Looking for advice on DB9 purchase please!
Discussion
Looking for advice on DB9 purchase please!
Hey all, I’m looking for some advice on a potential purchase for a DB9 and where better to look/ask than Piston heads?! I’ve skimmed through the forum here and found some useful tips but nothing in one place.
VERY long story short, went from Maserati to V10 M5 (which I loved, kept for 3 years and did more than 120,000 miles in) Got told I had to grow up, slow down and be sensible by the missus and get something sensible... So I did - I got a fully specced up company 520d.... Needless to say after just 2 months I’m not keen on growing up or being sensible and certainly not driving at 520d speeds anymore and want a proper car again! I’ve looked at the Massa grantourismo and have been told this result in me becoming single (still an option!) The Bentley Conti GT, very impressive but just can’t get away from the fact the DB9 is just so incredibly beautiful and such a good price (apparently?)
My budget is £45k. Not in the slightest bit worried about MPG (company fuel card) tyres and most servicing will also be partially paid for. What I AM concerned about is my 30,000 miles a year – 95% of it motorway. So have the following question;
• Looks like my meagre money will buy me 2005 with around 50,000 miles on it. Will it make it to 100,000? I’ve not seen any high mileage DB9s for sale or otherwise
• When looking for a DB9 what should I look for positive and negative as a sign it is a lemon or a gem?
• What should I look for that would make me walk away as a very bad sign?
• Are there any exceptionally large service costs? (example Bentley every 60k needs a £3k service to replace all hydraulic pipes)
• What are the desirable/essential extras to look for? Is there an extended Aston Warranty available?
Hopefully it’s not a terribly repeated question and I would really appreciate feedback from the PH community! Many thanks in advance!
Mark
Hey all, I’m looking for some advice on a potential purchase for a DB9 and where better to look/ask than Piston heads?! I’ve skimmed through the forum here and found some useful tips but nothing in one place.
VERY long story short, went from Maserati to V10 M5 (which I loved, kept for 3 years and did more than 120,000 miles in) Got told I had to grow up, slow down and be sensible by the missus and get something sensible... So I did - I got a fully specced up company 520d.... Needless to say after just 2 months I’m not keen on growing up or being sensible and certainly not driving at 520d speeds anymore and want a proper car again! I’ve looked at the Massa grantourismo and have been told this result in me becoming single (still an option!) The Bentley Conti GT, very impressive but just can’t get away from the fact the DB9 is just so incredibly beautiful and such a good price (apparently?)
My budget is £45k. Not in the slightest bit worried about MPG (company fuel card) tyres and most servicing will also be partially paid for. What I AM concerned about is my 30,000 miles a year – 95% of it motorway. So have the following question;
• Looks like my meagre money will buy me 2005 with around 50,000 miles on it. Will it make it to 100,000? I’ve not seen any high mileage DB9s for sale or otherwise
• When looking for a DB9 what should I look for positive and negative as a sign it is a lemon or a gem?
• What should I look for that would make me walk away as a very bad sign?
• Are there any exceptionally large service costs? (example Bentley every 60k needs a £3k service to replace all hydraulic pipes)
• What are the desirable/essential extras to look for? Is there an extended Aston Warranty available?
Hopefully it’s not a terribly repeated question and I would really appreciate feedback from the PH community! Many thanks in advance!
Mark
Edited by M5 Mark on Saturday 31st December 19:00
What to look for
Rust (corrosion) around the door handles, trailing and leading edge of the rear arches, around the seam of the rear window basically anywhere you see a slight bubbling get that dealt with as part of the deal. Check for stone chips on the sills especially in front of the rear arches.
Inspect the door rubber seal, I got mine changed before I bought it as it allowed wind noise in.
The big service is at 7 years or 70,000 miles which requires a plug change which requires removal of the inlet manifold which requires gaskets which are expensive.
Check the rear lights for any sign of water ingress (beads of condensation) got some on mine on the end that wraps onto the side of the car.
Check the date stamp of the emergency tyre inflation fluid, it does expire, I had mine changed.
Look for chipping of the paint on the centre console and door handles. I got mine refinished as part of the deal.
After five years the warranty becomes somewhat restrictive and covers no electrical items so check them all. Take a few CD's with you and test the CD changer and make sure all is well.
If you get a pre March 2006 car then you get the lower car tax band so that is a few hundred pounds more to spend on unleaded.
Rust (corrosion) around the door handles, trailing and leading edge of the rear arches, around the seam of the rear window basically anywhere you see a slight bubbling get that dealt with as part of the deal. Check for stone chips on the sills especially in front of the rear arches.
Inspect the door rubber seal, I got mine changed before I bought it as it allowed wind noise in.
The big service is at 7 years or 70,000 miles which requires a plug change which requires removal of the inlet manifold which requires gaskets which are expensive.
Check the rear lights for any sign of water ingress (beads of condensation) got some on mine on the end that wraps onto the side of the car.
Check the date stamp of the emergency tyre inflation fluid, it does expire, I had mine changed.
Look for chipping of the paint on the centre console and door handles. I got mine refinished as part of the deal.
After five years the warranty becomes somewhat restrictive and covers no electrical items so check them all. Take a few CD's with you and test the CD changer and make sure all is well.
If you get a pre March 2006 car then you get the lower car tax band so that is a few hundred pounds more to spend on unleaded.
