I like that idea on the back to back and will try to convince my friend with the stock 4.7 to do a back to back with me and we will go to a different location since everyone seems to be in agreement that they either fudged the numbers or have some sort of trick dyno.

I am pretty certain though that dynos adjust for temp/humidity, no?

The goal of my dyno was to do a pre/post cat dyno to see the gains as there really was no info even from RSC. The gains from the CATs alone were 18RWHP!

 

Tahoe, you've reinvigorated my GTR itch.

 

If you're looking for a daily driver, the GTR may make sense. Several of the downsides of the Vantage that Tahoe identified are common to most exotics. Worrying about where you can take/park the car, loud exhaust, poor gas mileage, scraping the front end -- these are all problems that come with owning an Aston, Ferrari, Lambo, etc. Since my Vantage is a weekend car, those downsides are not of great concern to me, and a small price to pay to experience an Aston.

As for reliability issues, most of the issues with the 4.3 were resolved with the 4.7. Not saying that the GTR and Vantage are the same in terms of reliability, but reliability is less of a concern with the newer cars. At the risk of jinxing myself, I haven't had a single issue with my V12V in the year that I've owned it.

 

Go old school !!!
Went from 2007 V8V to 1965 365C ... 85 HP ... curves are a blast at speed! AND the 356 is actually going up in value ... sorry ... just had to throw that in ... any AM is a great choice ... loved my modded 4.3 !

 

356 -- that's superb.

No 32, it looks like the Silver V12V at AM Long Island has not been sold.

 

I am new to the Aston, but I come from a few Porsches 911s. Try a 911 997 GT3 or 911 997 GTS. I know they look somewhat vanilla but, I assure you, you won't get bored of it in 18 months. The trick about Porsches is that the car incentives you to discover more and more about it. It pushes you to find what it can do. Every time you drive it, it's a rollercoaster of sensations and tactile accuracy. Yes, fewer people will take a second look at the car on the street, nobody will ask you how much it costs, but the smile it leaves in your face every time you get out of it, its priceless!!!

 

Agreed I love Porsche as well. The 911 is like an old best friend, fits like a snug glove. Bar none the best car ever created (and it's a flawed design gotta love it) and an motoring icon. I drove my GT2 recently for the first time this year and it reminded me again of just how incredible she really is... just so connected, precision of a surgeons scalpel propelled by a hammer of thor! Every time I drive that car I fall in love again...and I reallize that no matter how many days have gone since our last outing together...that it really is true...Porsche there is really is NO Substitute!

 

AMEN!!
911s rule... Nice GT2 Sunir, with all those mods, the car must be incredible to drive! I had a 964, 993, 996C4S, 997 GT3, and all of them were wonderful, amazing cars. I just recently drove the new 991CS, and it is (surprise!) AMAZING!!! No big issues with the electric steering. It has lost some of the friction the tires have with the road that we are used to feel, but otherwise, it's accurate, the feedback is there, it still kicks back when the tires go over something... the most important things are still there... just a little filtered down. The car feels more invincible than before, the car feels less rear heavy and you can accelerate earlier than before out of a corner. It is the torque vectoring! All in all, I want one!!!

 

911s are fantastic cars. i drove a 997 C2S while figuring out what car i'd get. it was great, but i didn't want one. there was nothing wrong with the car whatsoever, i just wasn't excited by it. i ended up buying an '07 V8V and haven't regretted it for a single moment.

i had a similar experience about a week ago when i drove a Gallardo. it was a great thing to drive at high speeds, but below 40 mph it wasn't impressive and i didn't really like the E-Gear. it was an earlier year and i was told the newer ones are much better, but i got out of it and didn't care whether or not i ever got back behind the wheel of one.

i haven't driven a GTR, but i know they're amazing machines. but from what i've heard, you don't get much pleasure from the car itself aside from the sheer performance of the thing. too many computers and whatnot control the car and you're just along for the ride.

i always figured that air density due to temps would affect dyno results. dunno how the systems can compensate for the difference in air temp/density/humidity/etc... if they can, awesome. but i still take readings with a grain of salt.

