Please tell me about the 7 speed manual you have in your V12
Discussion
Hello All,
I am new here, but have been studying your posts for the last year. I absolutely love the Vantage, particularly the V12s manual.
Just some history : Thus far, I have been a Porsche only guy, and I am a manual only guy !
I am fortunate enough to have a 997.2 Gt3, Gt4 ,Cayman Gts, and a R.
I am however crazy about the V12 S manual.
However, there is no demo for me to experience. My only opportunity to test drive an Aston was in a 6 speed N430, which I really enjoyed.
My heart is set on the V12 S though. I have an opportunity to get a brand new, ready specked, built car, which I do like !
However,the only thing holding me back is the multiple reviewers comments on the gearbox.
One respectable publication mentioned the term stubborn gear shift ! ?
Two You Tube reviews actually show the wrong gear being selected during a track session ! ?
Please help me with your experiences as I do feel I am coming from the best manual boxes ever made in my P-Cars ......... No offence intended !
I absolutely love the Vantage, it is just that this jolly gearbox is keeping me on the fence !
Thank you all one again for all your help and love for the brand !
Greetings
B
Champs said:
It would be just a fun, weekend road car with occasional long trips like 800 Km's.
I have some really nice twisty roads on my doorstep to enjoy !
Thank you !
I have driven both the 6 speed V12V and the 7 speed S . The former is a straightforward box and very easy to use . The 7 speed being dogleg makes you think initially because it's not a natural change . I missed 4th gear a few times and the pro driver told me to relax and be less aggressive . Then it all clicked and I started to enjoy the car . After about 15 minutes I didn't want to get out - it was fantastic . I would not hesitate in buying the car but that's just my personal opinion . If all else fails just leave it in 3rd all the time - there is so much torque it's almost mind blowing . I have some really nice twisty roads on my doorstep to enjoy !
Thank you !
I drove the 7 speed and loved it. If I had the money, I would buy one.
The trick is to not worry about the gear you're in. I never do anyway, and change gear according to engine rpm and vehicle speed.
The Pro driver was complementary on my driving, which was nice, but said people tend to get caught up thinking "I should be in 4th at this corner", but in reality, my tip is to forget the gears and change accordingly.
If you are able to have one of these amazing machines, consider me very jealous.
The trick is to not worry about the gear you're in. I never do anyway, and change gear according to engine rpm and vehicle speed.
The Pro driver was complementary on my driving, which was nice, but said people tend to get caught up thinking "I should be in 4th at this corner", but in reality, my tip is to forget the gears and change accordingly.
If you are able to have one of these amazing machines, consider me very jealous.
I love all the help and response . A big thank you, and please keep them coming !
My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
Perhaps a V12 Vantage (6 speed) would be your ideal car.
Expect you will have seen the classic Top Gear review (YouTube) of that model.
They do seem to be held in high regard, and so are maintaining a steady value.
I think there was some kind of regulatory complication, making it impossible for the 6 speed gearbox to be used in the V12VS manual, but it sounds as though some would have preferred the 6 speed. Plenty of gears for an engine with so much torque.
Champs said:
I love all the help and response . A big thank you, and please keep them coming !
My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
I have owned a few Porsches before coming to Aston, including a manual 996 C2 and a manual 997 Turbo. With the Porsches, I immediately "got" the gearbox, whereas in the Aston it took a little time to learn and master. As said by others, once you forget that it is a dogleg 7 speed and just shift gears when you need to, it becomes second nature. Then you are left with a short throw, very close gearbox that just revels in all of that V12 torque.My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
Once you decat the Vantage, the whole experience compared to a Porsche is not comparable. The V12S manages to be civilised, comfortable and refined on one hand, whilst loud, lairy and pin sharp once you use your right foot. It's mighty quick too and the steering feel is just sublime. You will not be disappointed.
Champs said:
I love all the help and response . A big thank you, and please keep them coming !
My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
I have owned a few Porsches before coming to Aston, including a manual 996 C2 and a manual 997 Turbo. With the Porsches, I immediately "got" the gearbox, whereas in the Aston it took a little time to learn and master. As said by others, once you forget that it is a dogleg 7 speed and just shift gears when you need to, it becomes second nature. Then you are left with a short throw, very close gearbox that just revels in all of that V12 torque.My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
Once you decat the Vantage, the whole experience compared to a Porsche is not comparable. The V12S manages to be civilised, comfortable and refined on one hand, whilst loud, lairy and pin sharp once you use your right foot. It's mighty quick too and the steering feel is just sublime. You will not be disappointed.
