupe?
4. Tyres - I'm not impressed with the Bridgestones - i had the Porsche equivalent on my 996 Turbo. I found them noisy with a vague feeling on the limit unless you really lean on them in high speed corners. What's the PZ Corsa like on the Roaster or does any one use Mich Cups?
5. The surface coasting is flaking off the wing mirror stalks which is annoying - I was going to pay a little visit to Grange Motors and see if they will sort it out under the corrosion warranty (it's a full Aston history car)
6. What's the anti brake squeal mod ?
Tx
I have now taken delivery of my new baby Aston - named Jess after her previous owners niece apparently...
Anyway. I have noticed a few things.
1. It's an S.O.B to park when the engine / gearbox is gold - mine is a speed shift and it sort of lurches about it hops and stops and parking speeds - is this SOP?
2. I'm not over joyed with some of the handling of the car - I'm sure there is a great car in their somewhere but It needs sorting and will be sorted very soon.
3. Does the roadster have a different front ARB than the coupe?
4. Tyres - I'm not impressed with the Bridgestones - i had the Porsche equivalent on my 996 Turbo. I found them noisy with a vague feeling on the limit unless you really lean on them in high speed corners. What's the PZ Corsa like on the Roaster or does any one use Mich Cups?
5. The surface coasting is flaking off the wing mirror stalks which is annoying - I was going to pay a little visit to Grange Motors and see if they will sort it out under the corrosion warranty (it's a full Aston history car)
6. What's the anti brake squeal mod ?
Tx
Alexe911 said:
Hiya
I have now taken delivery of my new baby Aston - named Jess after her previous owners niece apparently...
Anyway. I have noticed a few things.
1. It's an S.O.B to park when the engine / gearbox is gold - mine is a speed shift and it sort of lurches about it hops and stops and parking speeds - is this SOP?
2. I'm not over joyed with some of the handling of the car - I'm sure there is a great car in their somewhere but It needs sorting and will be sorted very soon.
3. Does the roadster have a different front ARB than the coupe?
4. Tyres - I'm not impressed with the Bridgestones - i had the Porsche equivalent on my 996 Turbo. I found them noisy with a vague feeling on the limit unless you really lean on them in high speed corners. What's the PZ Corsa like on the Roaster or does any one use Mich Cups?
5. The surface coasting is flaking off the wing mirror stalks which is annoying - I was going to pay a little visit to Grange Motors and see if they will sort it out under the corrosion warranty (it's a full Aston history car)
6. What's the anti brake squeal mod ?
Tx
The gear box is not easy to get on with at first and try to avoid reversing if you can.I have now taken delivery of my new baby Aston - named Jess after her previous owners niece apparently...
Anyway. I have noticed a few things.
1. It's an S.O.B to park when the engine / gearbox is gold - mine is a speed shift and it sort of lurches about it hops and stops and parking speeds - is this SOP?
2. I'm not over joyed with some of the handling of the car - I'm sure there is a great car in their somewhere but It needs sorting and will be sorted very soon.
3. Does the roadster have a different front ARB than the coupe?
4. Tyres - I'm not impressed with the Bridgestones - i had the Porsche equivalent on my 996 Turbo. I found them noisy with a vague feeling on the limit unless you really lean on them in high speed corners. What's the PZ Corsa like on the Roaster or does any one use Mich Cups?
5. The surface coasting is flaking off the wing mirror stalks which is annoying - I was going to pay a little visit to Grange Motors and see if they will sort it out under the corrosion warranty (it's a full Aston history car)
6. What's the anti brake squeal mod ?
Tx
I had no issues with the handling on mine maybe you should of bought the sports pack.
I'm not aware of different ARBs the shell is stiffer than a coupe.
You could try other tyres at. £350 a corner but these tyres were developed for this car oh take the weight in cornering, seem fine for most owners.
The paint issue is a known problem with AM they may contribute with the costs . Good luck with that one.
Some owners have taken the cars back to dealers for shims. But if you brake hard now and then it clears it.
Alexe911 said:
1. It's an S.O.B to park when the engine / gearbox is gold - mine is a speed shift and it sort of lurches about it hops and stops and parking speeds
My 07 V8V was the same at first - the FAQ above recommends 'clutch learn' - now I do this every time I start it and it's fine. Just keep your foot on the brake after starting (without aircon) until you hear a mild click from underneath -some people say do it a few times in a row every so often but I haven't needed to.Hope that helps you too.
