New Vantage Manual Transmission on a drive
New Vantage Manual Transmission on a drive
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Discussion

Viahuerto

Original Poster:

162 posts

91 months

Monday 20th April 2020
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I've had my 2020 Vantage w/ manual transmission for a few months & I have driven it quite a bit but haven't had the chance to really open it up. Due to current events I've been pretty stir crazy around home. Yesterday I decided to drive 30 miles to a restaurant we like and get two of their pre-packaged dinners to bring home. The road from the coast, where I live, to the restaurant crosses a medium height mountain range (4000 ft). It's a fairly curvy road with some nice rolling straights. These days there is much less traffic than normal.
The car drove great through the twists but I was shocked when I got to a passing lane and accelerated in 5th gear to pass. I went from 60 mph to 115 mph in no time. I mean NO time. I wouldn't have known how fast I was going if I hadn't glanced at the speedometer. Previously when I took my 991.2 911S on the same road I'd certainly feel the car leap when I passed but it was nothing like this. When I got to the second passing lane I gave it a go again and I got to 133 mph. The car was planted. That's pretty fast on a public road. (I'm not sharing this with my spouse!) The car revealed an almost demonic capacity to accelerate in gear and at high speed it had a serene ride. I'm thankful we don't have speed cameras in this part of the world!
I've been reading a lot of criticism of the new Vantage and I must say that as a pure driving tool (in the real world) the car is superb. The previous generation has a definite charm but in terms of brute performance there is no comparison.
If the car had a true premium stereo, apple car play and auto dimming headlights it would be perfect.

DB9VolanteDriver

2,658 posts

206 months

Monday 20th April 2020
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Performance without beauty is pointless in an Aston, even one with an AMG lump.

hornbaek

3,836 posts

265 months

Monday 20th April 2020
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Judging from the photo in your “My Garage” I wouldn’t write off this car of “only” being massive in performance. It looks fantastic in that grey colour. I haven’t driven the manual yet, but look forward to that once the restrictions are lifted (if ever).

AstonV

1,656 posts

136 months

Monday 20th April 2020
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DB9VolanteDriver said:
Performance without beauty is pointless in an Aston, even one with an AMG lump.
Well said. Unfortunate, but well said.

Neil1300r

5,771 posts

208 months

Monday 20th April 2020
quotequote all
Viahuerto said:
I've had my 2020 Vantage w/ manual transmission for a few months & I have driven it quite a bit but haven't had the chance to really open it up. Due to current events I've been pretty stir crazy around home. Yesterday I decided to drive 30 miles to a restaurant we like and get two of their pre-packaged dinners to bring home. The road from the coast, where I live, to the restaurant crosses a medium height mountain range (4000 ft). It's a fairly curvy road with some nice rolling straights. These days there is much less traffic than normal.
The car drove great through the twists but I was shocked when I got to a passing lane and accelerated in 5th gear to pass. I went from 60 mph to 115 mph in no time. I mean NO time. I wouldn't have known how fast I was going if I hadn't glanced at the speedometer. Previously when I took my 991.2 911S on the same road I'd certainly feel the car leap when I passed but it was nothing like this. When I got to the second passing lane I gave it a go again and I got to 133 mph. The car was planted. That's pretty fast on a public road. (I'm not sharing this with my spouse!) The car revealed an almost demonic capacity to accelerate in gear and at high speed it had a serene ride. I'm thankful we don't have speed cameras in this part of the world!
I've been reading a lot of criticism of the new Vantage and I must say that as a pure driving tool (in the real world) the car is superb. The previous generation has a definite charm but in terms of brute performance there is no comparison.
If the car had a true premium stereo, apple car play and auto dimming headlights it would be perfect.
Try it in 4th gear and report back!

yellow_tang

365 posts

241 months

Monday 20th April 2020
quotequote all
AstonV said:
DB9VolanteDriver said:
Performance without beauty is pointless in an Aston, even one with an AMG lump.
Well said. Unfortunate, but well said.
It’s a good job the new Vantage has the looks to go with the performance then...

Viahuerto

Original Poster:

162 posts

91 months

Monday 20th April 2020
quotequote all
yellow_tang said:
AstonV said:
DB9VolanteDriver said:
Performance without beauty is pointless in an Aston, even one with an AMG lump.
Well said. Unfortunate, but well said.
It’s a good job the new Vantage has the looks to go with the performance then...
I like the looks a lot (especially in the color I chose) or I wouldn't have gotten the car!

SFO

5,190 posts

213 months

Monday 20th April 2020
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Post some pics, including the interior please

EVR

2,247 posts

90 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
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I find the new Vantage beautiful, just like the old one.

Speedraser

1,712 posts

213 months

Sunday 26th April 2020
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Viahuerto,

Glad to hear you're enjoying your new car, and very well done getting the manual. Enjoy it (as much as possible under the circumstances)!

I've been vocal about what I do and don't like about the New Vantage on these forums -- on the various threads that were about discussing what people do/don't like. I've never expressed what I don't like about it on a thread started by an owner discussing his New Vantage.