| Author | Message | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 979 Registered: 6-2001 |
I guess your right Manu, but if a geo metro sounded like an F355 dont expect me to want one. I agree that the vanquish sounds amazing stock. They have one at Miller in greenwhich. Sometimes you can hear it go wailing up the street. | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 270 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ah Kevin - Great minds think alike  . Tim - think of a Ferrari F355 that sounded like a Merceds Benz SL600 and I think you'd agree that the car loses almost half of its appeal. Old Ferraris sound SPINE-TINGLING. My first time in a Ferrari was in an F355 Spyder and my overiding and most long-lasting impression left by the car was the sound - I couldn't sleep at night after hearing that...... .....anyhow moving swiftly on, thats why I'll do anything to hear that sound again or even better - enhance it. I once read that a great sounding car increases the EMOTIONALLY CONNECTION between driver and machine and I totally believe it. A great sound creates character, depth, and means you can enjoy the car without gunning the crap out of it. Outrageous satifying sounds DEFINE supercars hence the endless complaining when the 550 Maranello came out that it simply wasn't rorty enough. Here the Vanquish (I haven't heard one) appears to have a definite advantage over the (unmodified) Ferrari. Manu | ||
| Kevin Johnson (Jammy)
New member Username: Jammy Post Number: 30 Registered: 3-2002 |
Different strokes for different folks. I'm with Manu on musical engines, and judging by the health of the aftermarket sports exhaust industry so do many. You can get great performance and high speed in a Merc, BMW, Honda etc. But the sound made by a high revving V8 or V12 is just addictive. The outer limits of the cars performance is mostly inaccessible, but I can explore the limits of the rev range any time. It's got to be good when I do. Just my opinion! | ||
| Kevin Johnson (Jammy)
New member Username: Jammy Post Number: 29 Registered: 3-2002 |
Different strokes for different folks. I'm with Manu on musical engines, and judging by the health of the aftermarket sports exhaust industry so do many. You can get great performance and high speed in a Merc, BMW, Honda etc. But the sound made by a high revving V8 or V12 is just addictive. The outer limits of the cars performance is mostly inaccessible, but I can explore the limits of the rev range any time. It's got to be good when I do. Just my opinion! | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 975 Registered: 6-2001 |
"I love musical engines - my primary reason for buying supercars." to hell with that, i would do it because they are fast. Well at least most of them are. Sound is just a good thing that comes with the package. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 407 Registered: 2-2001 |
Dont work all that well? How? Mine works perfectly. Ernesto | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Junior Member Username: Ross Post Number: 95 Registered: 3-2002 |
ernie, you are probably right that the f1 style shifter is the future. however, the reason i would not be overly anxious to get one now is that they currently still don't work that well. so unless you are a tech junkie, then best to wait for a few years until it really works well. | ||
| Ernie Bonilla (Ernie)
Member Username: Ernie Post Number: 293 Registered: 11-2001 |
LOL, you guys are funny. If you really want involvement while shifting, why not get the old three on the tree. That is way more involving than a stick shifter. The way I look at it is the F1 tranies are the wave of the future. If you want to advance you have to change for the better. Lets face it the paddle shifters are better than the gate shifters. I personally have the old stick shift, but I would rather have the F1. | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 267 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ernesto no problem - no insult taken mate. Ross - agree with you on the DB7 on steroids look. How did it sound (this is particularly relevant to me as you know) - I love musical engines - my primary reason for buying supercars. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 405 Registered: 2-2001 |
Everything is cool mate... as far as I know I didn't insult anyone! Ernesto | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 266 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ernesto - cool it mate. The F1 shift is great but some just prefer the conventional manual, everyone has their own preferences. No one is putting your 360 down so no need to get so aggressive. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Junior Member Username: Ross Post Number: 93 Registered: 3-2002 |
the british reviewers have said it is extremely difficult to live with when you are not just on the open highway. stop start in the city very jerky, 3 point turns fry the clutch, reverse difficult to engage smoothly so parking is hard etcc.....i've never driven one but seen plenty and my initial enthusiasm has been somewhat tempered as i see more of them and the styling seems too exagerated; if you wanted a db7 on steroids then the vanquish is a caricature of that. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 404 Registered: 2-2001 |
The F1 shifter in the Vanquish is no good? Why? I had read in all the magazines that Aston was gloating that it was much better than Ferraris... Ernesto | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Junior Member Username: Ross Post Number: 91 Registered: 3-2002 |
just to get you guys back on the original track of this thread......the f1 shifter in the vanquish is considered to be crap, and therefore anybody who could afford the car would probably like to be given the option of a stick shift. ferrari luckily understands people have different views and will offer both. vivre la difference ! | ||
