Vantage to DB11. Your opinions and advice please
Discussion
Hoping to get some thoughts from those of you that have made the transition from the junior sporty Aston to the big GT.
I had a Vantage 4.3 for 4 years and it was pretty much the perfect car for me. It was getting a bit old so I chopped it in 2 years ago for a Vantage S. That was a mistake - I should have just gone for a standard 4.7 and not the S.
On the rare occasion I find time to take the S out and put my foot down, it is phenomenal but as a day-to-day commuter car, it's far too harsh a ride and isn't at all helping with my bad back.
I want to stay with the AM brand and was hoping to upgrade to the new Vantage, but having seen a few of them now, the looks simply don't work for me and the interior doesn't feel great either.
So that kind of leaves the DB11. I sat in one recently and much preferred it as a place to be and the outside is far better looking. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I've always owned smaller, sporty cars and never a GT. Is it a significantly different proposition?
Any of you who have made the jump that are now regretting it?
All advice is much appreciated.
I had a Vantage 4.3 for 4 years and it was pretty much the perfect car for me. It was getting a bit old so I chopped it in 2 years ago for a Vantage S. That was a mistake - I should have just gone for a standard 4.7 and not the S.
On the rare occasion I find time to take the S out and put my foot down, it is phenomenal but as a day-to-day commuter car, it's far too harsh a ride and isn't at all helping with my bad back.
I want to stay with the AM brand and was hoping to upgrade to the new Vantage, but having seen a few of them now, the looks simply don't work for me and the interior doesn't feel great either.
So that kind of leaves the DB11. I sat in one recently and much preferred it as a place to be and the outside is far better looking. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I've always owned smaller, sporty cars and never a GT. Is it a significantly different proposition?
Any of you who have made the jump that are now regretting it?
All advice is much appreciated.
Emilio Largo said:
Or much simpler: Buy a V8 Vantage S with Comfort Suspension instead of Sports Suspension this time and the problem is solved - ... well, maybe as sensitive as you are you might want to change the Brickstones ... er, Bridgestones.
Hilarious. Must be that winning German humour I keep hearing about.alscar said:
Have a look at the other thread running -V8 to V12S ?
Then test one.
And your back improves and you get to keep a sports car.
Thanks. That thread seems to be just from the one Vantage to the other. I'm keen to find out the experiences of people who've changed the model, not just the engine size. Then test one.
And your back improves and you get to keep a sports car.
I'm definitely going to take one out for a drive soon to see for myself.
Dick Dastardly said:
Emilio Largo said:
Or much simpler: Buy a V8 Vantage S with Comfort Suspension instead of Sports Suspension this time and the problem is solved - ... well, maybe as sensitive as you are you might want to change the Brickstones ... er, Bridgestones.
Hilarious. Must be that winning German humour I keep hearing about.
Emilio Largo said:
Or much simpler: Buy a V8 Vantage S with Comfort Suspension instead of Sports Suspension this time and the problem is solved - ... well, maybe as sensitive as you are you might want to change the Brickstones ... er, Bridgestones.
Sorry - but the alternatives to Bridgestones on V8VS wheels are and far between. I made the change to Continental:https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
But I don't detect any change in ride comfort (it didn't make it worse either), but then I do have Comfort suspension.
However, I think the change from Vantage to DB11 is much more fundamental and probably only fully understood after a long test drive. Don't think it's a bad move at all, but the extra size would make it more "interesting" on small roads. If sticking to motorways, major A/B roads, the DB11 would probably be a better companion over long journeys. But I've never driven one...
Sorry if I am complicating your plan, but I would also include a Vanquish in the thought process.
My Vantage has the ordinary suspension, but away from the motorways now, I would not call it comfort suspension.
No objections, but quite firm enough for me.
Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 18th July 16:46
It's not just about how stiff the ride is. Whilst my back is a bit of a mess, I can live with the suspension (thanks to a lot of Pilates). Another car on my shortlist is the McLaren 570GT, which isn't much better than what I have.
The other reason is that I want a newer car as the S is now 7 years old and also fancy a bit of a change after 2 Vantages in a row. I have heard nightmares about McLaren reliability, whereas both of my Astons have been faultless. Plus, I love the Aston brand, so the DB11 seems to tick a lot of boxes.
The Vanquish is also on the shortlist. As was a Merc AMG GT but, now that one of my friends has just bought one, I can't as he'll never shut up about how I copied him.
