V8 Vantage manual transmission but with paddle shifters?
Discussion
Is it possible to have a V8 Vantage "manual" transmission, where you change gear using paddles (as they do in the AMR racing cars) and NOT via the clutch pedal?
From reading around I got the impression if I want to use paddle shifters then this is not a manual and I am forced to have a semi-automatic via SSI, SSII, SSIII (which apparently have some weird quirks with usage)
I am aiming this question at V8 Vantage S, N430, GT8, AMR (not the 4.3 and not the new Vantage)
If this isn't available as standard, is it something which could be changed on a car (Bamford Rose etc)?
From reading around I got the impression if I want to use paddle shifters then this is not a manual and I am forced to have a semi-automatic via SSI, SSII, SSIII (which apparently have some weird quirks with usage)
I am aiming this question at V8 Vantage S, N430, GT8, AMR (not the 4.3 and not the new Vantage)
If this isn't available as standard, is it something which could be changed on a car (Bamford Rose etc)?
murphyaj said:
None of the automatic or semi-automatic aston martins have a clutch pedal (which is a defining point of an automatic as far as I know). The have a clutch (the bit that disconnects the gearbox from the engine), but no clutch pedal.
The V8 Vantage S auto has a robotically operated manual transmission, with a robotically operated clutch. That means it is a conventional manual gearbox, but rather than having a gearstick and a clutch pedal you have paddles. When you pull a paddle the computer disengages the clutch hydrolically, then the gearbox changes gear, then the clutch is re-engaged. That's what the SS and SSII semi-automatic gearboxes do.
Is that what you are looking for? The only Aston Martin's with a clutch pedal are the full manuals.
Okay, thank you for this. So it sounds like what I am after is what SSI, SSII and SSIII actually do. The reason I asked is because I have read so many weird tales where people are warned to try these out before buying due to all sorts of quirks, which made me think it wasn't equivalent to a manual +shifters.The V8 Vantage S auto has a robotically operated manual transmission, with a robotically operated clutch. That means it is a conventional manual gearbox, but rather than having a gearstick and a clutch pedal you have paddles. When you pull a paddle the computer disengages the clutch hydrolically, then the gearbox changes gear, then the clutch is re-engaged. That's what the SS and SSII semi-automatic gearboxes do.
Is that what you are looking for? The only Aston Martin's with a clutch pedal are the full manuals.
murphyaj said:
The reason people are told to try these is because they work as described above. Some people treat them as a regular auto, don't use the paddles, and expect the car to do all the work. The result is that is is very jerky, as the clutch opens and closes without releasing the throttle.
They are intended to be driven like a manual, coming off the power as the gear is changed and then feeding it back in as it is engaged, with the driver controlling when the changes happen with the paddles. Some people never get on with driving them like that, so either opt for a manual or for a more traditional automatic by getting a DB9. Hence the advice to try it first.
Got you. Do all automatic Astons have the semi-automatic/paddles? Or do you have to explicitly look for "Sportshift" to know it is a semi-automatic with paddles?They are intended to be driven like a manual, coming off the power as the gear is changed and then feeding it back in as it is engaged, with the driver controlling when the changes happen with the paddles. Some people never get on with driving them like that, so either opt for a manual or for a more traditional automatic by getting a DB9. Hence the advice to try it first.
yellow_tang said:
All Vantage models have the option of SportShift as an automated manual gearbox and clutch operation with paddleshift, all other contemporary Gaydon models (DB9, DBS, Rapide, Vanquish) have true auto boxes with paddles.
Sorry I may have mis-asked and misread this reply.If a V8V is listed as "automatic" does this mean it definitely has SportShift? Only manuals don't have Sportshift?
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