| Luigi Gatti (Luigi)
New member Username: Luigi Post Number: 46 Registered: 10-2001 |
Ernesto, I also buy a sports car for its performance obviously, but since I don't do any racing with my road cars I tend to choose for the configuration that gives me the most satisfaction while I'm driving it, and to me this is not achieved by the F1 tranny. For a road car performance is extremely important but the feeling it dispenses while driving and the involvement is crucial, otherwise to make an example I would never change my GT2 with a Modena as I'm thinking of doing. I'm sure most of the people on this board could have bought a car that performed better than their Ferrari and even cost less, but chose not to because of the way their car makes them FEEL while they're driving it. Concerning your example of the Formula 1 cars, you are talking about a totally different thing,when you are racing you forget about feel or anything like that and just consider lap times. Anyway my feelings are subjective and I understand completely that someone could fall in love with the F1 tranny, it's just not my piece of cake for now. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 403 Registered: 2-2001 |
Well, as shocking as this may be, some people actually buy sports cars based on how they PERFORM, as well as how they make them FEEL. Anything that makes the car a better performer, like the F1 transmission, is a BIG plus to these people. The F1 trannies are in F1 because they PERFORM better. Schumi never complained that "oh, the F1 shifts much faster is much more reliable, but damn, the feeling is gone. Give me back the manual!" I can understand wanting to be more "connected" to you car, but other folks are performance oriented and actually want to get the most performance out of their car, and no human can shift as fast as the F1 tranny. Ernesto Ernesto | ||
| Luigi Gatti (Luigi)
New member Username: Luigi Post Number: 45 Registered: 10-2001 |
I agree, having to do your own shifts, heel and toe etc... Makes you more involved, you feel more connected to the car IMO. | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 263 Registered: 2-2002 |
IMO - F1 is just not as SATISFYING as nailing a shift yourself. That's the reason I wouldn't specify it on a new Ferrari. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Junior Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 176 Registered: 1-2002 |
Ernesto, the folks who buy F1 cars for the street are not Schumi. They just want to look like him, IMO. However, F1 does have some advantages for track driving. Again, IMO. | ||
| z. b. (Cheeseman)
New member Username: Cheeseman Post Number: 15 Registered: 4-2002 |
i guess two ford duratec v-6 engines glued together end to end would sound okay. but not half as good as a 550 with straight pipe tubis. | ||
| RM Valher (Rmv)
New member Username: Rmv Post Number: 42 Registered: 4-2002 |
Dave: There's nothing like heel-toeing and getting really involved! Long live the three pedals!! | ||
| RM Valher (Rmv)
New member Username: Rmv Post Number: 41 Registered: 4-2002 |
Yeah, I've heard the Vanquish sounds really great. Pity no stick option though. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 394 Registered: 2-2001 |
Yes, I am sure Michael Schumacher, with is paddle shifters, only looks good, he is not any good at all! Ernesto | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Junior Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 173 Registered: 1-2002 |
They told me that there was much debate internally at A-M about making it paddle shift only, but they felt that was the "wave of the future", and they claim that Magneti Marelli has made it much smoother than Ferrari's similar system. Also, they felt that their demographic is more luxury-oriented, and those folks tend to prefer paddle shifting, 'cause you only have to look good--you don't have to be good (that last part is my humble opinion...). Whatever. I tend to dislike paddle shifters (no offense to F1 tranny fans here), but it is what it is. Hence my preference for the 550. 2 other points: (1) the Vanquish is MUCH better looking in person than in photos, if you can believe that, and its front end is really gorgeous; (2) its rear end sucks, and looks like it was designed by a different committee, IMHO, and the small round red reflectors on the outboard sides of the exhaust pipes are especially cheesy. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Junior Member Username: Ross Post Number: 89 Registered: 3-2002 |
glad to hear u say it. have seen quite a few of these here in london and the sound is great but the trannie has been universally panned. guess its no match for the 575, but still think i wouldopt for the standard shifter. | ||
| Tyler (Bahiaau)
Member Username: Bahiaau Post Number: 268 Registered: 12-2001 |
Dave, you're a lucky dog. I have yet to see one in person. No stick shift available? Why would they do that? Glad to hear the engine sounds are wonderful though. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Junior Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 172 Registered: 1-2002 |
Last week, I went to an event sponsored by Aston-Martin of Dallas, here at Barton Creek CC in Austin. They had 8-10 Vantages (all with freakin' automatic trannies!!!), and one Vanquish. After showing up in my 550, I was able to talk myself into a test-drive, with Aston's VP/General Mgr. in the passenger seat. Net net: Very quick (but not quite as quick as the 550), STUPENDOUSLY great engine sounds (much better than the 550), great brakes, lovely craftsmanship, really cheesy switchgear & radio/HVAC controls straight from the Jaguar XJ8, minimal headroom, no stick shift available. I think I'll keep the 550... |