The other reason is that I want a newer car as the S is now 7 years old and also fancy a bit of a change after 2 Vantages in a row. I have heard nightmares about McLaren reliability, whereas both of my Astons have been faultless. Plus, I love the Aston brand, so the DB11 seems to tick a lot of boxes.
The Vanquish is also on the shortlist. As was a Merc AMG GT but, now that one of my friends has just bought one, I can't as he'll never shut up about how I copied him.
Dick Dastardly said:
It's not just about how stiff the ride is. Whilst my back is a bit of a mess, I can live with the suspension (thanks to a lot of Pilates). Another car on my shortlist is the McLaren 570GT, which isn't much better than what I have.
The other reason is that I want a newer car as the S is now 7 years old and also fancy a bit of a change after 2 Vantages in a row. I have heard nightmares about McLaren reliability, whereas both of my Astons have been faultless. Plus, I love the Aston brand, so the DB11 seems to tick a lot of boxes.
I was alarmed to discover the other day that McLaren charge £4-5k a year for the extended warranty. Which fully supports the idea that they have some "issues" The other reason is that I want a newer car as the S is now 7 years old and also fancy a bit of a change after 2 Vantages in a row. I have heard nightmares about McLaren reliability, whereas both of my Astons have been faultless. Plus, I love the Aston brand, so the DB11 seems to tick a lot of boxes.
Didn’t switch from a Vantage to a DB11 but did go from a 2005 DB9 ie no adaptive suspension. The DB11 is a far more comfortable car / handles speed bumps as well as our Discovery and is a very relaxing drive. Power is immense but easier to handle than the older cars and the driving position is excellent. Best thing is don’t take mine or anyone else’s word for it - take it for a long test drive and you will soon know if it right for you.
As has been suggested, BR can fit adjustable dampers to your car should you want to go that route.
Over the years I've had a 4.7 Vantage, V12 Vantage, DBS (manual) and currently a DBS TT, all fantastic in their own right. However, the V12V with none adjustable dampers was the harshest by a country mile. I took the V8 DB11 out a few weeks ago for a few hours and it is absolutely brilliant, light years ahead of the outgoing cars and a wonderful place to sit. I think the AMR V12 will probably be my next stop.
Over the years I've had a 4.7 Vantage, V12 Vantage, DBS (manual) and currently a DBS TT, all fantastic in their own right. However, the V12V with none adjustable dampers was the harshest by a country mile. I took the V8 DB11 out a few weeks ago for a few hours and it is absolutely brilliant, light years ahead of the outgoing cars and a wonderful place to sit. I think the AMR V12 will probably be my next stop.
Dick Dastardly said:
Hoping to get some thoughts from those of you that have made the transition from the junior sporty Aston to the big GT.
I had a Vantage 4.3 for 4 years and it was pretty much the perfect car for me. It was getting a bit old so I chopped it in 2 years ago for a Vantage S. That was a mistake - I should have just gone for a standard 4.7 and not the S.
On the rare occasion I find time to take the S out and put my foot down, it is phenomenal but as a day-to-day commuter car, it's far too harsh a ride and isn't at all helping with my bad back.
I want to stay with the AM brand and was hoping to upgrade to the new Vantage, but having seen a few of them now, the looks simply don't work for me and the interior doesn't feel great either.
So that kind of leaves the DB11. I sat in one recently and much preferred it as a place to be and the outside is far better looking. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I've always owned smaller, sporty cars and never a GT. Is it a significantly different proposition?
Any of you who have made the jump that are now regretting it?
All advice is much appreciated.
I went from a 2012.25 V8VS to a 2013 Vanquish - in between I clocked up a fair few miles in V12 DB11's while I was either waiting for the Vantage to come back from a warranty job, or while I waited on the Vanquish's DVLA paperwork.I had a Vantage 4.3 for 4 years and it was pretty much the perfect car for me. It was getting a bit old so I chopped it in 2 years ago for a Vantage S. That was a mistake - I should have just gone for a standard 4.7 and not the S.
On the rare occasion I find time to take the S out and put my foot down, it is phenomenal but as a day-to-day commuter car, it's far too harsh a ride and isn't at all helping with my bad back.
I want to stay with the AM brand and was hoping to upgrade to the new Vantage, but having seen a few of them now, the looks simply don't work for me and the interior doesn't feel great either.
So that kind of leaves the DB11. I sat in one recently and much preferred it as a place to be and the outside is far better looking. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I've always owned smaller, sporty cars and never a GT. Is it a significantly different proposition?
Any of you who have made the jump that are now regretting it?
All advice is much appreciated.
