The only people who ask for manual gearboxes are...

The head of Aston still gets it: Aston Martin's CEO Wants to Offer a Manual In Every Future Vantage

 

Maybe Aton could move the V8 (or V12) behind the driver for a change.

 

V12 Vantage S 'felt' smaller than my 430. I recommend trying one if you haven't. Tho yes agree it does feel bigger than a 997-backwards 911. 991 feels bigger.

 

Speaking of size ...
Somewhere on this site is a pic or 2 or a 328 next to a 458, which looks almost huge by juxtaposition. Perhaps some F'Chatter could take a series of pics of an Aston Vantage next to a new(ish) V-8 Ferrari and liven up this question?

 

No matter how many times I've seen a 308/328 I'm always startled by how tiny they are. That's one of the things that makes them so beautiful, they are so unlike normal cars.

 

Is it Aston or a Ford?
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Ummm...that one's a Ford Phil. Quite different grill opening if you truly compare the style. Not to say that the comparison has been bad for Ford or Aston.

BTW - the V12 Vantage S truly is a fabulous car. Modern, balanced and fast. An open top version would make it a perfect choice. The manual shifts well and the Aston V12 is sublime...

 

I agree. I reviewed the V12 Vantage S and the 458 Speciale back to back for a week each a couple of years back. The Speciale is a better car, but I preferred the Aston, more fun.

 

Wasn't planning on converting the Cali's existing box, just binning it and replacing it with a manual... the Cali was offered (for a time) from the factory as a 6sp manual, that means that everything needed to turn an F1 car into a manual has a Ferrari part code and should, technically, be available.

Conversions like this, whilst perhaps expensive aren't beyond the realms of a decent workshop, especially since a Ferrari workshop manual for the 6sp Cali will also be in existence somewhere.

your point about being down one gear is not relevant as I don't believe that a manual car would be noticeably inferior in performance... the enjoyment I get from actually driving my car, in full control myself more than outweighs the fact such a car may be 0.5 seconds slower to 60 or top out at 10mph less.

Horses for courses I guess but that's my future plan

 

Derek, that like one heck of an interesting project. It should easily merit its own thread!

 

Since the cali had a dct,there is no way to convert it short of completely replacing the gearbox, which may also involve a new torque tube and possibly a different crankshaft depending on how they mounted the clutch/ flywheel. Cost might exceed that of the actual car.

 

Here's one of my 308 next to a 458
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I hardley think a typical cali buyer is you prototypical hard core ferrari driver, most i know would take a used 430 or 458 over a new cali, or just buy another brand. Talking about Calis and manuals its like asking how come a mercedes SL doesent have a manual.

Course they made few 599 manuals too.

Its also starnge thta if you offer a manual only its ,ike the holy grail(GT4) and 911r but if you offer a choice then most will take a paddle, because paper spec sells and no one wants to buy the same car thats slower.

Meanwhile in Aston land they had the vantage v12, which was an accidental car not even meant to come tot he usa, but then it did due to demand. After the intial production run astons cutomer clincs said they wanted paddles, so it became paddle ony, now the car is offered with mnaual again and its the holy grail.

Maybe we are seeing the renaisance of driving as an art, at least for some, and the beginnings of a renaisance in tactile cars.

 

Lets also add the over at the porche forum people are paying 200k just for a 911R order slot. Aparently posche is making 991 of them. So if ferrari could sell say 1000 450K cars developed inexpensively off their existing 488 platform would it make sense?

 

Hell yes it would make sense! I gotta admit that an earlier post in which a Ferrari rep told an F'Chatter that they don't make manual transmissions anymore because its buyers grew up on video games ... well, that statement has become a burr in my saddle. Do they think we are idiots who will let them completely dictate what we want?
PS: and yes, I do know that manual sales were poor immediately prior to Ferrari becoming auto only.

 

That 488 looks to be the size of a Winnebago next to the 308!

 

488? - Is it hiding behind the 458 parked next to the 308?

 

Here's my 308 between a 360 and a 430:
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It looks even smaller compared to the Explorers and Yukons driven by nitwits texting!

 

Size is good. The weight helps put the power down and it's remarkable to see this trend over the decades. I will drive a 6spd manual until it's medically not possible.

 

That 308 looks like Stuart Little's car next to the later Ferraris!