New Zealand Road Trip February 2021

New Zealand Road Trip February 2021

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Seakingsam

Original Poster:

59 posts

85 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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I have posted previously about sourcing my replacement near new 2017 V8VS manual from Aston Martin Nottingham in December 2019, and then shipping to Mike at Bamford Rose in early January 2020 for their full-house upgrade, prior to shipping to my home in Auckland.

After flying up to the UK for a week to test with Mike and Adrian, I got home to Auckland from my rapid week-long trip just a couple of weeks before New Zealand entered the first full Covid lockdown. The car arrived in May, was amazingly stored in my own garage rather than in a custom warehouse - all without NZ registration, inspection or VAT paid - such were the times. We were finally able to shed the UK plate and register the car in New Zealand in July. The photos below show my Aston (formerly LL18UGY, now MUA 66) amongst her brethren at Bamford Rose, as well as Mike and Adrian in full fettling mode (Adrian is actually inside in behind the seats, would you believe!) . I generated the rather discrete door sill plaque, with Mike's ok, to document all the BR upgrade work completed on the car.

At the beginning of February this year I took off for a 4,000km summer road-trip around New Zealand, heavily weighted on exploring all my favourite South Island roads, particularly in the deep south where the roads are generally all in great condition, smooth and twisting, generally light to no traffic, and scenery which must be seen to be believed. The weather was spectacular throughout - deep blue skies, mild winds, and very warm.

I'm very conscious my friends in the UK are in the middle of lockdown in late winter, and so I was very grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a summer road trip, without restriction. Glorious ! Oh yes, and a new fuel company (NPD) is now to be found throughout the south island, dispensing 100+ octane fuel, no less ! - I'm advised its rated at 104 octane - certainly the Aston seemed to enjoy the enhancement.

I can report, Mike, the car now has just over 16,000kms on the clock, so about 12,000 kms since the BR upgrade.

The car performed flawlessly throughout the road trip and the entire Bamford Rose upgrade has been, simply, transformational, and this road trip gave me the opportunity to drive every day, for extended periods, in demanding conditions. The engine now screams up to redline, and the gear shift is sublime, when warm - a bit notchy when very cold, but just part of the character of the car. The twin-plate clutch is now so smooth and easy, and allows real finesse, at all times. The switchable exhaust system gives the car a unique and very distinctive voice, and the switchable Bilstein suspension is glorious. The latter has proved to be a major in transforming the ability to travel very long distance in touring mode in complete comfort. The soft setting swallowed everything thrown at it while cruising, while the stiff setting was just excellent, and just a button push away, when conditions demanded a bit of pressing on.

My route was designed to get me into the South Island as quickly and easily as possible, so from Auckland straight down SH1 to Wellington in a little over 7 hours, for a smooth Cook Strait crossing late in the afternoon - I had mistakenly left the Aston on open exhaust, so starting her within the confines of the vehicle ferry was a bit of revelation ! Lots of smiles and thumbs up everywhere, as we burbled out of the hold. The Interislander team kindly placed us on the lowest, direct entry rail deck so that the air dam wasn't damaged on the tight ramps up to the other vehicle decks - always a worry. After some 850 kms in the day, plus a 3 hour ferry crossing, a hotel in the Blenheim wine country for the night was most welcome.

From Blenheim, down the north-east shoulder of the South Island to Kaikoura to see the major coastal road upgrades to SH1 post-earthquakes - a beautiful piece of road re-engineering in a sublime coastal setting - I could run up and down that road all day long.

From just south of Kaikoura, across the Inland scenic route over to Hanmer Springs - an epic, super-tight and twisting mountain road (watching out for large stock trucks on blind corners to make your little heart go pitter-pat). Out of the hills, and blatting across the valley floor between the mountains, and I was very surprised to run past Rodin Cars (see www.rodin-cars.com) - I had heard of them, but not seen the car, and here was a fascinating motor racing manufacturing complex, complete with a full race track, building bespoke F1-esque open wheelers (powered by a Cosworth-sourced V10 engine, no less), in the middle of the South Island high country ! I understand the owner is building out the infrastructure for a new racing series throughout Europe! I chanced upon it with the Aston in full flight on open exhaust. The giveaway was hearing an old F1 style V10 being wound out over my own exhaust - mind-blowing - and more power to their considerable elbow, I say !

