HI, new owner of a 20K mile '07 V8 Vantage. When at idle I gave the engine a decent quick rev. On a performance car one might expect the engine to closely track the throttle input: Rev up quickly back down quickly. In this case the rev felt delayed to climb and especially slow to spin back down. Is this an example of the "poor throttle response" criticism levied at these cars? With 20K on the original clutch I am planning for an eventual replacement and strongly considering the lighter flywheel option. I have read that would let the engine respond a bit faster.

Thank you for any feedback!

 

The problem is the heavy flywheel (and a little bit the throttle mapping, which can be helped with the sport button or a tune).

P.S. A video would help us determine if it's "normal."

 

All solved with a lighter flywheel and tune. You'll feel like you're driving a different car.

 

Sounds normal , my 07 has very lazy throttle response , like others have said , lighter flywheel and tune from velocity will fix it .
I get way quicker response in her Z4 and my old Healeys beat them all hands down for throttle response .

 

i'm aware that this is a two year old post....but anyway,

it was a design trade-off. a lighter flywheel will accelerate (increase speed of rotation) and retard its acceleration faster the lighter it is. IOW it will set you back in your seat faster if it's light, and will also throw you forward when taken off throttle too. my guess is that it's the latter that aston was trying to avoid. aston has always been old money, old man, GT kind of car company and being tossed forward when taken off throttle was considered inappropriate for a gentleman's car. a truly fast sports car that tried to compete with a ferrari was never a goal before the 8v8 vantage came out AFAIK.

the trouble is one cannot have, as matter of physics, the nice leisurely run-on when lifting off and have the immediate fast acceleration when throttle on with the same flywheel. it would be like being tall and short at the same time.

when it comes time for a new clutch i'll be having a light flywheel put on too. rest assured.

 

The PO installed the VAP double plate clutch and lightened flywheel and I've had no lag in response. The 4.3L likes to rev to get the car to hustle!