V12S v R8 V10

[SagMan]

Appreciate any feedback on anyone who has jumped from a R8 V10 to a V12S.

I've been lurking at Aston for some time and test driven twice. My R8 is a manual and a lovely machine, I found the Aston a lot more different than expected. The gearbox was certainly not flawless but better than thought. The power delivery was lower down in range but comparable to my R8 and the corner turn in better. But something was missing for some reason.

Any thoughts on your experiences would be interesting to know.
Thanks

[Zod]

I wrote a comparison here of R8 V8 with the new DCT box against my manual V12V.

Not entirely useful, but it might give you some helpful impressions.

[mb1]

Make sure you press the sports button as it changes everything !

I went from a Gallardo to a V12V and never looked back.

[Cockernee]

Comparing Apples with Oranges and wholly depends on what you want from a car.

The Aston is a special place to be and has all of the emotion that the Germans seem to design out of a car (and I have 2 Audi's by the way). The V12V will bite you, whereas the R8 is a 4WD weapon that cannot easily be provoked. The V12V will give you all the feedback you need when driven fast and will leave you a huge smile at the end of the journey. The Audi will probably get you there quicker, but not in style and not with the noise and engagement. You also need to understand the SS3 Gearbox over a manual and whether you prefer it. You chose a manual over a very good DSG gearbox, why? And the answer to that maybe the reason not to buy a V12S?

Ask yourself what you want? A flawed but utterly fantastic V12 or a soul-less V10 4WD rocket. I only had the Audi for a day, but oh my word it was quick and planted, my V12V (until I sold it) was more skittish on country lanes (Although the V12S has adjustable suspension now), but it was immense. Would I have the Audi in place of the Aston NEVER..... As well as probably. I know, I know everyone hates Audi drivers, I have 2 and they are both brilliant cars, but neither of them hold any emotion for me.

When you sell the Audi, I could do with another ....... just kidding

[jonby]

I went to Llandudno for the day on Saturday, to meet up with friends who have a place there - I live in Altrincham so it's a little over a one hour drive

I was planning on taking my V12 soft top and then it started snowing. I decided in the end to take the Aston anyway - my DD is a 4WD audi.

I had to concentrate a lot more in the Aston than I would have in the Audi in at times, some pretty rough conditions. It was a lot noisier and all ways rounds, made no sense to take the Aston. But the journey seemed like a fun adventure whereas in the Audi, I would have been on autopilot

I fully understand those who can't see my point and think I'm slightly bonkers. There will be others who 'get it' and agree with my viewpoint. I guess part of V12S or R8V10 comes down to which of those camps you fall into

[franki68]

Cockernee said:

Comparing Apples with Oranges and wholly depends on what you want from a car.

The Aston is a special place to be and has all of the emotion that the Germans seem to design out of a car (and I have 2 Audi's by the way). The V12V will bite you, whereas the R8 is a 4WD weapon that cannot easily be provoked. The V12V will give you all the feedback you need when driven fast and will leave you a huge smile at the end of the journey. The Audi will probably get you there quicker, but not in style and not with the noise and engagement. You also need to understand the SS3 Gearbox over a manual and whether you prefer it. You chose a manual over a very good DSG gearbox, why? And the answer to that maybe the reason not to buy a V12S?

Ask yourself what you want? A flawed but utterly fantastic V12 or a soul-less V10 4WD rocket. I only had the Audi for a day, but oh my word it was quick and planted, my V12V (until I sold it) was more skittish on country lanes (Although the V12S has adjustable suspension now), but it was immense. Would I have the Audi in place of the Aston NEVER..... As well as probably. I know, I know everyone hates Audi drivers, I have 2 and they are both brilliant cars, but neither of them hold any emotion for me.

When you sell the Audi, I could do with another ....... just kidding

Driven both extensively and owned a tuned r8 v8 ,not sure about your r8 comments .The chassis is a different league to the aston ,it is very biddable,you can get the back out if you want or you can have ultra grip through the corners.Traction is in another league to the aston,and the v10 engine sounds fantastic ,dynamically the r8 is by most measures a better car.Whilst audi drivers are generally loathed at the moment,people love the r8 .The manual gearchange on the r8 is far better than on the aston as well.
On the other hand the r8 lacks character that the aston has in spades ,it makes you feel special and although the interior is ageing and pretty illogical ,its not the interior of a £30,000 car which is what the r8 has (an audi tt interior)
the v10 engine is a joy but the v12 is an all time great.

