Virage Volante
Discussion
I drove one for these for about 20 miles last Saturday.
What a car!
It may be big, but it's agile. It corners crisply (provided you don't enter the corner with too much speed), the steering is feelsome (if feeling a touch artificially heavy) and the ride is not bad at all.
Most fun was how you can feel the rear squat and catapult the car forward when you flex your right foot.
The car feels alive, as you can feel the weight transfer but it never feels unsettled or ruffled.
Also amazed at how quickly it gathers speed, and how refined the cabin is with roof down, all 4 window up and wind deflector in place.
You can thread the car along A and B roads with accuracy, the suspension absorbs the rough and tumble beautifully at speed making the car composed and settled. You can feel the balance and poise that results from most of the weight being within the axles.
Hugely enjoyable.
And the V12 sounds spectacular with the roof down. Strangely it felt more powerful/urgent than the V12 Vantage S that I drove at Millbrook earlier this year.
You sense that the car is not as rigid as, say, a Virage coupe, but only once did I notice a mild shimmy/creek over an especially challenging piece of tarmac.
The ceramic brakes were a touch grabby and they was a mild squeak on light pedal applications. However, they did work well when you needed them to. Could not tell whether they were fine or over used/abused. This was previously an AM “marketing vehicle”; whatever that is.
Unusually, in a small village, while creeping along, I got the upward facing single finger as I passed a Mercedes driver .. he was put out that I did not let him pass first, I think. Salesman was surprised as was I.
Touchtronic II is acceptable and works well, you just have to remember that the Virage Volante is GT with sporting capabilities. No criticisms, except that you have to press D again once you have used the paddles to get it back in to fully auto mode.
I really didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.
Does anyone know where Virage/new DB9 seats are the same as Vantage seats? They seemed identical and felt the same.
What a car!
It may be big, but it's agile. It corners crisply (provided you don't enter the corner with too much speed), the steering is feelsome (if feeling a touch artificially heavy) and the ride is not bad at all.
Most fun was how you can feel the rear squat and catapult the car forward when you flex your right foot.
The car feels alive, as you can feel the weight transfer but it never feels unsettled or ruffled.
Also amazed at how quickly it gathers speed, and how refined the cabin is with roof down, all 4 window up and wind deflector in place.
You can thread the car along A and B roads with accuracy, the suspension absorbs the rough and tumble beautifully at speed making the car composed and settled. You can feel the balance and poise that results from most of the weight being within the axles.
Hugely enjoyable.
And the V12 sounds spectacular with the roof down. Strangely it felt more powerful/urgent than the V12 Vantage S that I drove at Millbrook earlier this year.
You sense that the car is not as rigid as, say, a Virage coupe, but only once did I notice a mild shimmy/creek over an especially challenging piece of tarmac.
The ceramic brakes were a touch grabby and they was a mild squeak on light pedal applications. However, they did work well when you needed them to. Could not tell whether they were fine or over used/abused. This was previously an AM “marketing vehicle”; whatever that is.
Unusually, in a small village, while creeping along, I got the upward facing single finger as I passed a Mercedes driver .. he was put out that I did not let him pass first, I think. Salesman was surprised as was I.
Touchtronic II is acceptable and works well, you just have to remember that the Virage Volante is GT with sporting capabilities. No criticisms, except that you have to press D again once you have used the paddles to get it back in to fully auto mode.
I really didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.
Does anyone know where Virage/new DB9 seats are the same as Vantage seats? They seemed identical and felt the same.
I find it interesting to read you lot extolling the virtues and the value of the Virage.
The name Virage is one that appears to be "cursed" in Aston history.
My 1991.Virage was a smashing car but never got a good press,had it for 3 years without serious problems.
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
The name Virage is one that appears to be "cursed" in Aston history.
My 1991.Virage was a smashing car but never got a good press,had it for 3 years without serious problems.
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
I've a Virage coupe and I love it. Everything you mentioned. It's surprisingly quick and a lot of steering feel on the smaller roads.
Prices are certainly weaker than a DB9.2, but I am not selling!! Loved it at Snetterton.
You could take the Virage badge off and stick a DB9 and no one would really know to look at, although there are differences. Indeed my foot plates were DB9 ones from the factory originally!
Prices are certainly weaker than a DB9.2, but I am not selling!! Loved it at Snetterton.
You could take the Virage badge off and stick a DB9 and no one would really know to look at, although there are differences. Indeed my foot plates were DB9 ones from the factory originally!
avinalarf said:
I find it interesting to read you lot extolling the virtues and the value of the Virage.
The name Virage is one that appears to be "cursed" in Aston history.
My 1991.Virage was a smashing car but never got a good press,had it for 3 years without serious problems.
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
I always wanted one of the originals, but alas I was too young (and too poor) at the time it was new.The name Virage is one that appears to be "cursed" in Aston history.
My 1991.Virage was a smashing car but never got a good press,had it for 3 years without serious problems.
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
avinalarf said:
I find it interesting to read you lot extolling the virtues and the value of the Virage.
The name Virage is one that appears to be "cursed" in Aston history.
My 1991.Virage was a smashing car but never got a good press,had it for 3 years without serious problems.
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
+1The name Virage is one that appears to be "cursed" in Aston history.
My 1991.Virage was a smashing car but never got a good press,had it for 3 years without serious problems.
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
Although the Virage is "good value" at present if one purchases with eventual resale in mind then the DBS will be the better bet.
There is a mystique that is being fed about the DBS that will keep prices stable and down the line see increases for the best examples.
I would be very surprised if the Virage will be spoken of with the reverence that is applied to the DBS,however good a car it is.
It's funny how some models acquire collector status.
There is a mystique that is being fed about the DBS that will keep prices stable and down the line see increases for the best examples.
I would be very surprised if the Virage will be spoken of with the reverence that is applied to the DBS,however good a car it is.
It's funny how some models acquire collector status.
BamfordMike said:
avinalarf said:
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
this is reason why the Virage is such a good prospect, dynamically is more or less identical dbsDBS, in my eyes, is not as elegant as the Virage or new DB9.
DBS, in my eyes, is more shouty, more look at me and its design is less well resolved, and it has too many design cues.
DBS also at least £20k more like for like, compared to Virage. DBS Volante prices are similar to new DB9 Volante prices.
DBS does not have the new headlights, but has carbon fibre panels while Virage or new DB9 does not.
DBS, in my eyes, is more shouty, more look at me and its design is less well resolved, and it has too many design cues.
DBS also at least £20k more like for like, compared to Virage. DBS Volante prices are similar to new DB9 Volante prices.
DBS does not have the new headlights, but has carbon fibre panels while Virage or new DB9 does not.
The price differential is at least in part due to the original sale price of both the cars when new.
Avinalarf and Mike make good points.
The Virage was widely praised on it's launch for having many of the good things from the DBS, but it 'suffers' from being described as an in between car.
Take the market positioning out of the equation and it's just a damn fine Aston to drive, be in, look at and hear.
Avinalarf and Mike make good points.
The Virage was widely praised on it's launch for having many of the good things from the DBS, but it 'suffers' from being described as an in between car.
Take the market positioning out of the equation and it's just a damn fine Aston to drive, be in, look at and hear.
tonyhall38 said:
BamfordMike said:
avinalarf said:
How would you compare the new Virage against a DBS ?
this is reason why the Virage is such a good prospect, dynamically is more or less identical dbs
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff