Vantage V12S Fuse 22/15
Discussion
I thought exactly the same Andy. I was at our local AMOC club evening last night and the local Aston dealer brought along the cars including a V12VS. They never take the fuses out of their cars and it sounded fantastic - even when comparing it with the others they had brought along. I don't know what they have changed from my V12VR but it sounds much more aggressive 
On another front - and sorry to get away from the topic - but just had to agree to the terms of posting before I could reply on this topic. Only done some 800 posts and cannot remember having being asked to do that before so wonder if it is anything to do with some of the threads that have gone on recently. Anyone else had this?
On another front - and sorry to get away from the topic - but just had to agree to the terms of posting before I could reply on this topic. Only done some 800 posts and cannot remember having being asked to do that before so wonder if it is anything to do with some of the threads that have gone on recently. Anyone else had this?
For a real change, swap out the 2nd stage decat pipes. A relatively easy and cheap mod, keeps emissions & really makes an audible difference.
These guys can help http://www.scuderiasystems.com
These guys can help http://www.scuderiasystems.com
The 458 was a short-lived experience to be honest. It was my dream car, but ownership was marred by a few things - mainly other road users.
I've owned a few nice bits of kit - Nissan GTR R35, Audi R8 V10, Jag XKR-S, Audi RS6 4.0T, etc and have had many petrol-forecourt conversations, thumbs up from passers-by, and all round general respect from petrolheads and non-petrolheads alike. The 458 was a different beast. I can honestly say that I've never felt so much anger, hatred, jealousy, vitriol and judgement than when I was in the car. As one dealer told me "you get a different type of hand signal in the Aston".
Dynamics-wise, the car was great to drive, very alive, the V8 howl was great high in the rev-range, but the valves let down the idle noise. Cabin was beautiful, but seats not particularly comfortable after 45-50 mins of driving.
It let me down once breaking down with a "Catalyst Out of Range" error, which put it into limp mode, then stopped the engine starting at all. Turned out after a week of dealer troubleshooting, to be a blown fuse !
The Aston is a different feel entirely. A real Jekyl and Hyde experience (says he 3 days into ownership). Once you get over the ponderous nature of the Sportshift III (I keep telling myself its an automated manual, and is therefore no slower or jerky than an actual manual), change at the right revs and with a slight liftoff, then it's sublime. The noise is amazing - I am still getting used to all the nuances how it changes sound on half throttle, full throttle, light feather, upshifts with and without throttle, etc. Catch the revs right and the gears right and it feels every bit as quick as the 458. You are certainly aware of the extra weight, but as long as you are respectful of that, it's a wonderful drive.
To me the Aston is the perfect hybrid of supercar and GT.
I sum it up as I "feel" a lot more like an Aston-kinda-person. I didn't feel like a Ferrari person. The ownership experience was not for me.
Cheers, Craig
I've owned a few nice bits of kit - Nissan GTR R35, Audi R8 V10, Jag XKR-S, Audi RS6 4.0T, etc and have had many petrol-forecourt conversations, thumbs up from passers-by, and all round general respect from petrolheads and non-petrolheads alike. The 458 was a different beast. I can honestly say that I've never felt so much anger, hatred, jealousy, vitriol and judgement than when I was in the car. As one dealer told me "you get a different type of hand signal in the Aston".
Dynamics-wise, the car was great to drive, very alive, the V8 howl was great high in the rev-range, but the valves let down the idle noise. Cabin was beautiful, but seats not particularly comfortable after 45-50 mins of driving.
It let me down once breaking down with a "Catalyst Out of Range" error, which put it into limp mode, then stopped the engine starting at all. Turned out after a week of dealer troubleshooting, to be a blown fuse !
The Aston is a different feel entirely. A real Jekyl and Hyde experience (says he 3 days into ownership). Once you get over the ponderous nature of the Sportshift III (I keep telling myself its an automated manual, and is therefore no slower or jerky than an actual manual), change at the right revs and with a slight liftoff, then it's sublime. The noise is amazing - I am still getting used to all the nuances how it changes sound on half throttle, full throttle, light feather, upshifts with and without throttle, etc. Catch the revs right and the gears right and it feels every bit as quick as the 458. You are certainly aware of the extra weight, but as long as you are respectful of that, it's a wonderful drive.
To me the Aston is the perfect hybrid of supercar and GT.
