AMG Powered Aston Martins Only Three To Four Years Away
#76
They would no more be Benzes than Aston are Fords. Were they really Fords?
The car business has changed dramatically in the last 10 years diven by regulation. Infrastructure and technology investments have to be spread broadly across product lines.
Ford did not divest Aston because it was profitable. It was a failed strategy for Ford.
The car business has changed dramatically in the last 10 years diven by regulation. Infrastructure and technology investments have to be spread broadly across product lines.
Ford did not divest Aston because it was profitable. It was a failed strategy for Ford.
There is more regulation now than 10 years ago, but there was a massive amount of regulation 10 years ago also. Tech can be spread across product lines without sharing major components such as platforms and engines.
Aston was profitable when Ford sold it. Ford divested Aston because Mulally decided to focus on Ford's core business -- Ford.
#77
Porsche promised that the 991 GT3 would be a manual and switched to the PDK which really pissed off the purists. They still switched and instead are trying to convince their angry base that a DCT is ok. Ferrari stopped offering manuals after the F430. Lambo stopped after the Gallardo. Aston does offer a manual on a ~10 year old car but none of their new cars offer the option (Virage, DB9, Vanquish). Across the board, less than 10% of buyers get a manual if the option is available. Manuals are a retro option because there is no reason to buy one anymore. DCTs are better in every way. Sure the manual is more fun for the older crowd but the younger generations don't want manuals just like they don't even know what a roll up window is or a car without power locks. It's dead.
I understand the problem, which is why I said the manual 'box is seriously endangered. But it isn't dead yet -- we can still buy them, so I'm not going to capitulate. Several manufacturers still see reason to offer them and to develop them because there are enough people buying them. I hope that continues, and the new M3/4 and F-Type (hopefully) gives me hope.
DCTs are only "better" in that they're more efficient, and the differences in the experience between using a manual and a paddle system are not akin to the differences between using manual and electric windows.
Regarding the new GT3, Porsche can try all they want to convince people that they really want a DCT, but that doesn't mean they'll prevail. Many people won't buy a new GT3 purely because they want a manual. Many others will buy it because they want a DCT. Some won't care. I don't want a DCT, period, and I'd buy a 997 GT3 before I'd buy a 991 GT3 -- and a V12V over a V12VS. Porsche also told us that the 991 Carrera's electric steering is as good as the 997's hydraulic steering. It isn't.
About Ferrari, it's not just that people stopped buying manuals because they didn't want them. I looked at the California when it came out and was officially available with a manual 'box. I told the dealer I would want the manual, and he essentially refused. I heard all the DCT is new, it's high tech, it's like an F1 car, it's faster, you won't be able to sell it, etc. I would have had to pay an enormous non-refundable deposit before they'd even consider ordering a manual car for me. It was absurd, and clearly part of a major effort to convince people to buy the DCT. No one would order a car under those circumstances, so it's no wonder they sold something like 2 manual Californias. Of course, it's not the most enthusiast-oriented Ferrari either.
#78
You can't buy 'em if they don't make 'em. That's the point. Again, it's only a matter of a short time before you won't be able to buy a car with a manual transmission, except for the most basic economy cars.
#79
If we simply give up and "accept" that the manual will die, then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If enough of us make noise and say we insist on a manual -- and mean it -- they may listen and continue to build them. Aston said the V8VS would be paddle-only, and now they offer it with the manual. Jaguar will, I've been told, offer the F-Type with a manual. BMW will offer the coming M3/M4 with a manual, and they offer the M5/M6 with a manual. Don't give up or give in so easily.
#80
Accept it or not, it's going to happen. I suppose we could start a protest march or a letter-writing campaign to save the manual, but I don't think it'd change the outcome, which is inevitable.
#82
That's just it -- they don't make any new cars with a manual transmission that I want to buy! Not gonna buy a car I don't want just to send a message to car manufacturers, not that they'd listen anyway.
#85
Is the transmission in the V12VS the same as the V12V, but with the automated controls attached to it?
If all mounting points are the same, you could feasibly attach a V12V manual tranny in place of the V12VS's automated manual. You'd have to alter everything associated (trim bits, shifter, etc, swapped from the V12V into the V12VS). And you'd probably have to retune the engine so it isn't trying to communicate with an automated transmission controller.
Nothing is impossible with the right funds... I've done auto-to-manual swaps on a few cars. Just need the right parts. And there are salvaged V12Vs and DBSs out there with those necessary parts.
If all mounting points are the same, you could feasibly attach a V12V manual tranny in place of the V12VS's automated manual. You'd have to alter everything associated (trim bits, shifter, etc, swapped from the V12V into the V12VS). And you'd probably have to retune the engine so it isn't trying to communicate with an automated transmission controller.
Nothing is impossible with the right funds... I've done auto-to-manual swaps on a few cars. Just need the right parts. And there are salvaged V12Vs and DBSs out there with those necessary parts.
#86
Is the transmission in the V12VS the same as the V12V, but with the automated controls attached to it?
If all mounting points are the same, you could feasibly attach a V12V manual tranny in place of the V12VS's automated manual. You'd have to alter everything associated (trim bits, shifter, etc, swapped from the V12V into the V12VS). And you'd probably have to retune the engine so it isn't trying to communicate with an automated transmission controller.
Nothing is impossible with the right funds... I've done auto-to-manual swaps on a few cars. Just need the right parts. And there are salvaged V12Vs and DBSs out there with those necessary parts.
