Softer ride required in 4.7 Vantage coupe with Sports Pack

[zafod]

I'm looking to buy a 4.7 Vantage coupe and the one I'm interested in has the Sports Pack fitted (including firm suspension). I'm retired and want to use it for weekends away with my wife. She suffers occasionally with her back and wants a softer ride than a Vantage with the Sports Pack (I owned one a few years ago so know how firm the ride can be).

What would be the best way to soften the ride? Maybe H&R Lowering Springs which, according to their website "provides superb ride quality and comfort, whilst dramatically improving handling and reducing body roll".

Any suggestions are most welcome.

[bennno]

Lowering springs can only worsen things, I’d have thought non sport pack springs, dampers and roll bars might be the answer.

[XMark]

In my experience H&R have always made cars rock hard and way too low. A different car is a more sensible route, it would get expensive fitting standard Aston suspension unless you can organise a swap, but that’s a minefield.

[bennno]

Just buy a non sport pack car.

[Dewi 2]

zafod said:

I'm looking to buy a 4.7 Vantage coupe and the one I'm interested in has the Sports Pack fitted (including firm suspension). I'm retired and want to use it for weekends away with my wife. She suffers occasionally with her back and wants a softer ride than a Vantage with the Sports Pack (I owned one a few years ago so know how firm the ride can be).

What would be the best way to soften the ride? Maybe H&R Lowering Springs which, according to their website "provides superb ride quality and comfort, whilst dramatically improving handling and reducing body roll".

Any suggestions are most welcome.

This is interesting because for years on here, Sportshift was the recommendation. However, more recently the standard 'comfort' suspension is now talked about. Perhaps this change in opinion might be due to the deteriorating condition of many of our roads.

I was always sceptical, because the standard suspension of my 4·7 Vantage is certainly firm enough for me. Compared to a luxury saloon, it is 'rock hard'.
There is one section of an urban dual carriageway, where a tracked vehicle must have damaged the surface. In my Vantage if traffic permits, I straddle the two lanes to avoid feeling the ridged surface. In my daily car, I cannot even feel the ridges.

I dont know what the differences are. Perhaps both the springs and the dampers are of different specifications. Expect it would be expensive to change everything.

Would it perhaps be easier for you to wait for a standard suspension 4·7 to appear? If you are talking model years 2009 to 2012, I expect you know that different road wheels are usually the clue to suspension type.

Edited by Dewi 2 on Tuesday 19th August 20:55

[Simpo Two]

Dewi 2 said:

This is interesting because for years on here, Sportshift was the recommendation.

That won't help the ride

My DB9 has Sportspack suspension and the ride is awful and noisy. It would cost several £K to make it normal so I've just got used to it. I curse the first owner who specified it.

Sportspack includes:

Uprated Anti-Roll Bar:
The front anti-roll bar was modified to further enhance handling and reduce understeer.
Revised Dampers:
The dampers were recalibrated to work with the stiffer springs and anti-roll bar, optimizing body control.
Lowered Ride Height:
The ride height was reduced by 6mm, lowering the car's center of gravity and further minimizing body roll.
Aluminum Underbody Tray:
The composite underbody tray was replaced with a load-bearing aluminum panel, improving structural stiffness and airflow management.
Lightweight Wheels:
The Sports Pack often included lightweight, 19-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels, saving weight.

The wheels are the only good thing about it IMHO.

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 19th August 21:24

[pbe624]

Try putting on a set of Michelin Sport PS4 tires, seem to be better at handling road surfaces apparently...