Well, of course there always rev matching downshifts to accelerate, I did neglect to add!

 

Sportshifts rev-match automatically on downshifts - I should add.

 

Unfortunately that eliminates the ability to clutch brake, but that's another paragraph

 

I would agree that the clutch in my 2016 Vantage is much easier and lighter than my 2007 Vantage was.
Ron

 

At what year would you folks say the clutch got lighter?

 

But do you find much pleasure in the computer doing that for you?

 

ABSOLUTELY - I rev match when accelerating, and let the computer downshift most of the time while I'm daily driving in traffic, and let the computer downshift for me because it always does a smoother job than me. My son's new Camaro 6 speed can go into automatic rev matching mode - on that car in city driving it's irritating, both of us enjoys not using it. On the Aston downshift it's involving enough - If I lived in the country or tracked the car I would probably prefer the manual.

 

I think it was around 2009, when the 4.7 was introduced.
Ron

 

yep, my 2010's clutch is light as a feather, its so light its hard to find the exact grab point at times, definitely takes some practice

 

You've accomplished enough in life to afford an Aston, surely you can find a beater and just learn that

 

Counter-point again: To sway a potential Aston buyer away because they don't think like those insisting on manuals as the ONLY way to go is a massive mistake. To suggest that you won't fully enjoy the car if it's a Sportshift (or DB9 - automatic) and only a manual would suffice somewhat belittling anyone who would think of anything but a manual is simply wrong. It's like saying the only woman worth dating is a redhead, anything else and your making a big mistake. There is a reason of the 4 Vantages I've owned - 3 are sportshifts, and it's not because I don't know how to drive a manual. The Sportshift is raw enough to be interactive driving when driven as intended, and even with the early versions will shift quicker than any manual, and pretty much never having to worry about smoking the clutch.

 

Yeah, as I said earlier, he might enjoy sportshift just fine. Some of us just prefer the more involved driving experience that accompanies a manual.

 

I absolutely believe that an automatic is an inferior driving experience to a manual. Shift speed is WAYYY low on my priority list. It's a personal feeling and strictly an opinion, but my posts will likely be biased towards this opinion. I suspect this is the same as others.

 

Honestly, the weight of the clutch in my '07 is higher than most cars, but not out of line. I've owned cars with half the torque that had similar weight. It doesn't impede on my ability to operate it and it isn't objectionable (though it is annoying) in traffic. I would absolutely not make a decision on what model year to buy based on the force of the clutch. To be honest, I feel like the heft of the early clutch is in line with the weight of the other controls and enhances the character of the car. Everything on this car from steering to shifter to the other pedals takes a higher than average amount of force to operate.

 

I would love the opportunity to drive a paddle shifter for a few days, I'm sure it would be a wonderful ride. It hasn't stopped many [if any] from buying Ferrari's and Lambo's so it has to still be a pleasurable experience. But there's also a large upcharge for true manuals of these cars for a reason, because there are those of us that just feel at home with a stick, and while alot of the early cars were sticks that turned into a large minority on the later cars.

Never driving a stick is no reason not to buy an Aston, you buy what you are comfortable and familiar with, and no doubt you'll have just as much pleasure from the drive as we do.