AMV8 making a great car better: suggested improvements...

[Pugsey]

Zod said:

A HUD would be great. Once you've lived with one, it just seems the most sensible way of presenting information to the driver.

I agree. Like a lot of things I thought it pretty pointless until I used it regularly in a couple of cars. Now I wonder why they all haven't got it. Now seems vaguely ridiculous to take your eyes off the road to look down/across at a dial or screen.

[AMD1]

Having had both, the iDrive is better than the Command, especially with the updated software. How about removing the wood and having carbon fibre or piano black?

And please, remove those two large plastic looking knobs and use the previous ones from the 4.3.

I agree with Angel, send it to Gaydon or I will give it to them when I am at the factory in July.

PS You deserve to own an Aston.

[astonfan09]

AMD1 said:

Having had both, the iDrive is better than the Command, especially with the updated software. How about removing the wood and having carbon fibre or piano black?

I agree with the comment on the iDrive. I quite like it. I think customers should always have the option on trim, be it carbon-fibre, piano black, turned aluminium, or luxurious wood that I prefer.
Afterall, different trims go well with different interior colours IMO.

AMD1 said:

I agree with Angel, send it to Gaydon or I will give it to them when I am at the factory in July.

PS You deserve to own an Aston.

Thanks! Please tell that to Dr Bez when you visit the factory, and you can give them the picture as well.

[Zod]

the new iDrive is an amazing improvement.

[Grant3]

stanwan said:

Sometimes these are gadgets for gadgets sake! I mean, it isn't that hard to twist a dial when it gets dark! I trust that most PHers are able to tell a drizzle from a downpour too Joking aside though, use some rainx or similiar hydrophobic repellant on the front screen - you don't even need to bother with wipers most of the time....

I agree the AMV8 is a sports car & lets not forget that driver interaction, feel & performance is paramount, not every gadget known to man... James Bond isn't real ... is he???, having said that we do need to retain the Aston "feel good factor" via the stunning design inside & out!

AMD1 said:

And please, remove those two large plastic looking knobs and use the previous ones from the 4.3.

Frankly I am gobsmaked by those that seem to feel the 4.3 lower centre consul is better than the new DBS unit, I can only think that you haven't seen, touched & used it in the flesh as they are in fact NOT plastic but thin alloy! Ok they aren't solid billets of aluminium which I agree would be better on a car of this price, but they are vastly better quality, more functional (although still too fiddly!!!) & more modern than what went before IMO! While the old 4.3 consul finish didn't spoil the fabulous interior it certainly detracted from much of the other quality, in fact on my last V8 all the white painted button text was wearing off the vast number of hard plastic press buttons, the lower section didn't blend with the upper as it does now & the lower metal dials were very dated 70's stereo although nice quality. I'm not knocking the previous interior it was still great but things have moved a small step forward with the facelift!
As ever IMO... each to their own but my Rose tinted glasses are off




..images pinched from Moogle off AMOC who made the same point !

Edited by Grant3 on Wednesday 1st April 23:25

[Murph7355]

Not a fan of the DBS console either I'm afraid (nor its gear knob).

It looks "over designed" to me. As if they thought it needed sorting/updating but couldn't really figure out how to do it properly with electronics so just jumbled the switches up and used new knobs and buttons from a Mazda.

If you have the top part of the dash wood, do they also replace the bottom bits with wood too?

[astonfan09]

Murph7355 said:

Not a fan of the DBS console either I'm afraid (nor its gear knob).

It looks "over designed" to me. As if they thought it needed sorting/updating but couldn't really figure out how to do it properly with electronics so just jumbled the switches up and used new knobs and buttons from a Mazda.

If you have the top part of the dash wood, do they also replace the bottom bits with wood too?

Nope only the top part is wood, just like in my edited picture. I'm not a huge fan of the DBS' gear knob, but I think the updated console is still a rather significant improvement. Still lots of room for further changes though

Grant3 said:

I agree the AMV8 is a sports car & lets not forget that driver interaction, feel & performance is paramount, not every gadget known to man... James Bond isn't real ... is he???, having said that we do need to retain the Aston "feel good factor" via the stunning design inside & out!

I agree.. sort of.. gadgets like radar-guided cruise control, a rear view camera, massage seats, BMW's active steering, night vision etc are quite useless if you ask me, even if they are offered on other cars.

But other gadgets like a keyless go system, rain sensors, auto-headlamps and dual zone climate control are some luxuries that should come in a top-end GT car.

Still, I'd rather the drivetrain and performance parts gets more sophistication. I don't see why that can't offer their existing ceramic brakes from the DBS as an option And please AM, always have an option for a proper manual gearbox! I'll be very sad should AM one day decide to only provide the SS gearbox. I hate it when I'm forced to choose either an automatic gearbox or an automated manual, no matter how good they are. (eg. XKR, Maserati GT-S, any AMG Merc etc)

[steve_amv8]

Another vote for keyless go from me .... a small card that goes in your wallet is all it needs. I have it on my CL and it is amazing how dated the idea of a key feels after you've used keyless go!

