RE: Advantage Prodrive
Discussion
not yet - I think the ECU is locked ...im not sure that even Prodrive are re-flashing the factory ECU (this isnt an officially sanctioned AM project etc) so they may well be just using a piggy back ECU - I would be interested to know myself.
I dont think the market is big enough yet, for any of the other big tuning companies to spend the time/money in hacking the ECU and developing a map.
I dont think the market is big enough yet, for any of the other big tuning companies to spend the time/money in hacking the ECU and developing a map.
I popped into a local firm with an excellent pedigree for performance enhancements today. I was only looking round with a mate because there's always something interesting in the showroom. I was just leaving when I remembered reading something on these forums a few months back about them doing a forced induction upgrade for the V8V. So I asked about it and they were very forthcoming, even showing me the unit in question (without saying what it was). They said they were expecting to get about 475bhp (although it was capable of a lot more) and told me to call in a couple of months, when things should be further down the line. No mention of price yet (too early), but they did say that they were looking to honour the Aston warranty.
I doubt that it's exactly hush-hush if they'll tell an oik like me who's just wandered in off the street, but I won't mention the name just in case they don't want to advertise it until they know more.
Sounded worth waiting for.
I doubt that it's exactly hush-hush if they'll tell an oik like me who's just wandered in off the street, but I won't mention the name just in case they don't want to advertise it until they know more.
Sounded worth waiting for.
Hampshire / Surrey border (which should be a give-away to anyone who's interested). As I say they were mentioned on a thread in January. To be honest I'd guess that they want potential customers to know about it, albeit unofficially. They are probably not far enough along to commit to it publicly, but don't mind spreading the word (for obvious reasons). From what you say it sounds like they aren't the only ones with such plans though.
They have a lot of experience with similar engines and sound very advanced in their plans to use the same unit on them. They mentioned the extra challenges with the Aston, especially the fact that the V8V engine is mounted so far back in the bay, which is great for handling but means that it sits pretty close to the bulkhead, which could cause problems. They mentioned how they were getting around these, but the technical details whistled far above my head.
It just sounded a better option in performance terms, especially if the Prodrive gains are most noticeable at the top of the rev range. As Pugsey said, this isn't where the V8V really needs it, unless you are using it for track work.
It looks like Prodrive will have more than one competitor in this niche area in a few months time, although I guess that the David Richards connection; the AM racing team connection; and also the sheer amount of publicity probably lends an aura of "official" to their upgrade.
They have a lot of experience with similar engines and sound very advanced in their plans to use the same unit on them. They mentioned the extra challenges with the Aston, especially the fact that the V8V engine is mounted so far back in the bay, which is great for handling but means that it sits pretty close to the bulkhead, which could cause problems. They mentioned how they were getting around these, but the technical details whistled far above my head.
It just sounded a better option in performance terms, especially if the Prodrive gains are most noticeable at the top of the rev range. As Pugsey said, this isn't where the V8V really needs it, unless you are using it for track work.
It looks like Prodrive will have more than one competitor in this niche area in a few months time, although I guess that the David Richards connection; the AM racing team connection; and also the sheer amount of publicity probably lends an aura of "official" to their upgrade.
£6-£7k for the NA upgrades. Hmmm. Well, for a start you are paying the brand premium, you own an Aston, therefore to do any playing you get charged Aston premium money. That is the name of the game. "Tuning" is essentially chavvy and Astons arent meant to be that, so to get around that image, Aston, Bentley, etc have all had Works Upgrade programs etc, where they charge you obscene amounts of money so you dont feel like you are comparable to the bloke with an Escort who just upgraded his air filter. Its a snob thing, get used to it!
Technically...depends on the engine, the reliability of getting the extra power, the development time and cost. You have to factor in recouping those, protecting your IP and against the size of the potential market. There is hardly any way for me to protect my IP in the aero upgrades for the Sagaris, so the only effect method really is the high initial price. There is also a certain question of engineering integrity.
If you did sling a blower on there, then really you would be wanting 470-500ponies, but suddenly that puts a lot more stress on the rest of the car. Rather than making certain extra upgrades optional, they really become mandatory. Again there is an element of engineering integrity in this as the car world seems to operate to ideas of the minimum standard to reduce costs rather than a culture of overt levels of redundancy. To make it a genuine 470-500BHP car then you really would have to spend an extra £15-20k to do it properly (in adequate engineering terms) whether that would be good enough value for customers in another question entirely. I suspect though that there is a market for it, you make the AMV8 into a genuine 911tt alternative, that whilst you almost certainly wont match the Porker for out and out pace, you more than make up for it with the already acknowledged AMV8 charms. Given the underwhelming "charm" appeal of the latest 911tt, the seeming idea that it is too clinical, too good, then that could be an excellent AM marketing angle.
Technically...depends on the engine, the reliability of getting the extra power, the development time and cost. You have to factor in recouping those, protecting your IP and against the size of the potential market. There is hardly any way for me to protect my IP in the aero upgrades for the Sagaris, so the only effect method really is the high initial price. There is also a certain question of engineering integrity.
If you did sling a blower on there, then really you would be wanting 470-500ponies, but suddenly that puts a lot more stress on the rest of the car. Rather than making certain extra upgrades optional, they really become mandatory. Again there is an element of engineering integrity in this as the car world seems to operate to ideas of the minimum standard to reduce costs rather than a culture of overt levels of redundancy. To make it a genuine 470-500BHP car then you really would have to spend an extra £15-20k to do it properly (in adequate engineering terms) whether that would be good enough value for customers in another question entirely. I suspect though that there is a market for it, you make the AMV8 into a genuine 911tt alternative, that whilst you almost certainly wont match the Porker for out and out pace, you more than make up for it with the already acknowledged AMV8 charms. Given the underwhelming "charm" appeal of the latest 911tt, the seeming idea that it is too clinical, too good, then that could be an excellent AM marketing angle.