I sum it up as I "feel" a lot more like an Aston-kinda-person. I didn't feel like a Ferrari person. The ownership experience was not for me.
Cheers, Craig
Ah! what an interesting post!
Me who swore that once I got tired of the v12v (mine is a manual), I would go for a 458..
My v12v had slight dashboard creaks that took a while to sort out. I was about to really lose patience with Aston but they finally tracked it down. Now, i simply love the thing.
One thing you need to be really carefull with is how fragile the paint is (particularly dark colours).
Consider having 2ndary capristo pipes fitted for maximum sound effect. £500 best spent. Takes 30 mins to fit and very easy to revert.
Me who swore that once I got tired of the v12v (mine is a manual), I would go for a 458..
My v12v had slight dashboard creaks that took a while to sort out. I was about to really lose patience with Aston but they finally tracked it down. Now, i simply love the thing.
One thing you need to be really carefull with is how fragile the paint is (particularly dark colours).
Consider having 2ndary capristo pipes fitted for maximum sound effect. £500 best spent. Takes 30 mins to fit and very easy to revert.
craigGTR said:
The 458 was a short-lived experience to be honest. It was my dream car, but ownership was marred by a few things - mainly other road users.
I've owned a few nice bits of kit - Nissan GTR R35, Audi R8 V10, Jag XKR-S, Audi RS6 4.0T, etc and have had many petrol-forecourt conversations, thumbs up from passers-by, and all round general respect from petrolheads and non-petrolheads alike. The 458 was a different beast. I can honestly say that I've never felt so much anger, hatred, jealousy, vitriol and judgement than when I was in the car. As one dealer told me "you get a different type of hand signal in the Aston".
Dynamics-wise, the car was great to drive, very alive, the V8 howl was great high in the rev-range, but the valves let down the idle noise. Cabin was beautiful, but seats not particularly comfortable after 45-50 mins of driving.
It let me down once breaking down with a "Catalyst Out of Range" error, which put it into limp mode, then stopped the engine starting at all. Turned out after a week of dealer troubleshooting, to be a blown fuse !
The Aston is a different feel entirely. A real Jekyl and Hyde experience (says he 3 days into ownership). Once you get over the ponderous nature of the Sportshift III (I keep telling myself its an automated manual, and is therefore no slower or jerky than an actual manual), change at the right revs and with a slight liftoff, then it's sublime. The noise is amazing - I am still getting used to all the nuances how it changes sound on half throttle, full throttle, light feather, upshifts with and without throttle, etc. Catch the revs right and the gears right and it feels every bit as quick as the 458. You are certainly aware of the extra weight, but as long as you are respectful of that, it's a wonderful drive.
To me the Aston is the perfect hybrid of supercar and GT.
I sum it up as I "feel" a lot more like an Aston-kinda-person. I didn't feel like a Ferrari person. The ownership experience was not for me.
Cheers, Craig
I've owned a few nice bits of kit - Nissan GTR R35, Audi R8 V10, Jag XKR-S, Audi RS6 4.0T, etc and have had many petrol-forecourt conversations, thumbs up from passers-by, and all round general respect from petrolheads and non-petrolheads alike. The 458 was a different beast. I can honestly say that I've never felt so much anger, hatred, jealousy, vitriol and judgement than when I was in the car. As one dealer told me "you get a different type of hand signal in the Aston".
Dynamics-wise, the car was great to drive, very alive, the V8 howl was great high in the rev-range, but the valves let down the idle noise. Cabin was beautiful, but seats not particularly comfortable after 45-50 mins of driving.
It let me down once breaking down with a "Catalyst Out of Range" error, which put it into limp mode, then stopped the engine starting at all. Turned out after a week of dealer troubleshooting, to be a blown fuse !
The Aston is a different feel entirely. A real Jekyl and Hyde experience (says he 3 days into ownership). Once you get over the ponderous nature of the Sportshift III (I keep telling myself its an automated manual, and is therefore no slower or jerky than an actual manual), change at the right revs and with a slight liftoff, then it's sublime. The noise is amazing - I am still getting used to all the nuances how it changes sound on half throttle, full throttle, light feather, upshifts with and without throttle, etc. Catch the revs right and the gears right and it feels every bit as quick as the 458. You are certainly aware of the extra weight, but as long as you are respectful of that, it's a wonderful drive.
