Short answer: converting a Sportshift V8 Vantage is worth it if you love the car and want a clutch pedal. Manual cars are the ones buyers prefer, and a manual clutch lasts far longer than a Sportshift one.
Sportshift vs manual
Aston Martin launched the V8 Vantage with a 6-speed manual only. In 2007 it added the 6-speed Sportshift, an automated manual shifted by paddles. From the 2012 model year, the regular V8 Vantage switched to the 7-speed Sportshift II, which the V8 Vantage S had used since 2011.
Our V8 Vantage conversion kit is for cars with the original 6-speed Sportshift. It doesn’t fit 7-speed Sportshift II cars.
The value picture
Hagerty values automated V8 Vantages about 5% below manual cars, so the market favours three pedals. A conversion done with genuine parts and good documentation makes your car appealing to the buyers who only shop manuals.
Reasons to convert
Clutch life
Sportshift is hard on clutches. Hagerty says Sportshift cars often need a clutch somewhere around 20,000 to 40,000 miles, with stop-and-go traffic, creeping and reversing uphill especially tough on them. A well-driven manual clutch may last 40,000 to 60,000 miles or more.
Running costs
Hagerty puts a Sportshift clutch job at $10,500 to $12,500, including hydraulics, diagnostics, adaptation and road-learning procedures. If you drive your Vantage a lot, especially in traffic, that adds up.
The drive
Many owners find Sportshift’s single-clutch shifts clunky at low speed. A 6-speed manual suits the naturally aspirated V8 and the car’s classic front-engine, rear-transaxle layout.
Who should convert
- Convert if you drive the car often and want a manual.
- Time it well: converting when your Sportshift clutch is due makes the most sense, since you’ll be paying for clutch work anyway.
Next steps
Read our V8 Vantage manual conversion guide or the cost breakdown. Send us your VIN and year to confirm fitment: support@epoxy54.com or (604) 809-7398.