So I finally got around to driving the Vanquish a few days ago. It was worth the wait as it's the best AM that i've driven to date. I've previously driven the DB9, AMV8, and the Virage(auto and manual)...out of these three the AMV8 was the most impressive. The performance of the Vanquish is really in the supercar category. Hard acceleration from low speeds spins the tires even with the stability control turned on...the system is quite liberal. The sound this car makes is just incredible, especially on start-up and the rev-matched downshifts.
The transmission is a Tremec T56 unit which is also used in various 'Vettes, Vipers, Mustangs, etc and utilizes Magnetti-Marelli software. The only sequential application of the T56 to date is in the Vanquish. I've had some good experience with the T56 in the past with Qvale Mangusta SS prototype. The only downside of the sequential system is the slow and slightly jerky shifting at low speeds. On full-throttle redline shifts the system is very quick and you can hear the hydraulic pumps working very hard to deliver a fast shift. I would still prefer a manual transmission on the Vanquish but those cars are very rare. I think a proper GT car should always come with a manual transmission. The linear power delivery of the V-12 makes the 400-lb ft of torque seem more like 450+lb ft.
The interior is a huge dissapointment after the amazing performance and gorgeous exterior. The seats are very comfortable but not the most supportive. The ride was a lot more comfortable than the Ferrari 575M and there was no noticeable squat during hard acceleration. The car does feel quite big when driving around town but does feel nimble at high speeds on winding roads. Overall the car is well worth the money...especially considering that it took 800 hours to build one.