The only other major change would be to the sat-nav and screen. Why not -
- ditch the current set up and look at some of the excellent software built in to the current Kenwood and Pioneer double DIN units;
- make the firmware and map updates via a USB stick, with low cost updates to the maps via a website;
- integrate the audio and sat-nav and allow the sat-nav screen to display track info, iPod menus, etc
- provide an auxiliary input to the sat-nav screen for options such as TV, etc

In fact, why not just replace the whole audio and sat-nav with a custom version of the Pioneer/Kenwood equipment - it should be possible to integrate without making any major changes to the look of the centre console!

[steve_amv8]

.... oh, and one last one .... front parking sensors that spot low kerbs ... you know the ones I mean, too low to register but too high to fit under the car!

[XXXAngelXXX]

@ astonfan09: i don't like the idrive near the ashtray - to be honest i don't smoke but i like the aluminium look of the ashtray in the centre console together with piano black

Ps. Adrian is right - you deserve an Aston - btw i just own the DBS - the white V8V belongs to my neighbour (he caught Astonidis after a test-drive with my former V8V Coupe)

[AMD1]

Grant3 said:

they are in fact NOT plastic but thin alloy!

I said plastic 'looking' knobs. Do you think they used thinner materials on other parts of the 4.7, like the exhaust?

Seriously, I would be happy with the new dashboard if I owned a DBS ....... or a 4.7

[Paralight]

steve_amv8 said:

.... oh, and one last one .... front parking sensors that spot low kerbs ... you know the ones I mean, too low to register but too high to fit under the car!

We are currently working on a camera system that will be fitted below the number plate mount,against the wire mesh, that will show a image of obstacles ahead on the Nav screen.

This will add to the portfolio of Integrated Ipod for pre 08 Gaydon Cars and Bluetooth upgrades, retaining steering wheel control.

However if there are more items that are on owners wish lists then let me know.

Regards

Paralight

[bimmmmer]

Grant -

I think the proportion of the new dials is too huge, the older version in my car is 'ok' at best, but I truthfully was expecting a leap forward in style and design . . . the same level of meticulous design used for the exterior to seep it's way to the interior parts. I'm dumbstruck how they couldn't come up with a better design???

Just my 2 cents -

[Grant3]

bimmmmer said:

Grant -
I think the proportion of the new dials is too huge, the older version in my car is 'ok' at best, but I truthfully was expecting a leap forward in style and design . . . the same level of meticulous design used for the exterior to seep it's way to the interior parts. I'm dumbstruck how they couldn't come up with a better design???
Just my 2 cents -

Hi Bimmmmer.. I do agree with you, Murph & AMD that the new consul is a little over stylised with too many fiddly buttons, but it looks better in the flesh & is still a big leap forward over what went before (higher quality finish, fit, more modern, blends better with top section etc). which shows Aston are listening to feedback & trying to improve things in line with customer requirements.. got to be good IMO

Maybe they will listen to you guys & modify/improve it again for the 2010MY.... including my big gripe about the fact that you still can't read the stereo/heater/phone consul AT ALL in bright light

Edited to add time to photo-shop your suggested changes on the images above

Edited by Grant3 on Friday 3rd April 11:41

[Pugsey]

Guys. Never loose sight of the fact that an Aston interior is a thing of true joy compared with 99% of the competition. I'm not talking about the enth degree of ergonomic detail here - just the overall appearance/form and feel good factor. One of VERY few cars where, even after a reasonable period of ownership, I often used to take a moment to look round the interior before setting off.

Edited by Pugsey on Friday 3rd April 12:05

[astonfan09]

Ok, here's a newer iteration of the image.


Few main changes,
I rearranged the buttons, added in a Exhaust Bypass Switch button, as well as a sports suspension mode (from the DBS) should AM ever decide to add such a feature. If not, the Lamy pen will be fine as well.

To fit in the iDrive wheel, the ashtray has been moved forward slightly and slightly reduced in size, and the armrest has been moved back slightly as well. Think that looks better Angel? I'm sure that should such a scheme ever be implemented, a custom knob other than BMW's one with some buttons on the side can be used.

Now someone please convince Dr Bez that this is a better design than the existing one!

Lastly, I'm using the SS interface only because it's easier to show the buttons and dash this way. Frankly if AM ditches the SS entirely and only have the manual, I can't say I would mind

[XXXAngelXXX]

Now its perfect thanks

[AMD1]

Looking good....

How about replacing the wood with alloy or carbon fibre and reduce the size of those large thin alloy plastic looking knobs either side of the clock?

Edited by AMD1 on Saturday 4th April 09:51

[XXXAngelXXX]

how about piano black

[astonfan09]

thanks for the compliments. I'm not gonna put on a new trim or change the dials, mainly because it's too much of a pain to edit in

But as long as AM offers the full range of trims, it's fine.
@ AMD1: Are you seriously gonna take the picture to Gaydon in July? I'll be pretty chuffed if you actually do