If all mounting points are the same, you could feasibly attach a V12V manual tranny in place of the V12VS's automated manual. You'd have to alter everything associated (trim bits, shifter, etc, swapped from the V12V into the V12VS). And you'd probably have to retune the engine so it isn't trying to communicate with an automated transmission controller.
Nothing is impossible with the right funds... I've done auto-to-manual swaps on a few cars. Just need the right parts. And there are salvaged V12Vs and DBSs out there with those necessary parts.
#87
Failure or Success
They would no more be Benzes than Aston are Fords. Were they really Fords?
The car business has changed dramatically in the last 10 years diven by regulation. Infrastructure and technology investments have to be spread broadly across product lines.
Ford did not divest Aston because it was profitable. It was a failed strategy for Ford.
The car business has changed dramatically in the last 10 years diven by regulation. Infrastructure and technology investments have to be spread broadly across product lines.
Ford did not divest Aston because it was profitable. It was a failed strategy for Ford.
-Ford sold AML, Jag, Land Rover, Volvo & Mazda.
-Eliminated Mercury branded vehicles and hundreds of retail facilities.
-Closed multiple manufacturing facilities worldwide.
-Retired/laid off thousands of employees.
-Ceased purchasing from hundreds of vendors of goods and services.
Meanwhile they borrowed $23 Billion to finance continued core operations through the downturn. Key to these actions was a new hire, Alan Mullaly, President.
Today, several years later the loan is paid off, Ford's market share is up and its financial success amazing. In the last quarter Ford reported $2.6 Billion profit. Analysts predict 2013 profits to exceed $8 Billion although Ford of Europe will still be negative, financially.
Ford took no Federal bail out money. Their U.S. competitors did. Both GM & Chrysler went bankrupt. GM wound up owned by the U.S. government & the UAW. Chrysler is owned by Fiat. The taxpayers will lose untold $ Billions in these bankruptcies.
AML enjoys new state of the art facilities as a result of Ford's ownership. They have:
-New Headquarters.
-New Design Center (they never had one before).
-New Engineering and Assembly facilities.
-New Test Track ( they never had one before)
-New 8 and 12 cylinder engines, still produced at Ford's Cologne Plant.
-New products to sell via the VH strategy.
And all this continues 7 years after the AML sale.
Alan Mullaly's leadership saved Ford Motor Company and it did not cost taxpayers a dime. AML has fared nicely as well having been rewarded with a 21st century plant and facilities.
Ford prospers (production capacity is being added and employees are being hired) and AML is in business with up to date capabilities in spite of continued economic lethargy in the U.S. and Europe.
I call it a success, it is certainly not a failure. Stay tuned, more to come.
#88
Is the transmission in the V12VS the same as the V12V, but with the automated controls attached to it?
If all mounting points are the same, you could feasibly attach a V12V manual tranny in place of the V12VS's automated manual. You'd have to alter everything associated (trim bits, shifter, etc, swapped from the V12V into the V12VS). And you'd probably have to retune the engine so it isn't trying to communicate with an automated transmission controller.
Nothing is impossible with the right funds... I've done auto-to-manual swaps on a few cars. Just need the right parts. And there are salvaged V12Vs and DBSs out there with those necessary parts.
If all mounting points are the same, you could feasibly attach a V12V manual tranny in place of the V12VS's automated manual. You'd have to alter everything associated (trim bits, shifter, etc, swapped from the V12V into the V12VS). And you'd probably have to retune the engine so it isn't trying to communicate with an automated transmission controller.
Nothing is impossible with the right funds... I've done auto-to-manual swaps on a few cars. Just need the right parts. And there are salvaged V12Vs and DBSs out there with those necessary parts.
The new V12VS comes with a totally different engine mangement system, engine assembly, torque tube, and transaxle..
__________________
__________________
Technical Director
Christopher Edgett
Velocity Automotive Performance Limited
214 Maple Ave.
Oliver, B.C
Canada V0H 1T9
Office: (1)250-485-5126
Email: Tuning@VelocityAP.com
www.velocityap.com
__________________
Technical Director
Christopher Edgett
Velocity Automotive Performance Limited
214 Maple Ave.
Oliver, B.C
Canada V0H 1T9
Office: (1)250-485-5126
Email: Tuning@VelocityAP.com
www.velocityap.com
#89
....but what action can you do, fund poor income ppl that can drive manual boxes so they can buy an Aston and keep the manual box alive in the brand??..Dude I'm first in line!! LOL
I have a recall that just came out to do 77 vehicles that we service, 3 are manual boxes... so 3.89% are manual in a climat that these vehicles are driven for sport and pleasure 3-4 months of the year????? These cars use more house energy to power the battery minder vs. use fuel to run the car....Says quite a lot, can't imagine the ratio of climats that can drive 365 days of the year as a D.D vehicle
__________________
__________________
Technical Director
Christopher Edgett
Velocity Automotive Performance Limited
214 Maple Ave.
Oliver, B.C
Canada V0H 1T9
Office: (1)250-485-5126
Email: Tuning@VelocityAP.com
www.velocityap.com
__________________
Technical Director
Christopher Edgett
Velocity Automotive Performance Limited
214 Maple Ave.
Oliver, B.C
Canada V0H 1T9
Office: (1)250-485-5126
Email: Tuning@VelocityAP.com
www.velocityap.com