The run from Hanmer Springs in the Southern Alps down to Christchurch is epic, and certainly well worth the drive. The Christchurch Aston club will often do the Sunday run up to Hanmer Springs for lunch - which seems to be a remarkably civilized way to pass the time!

In Christchurch, I met up with my good friend Mike, who had purchased my previous 2016 V8VS manual, and after I had converted it to a BR light weight flywheel and twin plate clutch in 2017. I had planned to replace the car with a near-new V12S manual when I sold the car in 2018, but after much deliberation I decided the V8VS was, in fact, my ideal choice, but as Mike refused to sell it back to me, sourcing another was the only path forward.

Mike asked if he could join me for the inland run down SH32 from Christchurch down to Geraldine, and so we had the two V8VS on the deserted roads. The Rakaia Gorge is very much a favorite part of the country for me, and for 20 years the dip down the sides of the gorge, being accurate on the one lane bridge, and up to the plateau on the southern side was always a coming home for me (always fun in an icy winter's morning, with coffee awaiting just down the road). At Geraldine we stopped to allow Mike to return to Christchurch. We enjoyed being approached by a fine gentleman who wanted to ask about the two virtually identical Astons, and who proceeded to advise us his son had owned a DB4 and had named his first son "Aston" - as you do !

Down into South Canterbury to visit my old stamping ground - I have recently sold a beautifully restored old country home in the area, and I wanted to see the home again, and have lunch with my good friend. Then off down to Dunedin to overnight, and then out through the fabulous 3-D roads through Middlemarch and the Rock and Pillar Range aiming for Central Otago, and overnight in Cromwell, the beating heart of Central.

In Omakau I was delighted to see the local police had adorned a large tractor in police pursuit colours, which needed a photo opportunity with a much bug-bespattered Aston. A very long way from New Zealand's urban centres with the usual array of complex policing issues, these southern country police are generally wonderful people, very much part of the community, and just as likely to recognize and comment on your vehicle as to offer you sage professional advice (!). They know full well why you are in the region, and they are much more interested in assessing your approach to your responsibilities - a light hand, with thoughtful and sensible engagement, which is much more likely to achieve their desired result. Some speed cameras in the area, but all very visible.

The roads around Cromwell - Queenstown - Wanaka region were a revelation, as ever. The new Highlands Circuit near Cromwell is a wonderful facility, allowing specialist instruction in your own vehicle, on a beautifully designed new track drawing the best corners from all the famous F1 circuits. The presence of an Aston Martin Vulcan (available for hire, I'm told – but with their driver, alas!) alongside the track control room is a testament to the facility owner's love affair with all things Aston !

This time, I took the opportunity to drive the Crown Range between Wanaka and Queenstown - and the BR-upgraded suspension and engine responsiveness proved its worth, time and again. The standard 6-pot Brembo are superb, in every respect, and provided their worth coming down off the steep mountain roads, into tight hairpin corners time and again. Up and down the gear box, stretching the engine in the lower gears, with the exhaust bouncing off the mountain walls, a very great pleasure on these deserted roads.

My wife had flown down from Auckland to join me in Queenstown for the trip back up to Wellington, and so off we went out of Wanaka out past the lakes toward Haast, and then north up the west coast road. We found ourselves in amongst any number of sports motorcycles returning to the north from the Burt Munro Classic Motorcycle event - a bit of a fixture in these parts - and so some interesting times had on the transit north. The road was, however, a very coarse chip road surface, with lots of repairs underway, so a great deal of loose gravel chip everywhere - I fretted I would have stone chips all over the paintwork, and had resigned myself to a fair amount of paint rectification when back in Auckland, but that proved not to be the case - the full PPF clearly proved its worth, with only 1 little stone chip to be found.

