New to flappy paddles - it's a revelation!
Discussion
Quick post and hope to follow up in a couple of weeks. But today I made the change from 2014 V8V manual to 2016 V8VS Sportshift... and it's a real eye-opener.
Firstly, thanks to George and the team at AM Bristol for a great hand-over again, this time with my young son. Always special. The attention to detail is second-to-none!
I saw it in the ads like this:
[Photo courtesy of AM Bristol]
I hesitated mainly due to the wheels. Not keen on the two-tone. But if you don't ask... (more later).
Made the deal. Traded in the "old" black V8V and asked for the de-cats and (new) Conti tyres to make the move across. Love this photo - makes the Vantage either look like a fish or a conversion from wheels to legs
[Thanks to George at AM Bristol for that snap]
Then the reveal from beneath the cloth to...
...and the 100% approval of the re-finished wheels, now in a fantastic mid-grey:
OK - I've only done 80 miles so far (motorway, A, B and single track country lanes), but the change from standard Vantage to S is much greater than I expected. The Sports suspension is less forgiving which may be more noticeable on the country lanes but provides greater feedback at the wheel. The engine is perfect (but then the last one wasn't bad). The 2016MY dash and the infotainment upgrade is really nice along with the 700W HiFi (yes!!!). The de-cat combined with the S's sport exhaust is definitely louder - to a point of "oh!"
But it's the Sportshift that surprises the most. I've read magazines and comments over the years about how bad it was. Either I'm a Luddite or these views have been waaaay off the mark! It's smooth to change. Quick. Purposeful. Works brilliantly in D. Can be changed with foot on the gas at any stage without lifting. Downshifts with a cheeky blip. Paddle feel is perfect. And it's not remotely an "auto" that blurs things. (Yes I know, it's not a torque converter, etc.). It's given the car a whole new dimension and has made it another level of fun. Never in my life did I think I'd find myself writing that!
This example has just passed 16,500 miles but is in perfect condition. Perhaps the moral of the story is to use the car - the black one only got better with miles!
The rest are just gratuitous photos of one of the most beautiful designs ever to grace the roads, enhanced wonderfully in Volcano Red which changes in every condition, from darker red to near orange!
Firstly, thanks to George and the team at AM Bristol for a great hand-over again, this time with my young son. Always special. The attention to detail is second-to-none!
I saw it in the ads like this:
[Photo courtesy of AM Bristol]
I hesitated mainly due to the wheels. Not keen on the two-tone. But if you don't ask... (more later).
Made the deal. Traded in the "old" black V8V and asked for the de-cats and (new) Conti tyres to make the move across. Love this photo - makes the Vantage either look like a fish or a conversion from wheels to legs
[Thanks to George at AM Bristol for that snap]
Then the reveal from beneath the cloth to...
...and the 100% approval of the re-finished wheels, now in a fantastic mid-grey:
OK - I've only done 80 miles so far (motorway, A, B and single track country lanes), but the change from standard Vantage to S is much greater than I expected. The Sports suspension is less forgiving which may be more noticeable on the country lanes but provides greater feedback at the wheel. The engine is perfect (but then the last one wasn't bad). The 2016MY dash and the infotainment upgrade is really nice along with the 700W HiFi (yes!!!). The de-cat combined with the S's sport exhaust is definitely louder - to a point of "oh!"
But it's the Sportshift that surprises the most. I've read magazines and comments over the years about how bad it was. Either I'm a Luddite or these views have been waaaay off the mark! It's smooth to change. Quick. Purposeful. Works brilliantly in D. Can be changed with foot on the gas at any stage without lifting. Downshifts with a cheeky blip. Paddle feel is perfect. And it's not remotely an "auto" that blurs things. (Yes I know, it's not a torque converter, etc.). It's given the car a whole new dimension and has made it another level of fun. Never in my life did I think I'd find myself writing that!
This example has just passed 16,500 miles but is in perfect condition. Perhaps the moral of the story is to use the car - the black one only got better with miles!
The rest are just gratuitous photos of one of the most beautiful designs ever to grace the roads, enhanced wonderfully in Volcano Red which changes in every condition, from darker red to near orange!
Thanks all!
@Mewsie... that’s at least three of us now
@quench... was a bit nervous about changing the wheels but it made the car for me. It’s not a standard AM grey (eg. Graphite) wheel finish colour, but spot-on for my tastes!
@Dalecan... don’t think there’s a bad red in the range. Just nice to be less monochrome for a change.
@Greg66... yes! I never looked at the blue one (know the colour and it is stunning) as I wanted to try to updated facia / infotainment. But the blue one would have been lovely too. I did look at the white one (same red stitch interior as mine) and it has half the miles + one year younger for only a few k more, but I don’t feel white shows the car’s lines off as well. Let’s face it; none are bad!
