Discussion
How fast will a Vantage corner on country roads?
I keep getting the sensation that it's on the edge of grip, at speeds that I don't think give me that sensation in regular cars. I am more comfortable throwing a regular car around corners, partly because flooring it from 30mph to 50mph out of the corner takes half an hour which gives me plenty of time to control what happens, and partly I just don't feel it about to slip.
If I am following the Hyundai Whatever on the B12094 at 50-60mph, can I assume that any cornering it can do, I can also do?
I haven't come across any corners where I can test this without endangering other people. The only place where I can sort of test, ironically, is 90 degree city street corners, where I can turn in more sharply than I expected, so full marks there.
I keep getting the sensation that it's on the edge of grip, at speeds that I don't think give me that sensation in regular cars. I am more comfortable throwing a regular car around corners, partly because flooring it from 30mph to 50mph out of the corner takes half an hour which gives me plenty of time to control what happens, and partly I just don't feel it about to slip.
If I am following the Hyundai Whatever on the B12094 at 50-60mph, can I assume that any cornering it can do, I can also do?
I haven't come across any corners where I can test this without endangering other people. The only place where I can sort of test, ironically, is 90 degree city street corners, where I can turn in more sharply than I expected, so full marks there.
Mr Aston Martin said:
I would politely suggest you will reach your driving limits well before you find the cars.
If you doubt that sentiment book yourself on the PDC and have some informed fun.
Agreed, and my driving limits are pretty low, but I'd like to test it somewhere safe first.If you doubt that sentiment book yourself on the PDC and have some informed fun.
I'll do the PDC next year, they close down from November to Spring.
montecristo said:
Agreed, and my driving limits are pretty low, but I'd like to test it somewhere safe first.
I'll do the PDC next year, they close down from November to Spring.
Be a gent and try the track. I'll do the PDC next year, they close down from November to Spring.
Rockingham/Bruntingthorpe/silverstone etc do cheap deals. Something like 17 miles of track tutoring isn't expensive.
I did a track day in my Vantage not long after I got it in 2007. Was at Snetterton and lapping quicker than some Exiges that were on trackday sticky tyres
You would really have to be driving like a loony on the road to get near the limits of the car.....
As others suggest, try the PDC or a trackday with some instruction and you will be surprised at what the standard car can do. Then you will be a lot more confident under normal road conditions
You would really have to be driving like a loony on the road to get near the limits of the car.....
As others suggest, try the PDC or a trackday with some instruction and you will be surprised at what the standard car can do. Then you will be a lot more confident under normal road conditions
montecristo said:
How fast will a Vantage corner on country roads?
I keep getting the sensation that it's on the edge of grip, at speeds that I don't think give me that sensation in regular cars.
I presume that you drive with the standard magic stuff left on (ESP is it called).I keep getting the sensation that it's on the edge of grip, at speeds that I don't think give me that sensation in regular cars.
Have you ever felt the electronic safety stuff operating at all (with a dashboard light illuminated)? That might occur with hard acceleration out of a slow corner, especially if there is a loose road surface.
You will understand of course, that I only drive according to the laws of the road. On a few occasions where there is no traffic, a smooth tarmac surface, and an open sweeping corner, I have pushed the G forces. No problems whatsoever, although passengers do tend to hold on for support.
There is a YouTube video of Tiff Needell teaching a MotoGP rider how to drift a V8 Vantage. That will show you the cornering ability of our cars. Might be best not to buy that particular car.
Enjoy your PDC.
V8V Pete said:
Also, if it really does feel unstable, get your geometry checked just in case.
This!Made a huge difference in mine.
Once that's done its then really almost impossible to chuck a Vantage off the road with all the electronic controls. If you do its will be driver error not the car.
If you are asking questions like this and lack confidence in the car, some instruction and fast driving on a track will change things significantly. It won't instantly make you a fantastic driver, but will teach you the limits of the car. As others have said, you will probably s
t out long before the car, although cold and wet does decrease corner speeds 
.
Alternatively let me drive you around for a day and you will then know how good it is. However the down side is that £10K will instantly be wiped off the value and you need to wear a balaclava and shout "you will never take me alive copper" out of the passenger window 
HTH
t out long before the car, although cold and wet does decrease corner speeds .Alternatively let me drive you around for a day and you will then know how good it is
. However the down side is that £10K will instantly be wiped off the value and you need to wear a balaclava and shout "you will never take me alive copper" out of the passenger window HTH
Having had a V8V, now having a V12V and having done the PDC in a V12V, I can honestly say that you will be amazed at just how fast a Vantage will take a corner. As everyone has said, you will run out of nerve before the car gives up, and the DSC lights will kick in to tell you that you are approaching doing something a bit silly.
As I was told by RobGT before doing my PDC, it is the wet part that really shows the capabilities of the car itself and the DSC. Amazing degree of safety mechanism built into the car.
Even driving in the wet, when the V12V started wiggling about at the back under acceleration the car brought it all back into line. Had the DSC been off we may well have been facing the car behind. Great feeling of safety. Of course, my excuse (which I borrowed from TonyV12V) was that my Corsas were not hot enough!
So as has been said, the best advice is to do a track day or a PDC and you will come away with a much better understanding of the capabilities of your car. Of course, and I include myself here, one’s own capabilities may still fall far short of fully exploiting the car, but then one would never condone that on UK roads anyway.
As I was told by RobGT before doing my PDC, it is the wet part that really shows the capabilities of the car itself and the DSC. Amazing degree of safety mechanism built into the car.
Even driving in the wet, when the V12V started wiggling about at the back under acceleration the car brought it all back into line. Had the DSC been off we may well have been facing the car behind. Great feeling of safety. Of course, my excuse (which I borrowed from TonyV12V) was that my Corsas were not hot enough!
So as has been said, the best advice is to do a track day or a PDC and you will come away with a much better understanding of the capabilities of your car. Of course, and I include myself here, one’s own capabilities may still fall far short of fully exploiting the car, but then one would never condone that on UK roads anyway.
you have way more grip than you think. If you are feeling you haven't, get the geometry checked. If it's as bad as you say a dealer will spot a problem with a test drive
Front offside wheel almost airborne still Corning well (on Corsas in the wet BTW Guys )
Rear offside wheel skimming Tarmac, still cornering well
Front offside wheel almost airborne still Corning well (on Corsas in the wet BTW Guys
)Rear offside wheel skimming Tarmac, still cornering well
montecristo said:
Jon39 said:
Have you ever felt the electronic safety stuff operating at all (with a dashboard light illuminated)?
Not even close; I didn't realise it even did that, so that's good to know.Though it gobbles rear brake pads if you light it up too much
Get a geometry check if its out it can really make it feel unstable and uninspiring
Then go and see Andy Walsh @ carlimits.co.uk
He will show you your car can do and how you can achieve it, all in a safe environment.
No risk of offs at track days or public roads
It take a fair bit off the tyres
That will give you the confidence in the car, confidence in your abilities and teach you some VERY useful techniques
I've done 3 sessions with him and I can honestly say my current "abilities" are mainly down to him
It only weighs around 1200kg doesn't it! That must have flown 
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff