Sportshift Woes
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 11
From: PA
Rep Power: 0
Sorry for not writing back sooner. To answer some questions:
1) It was Aston Martin of New England
2) He convinced me to try it out and I ended up driving it 500 miles (4 weeks) and never "got used to it".
3) The day I had the argument with the owner, I got a call from BMW saying "Hey, that i8 you ordered 18 months ago comes in on Monday - still want it?"
So I traded a car with dinosaur era technology for one of the most advanced out there. The i8 drives like a dream, does 0-60 in about 4 seconds, and has been getting me about 60 mpg in the first week.
My other car is an Audi RS7, so that's my speed demon.
1) It was Aston Martin of New England
2) He convinced me to try it out and I ended up driving it 500 miles (4 weeks) and never "got used to it".
3) The day I had the argument with the owner, I got a call from BMW saying "Hey, that i8 you ordered 18 months ago comes in on Monday - still want it?"
So I traded a car with dinosaur era technology for one of the most advanced out there. The i8 drives like a dream, does 0-60 in about 4 seconds, and has been getting me about 60 mpg in the first week.
My other car is an Audi RS7, so that's my speed demon.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 31
From: CHICAGO
Rep Power: 14
I am very intrigued about your I8 since I am on the list for one as well while mulling the purchase of a manual V8V. Transmission and Nav aside, could you elaborate on the difference in drivetrain and driving dynamics please, what do you prefer (if at all) and which one is more fun to drive......thanks!
I sure hope you are happy now!
I sure hope you are happy now!
Last edited by ChiTownM; Nov 6, 2014 at 07:04 PM.
Registered User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 18
From: New Jersey
Rep Power: 0
BTW, I know all you guys talk about "learns" (which really means clutch pressure plate/disk calibration BTW, as the throwout solenoid senses how much depth there is to the clutch disk using engagement sensing to figure out where it is), but believing that you have to do this every time you drive the car is not true, nor will it improve the driving experience. Occasionally the whole assembly will lose its placement, and then you can feel a small difference, but in reality the clutch wears slowly enough that the engagement point and dimensional accuracy that the throwout solenoid expects to see doesn't change that dramatically.
Doing this startup calibration makes absolutely no difference to the daily behavior I've found. I did it a couple of times when I got the car a couple of years ago, then once in a while if I start the car and wait a couple of minutes while getting settled, I hear the mechanism finish its calibration. But it has no effect on driveability.
I love the car, but the SS is an abomination in a car like this (drama for drama's sake there
) Paddle shifting is fine if you're out on a long drive on a nice roads and you're driving sportily, but for daily life this thing is an epic failure. Having lived with a PDK also, it does everything perfectly, and the SS does everything terribly. A slushbox would have been preferable to this mutant. Heck, our family hauler is a 14 Durango with an 8 speed paddle shifted slushbox, which is almost as nice as the PDK, and thats in a freakin Dodge.
I'm deciding whether to trade the Aston for a manual version (found a couple that may be a square trade for mine). In the process of purchasing an R8, and don't know where to put all these damn cars anyway. Love the Aston, its amazing, but the SS has ruined it for me, as I dread driving it most days.
What's mostly disturbing, is that AM is focusing their production on these infernal devices, rather than contracting with someone to build them a grown up automated manual. The Daimler engine contract is fine, but unless they get their transmission act together, I fear that hardcore enthusiasts will wither away from them over time, as the driving experience is just lousy.
Whats really sad, is that for all their problems, they still make bad decisions all over the place that have led to them having record sales, and not being able to have consistent solvency. The SS is but one example of semi-bespoke stuff being terrible. The cars electronics is another example of warped focus on something that they simply cannot do better than OEM manufacturers. The list goes on and on, and sadly, while they've recently received a $150m cash infusion, its probably not enough to get them anywhere real.
As a supercar/sports/gt car manufacturer specialist, there are places to deploy capital and places to not. These guys are just not making sense compared to some of their direct competitors. I've had a couple of Astons over the years (mostly really older ones 60s, etc), and I love the marque, but for them to compete, they have to get their act together...
