One week in... V8 Vantage: my impressions
Discussion
Well ok, almost a week. My Vantage has taken pride of place on my driveway for 6 whole days now. It's my daily drive so has to cope with shopping, commuter / station car and picking up Mrs Delta as well as other normal day to day activity.
The good:
- The noise - did I mention the noise? Fuse 22 now out and I have just spend the whole morning grinning like a child.
- Easy to park (smaller than it looks)
- Very comfortable seats
- Amazed by the quality of the standard stereo
- Very comfortable ride - taut but not crashy - perfect
- It looks amazing and you feel a million dollars driving it
- Plenty of room inside - storage / boot, great use of space
- Steering feel is very nice - beautifully weighted
- Gear change is solid - but very smooth and positive
- Reverse no where near as bad as I expected
- It's not slow - baby Aston it might be but gives nothing away to my M3. The throttle makes you think it is lethargic, but look down at that speedo - and you'll surprise yourself
- Steering wheel is a masterpiece - cruise easy to use
- Only the odd squeak from the interior / leather - feels at least as solid as my M3 did.
The niggles:
- Still finding it a little difficult to place on the road (the width still evades my brain a little)
- Random plastic knobs on stereo / nav - being replaced with Tony Hall's items shortly
- Control stalks - what a tactile disappointment - has anyone managed to replace them with something decent?
- Whoever designed the boot to drain water directly into the boot when it's opened needs a slap
- Brakes don't feel particularly strong around town - but excellent out of town
- Heel and toe / throttle blipping tricky as throttle is a little "lazy"
- Having to carry a tag for tracker is a PITA (sorting phone sync out next week).
Overall - I am still pinching myself that it's really my car, the only compromise over a more obvious daily drive is the slightly restricted visibility.
So if you are reading this, wondering "should I" - the answer is most certainly "Yes". They represent fantastic value for money and you can use it every day.
Merry Christmas everyone
Kris
The good:
- The noise - did I mention the noise? Fuse 22 now out and I have just spend the whole morning grinning like a child.
- Easy to park (smaller than it looks)
- Very comfortable seats
- Amazed by the quality of the standard stereo
- Very comfortable ride - taut but not crashy - perfect
- It looks amazing and you feel a million dollars driving it
- Plenty of room inside - storage / boot, great use of space
- Steering feel is very nice - beautifully weighted
- Gear change is solid - but very smooth and positive
- Reverse no where near as bad as I expected
- It's not slow - baby Aston it might be but gives nothing away to my M3. The throttle makes you think it is lethargic, but look down at that speedo - and you'll surprise yourself
- Steering wheel is a masterpiece - cruise easy to use
- Only the odd squeak from the interior / leather - feels at least as solid as my M3 did.
The niggles:
- Still finding it a little difficult to place on the road (the width still evades my brain a little)
- Random plastic knobs on stereo / nav - being replaced with Tony Hall's items shortly
- Control stalks - what a tactile disappointment - has anyone managed to replace them with something decent?
- Whoever designed the boot to drain water directly into the boot when it's opened needs a slap
- Brakes don't feel particularly strong around town - but excellent out of town
- Heel and toe / throttle blipping tricky as throttle is a little "lazy"
- Having to carry a tag for tracker is a PITA (sorting phone sync out next week).
Overall - I am still pinching myself that it's really my car, the only compromise over a more obvious daily drive is the slightly restricted visibility.
So if you are reading this, wondering "should I" - the answer is most certainly "Yes". They represent fantastic value for money and you can use it every day.
Merry Christmas everyone
Kris
Edited by krisdelta on Saturday 24th December 11:44
Jockman said:
Size - a good few inches smaller than a DB9 which, to my surprise, is the same size as my previous 5 series. Ergo, parking of a V8V should be a doddle - compare size with your M3 out of interest, you may get a surprise.
Tracker Tag - I shall requote you in case you realise how girly you sound and decide to delete it - "Having to carry a tag for tracker is a PITA" - Did you somehow receive the special 10kg one that you need to lift with 2 hands ??
Happy 'Kris'mas
It's only 5cm wider than the M, but because you can't see the bonnet, my brain assumes it must be 50cm wider,, so still calibrating my driving Tracker Tag - I shall requote you in case you realise how girly you sound and decide to delete it - "Having to carry a tag for tracker is a PITA" - Did you somehow receive the special 10kg one that you need to lift with 2 hands ??
Happy 'Kris'mas
parking is a cinch.Tracker tag is a pain because it's taken most if my adult life to remember just to check I have my keys before I leave the house! If I was a girl I'd have a handbag - ready made tracker storage
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