V8 Sportshift - opinions?

[vinnie83]

Hi guys, some of you may have read that I've been looking for a DB9 with a ~£35,000 budget...

The main reason for this was that I didn't want a manual car and had assumed that all V8s were manual.

So I've stumbled across what looks like it may be an interesting car - a sportshift with prodrive upgrades:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

I was just wondering what opinions were on the gearbox - all reviews seemed to be from pre-production cars with comments about fine tuning still needing to be done by AM... were production cars any good?

What do you guys think of the above car by the way?

ETA ignore the link, the car was sold a few days ago... but still keen to know how the 'box is.

Edited by vinnie83 on Wednesday 25th February 18:41

[roughrider]

Its a great gearbox, but please read the many threads that have been posted here, so you can read everybody's opinions. Just avoid reversing uphill, or around tight corners, and NEVER hold the car on the throttle at an uphill junction [riding the clutch]. Its a traditional "handbrake hill start", like your first driving lesson.

[V8Andrew]

Before buying my V8 I drove both sportshift and manual and bought a manual. Personally I didn't think the sportshift cars which were about £5k more than the manual were worth the extra. Best advice is to drive both ideally back to back and make a decision. I didn't dislike the sportshift in fact I thought it was pretty good. Just rather have £5k to spend on something else.

[Neil1300r]

Have you bought The Book?
The car in the link is not a Sportshift, you can clearly see the gear lever.
Sportshift wasn't available in 2006
The Sportshift gearbox is the same as the 'manual' as its a manual - with the clutch pedal removed and some automated links.
It is not and never will be auto, its completly different to the DB9 auto box.
Don't ever try to drive a Sportshift in 'Auto' mode. You need to drive it as you would a manual.
As has already been said try to avoid reversing up a slope / hill.
Sportshifts tend to wear clutches quicker than the proper manual, mainly because people dont understand how to drive them properly

[divetheworld]

I've had both. Sportshift needs mechanical sympathy. If you know its true nature, it gleans talent from you that you never knew you had. Cobbs of fun and I prefer it over manual.
It's the reason I haven't bought a V12V.

[vinnie83]

The book is in the post!

Sounds like the semi-auto isn't for me to be honest... looks like I'll stick with a DB9!

[Jon1967x]

Pretty much what others have said.

Why do you not want a manual? If its to get away from the manual feeling then the ASM will not be for you, if its a dicky left foot thats no good on a clutch but otherwise you'd love a manual - its perfect.

[notsaV8V]

Vinnie.

Drive one and see before making a decision. It is a personal thing in the end but I love the SS and have no problems with it given I do the clutch learn at each start.

[mikey k]

Only thing I would ask is avoid ASM1 the early sport shift
Reverse is too high
It doesn't do auto clutch learns
Creep mode is a PITA
ASM2 is a lot better providing it is kept cool