I'm now exhausted from my childlike rant
Last edited by nanohead; Feb 1, 2015 at 09:26 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,038
From: Oxnard, Ca
Rep Power: 62
There is a simple way around the Sport shift problems. BUY THE MANUAL. I know I know I and being a snob. But the Vantage is a sports car. I love the 6 speed stick in my 2007. Is it easy to shift like my daughters Miata? Answer no.
But the Aston drive's way different than the Miata, the transmission effort and precision match the car.
Just my $0.02
Ron
But the Aston drive's way different than the Miata, the transmission effort and precision match the car.
Just my $0.02
Ron
Registered User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 431
From: Glendale, CA
Rep Power: 35
Indeed. I have a 14 Cayman with the PDK, and its amazing. I HATE my 09 V8V Sportshift. I'm fine with paddle shifting, not the issue. The real issue is that first gear engagement is atrocious, and using the car in NY/NJ metro traffic is horrible. Paddle shifting will never fix that problem. And the lack of a hill holder is simply criminal, as the car drifts backwards on uphill starts, which makes it impossible for someone to get in a drive it without knowing the trans is unpredictable.
BTW, I know all you guys talk about "learns" (which really means clutch pressure plate/disk calibration BTW, as the throwout solenoid senses how much depth there is to the clutch disk using engagement sensing to figure out where it is), but believing that you have to do this every time you drive the car is not true, nor will it improve the driving experience. Occasionally the whole assembly will lose its placement, and then you can feel a small difference, but in reality the clutch wears slowly enough that the engagement point and dimensional accuracy that the throwout solenoid expects to see doesn't change that dramatically.
Doing this startup calibration makes absolutely no difference to the daily behavior I've found. I did it a couple of times when I got the car a couple of years ago, then once in a while if I start the car and wait a couple of minutes while getting settled, I hear the mechanism finish its calibration. But it has no effect on driveability.
I love the car, but the SS is an abomination in a car like this (drama for drama's sake there) Paddle shifting is fine if you're out on a long drive on a nice roads and you're driving sportily, but for daily life this thing is an epic failure.
Having lived with a PDK also, it does everything perfectly, and the SS does everything terribly. A slushbox would have been preferable to this mutant. Heck, our family hauler is a 14 Durango with an 8 speed paddle shifted slushbox, which is almost as nice as the PDK, and thats in a freakin Dodge.
I'm deciding whether to trade the Aston for a manual version (found a couple that may be a square trade for mine). In the process of purchasing an R8, and don't know where to put all these damn cars anyway. Love the Aston, its amazing, but the SS has ruined it for me, as I dread driving it most days.
What's mostly disturbing, is that AM is focusing their production on these infernal devices, rather than contracting with someone to build them a grown up automated manual. The Daimler engine contract is fine, but unless they get their transmission act together, I fear that hardcore enthusiasts will wither away from them over time, as the driving experience is just lousy.
Whats really sad, is that for all their problems, they still make bad decisions all over the place that have led to them having record sales, and not being able to have consistent solvency. The SS is but one example of semi-bespoke stuff being terrible. The cars electronics is another example of warped focus on something that they simply cannot do better than OEM manufacturers. The list goes on and on, and sadly, while they've recently received a $150m cash infusion, its probably not enough to get them anywhere real.
As a supercar/sports/gt car manufacturer specialist, there are places to deploy capital and places to not. These guys are just not making sense compared to some of their direct competitors. I've had a couple of Astons over the years (mostly really older ones 60s, etc), and I love the marque, but for them to compete, they have to get their act together...
I'm now exhausted from my childlike rant
BTW, I know all you guys talk about "learns" (which really means clutch pressure plate/disk calibration BTW, as the throwout solenoid senses how much depth there is to the clutch disk using engagement sensing to figure out where it is), but believing that you have to do this every time you drive the car is not true, nor will it improve the driving experience. Occasionally the whole assembly will lose its placement, and then you can feel a small difference, but in reality the clutch wears slowly enough that the engagement point and dimensional accuracy that the throwout solenoid expects to see doesn't change that dramatically.
Doing this startup calibration makes absolutely no difference to the daily behavior I've found. I did it a couple of times when I got the car a couple of years ago, then once in a while if I start the car and wait a couple of minutes while getting settled, I hear the mechanism finish its calibration. But it has no effect on driveability.
I love the car, but the SS is an abomination in a car like this (drama for drama's sake there
) Paddle shifting is fine if you're out on a long drive on a nice roads and you're driving sportily, but for daily life this thing is an epic failure. Having lived with a PDK also, it does everything perfectly, and the SS does everything terribly. A slushbox would have been preferable to this mutant. Heck, our family hauler is a 14 Durango with an 8 speed paddle shifted slushbox, which is almost as nice as the PDK, and thats in a freakin Dodge.
I'm deciding whether to trade the Aston for a manual version (found a couple that may be a square trade for mine). In the process of purchasing an R8, and don't know where to put all these damn cars anyway. Love the Aston, its amazing, but the SS has ruined it for me, as I dread driving it most days.
What's mostly disturbing, is that AM is focusing their production on these infernal devices, rather than contracting with someone to build them a grown up automated manual. The Daimler engine contract is fine, but unless they get their transmission act together, I fear that hardcore enthusiasts will wither away from them over time, as the driving experience is just lousy.
Whats really sad, is that for all their problems, they still make bad decisions all over the place that have led to them having record sales, and not being able to have consistent solvency. The SS is but one example of semi-bespoke stuff being terrible. The cars electronics is another example of warped focus on something that they simply cannot do better than OEM manufacturers. The list goes on and on, and sadly, while they've recently received a $150m cash infusion, its probably not enough to get them anywhere real.
As a supercar/sports/gt car manufacturer specialist, there are places to deploy capital and places to not. These guys are just not making sense compared to some of their direct competitors. I've had a couple of Astons over the years (mostly really older ones 60s, etc), and I love the marque, but for them to compete, they have to get their act together...
I'm now exhausted from my childlike rant
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 867
From: The Heart of England
Rep Power: 54
Indeed. I have a 14 Cayman with the PDK, and its amazing. I HATE my 09 V8V Sportshift. I'm fine with paddle shifting, not the issue. The real issue is that first gear engagement is atrocious, and using the car in NY/NJ metro traffic is horrible. Paddle shifting will never fix that problem. And the lack of a hill holder is simply criminal, as the car drifts backwards on uphill starts, which makes it impossible for someone to get in a drive it without knowing the trans is unpredictable.
BTW, I know all you guys talk about "learns" (which really means clutch pressure plate/disk calibration BTW, as the throwout solenoid senses how much depth there is to the clutch disk using engagement sensing to figure out where it is), but believing that you have to do this every time you drive the car is not true, nor will it improve the driving experience. Occasionally the whole assembly will lose its placement, and then you can feel a small difference, but in reality the clutch wears slowly enough that the engagement point and dimensional accuracy that the throwout solenoid expects to see doesn't change that dramatically.
SNIP
I'm now exhausted from my childlike rant
BTW, I know all you guys talk about "learns" (which really means clutch pressure plate/disk calibration BTW, as the throwout solenoid senses how much depth there is to the clutch disk using engagement sensing to figure out where it is), but believing that you have to do this every time you drive the car is not true, nor will it improve the driving experience. Occasionally the whole assembly will lose its placement, and then you can feel a small difference, but in reality the clutch wears slowly enough that the engagement point and dimensional accuracy that the throwout solenoid expects to see doesn't change that dramatically.
SNIP
I'm now exhausted from my childlike rant
Have you driven ASM2 or 3?
Hill hold works well on both
I managed to do hill starts in my ASM1 car using the handbrake with no issue
Clutch learns are only worth doing yourself on ASM1 if you know they haven't been done.
