DB9 reliability
Discussion
Tentatively looking at a DB9 for sale on PH, 2005 manual at Mcgurk.
Problem is when my partner and I first met I had a 2002 DB7 manual v12 that was forever broken,basically every time I took it out it broke. The car had been babied, heated garage the works. I wanted to use it and use it to full potential, saw 190 on the speedo but next day dead etc.
My partner therfore is weary of having another Aston and says I can have it as an ornament but not to drive as she refuses to sit waiting for the AA!
She's been the understanding type and has sat there broken down in the DB7, a Ferrari that had to be lifted onto a flatbed in a busy carpark with 2 pubs next door and an Esprit V8 in the peeing rain in a not very nice town. I feel this may be last chance saloon as far as supercars go and her patience!
Any inside knowledge,pointers or suggestions?
I'm a bit older now and more concerned with safety and license so car would have an easier ride than the 3 mentioned above but equally I don't want it in a heated garage with a protective bubble over it and would like to use regularly all year round as much as possible.
Problem is when my partner and I first met I had a 2002 DB7 manual v12 that was forever broken,basically every time I took it out it broke. The car had been babied, heated garage the works. I wanted to use it and use it to full potential, saw 190 on the speedo but next day dead etc.
My partner therfore is weary of having another Aston and says I can have it as an ornament but not to drive as she refuses to sit waiting for the AA!
She's been the understanding type and has sat there broken down in the DB7, a Ferrari that had to be lifted onto a flatbed in a busy carpark with 2 pubs next door and an Esprit V8 in the peeing rain in a not very nice town. I feel this may be last chance saloon as far as supercars go and her patience!
Any inside knowledge,pointers or suggestions?
I'm a bit older now and more concerned with safety and license so car would have an easier ride than the 3 mentioned above but equally I don't want it in a heated garage with a protective bubble over it and would like to use regularly all year round as much as possible.
2007 DB9 here. Problem at the outset (2021) because the original AM dealer hadn't changed the transmission oil resulting in torque converter damage. A brief fiasco followed but now that's been replaced all is well, other than usual consumables. I think mine is happier doing 5K miles a year rather than the 1K it did with the previous owner for 14 years.
Also worth pointing out that the DB9 is a very different car from the DB7.
Also, if I was buying again I'd look for 2009+ because quite a few little changes had been made, not least a central storage compartment. Interior storage is minimal.
Also worth pointing out that the DB9 is a very different car from the DB7.
sfella said:
My partner therfore is weary of having another Aston and says I can have it as an ornament but not to drive...
I presume she's paying for it then...?Also, if I was buying again I'd look for 2009+ because quite a few little changes had been made, not least a central storage compartment. Interior storage is minimal.
Thats a good Black manual. DB 9 at mcgurks, and you should get a great purchase experience with them......but........you should seriously consider a 2008 glass key onwards auto, the auto box on a DB9 suits the car very well. Plus a huge amounts of improvements from then on, not to mention the 2008 cars will not suffer from the Dreaded DB9 tick!!! As that manual could, thats an engine out £15-20k repair.
As Simpo Two has said the DB9 is quite a step up from a DB7.
Keep the battery on a battery conditioner, try to keep her in a garage and try not to drive her in the rain, check the oil level every few weeks also disconnect the troublesome tracker unit.
Door modules can have issues plus keep on top of all maintenance and fluids.
Check the misfire rate and on purchase try to find out when the plugs and coils (hopefully also the PCV valves) were replaced.
Let us know how you get on and attach photos.
As Simpo Two has said the DB9 is quite a step up from a DB7.
Keep the battery on a battery conditioner, try to keep her in a garage and try not to drive her in the rain, check the oil level every few weeks also disconnect the troublesome tracker unit.
Door modules can have issues plus keep on top of all maintenance and fluids.
Check the misfire rate and on purchase try to find out when the plugs and coils (hopefully also the PCV valves) were replaced.
Let us know how you get on and attach photos.
Edited by paulrog1 on Tuesday 30th April 13:59
Edited by paulrog1 on Tuesday 30th April 14:00
I agree with Paulfrog a 2008 glass key db9 is the way to go. I had one for 2.5 years, IMO. seats are better, dash is improved, general updated gearbox better, wheels and tyres better.