Does the clutch 'learn' work in reverse as well or just in 'D'
BTW I actually like the sports shift. I compare the vantage well with the Maserati Gransport (a car that i came close to buying a couple of times) and I think the sport shift is probably better than the Cambiocorsa.
Talking of sport shift, is there a software update available do you know? i have gotten the hang of lifting off while in the middle of the shift but it could be better. i guess the ECU should cut the spark to make the shift a bit smoother but it just takes some getting used to.
It's strange coming from the more exotic Porsche 911 which are all just 'turn up a drive' cars and do not require specialist skills unless you are getting to 7/10 + of the driving envelope (so near the sticky bit that licks you). The Aston Vantage is really an event to drive and I prefer it to the 08 DB9 which I couldn't bond with (Harwoods let me have a long test drive, which was nice of them). I still have crush on the DBS though.
The corrosion really is shocking on such a young car. The coating is coming off the circular bits covering the wiper bosses as well as the mirror stalks (the wiper arms are going too) and there is minor paint bubbling on one side where the roof cover meets the rear wing. i'd love to show Grange my 57 plate A8 - which gets treated like a tractor and still looks incredible (and had done enormous mileage)
BTW I actually like the sports shift. I compare the vantage well with the Maserati Gransport (a car that i came close to buying a couple of times) and I think the sport shift is probably better than the Cambiocorsa.
Talking of sport shift, is there a software update available do you know? i have gotten the hang of lifting off while in the middle of the shift but it could be better. i guess the ECU should cut the spark to make the shift a bit smoother but it just takes some getting used to.
It's strange coming from the more exotic Porsche 911 which are all just 'turn up a drive' cars and do not require specialist skills unless you are getting to 7/10 + of the driving envelope (so near the sticky bit that licks you). The Aston Vantage is really an event to drive and I prefer it to the 08 DB9 which I couldn't bond with (Harwoods let me have a long test drive, which was nice of them). I still have crush on the DBS though.
The corrosion really is shocking on such a young car. The coating is coming off the circular bits covering the wiper bosses as well as the mirror stalks (the wiper arms are going too) and there is minor paint bubbling on one side where the roof cover meets the rear wing. i'd love to show Grange my 57 plate A8 - which gets treated like a tractor and still looks incredible (and had done enormous mileage)
Yes it helps in R - I've had my car a couple of months and finally got the hang of smooth reversing up hill but it's a known issue - you'll smell barbecue smells in reverse I'm afraid - I'm considering an updated clutch/flywheel which will solve this and the 'nodding dog' gear change - though you also get used to that - and the skill of smooth changing gets to be a source of pride rather than irritation!
I had similar qualms on first getting my car - some things I'm fixing and some I'm learning to live with. Like most on this forum I have fallen in love with the car/brand and decided to forgive it's 'personality' !
I had similar qualms on first getting my car - some things I'm fixing and some I'm learning to live with. Like most on this forum I have fallen in love with the car/brand and decided to forgive it's 'personality' !
Welcome to the world of aston Martin eh!!!! I've found mine a little quirky but actually that kinda makes it more endearing as you get to work with the quirks. Mine has same corrosion around the mirror stalks on an 08 V8R, which isn't acceptable for sure but seems common problem.....ditto the "do a clutch learn" to stop the jerking....shouldn't have too, but it does make you one of the Aston gang. Having had a few porkers in my time and this only my 2nd aston, I can say that porkers are great to drive but for me soulless....would I rather one that had no corrosion and smooth tiptronic...NOPE!
Enjoy..... And btw if you find a good fix for the corrosion let me know as I'll get mine sorted too at some point.
Enjoy..... And btw if you find a good fix for the corrosion let me know as I'll get mine sorted too at some point.
It sounds like you really need to do the clutch learn.
I also have an 07 Roadster and have none of the issues you mention with the box - seamless shifts when really pushing on, and not at all jerky when cruising around town. I've had an SMG M3 in the past so know how these 'boxes 'can be' and I honestly think this AM system is much better.