Champs said:
I love all the help and response . A big thank you, and please keep them coming !
My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
AdamV12V is who you need to speak too as he has had both and absolutely loves his superb 7 speeder.My fear was due to the manuals I am used too, slick, direct and precise !
I don't want to be driving the Aston and thinking of the P-car !
Do any of you out there own any manual P-cars and a V12S 7 speed manual ?
I would love to hear the experience please .
The excitement of the thought of me driving a V12S manual is quite unbelievable !
I have owned a 7spd V12VS now for 7 months and I absolutely love it to pieces. All the negative comments are from people who have had very little time in the car as for sure it takes a little time to adapt your mind to it, but once you do its second nature. My V12VS is my only car and a daily driver - a few weeks back I drove the office pool car (a manual ford focus) for a 6hr round trip and I was constantly putting the car in 2nd to set off - so it's just a matter of what your mind gets used to. A lots of the reviews are also influenced to some extent by the fact that the press cars were pre-production and they definitely improved the box a little after that somehow.
I owned two 6spd V12V before that over 6 years. Sure the 6spd box is a great gearbox, very smooth and easy to use, but I wouldn't want to go back now from the 7spd dogleg.
The 7spd really does add to the sense of occasion that is the V12 with its dogleg layout. The short ratios mean you really do have keep stirring through the gears and enhance acceleration which paired with the power hike in the V12VS over the V12V make it feel like quite a big step up in performance.
You asked about P-cars - I have previously owned a manual 997 Carerra S and more recently a Cayman GT4 (in between the last V12V and the V12VS). I personally prefer the 7spd dogleg gearbox out of all of them and the fact its fitted to a Aston will make you feel special every single time you drive it.
Just get it bought before they are all gone - you won't regret it. You may well regret it if you don't!
I owned two 6spd V12V before that over 6 years. Sure the 6spd box is a great gearbox, very smooth and easy to use, but I wouldn't want to go back now from the 7spd dogleg.
The 7spd really does add to the sense of occasion that is the V12 with its dogleg layout. The short ratios mean you really do have keep stirring through the gears and enhance acceleration which paired with the power hike in the V12VS over the V12V make it feel like quite a big step up in performance.
You asked about P-cars - I have previously owned a manual 997 Carerra S and more recently a Cayman GT4 (in between the last V12V and the V12VS). I personally prefer the 7spd dogleg gearbox out of all of them and the fact its fitted to a Aston will make you feel special every single time you drive it.
Just get it bought before they are all gone - you won't regret it. You may well regret it if you don't!
I've owned mine for 4 months now. I agree with all Adams comments. But I would like the selection of first gear to be a little less notchy. The box has freed up a lot since collection. Just turned 3000 miles now. It does get smoother when the gearbox oil warms up as well. The fact you have to think about what you are doing does add to the experience. I had a V12 Vantage manual for 2.5 years before the S and that box is easier to use no doubt. But you do get used to the dogleg the more you use it. Mine is a weekend and odd evening car. I spend my days in a manual Transit van. So do find myself going for handbrakes and gears in different positions. I test drove a Mclaren 540c before buying the dogleg and found it very fast but uninvolving and it left me cold. But the Aston Dogleg is car you need to drive and learn , but when you master it, it's fantastic.
Flugplatz said:
Hey, I am really excited for you ! Sounds excellent ! .......... Bliss !Please include a brief ( I don't want to ask too much ) review and a couple of pics.
[quote=Jon39]
Perhaps a V12 Vantage (6 speed) would be your ideal car.
Expect you will have seen the classic Top Gear review (YouTube) of that model.
They do seem to be held in high regard, and so are maintaining a steady value.
I think there was some kind of regulatory complication, making it impossible for the 6 speed gearbox to be used in the V12VS manual, but it sounds as though some would have preferred the 6 speed. Plenty of gears for an engine with so much torque.
Trouble is there is only one V12S on the market and it is a Speedshift.
