If you want an auto then buy an auto. Don't for goodness sake use the MC in auto mode - it's pretty dim-witted. Works better in Sport auto but best of all in MC / manual mode. I have Ferrari 599 GTO software on the TCU and it's blisteringly quick and deliciously smooth. With the x-pipe it makes a lovely noise and that nice "crack" as you bang up in to the next gear when you've got the throttle most of the way open and the revs over (I think) 4 or 5k. As Bob says, give the actual auto with the ZF box a go as well. it's a lovely car and there are advantages to the auto over the MC. Depends what you prefer.
If you get a V12 Vantage S can I come and live with you please....
How're your decorating and light construction skills, Andy? I may need some help around here: it's become clear that the cost of the next car will likely include at least one bathroom, two decorated bedrooms and a carport. At least the latter is something I actually want!
A V12 Vantage S is currently top of my next car list... did you drive one last week? If yes, how was it in comparison to your GTS
Yes, I drove a roadster and it was wonderful. The secondary cats had been removed and the sound was fantastic, especially as you get the revs up beyond 4k and with the roof down. I was laughing like a fool. No kind of poker face for price negotiations. Despite the obvious fun-factor of a roadster, though, I think the coupe is a better looking car and has a shade more headroom - my hair was brushing the headlining with the roof up. The reality is that I'd seldom drive with the roof down so the idea of a convertible is likely better than the reality of one.
As well as the sound, the things I especially liked were the separately switchable dampers, traction control and sport / not sport settings. Where the difference on the GTS between sport and not sport is quite subtle, the Vantage in Track mode on the dampers was extraordinary. Seriously pointy and very fidgeting. The sport setting is a better compromise, and still noticeably different compared to normal mode.
Switching the drive mode to Sport turned the thing into something like a greyhound with an exorcet up his ar5e. Just amazing, and feriociously quick. Back into normal mode is was very docile and an easy drive. A bit more fidgety than the GTS but it's 2 feet shorter, so the wheelsbase alone will account for a lot of that.
The interior was very nicely done. Lots of well-stitched leather, instruments were clear, the haptic feedback on the fascia controls was nice, infotainment pretty good (although the one I drove had the last gen system - AMi II) and the lightweight sports seats extremely confortable. I got the sense they'd be great on a long journey as well, but the normal seats are a bit more sumptuous.
There's been quite a bit of grumbling about the semi-auto / double-plate gearbox (sound familiar..?). I actually really liked it. As I mentioned above with the MC 'box in the GTS, it offers a degree of engagement beyond what an auto deivers (just my view, before Bob puts pen to paper again!). Purists are getting all excited about the dog-leg manual but just can't see the point, personally. I'm not a racing driver from the fifties and enjoy not having to jump up and down on a clutch every time I want to change gear. I love driving manual cars, but only for a change. If I have to crawl through traffic or prefer to select a different gear without letting go of the wheel then the paddles work just fine. It felt like the gearchange was every bit as quick as mine. No complaints there at all.
I personally don't think it looks as good or sounds as good as the GTS, and obviously has only two seats, but as a driver's car it's just great, and could as happily cross continents as have a back road blast. Oh, and the carbon brakes were superb. Even at cold they were very controllable - you could easily feather the brakes and trail-breaking was a dream.
Is it worth a £30-50k premium over a fairly new GTS? Of course not! That's just daft in the same way that having any kind of silly car is just daft. But that doesn't stop us. We're a long time dead and if I can figure out how to justify the spend then I will. In some ways the Vantage is more under-stated than the GTS, the smaller size is a big bonus and it's a dream to drive.