ASM2 and ASM3 do them automatically so AML must think they are worth while
Face it manuals aren't going to cut it with ever increasing emissions constraints
I'm happy with my ASM2 driveability (now I fixed the bloody thing with out Astons help
)Treat it as a robotic manual and it works wells
Registered User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 18
From: New Jersey
Rep Power: 0
Having a rant over a box they stopped making in 2011
Have you driven ASM2 or 3?
Hill hold works well on both
I managed to do hill starts in my ASM1 car using the handbrake with no issue
Clutch learns are only worth doing yourself on ASM1 if you know they haven't been done.
ASM2 and ASM3 do them automatically so AML must think they are worth while
Face it manuals aren't going to cut it with ever increasing emissions constraints
I'm happy with my ASM2 driveability (now I fixed the bloody thing with out Astons help )
Treat it as a robotic manual and it works wells
Have you driven ASM2 or 3?
Hill hold works well on both
I managed to do hill starts in my ASM1 car using the handbrake with no issue
Clutch learns are only worth doing yourself on ASM1 if you know they haven't been done.
ASM2 and ASM3 do them automatically so AML must think they are worth while
Face it manuals aren't going to cut it with ever increasing emissions constraints
I'm happy with my ASM2 driveability (now I fixed the bloody thing with out Astons help
)Treat it as a robotic manual and it works wells
After 30 years of collecting all sorts of cars, and having driven many others, this has been one of the biggest disappointments (I never had a BMW DCT so that may be worse) in a thoroughbred car if you consider this one. All the cars I've had (from Healys to Saabs, Benzes, Chryslers, Fords, Porsches, Triumphs, Jaguars, Nissans, Mazdas, etc, yep, I've owned a ton), this transmission decision these guys made is probably one of the worst product decisions I've personally experienced. Such a beautiful car, marred with such a painful driving experience.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 867
From: The Heart of England
Rep Power: 54
Yeah I'm not a fan of ASM1 but I accept AM as a very low volume producer isn't going to have the latest and most cutting edge tech.
For their size I think they do OK though.
ASM2 gets rid of a lot of the issues with ASM1 like;
manual learns
"creep" mode in 1st & reverse
high reverse gear
no hill hold
Very slow auto changes
Just a shame it lost the oil cooler as I'm convinced it needs it in hot or hard use conditions.
For their size I think they do OK though.
ASM2 gets rid of a lot of the issues with ASM1 like;
manual learns
"creep" mode in 1st & reverse
high reverse gear
no hill hold
Very slow auto changes
Just a shame it lost the oil cooler as I'm convinced it needs it in hot or hard use conditions.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,256
From: New Braunfels, TX
Rep Power: 83
I took my new to me V8VS Roadster out for its first real ride this weekend. After 500 miles of amazing winding coastal roads I could not be more pleased. Being a manual transmition guy I was nervous if I would like it. Yes the Automatic mode in Drive is a joke. But driving in Sport mode with the paddles offered very quick seamless shifts and I put it to the test. A slight lift of the accelerator during shifting made the shifts smooth and enjoyable. I was equally suprised on how balanced these cars are. It had less under-stear than my 911 turbo and seamed to dance with divine elegance through the curves. I can't stop smiling, what an amazing weekend, what an great car!
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 649
From: Bucks County, PA
Rep Power: 52
I took my new to me V8VS Roadster out for its first real ride this weekend. After 500 miles of amazing winding coastal roads I could not be more pleased. Being a manual transmition guy I was nervous if I would like it. Yes the Automatic mode in Drive is a joke. But driving in Sport mode with the paddles offered very quick seamless shifts and I put it to the test. A slight lift of the accelerator during shifting made the shifts smooth and enjoyable. I was equally suprised on how balanced these cars are. It had less under-stear than my 911 turbo and seamed to dance with divine elegance through the curves. I can't stop smiling, what an amazing weekend, what an great car!
Registered User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 431
From: Glendale, CA
Rep Power: 35
IIRC yes, no roomf for a dual clutch or a regular automatic. Otherwise I gather they would have re-used the DB9's
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
evermore
Aston Martin
19
Sep 29, 2016 08:27 AM
goto35
Aston Martin
3
Sep 18, 2015 04:43 AM