I have never seen a 6 speed for sale, or even seen one in the flesh !
There are less than 5 Dog leg 7- Speeders in the country, and one is available to me.
If the V12 Vantage is rare in the U.K, it's extinct in Africa !
Perhaps a V12 Vantage (6 speed) would be your ideal car.
Expect you will have seen the classic Top Gear review (YouTube) of that model.
They do seem to be held in high regard, and so are maintaining a steady value.
I think there was some kind of regulatory complication, making it impossible for the 6 speed gearbox to be used in the V12VS manual, but it sounds as though some would have preferred the 6 speed. Plenty of gears for an engine with so much torque.
Trouble is there is only one V12S on the market and it is a Speedshift.
I have never seen a 6 speed for sale, or even seen one in the flesh !
There are less than 5 Dog leg 7- Speeders in the country, and one is available to me.
If the V12 Vantage is rare in the U.K, it's extinct in Africa !
AdamV12V said:
I have owned a 7spd V12VS now for 7 months and I absolutely love it to pieces. All the negative comments are from people who have had very little time in the car as for sure it takes a little time to adapt your mind to it, but once you do its second nature. My V12VS is my only car and a daily driver - a few weeks back I drove the office pool car (a manual ford focus) for a 6hr round trip and I was constantly putting the car in 2nd to set off - so it's just a matter of what your mind gets used to. A lots of the reviews are also influenced to some extent by the fact that the press cars were pre-production and they definitely improved the box a little after that somehow.
I owned two 6spd V12V before that over 6 years. Sure the 6spd box is a great gearbox, very smooth and easy to use, but I wouldn't want to go back now from the 7spd dogleg.
The 7spd really does add to the sense of occasion that is the V12 with its dogleg layout. The short ratios mean you really do have keep stirring through the gears and enhance acceleration which paired with the power hike in the V12VS over the V12V make it feel like quite a big step up in performance.
You asked about P-cars - I have previously owned a manual 997 Carerra S and more recently a Cayman GT4 (in between the last V12V and the V12VS). I personally prefer the 7spd dogleg gearbox out of all of them and the fact its fitted to a Aston will make you feel special every single time you drive it.
Just get it bought before they are all gone - you won't regret it. You may well regret it if you don't!
Thank for the response .I owned two 6spd V12V before that over 6 years. Sure the 6spd box is a great gearbox, very smooth and easy to use, but I wouldn't want to go back now from the 7spd dogleg.
The 7spd really does add to the sense of occasion that is the V12 with its dogleg layout. The short ratios mean you really do have keep stirring through the gears and enhance acceleration which paired with the power hike in the V12VS over the V12V make it feel like quite a big step up in performance.
You asked about P-cars - I have previously owned a manual 997 Carerra S and more recently a Cayman GT4 (in between the last V12V and the V12VS). I personally prefer the 7spd dogleg gearbox out of all of them and the fact its fitted to a Aston will make you feel special every single time you drive it.
Just get it bought before they are all gone - you won't regret it. You may well regret it if you don't!
I'm sure you will recall. the GT4 gearchange is butter smooth and needs no thinking !
I love changing gears, so short ratio talk gets me excited !
One review said the shift in the 7 speed was biased to the 4th and 5th plain, due to spring loading.
Do you find this an issue when down changing from 4th to 3rd ?
chrisV12VS said:
I've owned mine for 4 months now. I agree with all Adams comments. But I would like the selection of first gear to be a little less notchy. The box has freed up a lot since collection. Just turned 3000 miles now. It does get smoother when the gearbox oil warms up as well. The fact you have to think about what you are doing does add to the experience. I had a V12 Vantage manual for 2.5 years before the S and that box is easier to use no doubt. But you do get used to the dogleg the more you use it. Mine is a weekend and odd evening car. I spend my days in a manual Transit van. So do find myself going for handbrakes and gears in different positions. I test drove a Mclaren 540c before buying the dogleg and found it very fast but uninvolving and it left me cold. But the Aston Dogleg is car you need to drive and learn , but when you master it, it's fantastic.
Thanks ! I have no doubt that I will get used to it pretty quickly !
I just don't want to struggle to get the gear I want quickly.
When I want 4th, I don't want to be grabbing 6th etc, etc.
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