From Greymouth, up to Nelson, then across to Picton, to catch the ferry back to Wellington. While in Nelson we learned several community Covid cases had been found in Auckland, and the Government very quickly tipped Auckland back into lockdown, with police road blocks set up to stop traffic moving into and out of Auckland unless for appropriate reasons. Returning to our home was an acceptable reason, but I didn't wish to join long tail backs, so I had resolved to hole up in Nelson for the duration.

However, within a couple of days, the extensive community testing failed to uncover any more cases, and so the lockdown was eased rapidly, and we were clear to return home. My wife flew home from Wellington, while I drove the rather boring drive back to Auckland. A few bright spots, in wonderfully settled summer weather, and back in time to watch the Prada Cup Final in the mighty AC75 foiling yachts on the Hauraki Gulf. As I said earlier, our summer has been glorious, and so lucky such a world-class sporting event could be held on our Waitemata Harbour - the name Waitemata means "sparkling waters" in Te Reo Maori - our particularly evocative indigenous language going through a very real renaissance in New Zealand currently.

All in all, a great road trip - one for the ages - and the Aston performed flawlessly, literally at every turn (!). The Bamford Rose conversion proved to be sublime, and entirely transformational, and just cranks the enjoyment factor through the roof. The total cost for the BR conversion was, to my mind, remarkably reasonable, and any future Aston will simply be handed over to Mike and his team, for the final fettling to bring out the very best of the car.

I might add, I had bought my first V8VS new from Aston Martin Auckland, and I landed the second, fully upgraded by BR, with less than 2,500miles on the clock, in my drive in Auckland, all duties paid, for less than my first purchase. I consider that a win.

As for the country, its been just wonderful to reacquaint myself with the South Island, especially after such a draconian but completely necessary lockdown. To be able to thoroughly enjoy the car, in perfect setting, fabulous weather and without any time pressure whatsoever, has been sublime.





Seakingsam

Original Poster:

59 posts

85 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Apologies team, I can't upload photos, for some reason. The post shows photos uploaded, but won't display. Any thoughts ?

Logannz

45 posts

114 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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The Crown Range is definitely one of the best driving roads anywhere, and I'm lucky enough to live near.. can't beat it in the V8 Vantage. It sounds like you had an amazing trip.

Mr.Tremlini

1,460 posts

100 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Thanks for the great read and reminisce, Gareth. Those South Island roads are fantastic, the scenery outstanding, and Central Otago is one of my favorite spots in the country. I have only ever traveled those roads, albeit several times, in rental vehicles or 4x4`s, so not at a great pace, although have passengered in a Vanquish and Diablo in those parts.
Please work out how to post photos, as a disenfranchised kiwi, I need to see some shots!

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Nice trip, I pretty much did those very same roads myself unfortunately in a hire car but it was still great fun.

I will let my mate ferg know that you enjoyed his work on highway one he will appreciate it.

NickXX

1,546 posts

217 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Fantastic! Sounds like you've given the upgrades the ultimate road test!

I remember seeing your car up on the lifts last January when I was at BR and Mike told me your story. It did actually help me work up the confidence to get the manifolds and clutch done on my car (which I had done last month) - on the basis that BR must be pretty special if some guy from NZ has placed that much trust in them (he'd have to be crazy otherwise, right?)laugh.

Glad to see that you got it back over there safely and that you're enjoying it. Really looking forward to Spring here and taking my car, now also BR upgraded, for a bit of a road trip.

Steve*B

670 posts

207 months

Saturday 27th February 2021
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We should meet up for coffee Gareth, I'd be interested in your advice on that ferry crossing smile



Seakingsam

Original Poster:

59 posts

85 months

Saturday 27th February 2021
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Hi Steve, happy to .... although our new Auckland lockdown this morning might delay things a bit

Regarding ferry crossing, the guy at the entrance to the Interislander will coordinate with the officer on the vehicle deck responsible for loading the ship. I always ask politely for the lowest deck for flat access (usually rail deck) because of the risk of damage to the air dam. They will always oblige, although it may mean waiting for a bit. The flip side is you are first off (shhhh...)