I tweeked mine a little with some exhaust mods which added a more pleasing note and better breathing/revving and put sports package tyres on her. A great reliable car.
I tweeked mine a little with some exhaust mods which added a more pleasing note and better breathing/revving and put sports package tyres on her. A great reliable car.
The manual car had sold so no longer became an option but from reading your replies and some Google research of the same points I think we'll be looking at a newer one with hopefully more niggles sorted. I prefer the later cars as not keen on the multi spoke wheels of the earlier ones, the main appeal on that manual was the wheels. I feel the multi spokes date the car, no offence intended to any one, we're all different and that
sfella said:
Tentatively looking at a DB9 for sale on PH, 2005 manual at Mcgurk.
Problem is when my partner and I first met I had a 2002 DB7 manual v12 that was forever broken,basically every time I took it out it broke. The car had been babied, heated garage the works. I wanted to use it and use it to full potential, saw 190 on the speedo but next day dead etc.
My partner therfore is weary of having another Aston and says I can have it as an ornament but not to drive as she refuses to sit waiting for the AA!
She's been the understanding type and has sat there broken down in the DB7, a Ferrari that had to be lifted onto a flatbed in a busy carpark with 2 pubs next door and an Esprit V8 in the peeing rain in a not very nice town. I feel this may be last chance saloon as far as supercars go and her patience!
Any inside knowledge,pointers or suggestions?
I'm a bit older now and more concerned with safety and license so car would have an easier ride than the 3 mentioned above but equally I don't want it in a heated garage with a protective bubble over it and would like to use regularly all year round as much as possible.
Toyota?Problem is when my partner and I first met I had a 2002 DB7 manual v12 that was forever broken,basically every time I took it out it broke. The car had been babied, heated garage the works. I wanted to use it and use it to full potential, saw 190 on the speedo but next day dead etc.
My partner therfore is weary of having another Aston and says I can have it as an ornament but not to drive as she refuses to sit waiting for the AA!
She's been the understanding type and has sat there broken down in the DB7, a Ferrari that had to be lifted onto a flatbed in a busy carpark with 2 pubs next door and an Esprit V8 in the peeing rain in a not very nice town. I feel this may be last chance saloon as far as supercars go and her patience!
Any inside knowledge,pointers or suggestions?
I'm a bit older now and more concerned with safety and license so car would have an easier ride than the 3 mentioned above but equally I don't want it in a heated garage with a protective bubble over it and would like to use regularly all year round as much as possible.
paulrog1 said:
Yes,
The rear subframe and front and rear bumper supports are made from steel and suffers from corrosion and the front and rear lights let in moisture.
Although the DB9 has an aluminum body that won't corrode there are alot of stuff on it that does.
Damn. DB9s are too wide for my garage!The rear subframe and front and rear bumper supports are made from steel and suffers from corrosion and the front and rear lights let in moisture.
Although the DB9 has an aluminum body that won't corrode there are alot of stuff on it that does.
F-Type R?
Seriously if the whole car bricking itself & costing the earth is a concern why not buy something quicker, more economical, cheaper to run, can go out in the rain & more useable as a toy?
I know they aren’t as ‘Special’ as an Aston but a good F-Type 5.0 R with carbon ceramics is a pretty eye catching beast!
https://youtu.be/eavjStm6tUg?si=7J5_L2cY8k1df3bw
“You can drive around with the exhaust in quiet mode and it’s a perfectly civilised cruiser or you can push the button that makes it loud & enjoy what sounds like the Norse god of war vomiting into a kettle!” Richard Porter.
Seriously if the whole car bricking itself & costing the earth is a concern why not buy something quicker, more economical, cheaper to run, can go out in the rain & more useable as a toy?
I know they aren’t as ‘Special’ as an Aston but a good F-Type 5.0 R with carbon ceramics is a pretty eye catching beast!
https://youtu.be/eavjStm6tUg?si=7J5_L2cY8k1df3bw
“You can drive around with the exhaust in quiet mode and it’s a perfectly civilised cruiser or you can push the button that makes it loud & enjoy what sounds like the Norse god of war vomiting into a kettle!” Richard Porter.
Edited by Stick Legs on Thursday 2nd May 21:14
I have a 2006 DB9 Volante with a 6 speed manual transmission. Love the car. It is everything I wanted in a convertible.
