What car class does the V12 Vantage S sit in?
Discussion
What are PH'ers views and perceptions - Is it s Sports car, junior supercar, GT, good all-rounder or....?
The reason I ask, is I am really enjoying it on b roads. but I recent 300-mile-long drive found it too noisy over poor surfaces when trying to talk to my passenger. I think towards the end we got used to it, but ideally want more hushed GT when on a motorway. Adjustable suspension and ride spot on for b roads and motorway.
There never is a perfect car for all roads eh.
The reason I ask, is I am really enjoying it on b roads. but I recent 300-mile-long drive found it too noisy over poor surfaces when trying to talk to my passenger. I think towards the end we got used to it, but ideally want more hushed GT when on a motorway. Adjustable suspension and ride spot on for b roads and motorway.
There never is a perfect car for all roads eh.
Well….
It’s clearly sporty but the term ‘sports car’ doesn’t do it justice. Astons have always leaned toward GT, all Vantages are more a GT car, but the V12VS is so much more than just a mere ‘GT’.
Supercar? Well, looking at the competition for that moniker I’d be inclined to say not exactly. For me a supercar has to be mid engined, have very high power to weight and be very flash and handling/track focussed (think lambo/ferrari/mclaren), so while the V12VS has the storming performance and is certainly ‘super’, I’m not sure I’d go with supercar.
Oh dear, that’s it then, we have to call it a ‘Super Tourer’
It’s clearly sporty but the term ‘sports car’ doesn’t do it justice. Astons have always leaned toward GT, all Vantages are more a GT car, but the V12VS is so much more than just a mere ‘GT’.
Supercar? Well, looking at the competition for that moniker I’d be inclined to say not exactly. For me a supercar has to be mid engined, have very high power to weight and be very flash and handling/track focussed (think lambo/ferrari/mclaren), so while the V12VS has the storming performance and is certainly ‘super’, I’m not sure I’d go with supercar.
Oh dear, that’s it then, we have to call it a ‘Super Tourer’
It's pretty usable in a variety of guises. Mine - with its Bamford Rose tweaks - will hang onto a mate in his 570S around twisty roads (but he's a far better driver so could easily get away if he could see further ahead), it sounds fantastic, will cruise happily along all day with the valves closed and bother no-one, you can chuck enough rubbish in the back for a week away, it's jaw-droppingly lovely.
I'd say it's in a class all of its own.
I'd say it's in a class all of its own.
Mr.Tremlini said:
Felonious said:
I'd say it's in a class all of its own.
Correct answer. Thread closed.
- see No.10. https://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-features/t...
PHFS said:
What are PH'ers views and perceptions - Is it s Sports car, junior supercar, GT, good all-rounder or....?
The reason I ask, is I am really enjoying it on b roads. but I recent 300-mile-long drive found it too noisy over poor surfaces when trying to talk to my passenger. I think towards the end we got used to it, but ideally want more hushed GT when on a motorway. Adjustable suspension and ride spot on for b roads and motorway.
There never is a perfect car for all roads eh.
Having come from a gt3 I find its road refinement very good ,I can listen to the stereo without making my ears bleed .The reason I ask, is I am really enjoying it on b roads. but I recent 300-mile-long drive found it too noisy over poor surfaces when trying to talk to my passenger. I think towards the end we got used to it, but ideally want more hushed GT when on a motorway. Adjustable suspension and ride spot on for b roads and motorway.
There never is a perfect car for all roads eh.
Aston Martin make Aston Martins. That's the only pigeonhole they need; let others fight over super vs hyper. The risk is that by trying to be something else they might not be so Aston-Martiny. Which sounds like a drink. Aston Spumante? Remy Martin? And stick a maraschino cherry in it garcon. 
Simpo Two said:
Aston Martin make Aston Martins. That's the only pigeonhole they need; let others fight over super vs hyper. The risk is that by trying to be something else they might not be so Aston-Martiny.
Which sounds like a drink. Aston Spumante? Remy Martin? And stick a maraschino cherry in it garcon.
Which sounds like a drink. Aston Spumante? Remy Martin? And stick a maraschino cherry in it garcon.
Cheers.
As for which class.
My car is in the work of art class. Being able to drive it, is a pure bonus.
Ref. Road noise on coarse surfaces.
I accept that it is noisier than a limousine.
Wide tyres and big engines.
Interesting question.
The V12VS will do the GT role, but it has shortcomings. In the U.K., our old L322 is arguably a better motorway car 90% of the time. Quieter, softer sprung, more relaxing to drive, better view of the road, and able to get up to and hold a speed as fast as you’d prudently want to drive in the U.K.
But for the other 10% of the time, and for a lot more of the time in Europe, esp Germany, I wish there was a button I could press that would convert the L322 into out V12VS on the fly, Transformers-style, just to get that jump-to-warp feeling.
Over here, I find its natural habitat to be fast sweeping A roads. Ideally with some roundabouts. It’s by no means the fastest or easiest car to hustle through a roundabout at pace but it can’t be far off the most satisfying when you get it right, because you have to be on it to get it right, 100%. And the scream and shove when you can exit with some carried speed is pretty special.
It’s not a sportscar, if you take that segment as including Exiges, Elises, Mclarens, GT4s and GT3s. It has a fair claim to be a supercar but the argument isn’t one way by any stretch.
It does pretty much sit in a category all of its own, with the possible exception of having a Porsche Turbo for company - a car that also defies categorisation but outguns the V12VS in pure speed off the line and its uncanny ability not to have to slow down no matter what the conditions.