V8V Pete

2,496 posts

125 months

Sunday 28th February 2021
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Sounds like a great trip Gareth and good to hear that you are enjoying your remarkably sourced Vantage.

I have a manual Vantage S with all the BR mods apart from the suspension and have a specific question about that. Mine has the OEM Sports suspension which I'm very happy with and doubt I would change until the dampers start leaking / wearing out. Assuming your previous Vantage S also had the Sports suspension, how would you compare it to the BR switchable adaptive setup? Is it just that the switchable system allows better comfort if required or do you also think it is better than the OEM Sports suspension for fast road and/or track driving too?

Seakingsam

Original Poster:

59 posts

85 months

Sunday 28th February 2021
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Hi Pete, my Vantage had comfort suspension as sourced from AM Nottingham, although I've driven V8VS with OEM sport suspension. When I bought my Vantage home to NZ, I asked Mike to place the original OEM suspension in the car, so that I retained the opportunity to replace back to original. However, my experience tells me the switchable suspension is better in every way, so the originals are now just so much garage clutter.

The BR-sourced Bilstein switchable suspension is perfect on NZ B-type roads, which was my original concern, and on smooth freeway or track just drops away from your thoughts, as body control is without compromise, at any speed.

For what it's worth, I'm very sensitive to suspension, and was one of my biggest concerns with the Vantage originally (needlessly harsh - crashy, in my view, particularly on imperfect roads). By way of background, I spent 20+ years replacing OEM suspension in all my cars as a standard modification, and remember well chasing down the perfect Koni suspension settings to replace the original Boges on my Audi 20V quattro coupe, utilizing the importer's suspension test rig to optimize. How silly? There was a single sharp edged bridge entry some 100kms from my home which always troubled the Boge - we replicated the original Boge dampener trace, then modified the compression and rebound settings .... obsessive, really. It worked, though :-)

So, back to the Vantage and the BR Bilstein solution. At relatively low road speeds, the soft setting is accurately damped with body control very well judged, in my view. The spring rate seems equivalent to, or if anything, even slightly softer, than the OEM spring rate, but the superior dampener settings seem to be the key. Certainly, compression dampening is remarkably well judged, and rebound dampening without any noticeable binding and sits very well with me and my style of driving.

The stiffer setting is clearly track oriented, and works well on the road at higher speeds. The compression and rebound damping rates are stiffer than the OEM sports suspension, it seems to me, but better judged, with smoother transition, and avoiding the sharp "thump-thump" I experienced previously on imperfect roads. When pressing on, the stiffer setting provides a genuine accuracy to body control which is spot on. No complaints from passenger, either, which is a particularly good test.

All in all, I'm a big fan. The Bilstein set-up improves the drivability significantly. It's fully adjustable and rebuildable, so a one-off investment. To me, it integrates the full BR upgrade, to ensure the improved engine performance (responsiveness and power) is able to be fully applied, under all road conditions, with the driver in a very relaxed state.

V8V Pete

2,496 posts

125 months

Monday 1st March 2021
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Thanks for that thorough and convincing reply Gareth. You're probably not helping my motoring budgeting plans for the next year or so!

Regarding your photos I'm not sure why they won't upload but please try again because we all love a good road trip photo set.

Seakingsam

Original Poster:

59 posts

85 months

Monday 1st March 2021
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Hi Pete, still playing with the photo upload, but all defeated so far. I think Apple iPhone photos originally in HEIC format, not JPG despite downloading as JPG. Have downloaded and converted, played all sorts of games, on different downloaded conversion apps also, but no luck. Damned if I know ....

Anyhoo - I did take a video of the car after conversion at BR, with Adrian still working in cockpit on suspension button, controller etc. Gives a good appreciation of the epic sound now available and the engine responsiveness to throttle - so much difference from OEM.




Edited by Seakingsam on Monday 1st March 20:49

Seakingsam

Original Poster:

59 posts

85 months

Monday 1st March 2021
quotequote all
One photo you might enjoy

New police pursuit vehicle in Central Otago - great sense of humor - gets the message across, and I've chuckled about it right across the road trip !


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