I can't imagine being able to afford a 20 year old DB9 if I didn't do all the work myself. I suppose if it was a "one mechanic" car that had been lovingly kept and maintained it might make sense but the car IF you can keep that same mechanic. Otherwise the variable costs associated with the car (eg, those costs that can't be predetermined when buying it) make it hard to reconcile/rationalize the potential costs against how much fun it is to drive.
I can't imagine being able to afford a 20 year old DB9 if I didn't do all the work myself. I suppose if it was a "one mechanic" car that had been lovingly kept and maintained it might make sense but the car IF you can keep that same mechanic. Otherwise the variable costs associated with the car (eg, those costs that can't be predetermined when buying it) make it hard to reconcile/rationalize the potential costs against how much fun it is to drive.
Hmmmm, suggestions of not driving in the rain, garaging and battery conditioner being a must does make this feel more of a millstone than a pleasure at this stage if I'm honest.
I'm not into super shiney cars/detailing, I want to be able to leave something in the yard, jump in as and when the moment is available not have to start prepping for use. This doesn't sound like the DB9 has these attributes from what's being said.
F type doesn't really float my boat and no rear seats.
Mother has an XKR black edition that at some point she'll want rid of so maybe I'll see what she wants when the time comes.
Perhaps our rural/farming lifestyle doesn't accommodate an Aston as much as I'd like to think
I'm not into super shiney cars/detailing, I want to be able to leave something in the yard, jump in as and when the moment is available not have to start prepping for use. This doesn't sound like the DB9 has these attributes from what's being said.
F type doesn't really float my boat and no rear seats.
Mother has an XKR black edition that at some point she'll want rid of so maybe I'll see what she wants when the time comes.
Perhaps our rural/farming lifestyle doesn't accommodate an Aston as much as I'd like to think
Hoofy said:
Had to google that. Where the hell did they fit a V8 in that??
It's the complete running gear off a V8VS, with a suitably shortened torque tube and prop shaft ...... and some mad lads from Q with a very large shoehorn 
It sounds epic
but I read that it pitched quite badly due to the very short wheelbase.
And now, with apologies to sfella for hijacking the thread, back to DB9
OP's name fixed
Edited by LTP on Saturday 4th May 00:12
sfella said:
Hmmmm, suggestions of not driving in the rain, garaging and battery conditioner being a must does make this feel more of a millstone than a pleasure at this stage if I'm honest.
I'm not into super shiney cars/detailing, I want to be able to leave something in the yard, jump in as and when the moment is available not have to start prepping for use. This doesn't sound like the DB9 has these attributes from what's being said.
F type doesn't really float my boat and no rear seats.
Mother has an XKR black edition that at some point she'll want rid of so maybe I'll see what she wants when the time comes.
Perhaps our rural/farming lifestyle doesn't accommodate an Aston as much as I'd like to think
Don't get too influenced by the paranoid members talking about the rear subframe - they don't rust much worse than any other steel subframe, the main contrast being the anodised aluminium of the actual tub floor remains pristine after many years.I'm not into super shiney cars/detailing, I want to be able to leave something in the yard, jump in as and when the moment is available not have to start prepping for use. This doesn't sound like the DB9 has these attributes from what's being said.
F type doesn't really float my boat and no rear seats.
Mother has an XKR black edition that at some point she'll want rid of so maybe I'll see what she wants when the time comes.
Perhaps our rural/farming lifestyle doesn't accommodate an Aston as much as I'd like to think
They get scabby, but they are made of steel, not made of papier mâché, with the usual 10-year design life, so of course you can drive it in the rain. If I take mine out when there's salt on the road I just take the trouble to rinse the underneath off with a garden lawn sprinkler.
The DB9 (and the Vantage) does have a higher-then-normal quiescent drain that means if you don't drive it frequently it will flatten batteries, so a conditioner is just a precaution. Put a good few miles on it every week and there won't be a problem (as long as an early tracker hasn't failed) Similarly you can leave them outside, but they will deteriorate a bit - as my Volvo has for the last four years as it has been displaced by the Vantage. Algae green waist seals, anyone?
The XKR used very similar construction techniques and many of the same suppliers as they were both developed to the appropriate Ford standards, and if you do a bit of Googling you'll see that they also have steel rear subframes that can rot.
Ask yourself - which would you rather was parked on your drive?
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