Sport shift vs Manual on vantage
Discussion
I'm sure there must be a thread or two but can't find it , I'm looking at an early vantage as a low cost weekend toy but am unsure as to reliability and driving characteristics of the sportshift, anybody out there have a view? Mileage will be ultra low and purely 'fun' , won't be tracking it either.
Cheers and thanks
Cheers and thanks
robgt said:
Sportshift 2 or ASM2 is fanbloody tastic !! coupled with a close ratio 7 speed gearbox. I tried both , now driven 10000 plus miles in my S. I would never go back to a manual. So there!!
You on the wine again Rob..? )2.5pi said:
I'm looking at an early vantage as a low cost weekend toy
So Sportshift ASM1! As mentioned; useless in auto mode, needs constant 'clutch learns', wears the clutch fast in town, very hard to reverse slowly, hillstarts awful. On the open road or track though, those that like such systems seem to like it!
I ran a SS-fitted N400 from new for a couple of years, having previously owned a 4.3 manual.
Firstly, the system is one you really need to spend some time perfecting as you will find the gearbox very jerky when shifting through the gears until you get the hang of it .... however .... learning to use it properly is part of the fun and I LOVED it once I mastered it! Fast, smooth changes made the whole experience all the more rewarding.
I spent a day driving most of the AM range including the new (at the time) V12 Vantage - a superb car but I found myself wishing the same SS type system was fitted in place of the manual.
In the three years I owned the car I used the auto button twice, both in the first couple of days ownership. As long a the clutch learn was done properly, I found the car quite drivable and pleasant around town, including pulling away from stationery (the time a poor clutch adjustment would show up with judder on the SS).
That said, I have heard suggestion the clutches give up sooner than the normal manual but I didn't have the car long enough to find that out!
Firstly, the system is one you really need to spend some time perfecting as you will find the gearbox very jerky when shifting through the gears until you get the hang of it .... however .... learning to use it properly is part of the fun and I LOVED it once I mastered it! Fast, smooth changes made the whole experience all the more rewarding.
I spent a day driving most of the AM range including the new (at the time) V12 Vantage - a superb car but I found myself wishing the same SS type system was fitted in place of the manual.
In the three years I owned the car I used the auto button twice, both in the first couple of days ownership. As long a the clutch learn was done properly, I found the car quite drivable and pleasant around town, including pulling away from stationery (the time a poor clutch adjustment would show up with judder on the SS).
That said, I have heard suggestion the clutches give up sooner than the normal manual but I didn't have the car long enough to find that out!
Second that. Once you've got used to the SS1, it is great fun especially the down-changes. I found my previous V8V manual really slow on rev pick up, so rev matching on downshifts and heel-toe'ing was difficult. The SS makes that a breeze.
Caveats: Need to do clutch re-learns regularly. Once a week ideally if you drive frequently. That will save the clutch and make stop-start driving a whole lot smoother.
Caveats: Need to do clutch re-learns regularly. Once a week ideally if you drive frequently. That will save the clutch and make stop-start driving a whole lot smoother.
2.5pi said:
Thanks all for the responses, seems v. much like the reasons why I ended up with a Maserati Granturismo with an Auto box rather than Duo Select then...best start looking for a manual
Cheers
If you want a true auto with paddle shift, there's the DB9! Same chassis but an extra 4 cylinders and PLENTY more power Cheers
king creep mode what a PITA!
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff