V12V / V12VS - Essential Options
Discussion
jimmybell said:
Dealers have suggested to me that greys/silvers are the favourite exterior colours (presumably everyone wants to be understated and pretend to be james bond) - is this really the case?
It used to be but around the time of V12VS launch, then with follow ups like GT8/12, Vanquish S and others, people (end user buyers and the factory) started being less conservativeAn awful lot of cars used to be dealer specced, sold as unregistered cars sat on the showroom floor. The dealers have become more adventurous in what they order for that purpose and that has had a trickle down effect too
It does depend on the car (a DB9 in a wild colour might be harder to sell) but I don't think a wild/bright colour is an issue on a V12V/S today
Probably worth saying to the OP that you guys are proper enthusiasts and may not be representative of AM buyers in general...
Personally I would think that electric, heated, lovely looking seats, top of the range audio with rising speakers and reserved colours would make for a more sellable car.
If OP is asking the question to gauge future value it's worth thinking about. If he just wants the best car for him, then what we think shouldn't matter!
Personally I would think that electric, heated, lovely looking seats, top of the range audio with rising speakers and reserved colours would make for a more sellable car.
If OP is asking the question to gauge future value it's worth thinking about. If he just wants the best car for him, then what we think shouldn't matter!
Zod said:
I needed airbag deactivation for child seats when I got mine, but at 6'2" with a broad back and shoulders, I find the sports seats comfortable and very supportive. I don't mind the lightweights (and had similar seats in my M3 CSL), but I think I'd struggle with them on trans-European drives.
Sorry for the thread hijack, but Zod - could you please explain this witchcraft of airbag deactivation? What age/size child? Which type of child seat? Booster etc? Many thanks in advance!
Ex Boy Racer said:
Probably worth saying to the OP that you guys are proper enthusiasts and may not be representative of AM buyers in general...
Personally I would think that electric, heated, lovely looking seats, top of the range audio with rising speakers and reserved colours would make for a more sellable car.
If OP is asking the question to gauge future value it's worth thinking about. If he just wants the best car for him, then what we think shouldn't matter!
I agree to an extent, but V12V/S is an enthusiasts car and as each year from now goes on, given how other car tech is advancing, will be deemed even more as an enthusiasts car. It is after all a car with a n/a V12 engine and manual box - that's about as enthusiast as it gets ! I'm not sure how many people in the current climate (as opposed say, to when V12V first came out), who want a n/a V12 manual sports car, are going to be that concerned about B&O fancy tweeters...Personally I would think that electric, heated, lovely looking seats, top of the range audio with rising speakers and reserved colours would make for a more sellable car.
If OP is asking the question to gauge future value it's worth thinking about. If he just wants the best car for him, then what we think shouldn't matter!
jimmybell said:
Sounds like there's some value in getting some seat time in both the lightweights and the chunkier sports seats. Might not be able to drive in the lightweights but should be able to at least sit in them after driving in the sports ones.
Correction, you "drive in the lightweights" but you "sit ON the sports seats", not IN them. 
They are like big comfy dining chair - except they arn't really that comfy and give very little lateral support. If possible try cornering hard in both and see how much you slip sideways on the chairs compared to the buckets, and also try sitting on a sports seats for a 2 hour cruise on the motorway. I'd place a small bet you will either end up with numb thighs or lower back ache - or both! I know I did - and I'm not the only person to say this.
jimmybell said:
I should say my bluetooth audio in C63 is actually pretty good - much better than what i had in BMW land. May also be being improved by the top end H&K system tho.
As I posted above basic principles of HiFI also apply to ICE in that a good amp and speaker setup is one thing, but if you input poor source files you will not be getting the most out of it. With a poor Amp / speaker setup you will struggle more to tell the difference in good and poor source files, hence people tend to accept just using 128kbps mp3 files on their phone and the sh!tty headphones that came with it...jimmybell said:
Dealers have suggested to me that greys/silvers are the favourite exterior colours (presumably everyone wants to be understated and pretend to be james bond) - is this really the case?
The first bit is true for sure - but some of that is because I would guess that 80% of all AM cars over the last 8-9 years have been dealer specced and thus what the dealer thinks becomes true! Also Mr Average buyer is also Mr Grey! 
I agree with Adam. The lightweight seats are far better than the sports seats wether you are cruising up the motorway for 3 hours or hooning down your favourite country road. I've owned Vantages with both.
The sports seats maybe more attractive to the casual buyer who is not a driving enthusiast but in the coming years the purchasers of V12 Vantages are going to be driving enthusiasts. I think the majority will want the lightweight seats.
The sports seats maybe more attractive to the casual buyer who is not a driving enthusiast but in the coming years the purchasers of V12 Vantages are going to be driving enthusiasts. I think the majority will want the lightweight seats.
JohnG1 said:
Zod said:
I needed airbag deactivation for child seats when I got mine, but at 6'2" with a broad back and shoulders, I find the sports seats comfortable and very supportive. I don't mind the lightweights (and had similar seats in my M3 CSL), but I think I'd struggle with them on trans-European drives.
Sorry for the thread hijack, but Zod - could you please explain this witchcraft of airbag deactivation? What age/size child? Which type of child seat? Booster etc? Many thanks in advance!
I am the biggest fan of lightweight buckets (Lots of miles in 996 GT3 mk1 CS, 430 Spider and Scuderia) and so when i decided on a V12S it was an absolute dealbreaker.
That was until I saw the (now mine) 1800 mile Flugplatz V12VSR for sale and all reason left me and I just had to have it.
