2017 DB11 LE AMR- Finally Joined the Club!
Discussion
Got there in the end!! Through Grange Aston Martin in Edinburgh this Launch Edition V12 in Ultramarine black with just over 4k miles. I was happy to do the full dealer experience for my first one and Grange have been amazing to deal with. From sales to service and a chat with the valeter about upkeep, they've all been friendly, supportive, knowledgeable and never to busy to talk. The interior is Ivory over black which I adore - though some might not. The B&O system sounds fabulous!
I took the options for AMR upgrade, ceramic treatment and the tyre & wheel insurance which has already replaced a front tyre due to a screw piercing it.
Due to the weather I've been driving very gingerly but it's a sweetheart to drive. A run is getting around 26mpg and road tax is a stunning £190/yr.
Hope to update on running experience as we go...
I took the options for AMR upgrade, ceramic treatment and the tyre & wheel insurance which has already replaced a front tyre due to a screw piercing it.
Due to the weather I've been driving very gingerly but it's a sweetheart to drive. A run is getting around 26mpg and road tax is a stunning £190/yr.
Hope to update on running experience as we go...
Edited by jshell on Thursday 19th December 20:59
Good call. Even with the heavily restricted 700Nm DB11 mapping that smooth as a turbine V12 pulls like a train. With its relatively small low-threshold twin scroll turbos, still a large capacity, and low boost calibration, lag is almost imperceptible. The engine is really a monster, you'll have already found that the best thing is just the sheer effortlessness of the performance. It is addictive being able to access the turbine smooth thrust so easily. It makes the turbo V12 a wonderfully useable thing.
What tyres are on it? I found that getting rid of the original bridgestones made a big difference to traction and cornering. Despite being in low state of tune in DB11 the V12 still struggles to put down the power with its OEM tyres. it seems that as with the DBSS, it is torque profiling, or more specifically too high a rate of change. The engines rise to max torque delivery when you put your foot down at low engine and road speed is too steep, just as it is in DBSS, the 2WD chassis with the engine at the front and a good old fashioned mechanical LSD naturally struggle a bit with it, especially in the wet. Modern tyres (eg Michelin PS4/5 or Continental Sport Contact 7) and more delicate calibration of right leg are the solutions to problems that really should only be noticed by the likes of Chris Harris.
The tax rate is a bit of a bonus, but it did take 5 years to drop to that. UK road tax is such a PITA for the owners of most of the older VH cars - they are now having to pay a ridiculous £750+ annual VED for the privilege of driving in many cases just a handful of miles a year on the UKs terrible pot holed litter strewn 3rd world roads.
Enjoy your new stealth missile of a car. I've had mine getting on for 6yrs and the only bits I don't love are the electric steering and that central plastic screen. I wish I could push a button and make it fold away as I can in my good old VH Vantage - we can't do that in DB11,
but at least the electrical systems are reliable and robust
Great colour also, it's one of those that looks the absolute business in bright sunshine.
What tyres are on it? I found that getting rid of the original bridgestones made a big difference to traction and cornering. Despite being in low state of tune in DB11 the V12 still struggles to put down the power with its OEM tyres. it seems that as with the DBSS, it is torque profiling, or more specifically too high a rate of change. The engines rise to max torque delivery when you put your foot down at low engine and road speed is too steep, just as it is in DBSS, the 2WD chassis with the engine at the front and a good old fashioned mechanical LSD naturally struggle a bit with it, especially in the wet. Modern tyres (eg Michelin PS4/5 or Continental Sport Contact 7) and more delicate calibration of right leg are the solutions to problems that really should only be noticed by the likes of Chris Harris.
The tax rate is a bit of a bonus, but it did take 5 years to drop to that. UK road tax is such a PITA for the owners of most of the older VH cars - they are now having to pay a ridiculous £750+ annual VED for the privilege of driving in many cases just a handful of miles a year on the UKs terrible pot holed litter strewn 3rd world roads.
