My New V12 S Manual Roadster
Discussion
I think and this could be because I'm time zone weary which is code for drunk three bottles of fine red wine in a currency I don't recognise which means don't worry until they appear on the bill. Sorry I digress I think V12 v and the V12 s and the V12 s manual dogging gearbox are all epic and we are bloody lucky to have one.
AstonExige said:
I think you must have driven a V12V that had an issue, or perhaps it was a Peugeot 407 Vantage replica!! 
I get everyone has different options but this simply doesn't make sense, on a number of different levels:
"Lets start with the gearshift which although positive was incredibly light at times I was not sure it would have been out of place in a hatchback. The clutch was very light with no feel. The suspension was quite similar."
For the last 25yrs I've driven and owned many many sports cars, both road and track prepared, and had a stint competively. Ive always loved a "drivers" car, one that makes you feel connected with the car and the road, isn't digitised, the sensations are not softened by electronics. I'm on my fourth Lotus, an S2 Exige, that feels like the ultimate drivers car, almost the definition of it.
Out of all the Astons I drove and owned, the manual V12V comes closest to the above. Until I drove one I had almost given up on finding those qualities in an Aston, almost settling for a more GT experience. But drove a manual V12V and was sold. It felt like the perfect drivers car wrapped in the glorious and classic shape of an Aston Martin and with some creature comforts.
I get everyone has an opinion and often instantly becomes a fanboy of the car they've just bought, I've been guilty myself, but unless you've spent your life driving hardcore track cars there is no way you can say a V12V felt in anyway like driving a hatchback!!! Maybe you drove a Dog? Maybe your view was clouded as you had to justify spending an extra £50k? on the V12svr over a V12V?
Great purchase by the way, you'll have years of fun in that, beautiful.
Thanks AstonExige, I get everyone has different options but this simply doesn't make sense, on a number of different levels:"Lets start with the gearshift which although positive was incredibly light at times I was not sure it would have been out of place in a hatchback. The clutch was very light with no feel. The suspension was quite similar."
For the last 25yrs I've driven and owned many many sports cars, both road and track prepared, and had a stint competively. Ive always loved a "drivers" car, one that makes you feel connected with the car and the road, isn't digitised, the sensations are not softened by electronics. I'm on my fourth Lotus, an S2 Exige, that feels like the ultimate drivers car, almost the definition of it.
Out of all the Astons I drove and owned, the manual V12V comes closest to the above. Until I drove one I had almost given up on finding those qualities in an Aston, almost settling for a more GT experience. But drove a manual V12V and was sold. It felt like the perfect drivers car wrapped in the glorious and classic shape of an Aston Martin and with some creature comforts.
I get everyone has an opinion and often instantly becomes a fanboy of the car they've just bought, I've been guilty myself, but unless you've spent your life driving hardcore track cars there is no way you can say a V12V felt in anyway like driving a hatchback!!! Maybe you drove a Dog? Maybe your view was clouded as you had to justify spending an extra £50k? on the V12svr over a V12V?
Great purchase by the way, you'll have years of fun in that, beautiful.
Edited by AstonExige on Saturday 4th March 10:07
I'm not saying the V12V drove like a hatchback, I meant that a few of the controls, namely gearshift and clutch had little weight to them and due to that I felt unnconnected to the car. Probably guity of being a bit of a fan boy - I do think its grea. Omaybe the car was a dog, I don't know but was surprised at my reaction to both was so varied, hence why I drove the S again when I put my money down as I couldnt quite believe it myself. I'm not trying to justify the price I could afford both, but did not like the V12V and therefore I would not buy it . The price was therefore irrelevant - it didn't get me. The S did and therefore to me it was the only one I wanted to but, dont get me wrong if it was avaliblr cheaper, I would have been all over it, but there are no second hand V12VS manual roadsters - in fact when i looked I found one at redline at a higher price than I paid for my brand new car - hence it was a dine deal... Not meaning to offend V12V owners. I also love RR corniches which many think are rubbish, we all have our weird quirks 😀
Andys1000 said:
I'm not saying the V12V drove like a hatchback, I meant that a few of the controls, namely gearshift and clutch had little weight to them and due to that I felt unnconnected to the car. Probably guity of being a bit of a fan boy - I do think its grea. Omaybe the car was a dog,
Hey Andy, I guess I missed this comment the first time as I skimmed your lengthy post. Indeed either it was a dog a or the new one you have is. Of all the things the wife notices in driving the S manual is how much lighter the clutch and steering is. Perhaps that was just the Skyfall silver example that made rounds. I believe someone on here who had driven the same one mentioned that as a reason for switching.Anyway, enjoy your new car.
bentley01 said:
I think and this could be because I'm time zone weary which is code for drunk three bottles of fine red wine in a currency I don't recognise which means don't worry until they appear on the bill. Sorry I digress I think V12 v and the V12 s and the V12 s manual dogging gearbox are all epic and we are bloody lucky to have one.
