That’s the other VAP Xpipe I know of. I would love to hear the difference with the muffler version I have. VAP was saying it sounds the same but I’m not yet convinced. Some people “have to see” to believe, I have to hear it. And there’s no iPhone recording that will do it for sound. I still refuse to load audio files on the forum as the iPhone saturates it’s mic way to early and it is not a valid experience.

 

I have only done a secondary decat on my V12VS. Plenty loud, and borderline unpleasant resonance at some frequencies. Noticeable (mild) improvement in throttle response.

I've held back on headers because the readily available options (like VAP) appear to substantially change the nature of the sound, to a more high frequency (some might say F1-style) wail. I prefer the deeper chested, OEM-style sound as I think it is unique and best suited to an Aston, just MHO. I've heard that the Bamford Rose setup can preserve more of the OEM sound but availability and after sales support are an issue in NA.

 

To follow up on my previous post, I was at Velocity AP's shop again a couple weeks ago now to add an x-pipe and "CC Charger" exhaust remote control to my set up and couldn't be happier with the result. Prior to this visit I had the Velocity AP Power Pack installed (headers, high flow cats, mild tune), but the car was obnoxiously loud and unmanageable in my opinion. The car is much quieter and more refined now. In case it is ever helpful to anyone down the road, I now have the following three distinct options to run the car in:

1) Default mode has the valves programmed in the ecu to remain closed until 5000 RPM. This allows very civilized and relatively quiet operation, even when accelerating mildly aggressively and shifting around 3000-3500 RPM. I LOVED this mode for the long highway drives returning home. Listening to the Bang and Olufson on a long drive never sounded better. It will also be very handy for leaving my neighbourhood early or returning late and keeping the peace with my neighbours. *See star below for an unintended consequence though.

2) Sport mode has the valves programmed to remain closed until around 3000 RPM, which is the OEM set up. It does seem to also add a bit of throttle response as well (though I am not an expert). Whereas previously I hated how stark the difference was from relatively quiet below 3000 RPM to an enormously loud sudden BLAAAAP when the valves decided to open, now it is a much closer tone and makes more sense overall for what the car is doing.

3) Sport mode, but also using the CC Charger to just have the valves open all the time. I almost certainly would never have used this previously without the x-pipe installed. Now, this is the mode I will drive the car in most of the time. I love how the sound builds in a much more linear fashion that directly matches what the engine is doing - no sudden BLAAAAP - just linear. And SO much more refined. Is it higher pitched - yes. Is it more like a Lamborghini / Ferrrari sound - yes. But I also personally don't see that as a bad thing at all. Only a select number of vehicles in the world are capable of producing a sound like this from a naturally aspirated V12, and people seem to recognize that something not ordinary, or exotic is going on with the car. Do I like the deep rumble of the OEM Astons - yes for sure. And no slight at all to the V8 cars, most of them sound fantastic too. But to me, my car now has a sound that distinguishes it from the V8 Vantages. To me it makes my car different and audibly a bit more special as a V12 Vantage.

*Unintended consequence* With the default setting being valves closed, the characteristic Aston loud start up is gone. I do want that back, and since the car now sounds so good that I want to hear it with valves open all the time, I have ordered the reverse CC Charger exhaust control set up - whereby the default will be valves open all the time and I should get my cold starts back. Then I just have to use the remote to close the valves when I actually want to proceed in quiet. If this works, then I will be a very happy person with the same 3 modes noted above, but just with a need to physically close the valves to enter "quiet mode".

Hopefully this write up is helpful to someone. It seems there just isn't as much info out there for Astons as there is for some of the more mainstream marquees, and modifying exhaust can be a costly and important decision!

Also a note: Velocity AP just moved into a much newer, larger and overall nicer space - so anyone that has the pleasure of finding themselves in Southern BC or Alberta has an option to visit in person! Great guys and great products!

 

Can you guys please post some video? I have stock V12 Vantage 2010, with secondary deletes and cccharger. I love how it sounds, and I love how quiet it can be. Looking for little bit more sound/power, not sure if to go with muffler (i think somethig with xpipe and valves) or with the full pack (headers, tune etc). Can you keep stock muffler with the power pack?

 

I had the full VAP power pack installed on my DB9 last spring. To be completely honest, I wasn't really very happy with the sound. It was very harsh and boomy with no primaries and the 200 cell from VAP. Even though the power was amazing, it really took away from the character of the car. Enough so that I had to wire the muffler bypass valves closed. Whenever they were open it just didn't sound right at all. I had new secondaries built with 4.5" 400-cell GESI cats and short Corsa resonators fabbed up and installed recently. The difference is pretty amazing and sounds a lot more like I remember from before the power pack but still a bit louder. I haven't cut the bypass valve safety wire yet. That's a project for this weekend.



VAP cats in the middle. Stock on the right. New custom on the left.
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Installed, Looking toward the rear.
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Installed, side view.
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Resonators line up exactly with the cat inspection holes.

 

I have the full pack from the headers all the way back. Sound is like a V10 F1 car at WOT which is very different than the stock Aston sound. It's very quiet around town as long as I don't put my foot down too far.
I love the way it SCREAMS!!! Here's a video to enjoy...... Reach out with a DM and I can send one other. (It's too big to upload here)

Jim

 

I have the VAP powerpack on my V12V. Love it. Car screams...

On that note, does anyone know if replacing the 200 Cel cats with more restrictive ones will help the car pass smog?

 

Here's a SM copy of when mine was installed.

 

You can keep the stock muffler with the power pack - yes. That is what I run.

Your comments about loving how quiet it can be and wanting "a little bit more sound/power" make me caution you on the full power pack set up. It can be extremely loud if there is no x-pipe and or remote valve control installed. See my posts on the forum for my opinion on this.

If you are not concerned about the primary cats, and making more power, I would say look into just doing the muffler. A friend of mine runs the Quicksilver muffler only and his car sounds amazing and retains the deeper Aston exhaust note.

 

Thank you!
funny, I have also 997tt

 

Love all the detail here!!!

I have a 2011 V12 Vantage and Velocity AP Headers, Decat midpipe, and valved exhaust. There is a trumpet like rasp at around 3500 rpm. I am assuming this is what you are referring to in the too loud portion of the rev range.

so you have made 4 settings by using the sport button in the car and the "CC charger".

Sport button not pressed and cc controller in closed mode
Sport button not pressed and cc controller in open mode
Sport button pressed and cc controller in closed mode
Sport button pressed and cc controller in open mode

Does your #1 "Default mode" automatically have the valves programmed to remain closed until 5000 rpm? Or was this something velocity AP did?

Thank you
​​​​​​​

 

If you are asking me here’s my answer: I have a DBS so theirs is no sport button. It’s always in sport mode.

I asked VAP to get the valve to open at 5000 instead of 3000tpm and that’s a lot better. That’s is done through a 2nd tune file with just that valve opening RPM as the change over the first one.

F

 

I had a buddy with a 2016 Vanquish with the Factory Titanium exhaust option - the best sounding setup I've ever heard, but too $$$$$. The titanium exhaust retains the factory headers - enough said. Ither than my V12S is still under factory warranty a few more years, I'd go with the velocityAP setup maybe someday.

 

I have the X Pipe and CC Charger. With the valves closed, there is little if any sound difference between X Pipe and not. A hint more rumble and power increase mid RPM. With valves open it's borderline too much in a good way. Does pierce the ear around 3k rpm.

 

if you add the x pipe you will get rid of the trumpet sound (at least that’s how it worked on my DBS)