6 months in...
Discussion
Thought I'd just jot my thoughts down on now having had my 2016 Vantage V12S for 6 months.
Obligatory pic to start
Having had some mad cars and having had some reasonably quick cars to actually have one that could be very quick, very refined or totally mad I was a little unsure how I'd find it overall.
The first 2 weeks consisted of having bits done, security stuff, detailing & coatings, tracking set-up, secondary de-cat pipes and exhaust valves freed off so around week 4 of ownership I shot off up to Scotland for a few days and, to put it mildly, the car opened my eyes..and surprised me in the process. I expected it to be quite tail happy (probably is in the wet) but found the grip and handling to be sublime. just over 1200 mile in 3 days and I was hooked big time.
Took it up to Scotland again (different route) and pulled in a drive around Northumberland, toured around Wales twice and have done approx 6000 miles since collection and I can't honestly pick a fault with the car in any way.
Idea was to garage it over the Winter, that soon went out of the window and unless it's icy or snowy it'll get used. The only place I won't take it is into Derby centre.
So, the gearbox. Thought I'd never drive it in auto due to the stories about the cars lurching on gear changes and it'd always be on the paddles. However, not experienced any lurching whatsoever on gear changes, either up or down so invariably drive it in auto.
Tried the suspension in Sport a couple of times but not sure it copes very well with the state of the UK roads and I like the idea of keeping my fillings in place (some of my previous cars have had either KW ClubSport or KWV3 coilovers so not averse to stiff suspension) and the car doesn't actually wallow about in the standard setting.
The car has the lightweight seats which are some of the best ones I've sat in. On trips away am quite happy to spend 8hrs driving, apart from coffee / fuel stops and not getting out feeling as though I've been through the washing machine. The same seats were in my M3CSL but in Alcantara / cloth as opposed to leather so was delighted to find an Aston with them in, especially in Chancellor Red.
All in all I've never had anything like this thing. With me being a crusty I think the only time the car will be sold is either when I'm sat on the sofa dribbling and not knowing I own a car or when I'm cooling down in my jar on the mantlepiece.
Obligatory pic to start
Having had some mad cars and having had some reasonably quick cars to actually have one that could be very quick, very refined or totally mad I was a little unsure how I'd find it overall.
The first 2 weeks consisted of having bits done, security stuff, detailing & coatings, tracking set-up, secondary de-cat pipes and exhaust valves freed off so around week 4 of ownership I shot off up to Scotland for a few days and, to put it mildly, the car opened my eyes..and surprised me in the process. I expected it to be quite tail happy (probably is in the wet) but found the grip and handling to be sublime. just over 1200 mile in 3 days and I was hooked big time.
Took it up to Scotland again (different route) and pulled in a drive around Northumberland, toured around Wales twice and have done approx 6000 miles since collection and I can't honestly pick a fault with the car in any way.
Idea was to garage it over the Winter, that soon went out of the window and unless it's icy or snowy it'll get used. The only place I won't take it is into Derby centre.
So, the gearbox. Thought I'd never drive it in auto due to the stories about the cars lurching on gear changes and it'd always be on the paddles. However, not experienced any lurching whatsoever on gear changes, either up or down so invariably drive it in auto.
Tried the suspension in Sport a couple of times but not sure it copes very well with the state of the UK roads and I like the idea of keeping my fillings in place (some of my previous cars have had either KW ClubSport or KWV3 coilovers so not averse to stiff suspension) and the car doesn't actually wallow about in the standard setting.
The car has the lightweight seats which are some of the best ones I've sat in. On trips away am quite happy to spend 8hrs driving, apart from coffee / fuel stops and not getting out feeling as though I've been through the washing machine. The same seats were in my M3CSL but in Alcantara / cloth as opposed to leather so was delighted to find an Aston with them in, especially in Chancellor Red.
All in all I've never had anything like this thing. With me being a crusty I think the only time the car will be sold is either when I'm sat on the sofa dribbling and not knowing I own a car or when I'm cooling down in my jar on the mantlepiece.
Nice update and more pics are never frownd upon.
If you ever do a Northumberland trip again let me know we should meet up for a coffee !
As for tail happy I think any of the V12 astons will give you that in anything less than good conditions.
My Vanq S starts wagging it's tail on cold days, damp days and any other day if I get a bit excited but I don't think the P Zeros are great in colder conditions so they don't help.
Your comments on the suspension are interesting as again my Vanquish appears to be very different. For cruising the normal mode is excellent and allows you to just waft by but if you want to push on then it really needs to be in track mode or it just gets too floaty and a little scary to the point I would feel like I was about to lose control. I never did but it was an uncomfortable feeling even in Sport mode yet Track mode would just tighten things down that little bit more that I had much more confidence as the feeling of control was reinstated. So all my fruity drives are now in Track mode despite the crappy roads.
In fact I never use Sport mode for suspension it's either soft for wafting or Track for pushing on but that's for a Vanq not the Vantage perhaps it's the wheel base difference or maybe overall weight not sure but either way they're great fun
If you ever do a Northumberland trip again let me know we should meet up for a coffee !
As for tail happy I think any of the V12 astons will give you that in anything less than good conditions.
My Vanq S starts wagging it's tail on cold days, damp days and any other day if I get a bit excited but I don't think the P Zeros are great in colder conditions so they don't help.
Your comments on the suspension are interesting as again my Vanquish appears to be very different. For cruising the normal mode is excellent and allows you to just waft by but if you want to push on then it really needs to be in track mode or it just gets too floaty and a little scary to the point I would feel like I was about to lose control. I never did but it was an uncomfortable feeling even in Sport mode yet Track mode would just tighten things down that little bit more that I had much more confidence as the feeling of control was reinstated. So all my fruity drives are now in Track mode despite the crappy roads.
In fact I never use Sport mode for suspension it's either soft for wafting or Track for pushing on but that's for a Vanq not the Vantage perhaps it's the wheel base difference or maybe overall weight not sure but either way they're great fun
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I was looking at V12s's during covid on a regular basis (2017 ish cars which I think was when the new screen etc arrived), they came down in £'s a lot during that time but of course have now gone back up again! Lot of car for the money.
TX.
Edit - may have been post 2015 cars not 2017 ...
TX.
Edit - may have been post 2015 cars not 2017 ...
Edited by Terminator X on Thursday 8th December 12:01
Lovely spec and thoughts
I agree with it all. I have been known to use Drive rather than paddles in very limited cases, but it's perfectly useable. More fun with paddles, but there are times you need to concentrate on other things.
I never bother with going out of standard dampers. On these rough roads, maximum compliance for maximum control. Doesn't exactly wallow...
Special at any speed.
I agree with it all. I have been known to use Drive rather than paddles in very limited cases, but it's perfectly useable. More fun with paddles, but there are times you need to concentrate on other things.
I never bother with going out of standard dampers. On these rough roads, maximum compliance for maximum control. Doesn't exactly wallow...
Special at any speed.
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