+1 well said. AstonExige said:
I think you must have driven a V12V that had an issue, or perhaps it was a Peugeot 407 Vantage replica!! I get everyone has different options but this simply doesn't make sense, on a number of different levels:
"Lets start with the gearshift which although positive was incredibly light at times I was not sure it would have been out of place in a hatchback. The clutch was very light with no feel. The suspension was quite similar."
For the last 25yrs I've driven and owned many many sports cars, both road and track prepared, and had a stint competively. Ive always loved a "drivers" car, one that makes you feel connected with the car and the road, isn't digitised, the sensations are not softened by electronics. I'm on my fourth Lotus, an S2 Exige, that feels like the ultimate drivers car, almost the definition of it.
Out of all the Astons I drove and owned, the manual V12V comes closest to the above. Until I drove one I had almost given up on finding those qualities in an Aston, almost settling for a more GT experience. But drove a manual V12V and was sold. It felt like the perfect drivers car wrapped in the glorious and classic shape of an Aston Martin and with some creature comforts.
I get everyone has an opinion and often instantly becomes a fanboy of the car they've just bought, I've been guilty myself, but unless you've spent your life driving hardcore track cars there is no way you can say a V12V felt in anyway like driving a hatchback!!! Maybe you drove a Dog? Maybe your view was clouded as you had to justify spending an extra £50k? on the V12svr over a V12V?
Great purchase by the way, you'll have years of fun in that, beautiful.
Thanks AstonExige, I get everyone has different options but this simply doesn't make sense, on a number of different levels:"Lets start with the gearshift which although positive was incredibly light at times I was not sure it would have been out of place in a hatchback. The clutch was very light with no feel. The suspension was quite similar."
For the last 25yrs I've driven and owned many many sports cars, both road and track prepared, and had a stint competively. Ive always loved a "drivers" car, one that makes you feel connected with the car and the road, isn't digitised, the sensations are not softened by electronics. I'm on my fourth Lotus, an S2 Exige, that feels like the ultimate drivers car, almost the definition of it.
Out of all the Astons I drove and owned, the manual V12V comes closest to the above. Until I drove one I had almost given up on finding those qualities in an Aston, almost settling for a more GT experience. But drove a manual V12V and was sold. It felt like the perfect drivers car wrapped in the glorious and classic shape of an Aston Martin and with some creature comforts.
I get everyone has an opinion and often instantly becomes a fanboy of the car they've just bought, I've been guilty myself, but unless you've spent your life driving hardcore track cars there is no way you can say a V12V felt in anyway like driving a hatchback!!! Maybe you drove a Dog? Maybe your view was clouded as you had to justify spending an extra £50k? on the V12svr over a V12V?
Great purchase by the way, you'll have years of fun in that, beautiful.
Edited by AstonExige on Saturday 4th March 10:07
I'm not saying the V12V drove like a hatchback, I meant that a few of the controls, namely gearshift and clutch had little weight to them and due to that I felt unnconnected to the car. Probably guity of being a bit of a fan boy - I do think its grea. Omaybe the car was a dog, I don't know but was surprised at my reaction to both was so varied, hence why I drove the S again when I put my money down as I couldnt quite believe it myself. I'm not trying to justify the price I could afford both, but did not like the V12V and therefore I would not buy it . The price was therefore irrelevant - it didn't get me. The S did and therefore to me it was the only one I wanted to but, dont get me wrong if it was avaliblr cheaper, I would have been all over it, but there are no second hand V12VS manual roadsters - in fact when i looked I found one at redline at a higher price than I paid for my brand new car - hence it was a dine deal... Not meaning to offend V12V owners. I also love RR corniches which many think are rubbish, we all have our weird quirks 😀
I have test driven the Manual 7S after driving my 6 to the dealer. The S is much more manufactured speed/refined suspension,computerised everything and I felt the car just too unsuitable to uk roads. Too fast. No time to enjoy the experience.
The drive home in my old school mechanical V12V 6sp was extremely enjoyable and just confirmed to me what a keeper it is!
The drive home in my old school mechanical V12V 6sp was extremely enjoyable and just confirmed to me what a keeper it is!
So what do I think?
First and foremost the gearbox is an absolute doddle to use and anybody who can't master it with 10 minutes should stick to SS. I had one 1st to 4th moment within the first mile and that was it. For sure you need to be positive but that's it. It's a great fun gearbox but whether it adds to the enjoyment I don't know as I've never driven a 6MT V12V.