Firstly, I'd like to work for your company, secondly, the Maserati comment made me chuckle.
If you an find one, get a black sports pack car. I do love a black Aston.
And stay away from the automatic car washes and take a look in the FAQ's at my product guide instead and wash it yourself.
Francis
If you an find one, get a black sports pack car. I do love a black Aston.
And stay away from the automatic car washes and take a look in the FAQ's at my product guide instead and wash it yourself.
Francis
Make sure you get a copy of Grant's book - best £20 you'll spend pre-purchase.
http://www.astonmartinreview.co.uk/
No affiliation - but used the guide to help me buy my car last month
Happy shopping!
Kris
http://www.astonmartinreview.co.uk/
No affiliation - but used the guide to help me buy my car last month
Happy shopping!
Kris
Wobbly said:
I would think with £45k for a coupe, you would be looking at about a 2006 car with 20-25k miles.
I'll echo this - you'll get more for your money than you think! Manual Vs TT is a personal choice, both have their merits, depends on you. I have a manual, it makes a smooth, gentlemanly car quite a potent weapon when you want it to be.
Such is the torque of the V12 that you stick in in 6th and it works on the motorway even if you slow to 40mph in traffic and then back up to crusing speed. It's a fairly heavy clutch though, but it's all relative. You only need to stir the box when you want to
Sports Pack will limit your market but is worth the wait, expecially if you've come from an M5.
George H said:
How often are you stuck in traffic on a motorway?
The point I was trying to make is if you're going to be using it as a GT car, you want it to be easy to drive. I really cannot see any point at all in having a manual if you're just doing motorway miles.
George, you really must learn how to drive a proper car/properly drive a car some day The point I was trying to make is if you're going to be using it as a GT car, you want it to be easy to drive. I really cannot see any point at all in having a manual if you're just doing motorway miles.
Thanks all for the comments Very useful! I've ordered the definitive guide already and eagerly awaiting it's delivery! I've got to hand back the company car this week so need to find a car sharpish or end up in a hire car at my own expense!
For sure I will want the auto box, no idea why but I'm not just interested in manuals anymore, must be getting lazy since I hit 40 last year!
I've not actually spotted 06 DB9s for £45k or under yet. Not sure if it is a bad time to buy or not? I assumed a motor trade would be quiet at this time of year and hence a good time to buy?! If anyone knows of any good ones for sale or has reccomendations for cars up for sale I will happily look at any nationally
Very useful! I've ordered the definitive guide already and eagerly awaiting it's delivery! I've got to hand back the company car this week so need to find a car sharpish or end up in a hire car at my own expense!For sure I will want the auto box, no idea why but I'm not just interested in manuals anymore, must be getting lazy since I hit 40 last year!
I've not actually spotted 06 DB9s for £45k or under yet. Not sure if it is a bad time to buy or not? I assumed a motor trade would be quiet at this time of year and hence a good time to buy?! If anyone knows of any good ones for sale or has reccomendations for cars up for sale I will happily look at any nationally
There are only 84 DB9 coupes for sale on PH, less than usual, but prices seem to have dropped quite a bit in the last three (winter) months. Is this the sort of thing you were thinking of Mark?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3519258.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3519258.htm
Wobbly said:
Not sure what colours you are looking for, but heres a couple of examples I have seen.
Lancaster Sevenoaks, have a 06 Meteorite with 24000 miles, @ £45k
Stratstone Hagley, have a 06 Blue with 16000 miles, @ £46k
Thanks Wobbly, where were these advertised?! I'm looking on PH and Autotrader and didn't spot these?! Is there a better place to look?Lancaster Sevenoaks, have a 06 Meteorite with 24000 miles, @ £45k
Stratstone Hagley, have a 06 Blue with 16000 miles, @ £46k
Hi Mark. Just picked up a DB9 on Xmas Eve and have put 560 miles on it so far. Car has been faultless. I bought mine from Grange Aston Martin in Welwyn. Rick at DMS (well respected on here) said that he would be put off buying a high mileage DB9 so I'm not put off putting a lot of miles on one. My DB9 is my daily drive so go to visit friends, go to Tesco's, etc. Just have to be selective on the parking spot due to the long doors, but that would be the same with any sports car.
Firstly, if you're seriously considering it buy a copy of Grant's book. It'll answer a lot of questions you may have, and dispell a lot of the myths. It helped me a great deal. Plus it's a great read.
Secondly, I found that the Aston Used Approved scheme was no more expensive than anywhere else if you're prepared to wait. I gave Jonathan Raven at Grange my budget, spec, and prefered colours and he came up trumps for me. Car came with a full set of new tyres, pads and discs, plus the service and check... (and I paid less than £40k).
The first thing to do though is go and have a test drive. Then you won't want anything else.
Firstly, if you're seriously considering it buy a copy of Grant's book. It'll answer a lot of questions you may have, and dispell a lot of the myths. It helped me a great deal. Plus it's a great read.
Secondly, I found that the Aston Used Approved scheme was no more expensive than anywhere else if you're prepared to wait. I gave Jonathan Raven at Grange my budget, spec, and prefered colours and he came up trumps for me. Car came with a full set of new tyres, pads and discs, plus the service and check... (and I paid less than £40k).
The first thing to do though is go and have a test drive. Then you won't want anything else.
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