Touchtronic 2.

[cayman-black]

What is the touchtronic gearbox like in the DBS, is it the same box thats now in the Vanquish? TIA.

[PiloteAM]

Isn't it the same one that's in the DB9?

The vanquish box is a ZF 8 speed I think, quite different.

Both DB9 and DBS can be had in manly manual, if you search.

[steveatesh]

PiloteAM said:

Isn't it the same one that's in the DB9?

The vanquish box is a ZF 8 speed I think, quite different.

Both DB9 and DBS can be had in manly manual, if you search.

May stand to be corrected here but isn't the ZF 8 speed the gearbox that SHOULD be in the Vanquish but it's only got the 6 speed?
A quick check on AM site and yes, it's the 6 speed touch tropic box on the Vanquish.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

cayman-black said:

What is the touchtronic gearbox like in the DBS, is it the same box thats now in the Vanquish? TIA.

Believe that the Vanq is a software improved version of the TT2 that is in the DBS, which itself may be a software improved version of the TT2 in the DB9. Basically all the same with some tweaking to alter shift characteristics to suit the car/power plant combination. The 'improvement' from DBS to Vanq is greater than the improvement from DB9 to DBS, by all accounts.

[Grant3]

Steve ^ is right, but the DBS Touchtronic also features a different final drive ratio, to assist in gear acceleration and compensate for the reduction in torque when compared to the (pre-13MY) DB9. It also has a more sophisticated Sport function that changes the throttle map as well as the gear change strategy.

[brakedwell]

The 8 speed (TT2) ZF in my A8 is excellent, but the speed has to be above 60mph before it will stay in eighth gear. Having the flappy paddles attached to the steering wheel rather than the steering column is a big improvement on the DB9

[jonby]

brakedwell said:

The 8 speed (TT2) ZF in my A8 is excellent, but the speed has to be above 60mph before it will stay in eighth gear. Having the flappy paddles attached to the steering wheel rather than the steering column is a big improvement on the DB9

I ask this question out of genuine curiosity - why would you want to use the paddles in your A8 ? I have an A7 and used them once. To my mind, most torque convertor autos in cars other than out & out sports cars (which in itself is something I find odd, but the F type is once such car) are simply best left in auto mode and particularly in a saloon

[George29]

brakedwell said:

Having the flappy paddles attached to the steering wheel rather than the steering column is a big improvement on the DB9

Really? Thats one thing I hated about my S3. Fixed paddles are way better imo. Plus why would you ever be changing gear with a lot of steering lock on?

[brakedwell]

George29 said:

Really? Thats one thing I hated about my S3. Fixed paddles are way better imo. Plus why would you ever be changing gear with a lot of steering lock on?

Admittedly I rarely use the paddles, (DB9 & A8) but there have been occasions when I found steering wheel mounted paddles more conveniently placed when the wheel is not central. Works both ways I suppose, horses for courses and all that

[cayman-black]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Believe that the Vanq is a software improved version of the TT2 that is in the DBS, which itself may be a software improved version of the TT2 in the DB9. Basically all the same with some tweaking to alter shift characteristics to suit the car/power plant combination. The 'improvement' from DBS to Vanq is greater than the improvement from DB9 to DBS, by all accounts.

Thanks all. Just curious as i have not heard much about this gearbox in the DBS.
Yet in the vanquish there seems to be a lot of complaints. Just wondered if it worked better in the older car?

[jonby]

cayman-black said:

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Believe that the Vanq is a software improved version of the TT2 that is in the DBS, which itself may be a software improved version of the TT2 in the DB9. Basically all the same with some tweaking to alter shift characteristics to suit the car/power plant combination. The 'improvement' from DBS to Vanq is greater than the improvement from DB9 to DBS, by all accounts.

Thanks all. Just curious as i have not heard much about this gearbox in the DBS.
Yet in the vanquish there seems to be a lot of complaints. Just wondered if it worked better in the older car?

Haven't heard many complaints about vanquish, more a case of why AM are still using the 6 spd ZF when so many others have turned to the 8 spd which is so highly rated, although with both boxes, some car mnfrs seem to develop it better than others. But as the 8 spd generally seems so good, it highlights the relatively speaking, more ponderous nature of the 6 spd. When DBS came out, there was no 8 spd ZF to compare it to

On DBS btw, the early cars (1st 3 yrs ish) were manual only. Once they brought out TT as an option, the take-up of manual DBSs dropped to a tiny minority. Comparing a manual DBS with lightweight seats to a TT DBS with regular seats is almost like driving different cars btw - one has the character of a cruising GT, the other a much rawer sports car experience. All IMHO as ever !!!

[Jon39]

jonby said:

I ask this question out of genuine curiosity - why would you want to use the paddles in your A8 ? I have an A7 and used them once. To my mind, most torque convertor autos in cars other than out & out sports cars (which in itself is something I find odd, but the F type is once such car) are simply best left in auto mode and particularly in a saloon

Yes, I agree.

I have a torque converter 5 speed in my Mercedes coupe (they call it Tiptronic, don't know who the maker is). It always stays in D (auto), unless there is a situation where I anticipate the auto will keep changing gear, and don't want that (eg a road with numerous road humps).

There is no sporty feel to a car with a torque converter auto box, quite the opposite, it seems to encourage relaxation. Excellent for some cars, but usually drivers want involvement when in a sports cars.

Edited by Jon39 on Monday 2nd December 15:32

[jonby]

Jon39 said:

jonby said:

I ask this question out of genuine curiosity - why would you want to use the paddles in your A8 ? I have an A7 and used them once. To my mind, most torque convertor autos in cars other than out & out sports cars (which in itself is something I find odd, but the F type is once such car) are simply best left in auto mode and particularly in a saloon

Yes, I agree.

I have a torque converter 5 speed in my Mercedes coupe (they call it Tiptronic, don't know who the maker is). It always stays in D (auto), unless there is a situation where I anticipate the auto will keep changing gear, and don't want that (eg a road with numerous road humps).

There is no sporty feel to a car with a torque converter auto box, quite the opposite, it seems to encourage relaxation. Excellent for some cars, but usually drivers want involvement when in a sports cars.

Edited by Jon39 on Monday 2nd December 15:32

As brakedwell says, there is definitely an element of horses for courses - there will eb plenty who question why on earth I love an 'old fashioned transmission that requires 3 pedals' but I think as brakedwell states in his follow up post, paddles are nigh on irrelevant with a torque convertor

Likewise, although the auto mode in the latest V12VS is amazing compared to previous versions, I actually think there is an argument (that for all sorts of reasons I'm sure would never be taken up) to drop the auto (drive) mode altogether in ASM - it would help people understand the box so much better