DJC said:
"Tuning" is essentially chavvy...
I don't agree with this, I don't think there's anything fundermentally "chavvy" about wanting to get more out of your car and making it better to drive. This Aston looks tastefully done to me, albeit expensive as said.
Edited by kieran2006 on Wednesday 9th May 01:15
kieran2006 said:
DJC said:
"Tuning" is essentially chavvy...
I don't agree with this, I don't think there's anything fundermental "chavvy" about wanting to get more out of your car and making it better to drive. This Aston looks tastefully done to me, albeit expensive as said.
Kieran, I think you've just highlighted the dumbest quote I've ever seen on PH. Sort of stomach churning that anyone could write such a statement. Lack of knowledge of the English language and the basics of motor cars?
Some people eh?
bri_the_fly said:
kieran2006 said:
DJC said:
"Tuning" is essentially chavvy...
I don't agree with this, I don't think there's anything fundermental "chavvy" about wanting to get more out of your car and making it better to drive. This Aston looks tastefully done to me, albeit expensive as said.
Kieran, I think you've just highlighted the dumbest quote I've ever seen on PH. Sort of stomach churning that anyone could write such a statement. Lack of knowledge of the English language and the basics of motor cars?
Some people eh?
Tuning 'chavvy'?! So much you could say in response but one word will do - Cosworth. Get the idea? Shame because I thought there was a lot of sense in the rest of the post.
Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 8th May 15:46
"Chav is a derogatory slang term in popular usage throughout the UK. It refers to a subculture stereotype of a person who is uneducated, uncultured and prone to antisocial or immoral behaviour. The label is typically, though not exclusively, applied to teenagers and young adults of white working-class or lower-middle class origin. Chav is used for both sexes, where a male chav is sometimes referred to as a chavster and a female as a chavette. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav "
So, all the people that have used the word chav in this thread, how does it apply to an tuned Aston ??
I'm confused ?? Is it just your lack of understanding of what the word means ??
Hmmm, drive a standard V8 and nothing is said, tune it a bit and you are suddenly, in the eyes of some people on this thread, an uneducated, uncultured and prone to antisocial or immoral behaviour kind of person ??
How offensive
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav "
So, all the people that have used the word chav in this thread, how does it apply to an tuned Aston ??
I'm confused ?? Is it just your lack of understanding of what the word means ??
Hmmm, drive a standard V8 and nothing is said, tune it a bit and you are suddenly, in the eyes of some people on this thread, an uneducated, uncultured and prone to antisocial or immoral behaviour kind of person ??
How offensive
Edited by :J: on Friday 25th May 16:51
:J: said:
"Chav is a derogatory slang term in popular usage throughout the UK. It refers to a subculture stereotype of a person who is uneducated, uncultured and prone to antisocial or immoral behaviour. The label is typically, though not exclusively, applied to teenagers and young adults of white working-class or lower-middle class origin. Chav is used for both sexes, where a male chav is sometimes referred to as a chavster and a female as a chavette. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav "
So, all the people that have used the word chav in this thread, how does it apply to an tuned Aston ??
I'm confused ?? Is it just your lack of understanding of what the word means ??
Hmmm, drive a standard V8 and nothing is said, tune it a bit and you are suddenly, in the eyes of some people on this thread, an uneducated, uncultured and prone to antisocial or immoral behaviour kind of person ??
How offensive
Yes, silly isn't it? 'Tuning' a car has nothing to do with being a so called chav. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav "
So, all the people that have used the word chav in this thread, how does it apply to an tuned Aston ??
I'm confused ?? Is it just your lack of understanding of what the word means ??
Hmmm, drive a standard V8 and nothing is said, tune it a bit and you are suddenly, in the eyes of some people on this thread, an uneducated, uncultured and prone to antisocial or immoral behaviour kind of person ??
How offensive
The word chav seems to be used by many as a derogatory reference to working class aspiration and values, as a means to dismiss them as inferior.
Personally, I find that whole 'don't rise above your station' middle class conformity thing very irritating when expressed in that 'I'm right, your wrong' way. Unfortunately, I see quite a bit of that us and them mentallity on this forum, which is a shame.
Oddball RS said:
:J:
Seen as you are so easily upset and 'Wikipedia' features so greatly in your life just change 'C*av' for 'tasteless' or 'more money than sense'
Maybe then you will pick up on the idea.
I'm not upset, and it's the first time I have come across Wikipedia, but thanks for checking Seen as you are so easily upset and 'Wikipedia' features so greatly in your life just change 'C*av' for 'tasteless' or 'more money than sense'
Maybe then you will pick up on the idea.
I am quite happy actually, your mentioning of 'tasteless' and 'more money than sense' has made me have a bit of a smile tbh
Got any more silly comments you could give me a giggle with ??
I see you have RS in your forum name, does that apply to a Porker ?? If so, how tastless to take a standard 911, tune it up and chuck a bit of a bodykit on it, the people that own them must have more money than sense eh !!
Edited by :J: on Tuesday 29th May 15:23
Oddball RS said:
:J:
Seen as you are so easily upset and 'Wikipedia' features so greatly in your life just change 'C*av' for 'tasteless' or 'more money than sense'
Maybe then you will pick up on the idea.
How amusing! So you find Msport, RS (as in Porsche), Cosworth etc. etc. tasteless do you. Remind us, what are you doing on PH's? Seen as you are so easily upset and 'Wikipedia' features so greatly in your life just change 'C*av' for 'tasteless' or 'more money than sense'
Maybe then you will pick up on the idea.
And btw what amazing example of good taste do you own?
Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 29th May 18:09
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