Enjoy your new stealth missile of a car. I've had mine getting on for 6yrs and the only bits I don't love are the electric steering and that central plastic screen. I wish I could push a button and make it fold away as I can in my good old VH Vantage - we can't do that in DB11,
but at least the electrical systems are reliable and robust
Great colour also, it's one of those that looks the absolute business in bright sunshine.
Edited by Calinours on Friday 20th December 11:03
jshell said:
Got there in the end!!
Your patience was clearly worth it, jshell.
Your new car looks beautiful. Such perfect, shiny paintwork.
One of the photos reveals a handy feature, that I had not realised before.
There is some dirt on the tyre treads, but how easy it will be, to just reach in with a toothbrush to clean between the treads.
Helpful when you arrive at an AMOC Concours event. I have seen the entrants scrabbling around on the ground, after removing all four of their road wheels.
Are you now going to lay-up during this winter?
Enjoy, I know that you will.
Calinours said:
Good call. Even with the heavily restricted 700Nm DB11 mapping that smooth as a turbine V12 pulls like a train. With its relatively small low-threshold twin scroll turbos, still a large capacity, and low boost calibration, lag is almost imperceptible. The engine is really a monster, you'll have already found that the best thing is just the sheer effortlessness of the performance. It is addictive being able to access the turbine smooth thrust so easily. It makes the turbo V12 a wonderfully useable thing.
What tyres are on it? I found that getting rid of the original bridgestones made a big difference to traction and cornering. Despite being in low state of tune in DB11 the V12 still struggles to put down the power with its OEM tyres. it seems that as with the DBSS, it is torque profiling, or more specifically too high a rate of change. The engines rise to max torque delivery when you put your foot down at low engine and road speed is too steep, just as it is in DBSS, the 2WD chassis with the engine at the front and a good old fashioned mechanical LSD naturally struggle a bit with it, especially in the wet. Modern tyres (eg Michelin PS4/5 or Continental Sport Contact 7) and more delicate calibration of right leg are the solutions to problems that really should only be noticed by the likes of Chris Harris.
The tax rate is a bit of a bonus, but it did take 5 years to drop to that. UK road tax is such a PITA for the owners of most of the older VH cars - they are now having to pay a ridiculous £750+ annual VED for the privilege of driving in many cases just a handful of miles a year on the UKs terrible pot holed litter strewn 3rd world roads.
Enjoy your new stealth missile of a car. I've had mine getting on for 6yrs and the only bits I don't love are the electric steering and that central plastic screen. I wish I could push a button and make it fold away as I can in my good old VH Vantage - we can't do that in DB11,
but at least the electrical systems are reliable and robust
Great colour also, it's one of those that looks the absolute business in bright sunshine.
Thank-you very much, and it's on the original tyres. I had no choice given I went the dealer route.What tyres are on it? I found that getting rid of the original bridgestones made a big difference to traction and cornering. Despite being in low state of tune in DB11 the V12 still struggles to put down the power with its OEM tyres. it seems that as with the DBSS, it is torque profiling, or more specifically too high a rate of change. The engines rise to max torque delivery when you put your foot down at low engine and road speed is too steep, just as it is in DBSS, the 2WD chassis with the engine at the front and a good old fashioned mechanical LSD naturally struggle a bit with it, especially in the wet. Modern tyres (eg Michelin PS4/5 or Continental Sport Contact 7) and more delicate calibration of right leg are the solutions to problems that really should only be noticed by the likes of Chris Harris.
The tax rate is a bit of a bonus, but it did take 5 years to drop to that. UK road tax is such a PITA for the owners of most of the older VH cars - they are now having to pay a ridiculous £750+ annual VED for the privilege of driving in many cases just a handful of miles a year on the UKs terrible pot holed litter strewn 3rd world roads.
Enjoy your new stealth missile of a car. I've had mine getting on for 6yrs and the only bits I don't love are the electric steering and that central plastic screen. I wish I could push a button and make it fold away as I can in my good old VH Vantage - we can't do that in DB11,
but at least the electrical systems are reliable and robust
Great colour also, it's one of those that looks the absolute business in bright sunshine.