AMShift is clever but TBH after a zillion years of driving trucks when you had to double de clutch (the kids won't understand) when coming down the box I am already quite handy at rev matching. I suppose if you were on track and really concentrating it may be one less thing to worry about. Oddly I found the flat upshifting quite fun. My demo car has sports seats which I find adequate.
BUT and its a big one and one that Lotto always alludes to. Could I live with the ride on our wonderful roads? Even in Normal Mode I'm not so sure. If I could only have one the DBSVM wins purely on comfort for day to day use. If however I can sort the man maths it would be a very good addition
Incidentally I haven't just driven it back to the office, I've had some proper B road fun as well.
First and foremost the gearbox is an absolute doddle to use and anybody who can't master it with 10 minutes should stick to SS. I had one 1st to 4th moment within the first mile and that was it. For sure you need to be positive but that's it. It's a great fun gearbox but whether it adds to the enjoyment I don't know as I've never driven a 6MT V12V.
AMShift is clever but TBH after a zillion years of driving trucks when you had to double de clutch (the kids won't understand) when coming down the box I am already quite handy at rev matching. I suppose if you were on track and really concentrating it may be one less thing to worry about. Oddly I found the flat upshifting quite fun. My demo car has sports seats which I find adequate.
BUT and its a big one and one that Lotto always alludes to. Could I live with the ride on our wonderful roads? Even in Normal Mode I'm not so sure. If I could only have one the DBSVM wins purely on comfort for day to day use. If however I can sort the man maths it would be a very good addition
Incidentally I haven't just driven it back to the office, I've had some proper B road fun as well.
AMDBSVNick said:
So what do I think?
First and foremost the gearbox is an absolute doddle to use and anybody who can't master it with 10 minutes should stick to SS. I had one 1st to 4th moment within the first mile and that was it. For sure you need to be positive but that's it. It's a great fun gearbox but whether it adds to the enjoyment I don't know as I've never driven a 6MT V12V.
AMShift is clever but TBH after a zillion years of driving trucks when you had to double de clutch (the kids won't understand) when coming down the box I am already quite handy at rev matching. I suppose if you were on track and really concentrating it may be one less thing to worry about. Oddly I found the flat upshifting quite fun. My demo car has sports seats which I find adequate.
BUT and its a big one and one that Lotto always alludes to. Could I live with the ride on our wonderful roads? Even in Normal Mode I'm not so sure. If I could only have one the DBSVM wins purely on comfort for day to day use. If however I can sort the man maths it would be a very good addition
Incidentally I haven't just driven it back to the office, I've had some proper B road fun as well.
I knew you'd get itFirst and foremost the gearbox is an absolute doddle to use and anybody who can't master it with 10 minutes should stick to SS. I had one 1st to 4th moment within the first mile and that was it. For sure you need to be positive but that's it. It's a great fun gearbox but whether it adds to the enjoyment I don't know as I've never driven a 6MT V12V.
AMShift is clever but TBH after a zillion years of driving trucks when you had to double de clutch (the kids won't understand) when coming down the box I am already quite handy at rev matching. I suppose if you were on track and really concentrating it may be one less thing to worry about. Oddly I found the flat upshifting quite fun. My demo car has sports seats which I find adequate.
BUT and its a big one and one that Lotto always alludes to. Could I live with the ride on our wonderful roads? Even in Normal Mode I'm not so sure. If I could only have one the DBSVM wins purely on comfort for day to day use. If however I can sort the man maths it would be a very good addition
Incidentally I haven't just driven it back to the office, I've had some proper B road fun as well.
I found the adaptive dampers a lot better than the early 6MT suspension on s
tty wet Chesire backroads. Its better than my M140i and not too far behind the McLaren. Which is good considering the Mac is a hydraulic system akin to the Citroens of old.Edited by mikey k on Thursday 9th March 01:36
If I wanted a roadster, for sure I'd get a V12VSRM. The uplift in price from one of the original 101 cars isn't that much for what you get ie a brand new car.
However, I do highly recommend speaking to Bamford Rose if you want to liven up a V12V coupe. The activate dampening and power closes the gap greatly, for a lot less money.
If you're planning on selling, then of course aftermarket equipment isn't to everyone's taste, but as I'm not I'm just going to enjoy it until I'm no longer able to due to legislation or old age!
However, I do highly recommend speaking to Bamford Rose if you want to liven up a V12V coupe. The activate dampening and power closes the gap greatly, for a lot less money.
If you're planning on selling, then of course aftermarket equipment isn't to everyone's taste, but as I'm not I'm just going to enjoy it until I'm no longer able to due to legislation or old age!
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