The good news is that the sports seats are actually very good. I settled in to them immediately.
I did a big euro drive recently and earlier in the year a day at Silverstone and they worked very well as they have day to day over the last 20 months.
If you see a car that ticks all your boxes and then to your horror you see its got sports seats maybe go and see it anyway
Ex Boy Racer said:
If OP is asking the question to gauge future value it's worth thinking about. If he just wants the best car for him, then what we think shouldn't matter!
it shouldn't matter - but sometimes you learn stuff that could be marmite to sellers and perhaps might matter more than i'd anticipated Personally, i'd love a flugplatz blue V12VS but the bolder colours seem rarer on the used market atm. AFAIK new orders stopped too, right?
OP as is evident from this discussion, you need to try cars with sports seats and the lightweights over a reasonable test drive period.
I initially thought the sports seats in my old V8V would be great as they looked quite luxurious, but after an hour or so I got back ache. I should have taken a longer test drive.
Conversely I expected the tighter fitting (especially round the shoulders) and more thinly padded lightweights to be uncomfortable, but they are a revelation in my V12V with no pain at all even after a 5+ hour drive from Wales to Norfolk last year.
I agree with the sentiments of the enthusiasts on here that the lightweights suit the dynamism of the V12V (and S) but you should get an extended test drive to decide for yourself.
Have fun assessing, Paul
I initially thought the sports seats in my old V8V would be great as they looked quite luxurious, but after an hour or so I got back ache. I should have taken a longer test drive.
Conversely I expected the tighter fitting (especially round the shoulders) and more thinly padded lightweights to be uncomfortable, but they are a revelation in my V12V with no pain at all even after a 5+ hour drive from Wales to Norfolk last year.
I agree with the sentiments of the enthusiasts on here that the lightweights suit the dynamism of the V12V (and S) but you should get an extended test drive to decide for yourself.
Have fun assessing, Paul
Zod said:
JohnG1 said:
Zod said:
I needed airbag deactivation for child seats when I got mine, but at 6'2" with a broad back and shoulders, I find the sports seats comfortable and very supportive. I don't mind the lightweights (and had similar seats in my M3 CSL), but I think I'd struggle with them on trans-European drives.
Sorry for the thread hijack, but Zod - could you please explain this witchcraft of airbag deactivation? What age/size child? Which type of child seat? Booster etc? Many thanks in advance!
Padley69 said:
OP as is evident from this discussion, you need to try cars with sports seats and the lightweights over a reasonable test drive period.
I initially thought the sports seats in my old V8V would be great as they looked quite luxurious, but after an hour or so I got back ache. I should have taken a longer test drive.
Conversely I expected the tighter fitting (especially round the shoulders) and more thinly padded lightweights to be uncomfortable, but they are a revelation in my V12V with no pain at all even after a 5+ hour drive from Wales to Norfolk last year.
I agree with the sentiments of the enthusiasts on here that the lightweights suit the dynamism of the V12V (and S) but you should get an extended test drive to decide for yourself.
Have fun assessing, Paul
This.I initially thought the sports seats in my old V8V would be great as they looked quite luxurious, but after an hour or so I got back ache. I should have taken a longer test drive.
Conversely I expected the tighter fitting (especially round the shoulders) and more thinly padded lightweights to be uncomfortable, but they are a revelation in my V12V with no pain at all even after a 5+ hour drive from Wales to Norfolk last year.
I agree with the sentiments of the enthusiasts on here that the lightweights suit the dynamism of the V12V (and S) but you should get an extended test drive to decide for yourself.
Have fun assessing, Paul
Flugplatz said:
I am the biggest fan of lightweight buckets (Lots of miles in 996 GT3 mk1 CS, 430 Spider and Scuderia) and so when i decided on a V12S it was an absolute dealbreaker.
That was until I saw the (now mine) 1800 mile Flugplatz V12VSR for sale and all reason left me and I just had to have it.
The good news is that the sports seats are actually very good. I settled in to them immediately.
I did a big euro drive recently and earlier in the year a day at Silverstone and they worked very well as they have day to day over the last 20 months.
If you see a car that ticks all your boxes and then to your horror you see its got sports seats maybe go and see it anyway
I fully agree. I have the sport seats, ideally i would have preferred LWS but the car was perfect and with such low miles that the seats where not so important to me as to not buy it. I do like the fact that the seat belt fastner on the sport seats is covered in leather as well and the fact that they are heated.That was until I saw the (now mine) 1800 mile Flugplatz V12VSR for sale and all reason left me and I just had to have it.
The good news is that the sports seats are actually very good. I settled in to them immediately.
I did a big euro drive recently and earlier in the year a day at Silverstone and they worked very well as they have day to day over the last 20 months.
If you see a car that ticks all your boxes and then to your horror you see its got sports seats maybe go and see it anyway
Lightweight seats are essential, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! The standard seats offer about as much lateral support as a park bench.
And if you’re into your tunes, as I am, then the B&O is truly awesome (especially as it was like £4k plus option)
And if you’re into your tunes, as I am, then the B&O is truly awesome (especially as it was like £4k plus option)
Edited by ChristAlmighty on Wednesday 19th July 21:28
RobDown said:
jimmybell said:
AFAIK new orders stopped too, right?
Officially yes. There were 20 final slots released about 6 weeks ago. I think those are all gone albeit there was a rumour that a dealer had one a week or so ago (anyone remember which one).So thsts it for v12 Vantages
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