Aston Martin V8 Vantage TRANSMISSIONS!! | Part 1: Transmission Options and Operation

I've shoved a ton of information into this video and it doesn't even cover eveything! I split the topic into two parts: Part 1 is about the transmissions themselves, and Part 2 is about maintenance with a focus on clutch and gear oil options and why each option matters.
DISCLAIMER: As always, follow all safety protocols. Don't undertake this task if you aren't comfortable with it and fully understand it. You are ultimately responsible for anything you do. Neither Redpants, LLC or myself is responsible or liable for anything that may occur.
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[@grahambigland5154]

Great video, thanks Richard. I did know about the Sportshift gear changing procedure (lift off the throttle before touching the paddles) through reading other articles, but did not know about the startup procedure to wait 10 seconds before touching the throttle or paddles. Also did not know about revering on an incline. All good info for increasing the clutch life. Thanks again.

[@KFM330]

Wow!! Thank you for this video, I am looking at purchasing a Vantage manual, I now understand more regarding the high reverse gear and also the gear select cables running to the trans axle at the back of the car.

[@olewurtz7625]

Great information. I live on a hill and quickly adapted to the reverse uphill issues by only approaching my house driving uphill and reversing downhill into my driveway, mostly without even touching the accelerator and thereby engaging the clutch

[@HawkMillFarm]

Great video, well done getting that info across. I never clicked with my V8V but I still watch your vids and must be the most well informed ex owner on the planet 😀

[@markhill8990]

Wow I needed that info soo bad .. I’ve just purchased a manual n420 ,every day since then I’ve parked it facing down hill on my drive reversing it up every time I leave the house ... no longer will this be happening.. also I presumed the clutch was in need of replacing soon dew to the high pedal bitting point... not so it seems Thank you for this video man keep up the good work

[@gresleymccaslin5948]

Another great video…full of important information…thanks so much!

[@alanmullins4584]

Great vid Rich

[@laurentdal7507]

Thank you so much for those multiple advices. A very comprehensive content about our misunderstood gearbox which if I’m right, where shared with Italian sports cars at the time...

[@Redpantslol]

Graziano supplied a few companies, but the transmissions they supplied are each different. They're similar, but not the same.

[@laurentdal7507]

Thank you Redpants

[@HarryESwan]

Awesome video... I learn about the clutch learn procedure after 6 months of ownership by reading, luckily I never rush things and always let my cars idle a bit after start up. I agree with you on the reverse...Unfortunately I'm one of those guys that always reverse my cars in to places and the 1st few times I backedbup in to my garage it was a bit of a fight, very different than any other car I owned before.

[@HarryESwan]

Very funny, the beer bottles all over the table, shows the struggle to keep patients...lol.

[@jtour9077]

Another great video!

[@115apwchan]

Thank you. Learnt a lot here. Looking forward to receiving my Vantage GT in the next few days!

[@Redpantslol]

I'm glad it helped, and congrats on your new car!

[@sierraone9181]

Sportshift owner. I just backed her up a ramp into a trailer. Ughh. Thanks for the info!

[@angelofrederic]

Great vid, super informative. Can't wait til the day I get my 1st Aston Martin. My ex would rage for hours if I didnt use a coaster for any iced drink.

[@Redpantslol]

I have a paper towel under the table to wipe down the spot between takes hahahaha

[@2smart3guys]

other than funny segways the quality and info keep getting better per video from the 1st one of the what i like to call "the ultimate vantage guide"

[@Redpantslol]

Thank you! I'm terrible at making videos but I'm trying to learn as best as I can. Getting better with each of them!

[@mortenberg2897]

Your videos are so helpfull - thank you 🙂

[@supremecommercetraining]

Do you have an idea on 0-60 time improvement on the 4.7 vantage GT V8 with the flywheel / clutch upgrade? I feel like we should be able to get 3.8 seconds instead of the sluggy 4.5 which I almost purely blame on the SLOW shifts with that grandpa style clutch lol

[@eliudcustodio4345]

Another great video! I have a question…as you mentioned in the video and as I've read before, it's recommended to use the handbrake when accelerating up an incline from a standstill with the Sportshift trans (to prevent rollback stress on the clutch). Lately, I've transitioned from using the handbrake to simply holding the car still with the brake pedal (left foot) as I begin to depress the throttle (right foot). Is there any downside to or negative difference with using this technique?