Edited by Calinours on Friday 20th December 11:03
As you say, the engine pulls like a train and I've had the rear tyres scrabble with just the lightest of press on the loud pedal. However, the temperatures have been very low so I'll use the winter to learn the responses and hanldng at lower speeds and look forward to the drive from Edinburgh to the Highlands over the mountains! I canot wait.
It's quite practical too, I've had two adults and 2 kids in the car for a short hourney and everyone was fine.
My one bug-bear is the lack of storage inside the cabin, it's rubbish!!
Dewi 2 said:
jshell said:
Got there in the end!!
Your patience was clearly worth it, jshell.
Your new car looks beautiful. Such perfect, shiny paintwork.
One of the photos reveals a handy feature, that I had not realised before.
There is some dirt on the tyre treads, but how easy it will be, to just reach in with a toothbrush to clean between the treads.
Helpful when you arrive at an AMOC Concours event. I have seen the entrants scrabbling around on the ground, after removing all four of their road wheels.
Are you now going to lay-up during this winter?
Enjoy, I know that you will.
The access to the front tyres is what alerted me to the screw in the tyre, it was right on top fortunately! The tyre insurance seems a worthwhile option given the state of the roads!
The colour is sublime, I cannot believe how good it looks in the sunshine! My wife was horrified at the attenion we had on our first run out.
CitySlicker said:
Great choice OP, enjoy in good health!
Do you know why your tax rate is significantly reduced, aren't they usually 500+? A friend of mine bought a Ferrari 488 and his is the same.
It's due to the age, and at 7 yrs old I'm past the cut-off. Small, I know, but nice too.Do you know why your tax rate is significantly reduced, aren't they usually 500+? A friend of mine bought a Ferrari 488 and his is the same.
jshell said:
And thanks to the rest of you for your well-wishes. I hope to report back on her as I progress. Coming from a procession of 4WD, it's a leap to go into RWD with 600+BHP!!
I’ve gone from RWD V8s to 550bhp all wheel drive and back to a 630bhp DB11. In all honesty the traction control is so effective (invasive?) that all you’ll notice is a flickering light and a lack of forward progress. It’s not a challenge to drive like, say, a TVR. On dry roads in the summer, and wearing PS4S tyres, traction just isn’t an issue. Wet roads get the TC light flickering but I can’t say I’ve ever bothered driving enthusiastically in the wet - whatever the car. I’ve also been driving around on wet and greasy roads this autumn and winter and it’s perfectly happy. It’s a very usable car.
What I particularly like is how they’ve tuned the sound and mapped it so that it seems to sound best between about 2000-4000 rpm (you’ve probably noticed the downshifts pop and crackle nicely if you shift down at 2500-3000 in Sports+). It means you don’t have to rev it out but still get the aural pleasure and plenty of power in that band.
Your car, looks fantastic, though! Gorgeous colour combo.
Crumpet said:
jshell said:
And thanks to the rest of you for your well-wishes. I hope to report back on her as I progress. Coming from a procession of 4WD, it's a leap to go into RWD with 600+BHP!!
I’ve gone from RWD V8s to 550bhp all wheel drive and back to a 630bhp DB11. In all honesty the traction control is so effective (invasive?) that all you’ll notice is a flickering light and a lack of forward progress. It’s not a challenge to drive like, say, a TVR. On dry roads in the summer, and wearing PS4S tyres, traction just isn’t an issue. Wet roads get the TC light flickering but I can’t say I’ve ever bothered driving enthusiastically in the wet - whatever the car. I’ve also been driving around on wet and greasy roads this autumn and winter and it’s perfectly happy. It’s a very usable car.
What I particularly like is how they’ve tuned the sound and mapped it so that it seems to sound best between about 2000-4000 rpm (you’ve probably noticed the downshifts pop and crackle nicely if you shift down at 2500-3000 in Sports+). It means you don’t have to rev it out but still get the aural pleasure and plenty of power in that band.
Your car, looks fantastic, though! Gorgeous colour combo.
I experienced the pop & crackle quite by mistake in Edinburgh CC. A few heads turned and I was red faced. I'll get used to it and perhaps be able to time when and where I supply that level of theatre...
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