Interesting because that's exactly what I've been told to do when I owned a SportShift I and II.

 

A friend of mine is an auto journalist. He was flown out to drive the V12S and was very impressed with the car, but not the transmission. He drove my 2008 V12 Vantage 6spd afterward and said that my car was the one to get. Perhaps he was being nice, but I think he really just thought the tranny ruined an amazing car.

 

I spoke to two dealerships who mentioned lifting....I think there will be differing opinions. I don't think that it matters too much either way, but that lifting will allow a "smoother" transition vs a "jolt" upon gear change.
Part of the issue is that with any SCT there will always be a bit of a "shift sensation." Certain SCT gearboxes are smoother than others. The SMG's were very drastic, almost neck breaking, whereas the F1 transmissions on 430's and Scuds is a lot quicker but still gives a slight jolt. So there will always be a sensation of "gear change," as opposed to a DCT. This contributes to the "rawness" described in the car. I am not a fan of DCT.

I think the point of contention is how fast the gearbox actually shifts gears, and it sounds like the SS III has been criticized to be a tad slow.
I'll find out in a couple days...

 

Honestly, while driving on the track, i wouldn't characterize the gearshifts on SSIII as being slow. In fact, they are insanely fast on the track. The issue most people have is when driving sedately or in "D" mode.

 

Don't know about SSIII, but on an 09 SS I never ever use D. I tried for a few minutes, but then I get tired of how utterly crap it is and switch back to paddles. I tend to feather the throttle, specially in lower gears. Official AM guide says to feather it...

 

Exactly...I never drive in auto or "D" mode in any of my paddle shifters- 16M or previous M5, M6, M3. So if there's a little interaction required with moderate aggressive driving, I welcome that! Keeps it somewhat raw.

 

I like Chris Harris reviews....somewhat of a strange comparison of the GT3, C63 AMG Black series and V12VS. Kind of unfair as the GT3 is a clear winner.
However some interesting comments Chris makes about the V12VS tranny - he says it is "clean" ...."smooth" ...."antiquated but nostalgic...fun". Of course he prefers a manual. The PDK is clearly better than the other 2 trannies.
Interestingly, he says the AMG tranny is the slowest of the 3 (bode well for Aston's future?)

Here is the vid...a bit long

http://youtu.be/794j_U6Hau4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=794j_U6Hau4&sns=em

 

If this is true (and I really hope it's not), then what Aston has said -- AMG and AM are developing bespoke V8 engines for Aston Martin -- is a complete and total lie.

 

This is purely conjecture. If I was Aston, I'd at least add a blower to that...

 

I'll wave the BS flag nice and high on this.

There's no way they'll stick the SLK55's engine into an Aston Martin. The SLK is the cheapest AMG aside from the CLA, so perception won't allow it. It's got 415 HP and 398 TQ with a lower redline compared to the 430 HP and 361 TQ of the V8VS. Sure, it's got more torque, but it has less horsepower and a lower peak RPM. With Aston falling behind in the performance game, they cannot possibly survive if they spend their R&D on an engine with no substantial improvement in performance.

AMG's M157 is a 5.5L twin-turbo putting out well over 500 HP. For an off-the-shelf AMG engine, that's the one the Vantage needs.

If AM sticks to naturally-aspirated, I could see them using a derivative of the SLS's 6.2L V8. I'd LOVE to see the SLS Black's engine dropped into a Vantage.

If the engine is truly bespoke, I'm willing to bet it's much closer to the SLS's engine than that of the SLK55.

 

No, your not to lift, if you lift you will never activate hypershift..hypershift is while in sport mode and +90% throttle, trans shifts are insanely quick, fast enough to snap ur neck...its quick..aka:Hypershift

Yes, you are to drive the car like a manual in relation to shifts..aka get to a stop, put in neutral, use paddles not D..D is or parking type if situations, not for driving around all day like your salesman might try and sell you, that's the B.S that ruined ASM's image...its a manual car, just without a clutch pedal..ppl that never driven manual should not buy an ASM Aston vehicle..just my 2cents

 

The reviewers who drove the V12VS and commented negatively on the transmission are experienced guys who drive some of the fastest cars in the world, and they weren't driving in "D."

 

True, but they most compare it to being slow shifted when aside a DSG, of course it's going to be..anyone on here driven a DSG? You guys feel engaged to the car or get bored driving it on the street?...I get bored fast on the street driving DSG style transmissions..sure in the track DSG is AWESOME, but how many drive there Aston each weekend on the track let alone even been to the track..

 

The SCT in my scud is engaging. I enjoy driving it. If the transmission in the V12VS were as good as that I don't think I, or the reviewers, would have any complaints. Also, no one has complained about he SCT in the Aventador being slow to respond (about it being violent, yes, but slow, no).

 

I used to own an M3 with the DCT and really miss the transmission...