Sportshift (driving tips welcome)
Discussion
Good to see some positive SS comments for once!
I have SSIII in my vantage V12S and see it as positive over a manual and part of the cars overall character. Its at its best in maximum attack mode in my opinion and lets you concentrate more on braking, steering, etc whilst still providing a challenge / reward as its an 'automated' manual.
I know people have their own opinions but mine was reaffirmed when i had go in a dealers V12S manual car - i'd read the reviews, etc but it was nothing like what i was expecting / hoping for....please to get back in my SSIII.
I have SSIII in my vantage V12S and see it as positive over a manual and part of the cars overall character. Its at its best in maximum attack mode in my opinion and lets you concentrate more on braking, steering, etc whilst still providing a challenge / reward as its an 'automated' manual.
I know people have their own opinions but mine was reaffirmed when i had go in a dealers V12S manual car - i'd read the reviews, etc but it was nothing like what i was expecting / hoping for....please to get back in my SSIII.
I've had a SS1 4.7 V8 (2009), a 6spd manual V12V (2011) and (currently) a SS3 V12VSR (2015). SS (in either iteration) is great on the open road. It has a far more mechanical feel than any conventional auto. It sounds and feels like well operated manual (which is what it is, albeit - being completely honest - with an occasional dodgy shift). The ability to brake late into bends, keeping both hands on the wheel with perhaps two or three rapid, throttle-blip down changes is endlessly amusing. And far better than my amateurish heel-and-toe technique would ever allow in the manual V12.
But my SS1 car was a complete pain to manoeuvre. It had an awful induced "creep" with all feet off the pedals to replicate a sort of conventional auto experience. Except it didn't work. Reversing on my gravel drive up a slight ramp into my garage was a nightmare. Keeping enough speed to get up the ramp meant keeping the clutch fully engaged in creep mode. The moment I even slightly feathered the brake to control the speed, the clutch disengaged completely then re-engaged often resulting in alarming jerks and sickening clutch burn smells. The only way was to let the car creep at full speed - about 4-5mph (which feels far too fast) - leaving the foot off the brake completely until the car was up the ramp and in the garage. A heart in mouth manoeuvre every time. Eventually I had a Bamford Rose twin plate clutch fitted, which helped, but did not cure the issues completely.
SS3 is just way, way better. There is no creep and manoeuvring is easy. You can delicately feather the throttle and brake to inch forward or backward and the car just does as you ask.
I think a lot of nonsense is said about "D" mode (in either SS1 or 3). Yes, if you floor the throttle in "D", especially from cold, there are obvious torque interruptions with each gear change and "nodding dog" heads for driver and passenger. If you are driving enthusiastically, you just have to use the paddles (with a slight throttle lift as you change gear if you like - although that's not really necessary). But that's hardly a revelation. You will be doing that anyway. To me that does not negate the purpose of "D". Every drive - however enthusiastic - eventually ends up at a town or village with traffic lights and junctions. When stop-starting or trickling along at 30 in traffic on a light throttle, then D is perfect. And on a busy motorway at 60 or 70 with inclines and traffic speeding up/slowing down (even Astons sometimes find themselves in this situation) I prefer D as the car is probably better than me at choosing whether 6 or 7 is the best gear. Sure, the car will cope with most things in 7th given the torque. But given this is hardly the time or place for enthusiastic sequential paddle changes, why not just let the car do it?
All of the above said, I still have a soft spot for my previous manual v12. There is nothing quite like the engagement of having a clutch pedal and a manual gear lever. However amateurish I may have been at using it. It's a close call between that and SS3. But mounted in a V12V, either is fantastic!
But my SS1 car was a complete pain to manoeuvre. It had an awful induced "creep" with all feet off the pedals to replicate a sort of conventional auto experience. Except it didn't work. Reversing on my gravel drive up a slight ramp into my garage was a nightmare. Keeping enough speed to get up the ramp meant keeping the clutch fully engaged in creep mode. The moment I even slightly feathered the brake to control the speed, the clutch disengaged completely then re-engaged often resulting in alarming jerks and sickening clutch burn smells. The only way was to let the car creep at full speed - about 4-5mph (which feels far too fast) - leaving the foot off the brake completely until the car was up the ramp and in the garage. A heart in mouth manoeuvre every time. Eventually I had a Bamford Rose twin plate clutch fitted, which helped, but did not cure the issues completely.
SS3 is just way, way better. There is no creep and manoeuvring is easy. You can delicately feather the throttle and brake to inch forward or backward and the car just does as you ask.
I think a lot of nonsense is said about "D" mode (in either SS1 or 3). Yes, if you floor the throttle in "D", especially from cold, there are obvious torque interruptions with each gear change and "nodding dog" heads for driver and passenger. If you are driving enthusiastically, you just have to use the paddles (with a slight throttle lift as you change gear if you like - although that's not really necessary). But that's hardly a revelation. You will be doing that anyway. To me that does not negate the purpose of "D". Every drive - however enthusiastic - eventually ends up at a town or village with traffic lights and junctions. When stop-starting or trickling along at 30 in traffic on a light throttle, then D is perfect. And on a busy motorway at 60 or 70 with inclines and traffic speeding up/slowing down (even Astons sometimes find themselves in this situation) I prefer D as the car is probably better than me at choosing whether 6 or 7 is the best gear. Sure, the car will cope with most things in 7th given the torque. But given this is hardly the time or place for enthusiastic sequential paddle changes, why not just let the car do it?
All of the above said, I still have a soft spot for my previous manual v12. There is nothing quite like the engagement of having a clutch pedal and a manual gear lever. However amateurish I may have been at using it. It's a close call between that and SS3. But mounted in a V12V, either is fantastic!
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