@JB65... spot on! But it’s soooo much smoother than all the critics in magazines bemoaned. OK - it won’t be a smooth as a double clutch, but neither is it as complex or heavy, but the slight brutishness (if you want to drive it that way) suits the noise and relative speed
@Ahbefive... absolutely not. The primary cats are still very much in place. It’s the secondary cats that have been removed with an official AM kit (others are available). It doesn’t affect the ECU readings and sails through an MOT. My previous black one had the de-cats and there weren’t any issues with the MOT. My #1 recommendation for V8V models. For the S or N430 model, you may want to be sure the standard sports exhaust isn’t loud enough as it is. There is a marked difference, especially when lifting off the gas.
@Mewsie... that’s at least three of us now
@quench... was a bit nervous about changing the wheels but it made the car for me. It’s not a standard AM grey (eg. Graphite) wheel finish colour, but spot-on for my tastes!
@Dalecan... don’t think there’s a bad red in the range. Just nice to be less monochrome for a change.
@Greg66... yes! I never looked at the blue one (know the colour and it is stunning) as I wanted to try to updated facia / infotainment. But the blue one would have been lovely too. I did look at the white one (same red stitch interior as mine) and it has half the miles + one year younger for only a few k more, but I don’t feel white shows the car’s lines off as well. Let’s face it; none are bad!
@JB65... spot on! But it’s soooo much smoother than all the critics in magazines bemoaned. OK - it won’t be a smooth as a double clutch, but neither is it as complex or heavy, but the slight brutishness (if you want to drive it that way) suits the noise and relative speed
@Ahbefive... absolutely not. The primary cats are still very much in place. It’s the secondary cats that have been removed with an official AM kit (others are available). It doesn’t affect the ECU readings and sails through an MOT. My previous black one had the de-cats and there weren’t any issues with the MOT. My #1 recommendation for V8V models. For the S or N430 model, you may want to be sure the standard sports exhaust isn’t loud enough as it is. There is a marked difference, especially when lifting off the gas.
Great car nickv8
I am with you on the ss
When I have owned cars that are auto I used the flappy paddles once and never again as a novelty
The but use the ss as a manual all the time it just feels great and once you crack the small lift on the up change wow
Probably the most rewarding car I have driven
Enjoy in good health
M
I am with you on the ss
When I have owned cars that are auto I used the flappy paddles once and never again as a novelty
The but use the ss as a manual all the time it just feels great and once you crack the small lift on the up change wow
Probably the most rewarding car I have driven
Enjoy in good health
M
Nice car...and wheels
To be honest I have not tried the latest sportshift implementations, my opinion was formed last time I drove the 2nd gen back in 2010. Maybe next time I will give it another try.
Which Continental tyres are those ? It will be interesting to hear what sort of mileage you get out of them and if prefer them over the OE Bridgestones
To be honest I have not tried the latest sportshift implementations, my opinion was formed last time I drove the 2nd gen back in 2010. Maybe next time I will give it another try.
Which Continental tyres are those ? It will be interesting to hear what sort of mileage you get out of them and if prefer them over the OE Bridgestones
CSK1 said:
Lovely car and colour. Congratulations.
I wouldn't change my paddles for a stick.
Sportshift is a great compromise.
I never use D but treat it as a manual, which it is.
Must admit I don’t intend to rely on D mode, but having tried it, it simply was good! Really surprised me following all the comments. But too nice to flip a paddle I wouldn't change my paddles for a stick.
Sportshift is a great compromise.
I never use D but treat it as a manual, which it is.
B4rnst4ble said:
Great car nickv8
I am with you on the ss
When I have owned cars that are auto I used the flappy paddles once and never again as a novelty
The but use the ss as a manual all the time it just feels great and once you crack the small lift on the up change wow
Probably the most rewarding car I have driven
Enjoy in good health
M
Thanks M!I am with you on the ss
When I have owned cars that are auto I used the flappy paddles once and never again as a novelty
The but use the ss as a manual all the time it just feels great and once you crack the small lift on the up change wow
Probably the most rewarding car I have driven
Enjoy in good health
M
Must admit I need to get more miles under my wheels to form a fuller opinion, but I haven’t felt the need to consciously lift to accommodate the SS ‘box. Perhaps I’m still doing it a tad without realising as I would have done in the manual?
bogie said:
Nice car...and wheels
To be honest I have not tried the latest sportshift implementations, my opinion was formed last time I drove the 2nd gen back in 2010. Maybe next time I will give it another try.
Which Continental tyres are those ? It will be interesting to hear what sort of mileage you get out of them and if prefer them over the OE Bridgestones
Thanks Bogie!To be honest I have not tried the latest sportshift implementations, my opinion was formed last time I drove the 2nd gen back in 2010. Maybe next time I will give it another try.
Which Continental tyres are those ? It will be interesting to hear what sort of mileage you get out of them and if prefer them over the OE Bridgestones
Never tried an earlier one, but AM had a credible habit of continuous improvement. A major advantage of a long-life car model!
As for the Contis, I did a write-up here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...
Hope it’s if use! Will only be able to report on wear in a couple of years (limited to 5k miles/year).
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