[@Redpantslol]

The main downside I could see is that the main brakes have a lot more holding power, so the engine needs to work harder to overcome them, and this is going to put more wear on your clutch. The handbrake pads are tiny and the engine can easily overcome them, so it's far less strain on your engine and clutch. There are some variables here, like how long the brakes stay engaged during throttle, but all things being equal, using the handbrake will be easier on your engine and clutch.

[@jarvisclark8195]

Thank you!

[@lotusesprit5911]

Hi I just bought a 2008 vantage. Thank for all the infos I don t know what happen but my reverse gear flashes red and it’s very slow. Any ideas what do or check.

[@peoplehavetherights]

Very good explanation of the basics regarding Sportshift and row your own. Typically early in my learning curve, I noticed the 1-2 shift was balky, so I just shifted slowly and allowed the trans to warm up through use. The other thing you pointed out is use the clutch and shifter deliberately and fairly quickly, but not pushing the lever hard. Let the revs stay pretty constant when declutching and getting on the gas just as you engage the clutch near the end of the stroke. It really is a timing issue one has to learn. My biggest occasional issue is the narrow width of the 3-4 and the 5-6 shift gates between those pairs of gears. Too easy to grab the wrong gear. Must pay attention to this! Since I am not a competition driver, but want to understand the clutch and gearbox, you have to learn smoothness and some quickness of your gear lever and clutch. I find heel-and-toe is tough due to pedal heights, but my old Porches days with the 915 trans makes me careful not to rush shifts while on the power. I accept that the clutch in these cars is terribly expensive, so..."learn the system."

[@Redpantslol]

We had a saying back in the Marines, "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast." I think it applies really well to learning this transmission. Pedal height does make it more difficult to heel-toe in these cars, but a lot of the problem is due to the engine being slow to respond. I talk about this a little bit in my next video :)

[@peoplehavetherights]

@@Redpantslol I gather that you want to discuss a lightened flywheel assembly. It is also something to consider though the heavy flywheel does allow for greater flexibility and smoothness at lower RPMs during a simple roll-on the throttle. I'm not entirely convinced that the lighter flywheel is the best solution when one has to do a lot of driving in urban or suburban sprawl. I ended up blipping the throttle pretty actively when wishing to downshift especially due to the flywheel mass. Pretty similar to the old BMW twins I used to ride.

[@LiqdPT]

Sportshift 2 is also used in the base Vantage 2012.25+

[@Redpantslol]

I knew I'd have a gaff in there somewhere, and of course it was a pretty big one 😅 Thanks for pointing it out!

[@paullaya8940]

Still considering a 2012-2014 Aston Martin Vantage. know the 2012.5 transmissions from 6 to 7 speed. You left Tampa Richard??

[@dehjhickman8280]

I wish I had watched this earlier. I’ve been reversing into my garage with my manual V8V for 3 years (which is up hill). :-|

[@markchip1]

Do the bulk of these comments on Sportshift I & II apply almost equally to other models, eg, DB9 & Rapide with their V12 engines but similar transmission nomenclature???

[@Redpantslol]

The Sportshift was only used on the Vantage. It wasn't used for the DB9 or Rapide or any other model.

[@markchip1]

Can you do a video or article on non-AM parts for service/repair from other naufacturers for the few delusional semi-broke Aston owners, like myself, that need to save every penny to keep their cars on the road?

[@Redpantslol]

Bottom line is no, I won't be. I source non-OEM parts and sell them through Redpants to save people money, and I state when those parts are not OEM. But at the end of the day, I have to run Redpants as a business since I quit my full-time job to do this. I'm able to provide both OEM and non-OEM parts at a significant discount compared to dealerships, plus provide instructions so people can do the work themselves - saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year of ownership. Yes, parts can often be sourced cheaper from someone else - that's true of every business especially in the age of the internet. But my hope is that people will pay the difference in price (if any) because of all the information, guidance, and support I openly provide. It takes a god-awful amount of time to make videos and DIY guides, and my return on that investment is people buying parts from my store to support what I'm doing. I only make ~$60/month from KZbin, so I rely entirely on parts sales. Those sales are what pays my bills, puts a roof over my head, and puts food on my table.

[@frostyab7579]

Ferrari 360 F1 and Vantage use the same Graziano transaxle

[@Redpantslol]

They're similar, but not the same. The gears and final drive ratio are completely different.

[@abitofmymind]

always buy a car with a clutch pedal..........................all the rest are flops-