K..b in an Aston
Discussion
We are just into early summer here in Auckland - drinks, beach at the bottom of my street beckons, and Aston road-trips to be planned. My V8VS manual is now at 48,000kms and in pristine condition - seems to just get better and better. Engine and (BR-enhanced) drive-train smooth and sweet, and BR Bilstein suspension is supple and perfect for our B-roads.
Also fitted a full set of replacement Michelin PS4S as my original set picked up the thumpingly largest bolt I've ever seen in a tyre. Happened on the freeway up around 110kph - heavy thumping from right rear in an instant, which gave me one hell of a start ! The PS4S rear just kept going through, yet more testimony to the Michelin build quality.
Increasingly, the tactility and purity of the V8VS analogue driving experience is the motivation, and in that spirit, I thought fitting the iconic alloy gear k..b would be an interesting addition. I find I really like the heft and it certainly enhances the mechanical feel of the manual shift - it also resolves the slightly too low setting of the original gear k..b, at least that had been my experience. I'll try it out over summer - if it doesn't work, I'll swap it back, and I've got an interesting paper-weight.
I approached AM Heritage Trust for details on the production numbers for the V8VS manual RHD coupe, as I always thought mine was one of the last built. I know it was built April 2017, sold by AM Hatfield March 2018, and I bought it from AM Birmingham December 2019 with just 2,500 miles on the clock.
AMHT responded with the detail for V8VS manual coupe from 2011MY until ceasing production in 2017MY. 81 LHD manuals, 162 RHD manuals produced over the 6 years, giving 243 in total. 1111 LHD Sportshift II and 557 RHD Sportshift II for a total of 1668 Sportshift II vehicles.
They advise there were 15 manual RHD V8VS Coupes produced after my VIN number so mine was 147th of 162 cars built 2011MY - 2017MY.
Interesting, that.
Also fitted a full set of replacement Michelin PS4S as my original set picked up the thumpingly largest bolt I've ever seen in a tyre. Happened on the freeway up around 110kph - heavy thumping from right rear in an instant, which gave me one hell of a start ! The PS4S rear just kept going through, yet more testimony to the Michelin build quality.
Increasingly, the tactility and purity of the V8VS analogue driving experience is the motivation, and in that spirit, I thought fitting the iconic alloy gear k..b would be an interesting addition. I find I really like the heft and it certainly enhances the mechanical feel of the manual shift - it also resolves the slightly too low setting of the original gear k..b, at least that had been my experience. I'll try it out over summer - if it doesn't work, I'll swap it back, and I've got an interesting paper-weight.
I approached AM Heritage Trust for details on the production numbers for the V8VS manual RHD coupe, as I always thought mine was one of the last built. I know it was built April 2017, sold by AM Hatfield March 2018, and I bought it from AM Birmingham December 2019 with just 2,500 miles on the clock.
AMHT responded with the detail for V8VS manual coupe from 2011MY until ceasing production in 2017MY. 81 LHD manuals, 162 RHD manuals produced over the 6 years, giving 243 in total. 1111 LHD Sportshift II and 557 RHD Sportshift II for a total of 1668 Sportshift II vehicles.
They advise there were 15 manual RHD V8VS Coupes produced after my VIN number so mine was 147th of 162 cars built 2011MY - 2017MY.
Interesting, that.
Edited by Seakingsam on Thursday 19th December 20:40
Seakingsam said:
.... if it doesn't work, I'll swap it back, and I've got an interesting paper-weight.
Oh, don´t worry, Gareth, I´ll take it then 
I hesitated long enough to find out they are sadly not available any more (or "on backorder" at least). So, thanks for the pic to rub it well in on me.
Seakingsam said:
.... I bought it from AM Birmingham December 2019 with just 2,500 miles on the clock.
Well, that was more than its counterpart on the other side of the world has accumulated in its seven years from new (build date: February 2017) to this very day. 
But, yes, driving these magnificient rare machines is such a lovely experience. C21433 runs faultlessly.
Emilio,
My first V8VS manual in Quantum Silver (purchased new by me 26 Nov 2016, sold by me 1 Sept 2017) seems to be the sister vehicle to yours - same Bridge of Weir leather, and silver stitching and Vantage emblem on seat. That vehicle is now at 36,000kms, with my BR-sourced twin plate clutch and lightweight flywheel performing perfectly, all presenting in perfect nick, and just been traded in on a low kms DB11 V12 AMR in Christchurch. Giltrap Prestige is the dealer, also the owner of Aston Martin Auckland, and has the V8VS on-market at NZ$100,000 retail, with new windscreen to be fitted.
Japan market is purchasing used RHD Coupe manual V8VS, to be upgraded and apparently deployed as a drift-specialist. Who knew ... Still, dead easy to containerize and ship to the UK ...
My first V8VS manual in Quantum Silver (purchased new by me 26 Nov 2016, sold by me 1 Sept 2017) seems to be the sister vehicle to yours - same Bridge of Weir leather, and silver stitching and Vantage emblem on seat. That vehicle is now at 36,000kms, with my BR-sourced twin plate clutch and lightweight flywheel performing perfectly, all presenting in perfect nick, and just been traded in on a low kms DB11 V12 AMR in Christchurch. Giltrap Prestige is the dealer, also the owner of Aston Martin Auckland, and has the V8VS on-market at NZ$100,000 retail, with new windscreen to be fitted.
Japan market is purchasing used RHD Coupe manual V8VS, to be upgraded and apparently deployed as a drift-specialist. Who knew ... Still, dead easy to containerize and ship to the UK ...
"Sister vehicle" maybe apart from the fact that mine was and still is Magnetic Silver - like yours. 
Reading such prices makes me unhappy. Mine is completely standard and unmodified but that won´t help either, I´m afraid. It´s an Aston Martin after all ....
. But I won´t sell mine anyway when my time will have come in a few years.
Enough sadness. Enjoy the season and your car!
Reading such prices makes me unhappy. Mine is completely standard and unmodified but that won´t help either, I´m afraid. It´s an Aston Martin after all ....
. But I won´t sell mine anyway when my time will have come in a few years.Seakingsam said:
... V8VS, to be upgraded and apparently deployed as a drift-specialist.
It´s even sadder to see what´s happening to VH2 V8 Vantage all over the world. Who could have imagined that one day they would drop down to BMW E30, Golf II etc. level? Perhaps I wouldn´t have bought mine, had I foreseen such decay. Unprecedented in Aston Martin history.Enough sadness. Enjoy the season and your car!
I replaced the metal knob on my V12V with an alcantara knob from a GT8 and was delighted - my palm stays warm in winter and cool in summer!
I didn’t realise how much they were, so will probably sell it (the knob, not the car) after Christmas.
I didn’t realise how much they were, so will probably sell it (the knob, not the car) after Christmas.
Edited by DBA086 on Friday 20th December 16:46
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