Maybe a Fast Tourer gets some way to describing it.
The V12VS will do the GT role, but it has shortcomings. In the U.K., our old L322 is arguably a better motorway car 90% of the time. Quieter, softer sprung, more relaxing to drive, better view of the road, and able to get up to and hold a speed as fast as you’d prudently want to drive in the U.K.
But for the other 10% of the time, and for a lot more of the time in Europe, esp Germany, I wish there was a button I could press that would convert the L322 into out V12VS on the fly, Transformers-style, just to get that jump-to-warp feeling.
Over here, I find its natural habitat to be fast sweeping A roads. Ideally with some roundabouts. It’s by no means the fastest or easiest car to hustle through a roundabout at pace but it can’t be far off the most satisfying when you get it right, because you have to be on it to get it right, 100%. And the scream and shove when you can exit with some carried speed is pretty special.
It’s not a sportscar, if you take that segment as including Exiges, Elises, Mclarens, GT4s and GT3s. It has a fair claim to be a supercar but the argument isn’t one way by any stretch.
It does pretty much sit in a category all of its own, with the possible exception of having a Porsche Turbo for company - a car that also defies categorisation but outguns the V12VS in pure speed off the line and its uncanny ability not to have to slow down no matter what the conditions.
Maybe a Fast Tourer gets some way to describing it.
In reading this thread, I was reminded of the infamous "Frost Report" sketch, with John Cleese and Ronnies Barker and Corbett
For those old enough to remember, I'm thinking Cleese as a V12VS, Barker a V12V and Corbett a V8V.
Barker, (looking up at Cleese) would intone "I look up to him because he has more power and adjustable dampers; but" (turning to look down on Corbett) I look down on him as he only has eight cylinders
Needless to say, as a V8V owner, I know my place
For those who have no idea what I'm on about and are even slightly interested, I'm indulging in some light wordplay on the British obsession with social "class" and the sketch is available on the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hhrwl
For those old enough to remember, I'm thinking Cleese as a V12VS, Barker a V12V and Corbett a V8V.
Barker, (looking up at Cleese) would intone "I look up to him because he has more power and adjustable dampers; but" (turning to look down on Corbett) I look down on him as he only has eight cylinders
Needless to say, as a V8V owner, I know my place
For those who have no idea what I'm on about and are even slightly interested, I'm indulging in some light wordplay on the British obsession with social "class" and the sketch is available on the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hhrwl
Edited by LTP on Thursday 17th August 14:31
They're such great all rounders it's difficult to pigeonhole them into a particular class. They're not the best in any segment in terms of comfort, outright performance etc however what they do have in spades is personality.
In driving characteristics, I'd say that they are similar to the Mercedes SLS and Ferrari 599. You need to know these cars to be able to get the best out of them, the fact that they're not overly refined makes them great fun on the road.
In driving characteristics, I'd say that they are similar to the Mercedes SLS and Ferrari 599. You need to know these cars to be able to get the best out of them, the fact that they're not overly refined makes them great fun on the road.
LTP said:
In reading this thread, I was reminded of the infamous "Frost Report" sketch, with John Cleese and Ronnies Barker and Corbett
For those old enough to remember, I'm thinking Cleese as a V12VS, Barker a V12V and Corbett a V8V.
Barker, (looking up at Cleese) would intone "I look up to him because he has more power and adjustable dampers; but" (turning to look down on Corbett) I look down on him as he only has eight cylinders
Needless to say, as a V8V owner, I know my place
For those who have no idea what I'm on about and are even slightly interested, I'm indulging in some light wordplay on the British obsession with social "class" and the sketch is available on the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hhrwl
Excellent and applicable analogy
For those old enough to remember, I'm thinking Cleese as a V12VS, Barker a V12V and Corbett a V8V.
Barker, (looking up at Cleese) would intone "I look up to him because he has more power and adjustable dampers; but" (turning to look down on Corbett) I look down on him as he only has eight cylinders
Needless to say, as a V8V owner, I know my place
For those who have no idea what I'm on about and are even slightly interested, I'm indulging in some light wordplay on the British obsession with social "class" and the sketch is available on the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hhrwl
Excellent and applicable analogy
Edited by LTP on Thursday 17th August 14:31
Jon39 said:
1966
How things change.
57 years on and members of 'I know my place', now form protest groups under the guise of net-zero, attempting to end class division, free enterprise, aspiration and capitalism.
LTP said:
Jon, I know you smatter your posts with whimsy, but none of the groups you describe are working class.
I lead a very sheltered life, so very difficult for me to interpret all the things that are going on at present. Something called GAQBLTU+ is completely lost on me.
You are certainly correct about one group I have heard about, who have chosen the name Stop Oil. They do not appear by any means to be traditional working class (coal miners, mill workers, copper smelters, wooden wagon wheel makers, below stairs servants). They seem to consist more of retired vicars, university lecturers, poets, lifetime students and people with names such as Christian Ponsonby-Smythe and Xavier Montague-Plunkett.
Glue themselves to something that causes inconvenience to others, or spray paint on an Aston Martin showroom, repeatedly have a slap on the wrist in court, then jet off on holiday to Tailand, before returning to Heathrow and driving home in a diesel SUV.
Jon39 said:
They seem to consist more of retired vicars, university lecturers, poets, lifetime students and people with names such as Christian Ponsonby-Smythe and Xavier Montague-Plunkett.
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