My thoughts on the 2 GT cars, the DB11 is the more obvious GT car, it's quite soft, even in sport+, and feels quite wide. The Vanquish on the other hand, you'd be convinced isn't much bigger or heavier than the Vantage. That won it for me - the amount of comfort (relative to the Vantage) along with the ability to change its character and actually throw it around a bit like you can a Vantage - carbon brakes also help, wonderful brake feel and stopping power. They're both very capable, and the DB11 is a massive leap forward tech wise, but it just wasn't for me. The hydraulic steering on the Vanquish promotes confidence behind the wheel; I sometimes found the DB11 to feel a bit disconnected (the AMR is much better in this respect, I'm told).
The soundtrack, of course also helps - but the V12 DB11 is by no means a bad sounding car, but turbos cannot help but reduce some noise. A test drive in both will explain what's what. I have no regrets - my recommendation would be that if you wanted the feel of the Vantage, but with slightly more comfort, the Vanquish is the way to go. The DB11 tips a bit further into the GT character, and while having better equipment, it's only in AMR form that the V12's hit its stride.
Does anyone know a ballpark number for getting BR (or someone similar) to fit adjustable dampers to a V12V.........it's the one drawback I find with it. The Mrs says it may as well have fixed suspension as there doesn't appear to be any give in it at all. On A and B roads it's pretty harsh IMHO..
If anyone knows then please PM me if they don't want to state it publicly.
@OP - Sorry for the hijack.
If anyone knows then please PM me if they don't want to state it publicly.
@OP - Sorry for the hijack.
NFC 85 Vette said:
I went from a 2012.25 V8VS to a 2013 Vanquish - in between I clocked up a fair few miles in V12 DB11's while I was either waiting for the Vantage to come back from a warranty job, or while I waited on the Vanquish's DVLA paperwork.
My thoughts on the 2 GT cars, the DB11 is the more obvious GT car, it's quite soft, even in sport+, and feels quite wide. The Vanquish on the other hand, you'd be convinced isn't much bigger or heavier than the Vantage. That won it for me - the amount of comfort (relative to the Vantage) along with the ability to change its character and actually throw it around a bit like you can a Vantage - carbon brakes also help, wonderful brake feel and stopping power. They're both very capable, and the DB11 is a massive leap forward tech wise, but it just wasn't for me. The hydraulic steering on the Vanquish promotes confidence behind the wheel; I sometimes found the DB11 to feel a bit disconnected (the AMR is much better in this respect, I'm told).
The soundtrack, of course also helps - but the V12 DB11 is by no means a bad sounding car, but turbos cannot help but reduce some noise. A test drive in both will explain what's what. I have no regrets - my recommendation would be that if you wanted the feel of the Vantage, but with slightly more comfort, the Vanquish is the way to go. The DB11 tips a bit further into the GT character, and while having better equipment, it's only in AMR form that the V12's hit its stride.
and thisMy thoughts on the 2 GT cars, the DB11 is the more obvious GT car, it's quite soft, even in sport+, and feels quite wide. The Vanquish on the other hand, you'd be convinced isn't much bigger or heavier than the Vantage. That won it for me - the amount of comfort (relative to the Vantage) along with the ability to change its character and actually throw it around a bit like you can a Vantage - carbon brakes also help, wonderful brake feel and stopping power. They're both very capable, and the DB11 is a massive leap forward tech wise, but it just wasn't for me. The hydraulic steering on the Vanquish promotes confidence behind the wheel; I sometimes found the DB11 to feel a bit disconnected (the AMR is much better in this respect, I'm told).
The soundtrack, of course also helps - but the V12 DB11 is by no means a bad sounding car, but turbos cannot help but reduce some noise. A test drive in both will explain what's what. I have no regrets - my recommendation would be that if you wanted the feel of the Vantage, but with slightly more comfort, the Vanquish is the way to go. The DB11 tips a bit further into the GT character, and while having better equipment, it's only in AMR form that the V12's hit its stride.
Big Ry said:
Does anyone know a ballpark number for getting BR (or someone similar) to fit adjustable dampers to a V12V.........it's the one drawback I find with it. The Mrs says it may as well have fixed suspension as there doesn't appear to be any give in it at all. On A and B roads it's pretty harsh IMHO..
If anyone knows then please PM me if they don't want to state it publicly.
@OP - Sorry for the hijack.
Big RyIf anyone knows then please PM me if they don't want to state it publicly.
@OP - Sorry for the hijack.
You have mail. Hope it helps.
Best Regards
Minglar
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