 

Dynos can be either corrected or uncorrected. Corrected takes into account the variables that can change the reading. There are two types of corrections SAE (pretty much the industry standard) and STD (older, slightly highter reading).

Here is a decent write up:
http://imageftp.dynojet.com/CMD/Trut...Runs_Final.pdf

 

I think the change to electric power steering in the 991 is a massive shame. For a tiny improvement in emissions, there is near-unanimous (perhaps actually unanimous) agreement that there has been a loss in steering feel -- the only debate concerns whether, or how much, that matters. Those who say it's not a big deal acknowledge that there is a loss, but that the "essential" information is still there, while the "non-essential" feedback is what's gone missing. Too many well-respected auto journalists have found themselves asking whether the 991 has become so easy to drive, so much more mature, that it isn't exciting anymore except for the big speeds of which it is clearly capable. Most conclude that they needn't have worried, the excitement and involvement are still there -- they found it after they drove the 991 like they "were being chased" or some similar reference to driving it at massive speed in max-attack mode. For me, one of the things that made a 911 great was that it was involving even when not in max-attack mode.

To me, that now-missing non-essential feedback is a big part of what made 911s so very interesting and enjoyable to drive. That non-essential feedback provided a wonderful and continuous dialogue with the car -- it's what made it feel alive, even when you weren't going at huge speed. Since opportunities to drive modern sports cars at a high percentage of their very high potential on the road are few and far between, this is very important, IMO.

Today, I took my V8V for a drive. It was fantastic to drive fast, and -- importantly -- it was also wonderful to drive at sane speeds. There are many reasons for this, but a major one is that the steering is full of feel. I think the V8V, especially after the '09 revisions (which included tweaks to the steering to improve feel), has among the best steering feel of any car available today. It talks to you, it tells you about the essential stuff and the non-essential stuff -- it's involving and interesting. The steering is where most of the information about what the car is doing is communicated to the driver. I want that dialogue, and I want it real, not synthesized.

 

You are absolutely right, Speedracer. It is a shame that Porsche changed to an electric steering. Porsche had the "PERFECT STEERING". Too change it and end up with less than before is a sin. But, at least it does not feel as bad as the systems from BMWs or MBs. All the little tremors, little kicks, little twitches the steering had before, they are gone!!! Also, the feedback you got from the car, to the seat, to your back, is less too. The car has been more insulated from road "harshness" (what we would describe as "talk"). So everything is more filtered, remote. However, I still liked the experience very much. The "essential" things are still there, the non-ones are gone; and to us Porschephiles, those "non-ones" are the ones we are going to miss the most. But the car industry is changing, fuel economy and regulations are driving the show now. VW had something to do with this too, as Porsche integrates into their matrix. Still, it is the best car to drive among the new ones coming with electric steering; as all will at some point... One thing I can tell you though.... this steering will not cut it among the GT3 and the RS crowd. Hope Porsche is working to make the system better.

On another point... you wrote that AM made some tweaks and changes to the steering feel of the Vantage in '09. Do you know if those tweaks can be done or implement in older than '09 Vantages???

 

By steering feel, I believe he is referring to the slightly tightened steering geometry in combination with the stiffer suspension/shocks. The sports pack steps it up even more and is absolutely available now for pre 09' and includes forged lightweight alloy wheels, retuned shocks, up-rated springs and a revised anti-roll bar. I have the sportspack and love it.

 

Thank you telum01... I'm glad to hear that after a while of owning an AMV8 you don't regret the decision. I hope the Aston grows on me too. I will see into the Sport Package you are refering to.

 

And I bet that the addition of the engine mounting system in the new 991 also adds to the change of steering feel. I believe that - as this nanny system reduces the lean of the car - it feeds some initial " weirdness" in the steering. perhaps you get used to it... just like people got used to the Bangle butt... sorta kinda .. not..