However, if you try and drive it like an auto you will (deservedly) look like a fool. I assume you're using the paddles and not just sticking it in D?
Here's mine reversing out of the garage nice and smoothly...
I also have an 07 Roadster and have none of the issues you mention with the box - seamless shifts when really pushing on, and not at all jerky when cruising around town. I've had an SMG M3 in the past so know how these 'boxes 'can be' and I honestly think this AM system is much better.
However, if you try and drive it like an auto you will (deservedly) look like a fool. I assume you're using the paddles and not just sticking it in D?
Here's mine reversing out of the garage nice and smoothly...
Alexe911 said:
Hiya
I have now taken delivery of my new baby Aston - named Jess after her previous owners niece apparently...
Anyway. I have noticed a few things.
1. It's an S.O.B to park when the engine / gearbox is gold - mine is a speed shift and it sort of lurches about it hops and stops and parking speeds - is this SOP?
2. I'm not over joyed with some of the handling of the car - I'm sure there is a great car in their somewhere but It needs sorting and will be sorted very soon.
3. Does the roadster have a different front ARB than the coupe?
4. Tyres - I'm not impressed with the Bridgestones - i had the Porsche equivalent on my 996 Turbo. I found them noisy with a vague feeling on the limit unless you really lean on them in high speed corners. What's the PZ Corsa like on the Roaster or does any one use Mich Cups?
5. The surface coasting is flaking off the wing mirror stalks which is annoying - I was going to pay a little visit to Grange Motors and see if they will sort it out under the corrosion warranty (it's a full Aston history car)
6. What's the anti brake squeal mod ?
Tx
1. as others have said clutch learns will help BUT you also need to remember "creep" mode will fight you if you don't have enough throttle on AND reverse gear is quite tallI have now taken delivery of my new baby Aston - named Jess after her previous owners niece apparently...
Anyway. I have noticed a few things.
1. It's an S.O.B to park when the engine / gearbox is gold - mine is a speed shift and it sort of lurches about it hops and stops and parking speeds - is this SOP?
2. I'm not over joyed with some of the handling of the car - I'm sure there is a great car in their somewhere but It needs sorting and will be sorted very soon.
3. Does the roadster have a different front ARB than the coupe?
4. Tyres - I'm not impressed with the Bridgestones - i had the Porsche equivalent on my 996 Turbo. I found them noisy with a vague feeling on the limit unless you really lean on them in high speed corners. What's the PZ Corsa like on the Roaster or does any one use Mich Cups?
5. The surface coasting is flaking off the wing mirror stalks which is annoying - I was going to pay a little visit to Grange Motors and see if they will sort it out under the corrosion warranty (it's a full Aston history car)
6. What's the anti brake squeal mod ?
Tx
2. Geo and tyres will sort this, the steering is little slow IMHO pre MY12.25 which doesn't help
3. no idea ARB's have never been an issue on my two roadsters
4. RE050's are fine when they are fresh, they are pretty durable. I know what you mean about noise, I also find they don't like wet, cold or going below 3mm tread. Many have gone for Michelin PS2's, I'll be trying those on Johnny 550 shortly.
5. Quiet common issue on cars that have spent a fair bit of their life outside. Many simply scrap it off and paint them, replacing them involves door card off, quarter panel glass out and chrome trim off. I had mine done on a previous car but the dealer managed to scratch the door paint
6. It is common for the rears to squeal after a while (both mine have done it) a pressure wash often sorts it for a while. Beveling the pad edge and copper grease on the back usually sorts it. I was advised the avoid the blue anti squeal compound as it is not compatible with the seals.
Another couple for you
have a look at this thread
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
And get out and but some hats!
PS I've not bothered with the wind break on either of my roadsters, I hate the look and found it didn't make that much difference
Neil1300r said:
Get the geo sorted. Very sensitive to setup.
How old is the car, the corrosion warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on
Sportshift gearbox is marmite
The SS is not marmite. It takes a bit of getting used to, granted. But I doubt you could manage downshifts and rev-matching as well as it does in your manual.How old is the car, the corrosion warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on
Sportshift gearbox is marmite
Don't use in auto mode and do regular clutch learns, and there's nothing wrong with it at all. And I've owned both a manual V8V and SS. So I know.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff