Hello Jagsters,

I was talking to a guy today with a 2011 Aston Martin V12 Coupe and he said that there was no 'automatic' mode and that you had to drive it with the paddle shifters. Is this true? You can't just get in and go...you always have to use them. He said that's why he doesn't drive it much as he finds it pretty annoying.
I have them on my xk and Subaru and I find them pretty useless and just down right annoying to use as well. Nothing beats a smooth stick shift with a proper left foot clutch if you want to drive manual in my humble opinion.
Thoughts?

 

I use my paddles 99% of the time, just enjoy them and they're addicting. I spend hours on end in Los Angeles traffic everyday and my left foot would be worn out if I was pushing a clutch in everytime I started and stopped. Don't get me wrong, I have a proper 5 speed Pantera and a 5 speed 280Z for fun in the sun, but they get driven less and less as traffic is nearly always bumper to bumper now.

And by the way, Aston's automatics are considered some of the worst in the industry.

 

I can't seem to get into using the paddles, I tried it a few times and I just don't get the appeal. What am I doing wrong?

 

I find it hard to believe that an Aston Martin only has paddles and no automatic mode!?


I use them to pass cars, i shift 2 gears down and pass them. I find it more comfortable and quicker as to doing a kickdown.:-)

 

I wonder if he is talking about the SportShift gearbox? I test drove a 2009 MY Aston Martin 4.7L V8 Vantage last weekend and that had the SportShift gearbox and it is a dog.

While researching which Aston to buy, I discovered that most SportShift owners seem to only use the paddles because the 'auto' mode is so bad so I thought I would try one for myself.

Under the covers it is actually a manual gearbox but some sort of voodoo magic hydraulically operates the clutch for you. It doesn't do it very well unfortunately so there is an embarrassing pause at the traffic lights while it decides whether you really meant to press the accelerator and gear changes are agonisingly slow and happen with a lurch. The flappy paddles work a little better but you might as well buy a manual instead.

Whatever I replace my XKR with will still be a daily driver and as I mainly do city driving I want a real auto. The DB9 is available with an auto gearbox so I am going to look at those next.

 

He must have an older Vanquish. They have an gearbox that is just bear. Can't park that car on a hill and you would be hesitant to let any friend drive it. Some owners pay big dollars to convert back to real manual. Sportshift on the Vantage is different, but equally (to me) not something I would option on a car.

The transmission on the DB9, DBS, DB11 is a traditional ZF like on Jaguar. Aston also offers a traditional 7 speed manual on their current V12 Vantage

 

I found this article...https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-m...tage-V8-owners


the 'Sport Shift' gearbox sounds like a dog.

 

If you buy a Vantage V8; a manual is the only way to go.

 

Exactly, there is no advantage without it.

 

I just don't understand why so many paid extra for the Sportshift over the manual? What were they thinking?

 

This is the conundrum in life.
In cities where an Ashton makes the most sense are also places one simply cannot drive a manual, unless one is looking for sciatic nerve surgery.

There is a new reality that people just havent got their arm's around yet. With the advent of Uber, texting, in-car entertainment with huge screens, hybrid-is-hip, city's dependency on generating revenue through traffic stops- the only time you will ever do any pleasure driving is when there is no one on the road, even that has become amazingly rare.

The car for today's roads is the opposite of the cars typical car guys lust over, its a nibble, fast revving (over-square engine), supercharged, forget turbo, it will frustrate you to almost get to the climatic peak before having to slow down. Automatic.

The other side effect of the hybrid craze is that the guy in the $30k Tesla is looking down at you in your $100k car.

 

I might have bought an older AM - I didn't want another stick shift. I just wanna boot it and go.