Vantage GT8 vs v8 Vantage S (engine,gearbox, suspension etc)
Discussion
The extra 10bhp comes from the secondary decat
So the difference with the V8S is it’s lighter (lithium battery, use of carbon fibre, stripped out), different body panels (it’s wider bodied/track than a GT12 at the rear), revised suspension and an exhaust system that’s barely legal from a sound perspective.
The advantage of the engine being unchanged is that all the mods you can do to the V8s should also work on the GT8, ie the Bamford Rose type tweaks or the GMR supercharger (done on one on GT8, takes it up to 600bhp)
The lighter flywheel was an option on the GT8 but I don’t know how many went for that from the get-go
Oh one other difference. You can join the GT8 WhatsApp Group which makes a huge difference as we organise all sorts of events (eg the recent Prodrive Visit and the upcoming annual meet up).
So the difference with the V8S is it’s lighter (lithium battery, use of carbon fibre, stripped out), different body panels (it’s wider bodied/track than a GT12 at the rear), revised suspension and an exhaust system that’s barely legal from a sound perspective.
The advantage of the engine being unchanged is that all the mods you can do to the V8s should also work on the GT8, ie the Bamford Rose type tweaks or the GMR supercharger (done on one on GT8, takes it up to 600bhp)
The lighter flywheel was an option on the GT8 but I don’t know how many went for that from the get-go
Oh one other difference. You can join the GT8 WhatsApp Group which makes a huge difference as we organise all sorts of events (eg the recent Prodrive Visit and the upcoming annual meet up).
Edited by RobDown on Monday 6th May 11:38
The most noticeable improvement with the twin plate clutch / lighter flywheel, is a very much lighter pedal action.
If yours is a Sportshift, obviously that does not apply.
My suggestion though, would be not to make the change until the clutch does need to be replaced.
If you want to make your car faster, that £3k/£4k can be spent on mods. which achieve more.
Edited by Jon39 on Monday 6th May 17:08
The secondary decat is easy enough, lots on here have done it so should be easy to find a thread
I’ve not done the lightened flywheel/dual plate clutch myself. But as Jon says the best time to do this is when the existing clutch expires. Can be done by a dealer now or BR/Appleby. Again I think there are threads on here which give a pretty positive write up in terms of driveability and engine responsiveness
The suspension bit I would ignore. The GT8 suspension is optimised I think for the wider track of the car etc. On a “standard” Vantage I suspect you would be better off going to an independent like BR/Appleby and getting them to set the car up exactly how you want it (and go for adjustable dampers).
Really no end of mods you can make to these cars to get them how you want them
I’ve not done the lightened flywheel/dual plate clutch myself. But as Jon says the best time to do this is when the existing clutch expires. Can be done by a dealer now or BR/Appleby. Again I think there are threads on here which give a pretty positive write up in terms of driveability and engine responsiveness
The suspension bit I would ignore. The GT8 suspension is optimised I think for the wider track of the car etc. On a “standard” Vantage I suspect you would be better off going to an independent like BR/Appleby and getting them to set the car up exactly how you want it (and go for adjustable dampers).
Really no end of mods you can make to these cars to get them how you want them
Lovely cars, the GT8 and GT12. But every time I see the front splitters, I wonder as to their practical use on country lanes in the UK.
The secondary de-cat on a V8 is around £500 from a main dealer. With the S backbox, but rudely loud above 3,500rpm in Sport mode. Plenty of threads about a remote control for the exhaust value, but I'm not bothering.
I presume most, if not all GT8's came with lightweight seats. An option on the standard V8.
The secondary de-cat on a V8 is around £500 from a main dealer. With the S backbox, but rudely loud above 3,500rpm in Sport mode. Plenty of threads about a remote control for the exhaust value, but I'm not bothering.
I presume most, if not all GT8's came with lightweight seats. An option on the standard V8.
nickv8 said:
Lovely cars, the GT8 and GT12. But every time I see the front splitters, I wonder as to their practical use on country lanes in the UK.
The secondary de-cat on a V8 is around £500 from a main dealer. With the S backbox, but rudely loud above 3,500rpm in Sport mode. Plenty of threads about a remote control for the exhaust value, but I'm not bothering.
I presume most, if not all GT8's came with lightweight seats. An option on the standard V8.
The front lower splitter on the GT8 is part of the Aero Pack option. They can be removed and refitted very simply in a few minutes. The secondary de-cat on a V8 is around £500 from a main dealer. With the S backbox, but rudely loud above 3,500rpm in Sport mode. Plenty of threads about a remote control for the exhaust value, but I'm not bothering.
I presume most, if not all GT8's came with lightweight seats. An option on the standard V8.
RobDown said:
The front splitters are no problem on country roads. Or even speed bumps as the car is stiff. Where I have a problem is coming off a driveway where there’s a decent camber on the road. Think they will need a respray every now and then
Most of the time I leave mine off....but only because I have an awkward drive entry. As you say there's no problem on the road. faa77 said:
Hi Jon, it's not about "speed" per se. A second hand GT8 is about £80k more than a Vantage S, so I wondered how close a V8VS could be improved, compared with the GT8. Improved in terms of speed, drive-ability and handling.
Depends what you consider is lacking from a stock V8S. There's always an argument for more speed (ultimately the V12 is the way to go if that conquers all for you). What specifically do you mean by "drive-ability" as I find the V8S handles wonderfully. Actually, I'd return to comfort suspension as that gave all the handling benefits in the real world, but with more comfort and control over rougher roads.Handling? How much compromise are you looking for? Even the GT8 was designed for the road first. I'm sure it's possible to set up a V8S to "out handle" a GT8, but something will have to give... apart from your wallet
RobDown said:
The front splitters are no problem on country roads. Or even speed bumps as the car is stiff. Where I have a problem is coming off a driveway where there’s a decent camber on the road. Think they will need a respray every now and then
I can imagine... I already get the very occasional scrape noise on the CF V8S splitter which is deeply alarming (although it never shows) on what are relatively mild entry angles. Excluding the body panels, look from wider track, interior etc
The power is easy to improve on. Appleby or BR will happily decat, change manifolds etc and take you up towards 500bhp for a single-digit thousand cost
And the handling is a personal choice - again those companies can (relatively) cheaply set the suspension up exactly how you like it.
Let’s say £10k all in
Still won’t be a GT8 though
The power is easy to improve on. Appleby or BR will happily decat, change manifolds etc and take you up towards 500bhp for a single-digit thousand cost
And the handling is a personal choice - again those companies can (relatively) cheaply set the suspension up exactly how you like it.
Let’s say £10k all in
Still won’t be a GT8 though
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