To me the Aston is the perfect hybrid of supercar and GT.
I sum it up as I "feel" a lot more like an Aston-kinda-person. I didn't feel like a Ferrari person. The ownership experience was not for me.
Cheers, Craig
craigGTR said:
The 458 was a short-lived experience to be honest. It was my dream car, but ownership was marred by a few things - mainly other road users.
I've owned a few nice bits of kit - Nissan GTR R35, Audi R8 V10, Jag XKR-S, Audi RS6 4.0T, etc and have had many petrol-forecourt conversations, thumbs up from passers-by, and all round general respect from petrolheads and non-petrolheads alike. The 458 was a different beast. I can honestly say that I've never felt so much anger, hatred, jealousy, vitriol and judgement than when I was in the car. As one dealer told me "you get a different type of hand signal in the Aston".
Dynamics-wise, the car was great to drive, very alive, the V8 howl was great high in the rev-range, but the valves let down the idle noise. Cabin was beautiful, but seats not particularly comfortable after 45-50 mins of driving.
It let me down once breaking down with a "Catalyst Out of Range" error, which put it into limp mode, then stopped the engine starting at all. Turned out after a week of dealer troubleshooting, to be a blown fuse !
The Aston is a different feel entirely. A real Jekyl and Hyde experience (says he 3 days into ownership). Once you get over the ponderous nature of the Sportshift III (I keep telling myself its an automated manual, and is therefore no slower or jerky than an actual manual), change at the right revs and with a slight liftoff, then it's sublime. The noise is amazing - I am still getting used to all the nuances how it changes sound on half throttle, full throttle, light feather, upshifts with and without throttle, etc. Catch the revs right and the gears right and it feels every bit as quick as the 458. You are certainly aware of the extra weight, but as long as you are respectful of that, it's a wonderful drive.
To me the Aston is the perfect hybrid of supercar and GT.
I sum it up as I "feel" a lot more like an Aston-kinda-person. I didn't feel like a Ferrari person. The ownership experience was not for me.
Cheers, Craig
Very interesting Craig, thanks for the write-up, sounds like you've had a good selection of machines! I've heard about the negativity with Ferrari's from others previously.I've owned a few nice bits of kit - Nissan GTR R35, Audi R8 V10, Jag XKR-S, Audi RS6 4.0T, etc and have had many petrol-forecourt conversations, thumbs up from passers-by, and all round general respect from petrolheads and non-petrolheads alike. The 458 was a different beast. I can honestly say that I've never felt so much anger, hatred, jealousy, vitriol and judgement than when I was in the car. As one dealer told me "you get a different type of hand signal in the Aston".
Dynamics-wise, the car was great to drive, very alive, the V8 howl was great high in the rev-range, but the valves let down the idle noise. Cabin was beautiful, but seats not particularly comfortable after 45-50 mins of driving.
It let me down once breaking down with a "Catalyst Out of Range" error, which put it into limp mode, then stopped the engine starting at all. Turned out after a week of dealer troubleshooting, to be a blown fuse !
The Aston is a different feel entirely. A real Jekyl and Hyde experience (says he 3 days into ownership). Once you get over the ponderous nature of the Sportshift III (I keep telling myself its an automated manual, and is therefore no slower or jerky than an actual manual), change at the right revs and with a slight liftoff, then it's sublime. The noise is amazing - I am still getting used to all the nuances how it changes sound on half throttle, full throttle, light feather, upshifts with and without throttle, etc. Catch the revs right and the gears right and it feels every bit as quick as the 458. You are certainly aware of the extra weight, but as long as you are respectful of that, it's a wonderful drive.
To me the Aston is the perfect hybrid of supercar and GT.
I sum it up as I "feel" a lot more like an Aston-kinda-person. I didn't feel like a Ferrari person. The ownership experience was not for me.
Cheers, Craig
But overall glad that you're happy with your Aston!
(I can't take the credit for the knowledge of the decats, that came from EricS above!)
AndyBrew said:
Yes 15 although I haven't noticed a huge difference the V12S sounds lurvely as is
Just pulled fuse 15 on my S. Jesus what a difference, lairy! although I haven't noticed a huge difference the V12S sounds lurvely as is There's a mid range drone / wail that sounds like nothing else I've driven. Hilarious.
The fuse will live in the glove box should I need to make a quieter escape
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