Sports pack in v8v
Discussion
Not sure this helps or not but I had a SP10 ( V8S) 7 years ago with non sports suspension and on U.K. rubbish quality roads I never found it an issue. In fact I would imagine that driving daily one with sports suspension would have been a pain - literally.
I then switched to a V12S which even in normal setting was a much better ( albeit expensive ) idea.
I then switched to a V12S which even in normal setting was a much better ( albeit expensive ) idea.
lukeharding said:
The sports package isn't a harsh ride in my experience. Easily spent all day in the car with no issues. What is annoying sometimes is that on bumpy roads it seems to telegraph through the car resulting in a feeling of a lot of up and down motion (especially back end).
How does it compare with the non-sport package v8v? How come the sport package is only available from 2009 - 2011. I heard they got rid of it in 2012. Was it not popular?
klee168168 said:
How come the sport package is only available from 2009 - 2011. I heard they got rid of it in 2012. Was it not popular?
No but the option just changed to Sports Suspension rather than Sports Pack because it didn't include different wheels AFAIK. However Sports Suspension is, in my opinion having owned both, superior to Sports Pack. Better damped and perhaps less "jiggly" - maybe they're more or less the same thing.You really have to drive both because these things are totally subjective. Sports Suspension/Pack will be way to harsh for some people whereas Comfort suspension will be way to soft and vague for others.
I have a V8S which comes with the sports suspension and I find it very well damped.
I do find that harshness in ride can be massively improved by choice of tyres though. I've had a number of cars that come on Bridgestone tyres and I always ditch them for a sporty Michelin. As well as grip improving I think the Michelins have a softer sidewall.
I do find that harshness in ride can be massively improved by choice of tyres though. I've had a number of cars that come on Bridgestone tyres and I always ditch them for a sporty Michelin. As well as grip improving I think the Michelins have a softer sidewall.
Big E 118 said:
I have a V8S which comes with the sports suspension and I find it very well damped.
I do find that harshness in ride can be massively improved by choice of tyres though. I've had a number of cars that come on Bridgestone tyres and I always ditch them for a sporty Michelin. As well as grip improving I think the Michelins have a softer sidewall.
I was curious about that as my car is fitted with Bridgestones. Just how much better are the Michelins? I do find that harshness in ride can be massively improved by choice of tyres though. I've had a number of cars that come on Bridgestone tyres and I always ditch them for a sporty Michelin. As well as grip improving I think the Michelins have a softer sidewall.
klee168168 said:
How does it compare with the non-sport package v8v?
How come the sport package is only available from 2009 - 2011. I heard they got rid of it in 2012. Was it not popular?
I couldn't say unfortunately as I haven't driven a non sport pack car. Mine is an 08 4.7 with sport pack though, but was a KX registered car. How come the sport package is only available from 2009 - 2011. I heard they got rid of it in 2012. Was it not popular?
klee168168 said:
Is there a tremendous difference in drive and handling on a sport pack vs a non sport pack? Is it bumpier? Does it corner tighter? Is it noticeably better handling?
Did they get rid of it past 09-10 because I don’t see many sport package on the newer V8 Vantages.
The parts system shows sports pack front and rear dampers as being an option for 4.7L Vantages from 2007-2012. Vantage S obviously came with sports pack as standard. For stock Vantage (4.7L, SP10) post 2012, the front damper is exactly the same as Vantage S front damper, meaning it’s only the rear damper which transforms a post 2012 car into sports pack. Any spec damper can be fitted to any car (despite what “box changing” franchised dealers might say), so anyone out there with a post 2012 car knows what 2 components to buy to turn the car into SportsPack if it was originally built comfort packDid they get rid of it past 09-10 because I don’t see many sport package on the newer V8 Vantages.
lukeharding said:
I was curious about that as my car is fitted with Bridgestones. Just how much better are the Michelins?
In my opinion they are much better, I've swapped out Bridgestones to Michelins on an R8, a 911 and (Conti's) on the Vantage and noticed a difference in all. Unfortunately the Michelins don't come in V8S sizes (but do in standard V8 sizes I believe).Both the Michelin Cup 2's and PS4s's are much better in every aspect although may wear a bit quicker.