Both are excellent cars and neither choice is a mistake,just depends on what you want from a car.

[AMDBSNick]

jonby said:

I went to Llandudno for the day on Saturday, to meet up with friends who have a place there - I live in Altrincham so it's a little over a one hour drive

I was planning on taking my V12 soft top and then it started snowing. I decided in the end to take the Aston anyway - my DD is a 4WD audi.

I had to concentrate a lot more in the Aston than I would have in the Audi in at times, some pretty rough conditions. It was a lot noisier and all ways rounds, made no sense to take the Aston. But the journey seemed like a fun adventure whereas in the Audi, I would have been on autopilot

I fully understand those who can't see my point and think I'm slightly bonkers. There will be others who 'get it' and agree with my viewpoint. I guess part of V12S or R8V10 comes down to which of those camps you fall into

Good work Jonby. We had Moose's '9 out at the weekend

I bet you don't have a coffee machine in the Audi though, do you?

[Philip0]

I've had a R8 V10 Spider manual and now have an Aston V12, but a DB9. The R8 manual was great (the manual gate gearbox was engaging) and it stuck to the road like glue, but the Aston is more refined, a nicer place to be and the option of using the auto or the manual paddles is excellent. I always feel more fulfilled in the Aston, the Audi was loud, very "show-off" and my kids thought it was fun, but I was always a little embarrassed by it. I'm proud of the Aston, it's much more sophisticated, elegant and the interior is far better. If I had to choose one, it would definitely be the Aston.

[jonby]

AMDBSNick said:

Good work Jonby. We had Moose's '9 out at the weekend

I bet you don't have a coffee machine in the Audi though, do you?

Of course not - in the audi stop at a service station, buy a coffee, put it in the cupholder, drink coffee whilst driving (with automatic gearbox) and if I spill it occasionally, don't lose any sleep

In the aston, need both hands, don't trust the shallow cupholder, worry too much about the interior, go on interesting routes where I stop in the middle of nowhere, hence the espresso machine

Simples :-)

[AMDBSNick]

jonby said:

AMDBSNick said:

Good work Jonby. We had Moose's '9 out at the weekend

I bet you don't have a coffee machine in the Audi though, do you?

Of course not - in the audi stop at a service station, buy a coffee, put it in the cupholder, drink coffee whilst driving (with automatic gearbox) and if I spill it occasionally, don't lose any sleep

In the aston, need both hands, don't trust the shallow cupholder, worry too much about the interior, go on interesting routes where I stop in the middle of nowhere, hence the espresso machine

Simples :-)

[Jon1967x]

Make of my observation what you will... I went to shelsy Walsh the other Sunday, not a single R8 but no end of other great cars inc many astons. I went to the PH thing yesterday. Exactly the same.. Astons, Ferrari, Lamborghini.. No R8 in fact I don't recall seeing any Audis or bentleys for that matter.

As a pecision instrument I've no doubt the R8 is technically excellent, its just the owners don't seem to buy into whatever it is that makes Astons etc what they are.

[jonby]

Jon1967x said:

Make of my observation what you will... I went to shelsy Walsh the other Sunday, not a single R8 but no end of other great cars inc many astons. I went to the PH thing yesterday. Exactly the same.. Astons, Ferrari, Lamborghini.. No R8 in fact I don't recall seeing any Audis or bentleys for that matter.

As a pecision instrument I've no doubt the R8 is technically excellent, its just the owners don't seem to buy into whatever it is that makes Astons etc what they are.

I think you are bang on. I have to say that if I could get away with a 2 seater sports car for work as my DD, which I can't for both image & practicality reasons, an R8 would do a brilliant job in a way that perhaps only a 4WD 911 could get close. For all kinds of reasons including financial (depreciation on high mileage for instance), I wouldn't use any current Aston for that although I realise plenty do

Problem is, I'd prefer an RS6 for the same job. I'd feel I was gaining lots of practicality and losing very little excitement or other emotions

Which I think is the point you are making - I think as an owner I would grow to think of an R8 as being hugely impressive but I'm not sure I'd ever love it or feel passionately about it

[ds2000]

I personally but R8's in the same category as the GTR; both technical masterpiece, superb cars and in the right hands would leave my AM for dead but devoid of any craftsmanship (we love bits falling off our Astons really) and soul.

They do make a lovely noise though but not quite as nice as a V12 on full chat