Vantage 4.7 manual slow acceleration

[R77C]

Hello all, I've tried to search for something like what I'm experiencing but can't find a thing.

Accelerating hard in my manual 4.7 Vantage feels somewhat breathless through first and second gear. It feels like something is limiting the power/torque. As soon as I shift into third gear the rate of acceleration is noticeably faster. It's definitely not the traction control kicking in - the car isn't losing traction and there is no t/c light illuminating.

Anyone have any ideas?

No other performance car that I've ever driven has given me the sensation of a slower rate of acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear, it's rather odd!

Cheers.

[R77C]

Haha nope unfortunately not!

[R77C]

Hi Green,

Interesting. I know that clutches are a major weak point on the Vantage. On the MOT history of mine a previous Advisory was a heavy clutch, but when I came to buy it the clutch felt completely normal (for a sports car), leading me to think it had been changed in it's life.

There is certainly no other symptoms of clutch slip, and I must admit when the revs are rising as I accelerate in 1st and 2nd it doesn't feel like it's slipping but I guess it could just be very slight thus only affecting the acceleration rate rather than proper slip.

Would there be any other way to confirm if it is the clutch slipping?

[R77C]

Hi Jon, good idea and that's the only method I know for diagnosing clutch slip - tried it this morning and there's no rev rising whatsoever.

[R77C]

squirdan said:

on many new sports cars torque is indeed limited in 1st and 2nd but I dont think thats the case with our cars (is with the new Vantage I think)

I had my 4.7 on track at Goodwood a few weeks ago and I would not say the acceleration was noticeably slow in those gears

dont know where you are located but my default suggestion is always: speak to James Appleby at DAE

Thanks, I didn't think it would be limited in our era of Vantage. At first I thought it was my imagination, but the more and more I tried it, it's pretty obvious. The car is by no means slow in 1st and 2nd but the rate of acceleration is notably different as soon as you change into 3rd gear.

Will consult a specialist and see what they think.

[R77C]

Thanks for the replies all.

Adam - Bought the car about 1.5 years ago, but admittedly it doesn't get driven too much at all. I've always had that niggling feeling that it felt slower in 1st and 2nd but just put that down to my imagination/the road/me being used to other fast cars which I drive on a more regular basis. It was only last weekend that I was able to get the car out for a really good, full day of driving where I was able to test, and confirm my suspicions a little more. Honestly, as soon as I shift into third (foot to the floor, revving to the near the limiter in both first and second) the thing just takes off!!

Leman600 - I am certainly not sophisticated enough to do that haha!

[R77C]

Hello Dewi,

Oh absolutely their head would be thrown back into the headrest. The car definitely doesn't feel slow. Put it this way, upon changing into third gear it essentially feels like the car has gained a couple of extra cylinders. With all other N/A performance cars that I've driven the rate of acceleration gradually declines as you go up the gears; first gear being the most ferocious of acceleration, second a little calmer, and then third calmer still. The V8V will feel reasonably fast in 1st, roughly the same rate of acceleration in second, but then after changing into third it feels like a completely different beast.

Employing a G meter would actually be quite a good way of demonstrating what I'm feeling.