Sportshift Woes
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Joined: Jun 2014
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From: South Carolina
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Drive your new baby, and learn to use the shifter. You will end up liking it just fine. Practice by yourself, and learn to be smooth, and also learn to drive it hard too. Then your wife won't mind it riding with you. then teach her if she wants to drive. Both types of trannys can be rewarding if you learn them. Thats the key.
I would refuse to ever do business with that dealer again. He was the one you said talked you into that car in the first place, less than 1k miles later you hate it, what kind of service is that. I would understand 130 something maybe, but not 40k less. I am mad for you
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Joined: May 2013
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From: Glendale, CA
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Curious, what dealer is this?
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From: Michigan
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So sad to see so many of you guys prefer an automatic (with a substantial amount of shortcomings as far as I can tell) over a manual. I guess it's just the way the world is but it saddens me that you can't buy any Ferraris with a manual, that Porsche's best 911s (turbos and GT3s) are no longer offered with a manual, that Aston seems be on the same path as well. As someone who has never owned or wanted to own a car with fewer than 3 pedals, I guess I'm going to be stuck with my current set of cars for a long time. Makes me want to trade them in on the latest and greatest of that generation (e.g., my 996 turbo -> 997.2 GT3RS, my 2010 V8V to the latest V12V with manual, etc...) and hang on to them forever.
By the way, I'm not trying to berate anyone's individual preference for an automatic - I'm all for letting people have the choice to suit their preferences. I'm just a bit demoralized that the trend seems to be shifting so overwhelmingly towards the automatics that the automakers (even the sports car companies) are removing the choice and standardizing on the autos.
By the way, I'm not trying to berate anyone's individual preference for an automatic - I'm all for letting people have the choice to suit their preferences. I'm just a bit demoralized that the trend seems to be shifting so overwhelmingly towards the automatics that the automakers (even the sports car companies) are removing the choice and standardizing on the autos.
Sorry to hear the dealer is trying to shaft you!
Last edited by dan87951; Oct 22, 2014 at 05:46 AM.
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From: Glendale, CA
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I really prefer manuals myself but the paddle shift in my DB9 is quite good. I looked for almost 8 months and could not find a single manual DB9 in the country, I eventually settled for the paddles. The one thing I do like is there are no expensive clutch replacements to worry about and the car is about 85-90% as fun to drive as a manual when in paddle shifter mode. When you press the "sport" button this thing just makes gear changes so fast and precise its quite an experience when you are in the power band. Don't get me wrong, there are days I long for that third pedal but I'm happy with my purchase. I missed some good cars trying to wait for a manual and decided I wasn't going to let another good one (my car) pass me.
Sorry to hear the dealer is trying to shaft you!
Sorry to hear the dealer is trying to shaft you!
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Michigan
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Sounds like the Vanquish I originally wanted but was absolutely disgusted at how it shifted on the test drive. I later found out these cars have lots of reliability problems with the clutches/gear boxes and decided to pass. Even on an episode of Top Gear Clarkson mentions it because they couldn't even get it around there test track for one lap before the Vanquish would break. I would have thought they would have gotten it fixed by now? That's disappointing to know!
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Joined: May 2013
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From: Glendale, CA
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Sounds like the Vanquish I originally wanted but was absolutely disgusted at how it shifted on the test drive. I later found out these cars have lots of reliability problems with the clutches/gear boxes and decided to pass. Even on an episode of Top Gear Clarkson mentions it because they couldn't even get it around there test track for one lap before the Vanquish would break. I would have thought they would have gotten it fixed by now? That's disappointing to know!
There's a lot of glossing over the nastiness of this transmission here and on other forums, which makes it very misleading to potential buyers. Similar to karpaydm, I'm pretty dissatisfied with the arcaic, unreliable system. I met other owners with the same feelings. You want to love the car, but the transmission is so bad it's very hard to do so.
My suggestion? If you want an auto, get a DB9.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Northern CT
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Isn't that obvious, since an SSM is not an automatic in the first place? It is a manual trans with a better than human shifter. And in that role, it is more than adequate. It does a better job of up and down shifting than I can do rowing gears myself.
Is it as quick and seamless as a DCT? No, but who cares? It is much more involving than a DCT. A DCT is for someone who really does want an automatic but without the TC slur.
My Vanquish shifts perfectly fine and I have no complaints when on the paddles. Automatic mode? Not satisfactory, but I don't care, because it is a manual and I use it that way. IMO, lots of complaints without merit.
Is it as quick and seamless as a DCT? No, but who cares? It is much more involving than a DCT. A DCT is for someone who really does want an automatic but without the TC slur.
My Vanquish shifts perfectly fine and I have no complaints when on the paddles. Automatic mode? Not satisfactory, but I don't care, because it is a manual and I use it that way. IMO, lots of complaints without merit.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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I'm embarrassed to say that the year in my previous Vanquish taught me nothing about paddle shifting, which is probably why I was never at ease with it.
But my Vantage SS is a different story, and you nailed it when you said to drive it hard. It becomes a beautiful machine when you accelerate briskly in every gear, shifts become smoother and you feel at one with the car.
The difference for me is treating it as a sports car instead of a cruiser like many other cars I've had.
I live at the top of a large hill road, and the drive down from cold is always jerky and juddery. There's no right gear I can use to make any improvement. But as the V8V warms up on the flat and I can start to use firm acceleration for every gear it becomes another kind of animal. The sweet spot for easy changes seems to be at 3000rpm around town, and every gear change is smooth and effortless at that point.
I still wonder why it's taken me so long to get this far, but the experience was well worth the wait!
But my Vantage SS is a different story, and you nailed it when you said to drive it hard. It becomes a beautiful machine when you accelerate briskly in every gear, shifts become smoother and you feel at one with the car.
The difference for me is treating it as a sports car instead of a cruiser like many other cars I've had.
I live at the top of a large hill road, and the drive down from cold is always jerky and juddery. There's no right gear I can use to make any improvement. But as the V8V warms up on the flat and I can start to use firm acceleration for every gear it becomes another kind of animal. The sweet spot for easy changes seems to be at 3000rpm around town, and every gear change is smooth and effortless at that point.
I still wonder why it's taken me so long to get this far, but the experience was well worth the wait!
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From: The Heart of England
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Sounds like the Vanquish I originally wanted but was absolutely disgusted at how it shifted on the test drive. I later found out these cars have lots of reliability problems with the clutches/gear boxes and decided to pass. Even on an episode of Top Gear Clarkson mentions it because they couldn't even get it around there test track for one lap before the Vanquish would break. I would have thought they would have gotten it fixed by now? That's disappointing to know!
The 6 speed auto in the current Vanquish is actually pretty good, the latest one has the renowned 8 speed ZF box everyone is using now
Last edited by mikey k; Oct 23, 2014 at 10:28 AM.
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