Big E 118 said:
In my opinion they are much better, I've swapped out Bridgestones to Michelins on an R8, a 911 and (Conti's) on the Vantage and noticed a difference in all. Unfortunately the Michelins don't come in V8S sizes (but do in standard V8 sizes I believe).
Both the Michelin Cup 2's and PS4s's are much better in every aspect although may wear a bit quicker.
Interesting to know, thanks! Both the Michelin Cup 2's and PS4s's are much better in every aspect although may wear a bit quicker.
Ive had both, non sports suspension for 9 years and sports suspension for last 3 years.
It really depends on your driving style, expectations, what car you are coming from.
I think if you drive a non sports pack car on the road at moderate pace it rides really nice, its a great road going sports car.
When you start to press on a bit (perhaps how you shouldn't drive on the road) then it gets a bit of its depth. If you take it on track then you really notice how soft and compliant it is (for a sports car)
The sports suspension is a bit firmer and occasionally seems too firm on a bumpy B road, fine on a smoother A road though and much better on track, albeit not a "real" track setup.
I have got used to the sports suspension now and if buying again would have it.
From MY 2012.25 sports suspension is standard on roadsters and wider wheels standard on both coupe/roadster, then the S model came out. From 2016 the standard Vantage was dropped, so there is a 3-4 year period where you could have had a non S coupe with non sports suspension
Lots of model info here http://astonmartins.com/car/v8-vantage-4-7-my2012-...
It really depends on your driving style, expectations, what car you are coming from.
I think if you drive a non sports pack car on the road at moderate pace it rides really nice, its a great road going sports car.
When you start to press on a bit (perhaps how you shouldn't drive on the road) then it gets a bit of its depth. If you take it on track then you really notice how soft and compliant it is (for a sports car)
The sports suspension is a bit firmer and occasionally seems too firm on a bumpy B road, fine on a smoother A road though and much better on track, albeit not a "real" track setup.
I have got used to the sports suspension now and if buying again would have it.
From MY 2012.25 sports suspension is standard on roadsters and wider wheels standard on both coupe/roadster, then the S model came out. From 2016 the standard Vantage was dropped, so there is a 3-4 year period where you could have had a non S coupe with non sports suspension
Lots of model info here http://astonmartins.com/car/v8-vantage-4-7-my2012-...
Edited by bogie on Wednesday 24th October 18:33
Before I bought my V8V I tried one with Sport pack, I love hard suspensions but after driving the Sport pack for a day it was clear for me to buy one with normal suspension which I did and never looked back. I would say Sport pack for track use or masochists 
, standard suspension for every day driving.
End of the day it's a matter of personal preferences.
Cheers
Christian
, standard suspension for every day driving.End of the day it's a matter of personal preferences.
Cheers
Christian
Edited by Gday2 on Wednesday 24th October 16:28
Gday2 said:
Before I bought my V8V I tried one with Sport pack, I love hard suspensions but after driving the Sport pack for a day it was clear for me to buy one with normal suspension which I did and never looked back. I would say Sport pack for track use or masochists , standard suspension for every day driving.
End of the day it's a matter of personal preferences.
Cheers
Christian
In contrast, I went from a 2006 Vantage to a 2009 with Sportspack, and found the Sportspack to be better. I then went to a 2010 Roadster with Sportspack and it seemed better again. Perhaps variable between cars?!, standard suspension for every day driving.End of the day it's a matter of personal preferences.
Cheers
Christian
Edited by Gday2 on Wednesday 24th October 16:28
klee168168 said:
OK I know this will be a bad comparison. My other car was a Honda S2000. Handled well but was a little too bumpy. Is the sport package less harsh/bumpy than the S2000?
For close comparison, I had a 2004 BMW Z4 Roadster and my 2009 Aston Martin Vantage with Sports Pack is definitely softer than that Z4. I have no problem driving my Vantage 5-6 hrs without stopping but on the other hand my BMW was another story. Hope this helpGassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff