Congrats on the new arrivals. Prepare for no sleep for the next few years. But they're great fun
I never tried the earlier auto so can't comment on the 'S'.
The 'Sport' (2012 on as mentioned above - face lifted car) sounds very similar in MC Shift or Auto models. The MC Shift has a bit more popping and gurgling on the overrun, but to be honest it's very close.
Again, I didn't drive the earlier auto version. However I believe it was possible to get them with the same 'box software as the 2012 car. Others have posted on this previously (search for dickygrace posts
).
Sport is the later car and what I have. Here are my thoughts...
- the MC Shift is definitely and discernibly the sharper car in terms of its gearbox. But...there aren't many Sports around with an MC Shift box.
- despite preferring the MC Shift car, the auto isn't a million miles behind. I ended up with one as the spec on the car I bought was, apart from the box, significantly better than the MC Shift cars that were available.
- the biggest single difference that gives these impressions on the box, IMO, is the choice of ratios between the two boxes. They are not the same and the auto suffers a big gap between 2nd and 3rd. I'm fairly certain that if the ratios were better chosen, the differences would be much, much less.
- the more I drive it, the happier I am I made the choice I did. Especially where "family duties are concerned...let me explain.
With the sport button pressed and in manual change mode, when pressing on, the shifts in the auto are very, very good. It allows you to bounce off the rev limiter if you so desire, and the only time it intervenes is if you're in too high a gear for the road speed, ie to prevent it stalling.
Without the sport button pressed it's just a little more gentle.
In auto mode it acts how you'd expect. And this is where it trumps the MC Shift. Auto really works with nice smooth changes (and kick down iif you need it etc). With the sport button you get more noise and tighter suspension, but with it off the car's nice and quiet and nice and comfy. This is the mode that comes into its own on long motorway journeys when you're 4 up with 2 small kids. And the MC Shift simply can't match that.
I bought a GT to be able to use it more on family duties, so having the option of that mode really does come into its own. And if I want something firmer, more raucous and alert then I can simply knock the lever to the left and press the sport button.
Like Bob I tend to use it in normal auto or sport manual. But the 4 modes are pretty distinct and useful.
(You also don't have clutch replacement costs of course!)
This is going to depend how you drive.
When in manual mode, I think you tend to use a lower gear anyway, especially with the sport button pressed
The same is likely to apply to the auto.
The gear ratio differences mentioned might also help the autp a little.
I'm using mine mostly on b-roads/unnamed roads, with a bit of fast a-road work. I'm getting something like 18mpg out of it - a smidge better than the Aston V8 it replaced, a tad worse than the RS4 it shares garage space with. So par for the course for n/a 4-5 litre V8s
Not sure on this one.
I've had a standard Pebble in the back using belts and it was no issue. I'm very sure the standard Maxi-Cosi Isofix base would work fine too. As mentioned above, using car seats with a three door car is not ideal. I'm looking forward to my youngest migrating to the Pearl (which should be imminent) as it'll make life much easier.
The seats automatically go as far forward as they can when you tilt the seat back, which is handy and IME does give decent room to manoeuvre kids. What is less ideal is that they take an age to move backwards and forwards.
My eldest (4) is in a Max-Cosi Rodi Airprotect and that works just fine. I also have a Recaro Young Sport which works OK (though am not so keen on that as a seat generally - too bulky (which is what you get for being tight and buying a seat that should last from exiting a Pebble all the way through to not needing a seat).
The above's a bit of a ramble, but if you need more info just ask. IMO there isn't another car available this side of an FF/Lusso that can handle a family of 4 and give that special feeling you tend to want from a car like this.
One last comment...the blue/white combo is nice enough, but you'd have to be nuts to have that colour interior when using the car with kids