90's DB7 Coupes.. worth getting one ?
Discussion
My fisrt post in the Hallowed Halls of the Aston Martin section. 
I realise that no-one has a crystal ball but I would very much appreciate some thoughts on the following.
Are the early DB7 coupes (v6) a viable reliable purchase and at current prices around £25-£30k are they "value for money" ?
Also, the crystal ball bit: ..would one represent any investment potential in the longer term if it was the right spec or are they still going to keep dropping in price..?
Your thoughts much appreciated
Cheers,
Matt
I realise that no-one has a crystal ball but I would very much appreciate some thoughts on the following.
Are the early DB7 coupes (v6) a viable reliable purchase and at current prices around £25-£30k are they "value for money" ?
Also, the crystal ball bit: ..would one represent any investment potential in the longer term if it was the right spec or are they still going to keep dropping in price..?
Your thoughts much appreciated
Cheers,
Matt
Welcome
I've had a DB7 (straight six), DB7 Vantage, DB9 (and soon AMV8).
If you can stretch to a DB7 Vantage, I would. The car is far more balanced and superior to the DB7 straight six. The DB7 is very soft and spongy in corners, where as the DB7 Vantage is much more composed. Also the V12 engine is far superior to the supercharged six. The Vantage version is what the original DB7 should have always been like.
hope this helps
Shady
edited to say : Just ask the geezer above
>> Edited by shadytree on Wednesday 2nd November 10:09
I've had a DB7 (straight six), DB7 Vantage, DB9 (and soon AMV8).
If you can stretch to a DB7 Vantage, I would. The car is far more balanced and superior to the DB7 straight six. The DB7 is very soft and spongy in corners, where as the DB7 Vantage is much more composed. Also the V12 engine is far superior to the supercharged six. The Vantage version is what the original DB7 should have always been like.
hope this helps
Shady
edited to say : Just ask the geezer above
>> Edited by shadytree on Wednesday 2nd November 10:09
jeremyc said:
Just a small point - they're straight sixes (supercharged), not V6.
I knew that
its the problem with straying from the TVR side of the fence.. everything's a V something 
I meant i6 jeremyc said:
I reckon they're an awful lot of car for the money, and ought to be flattening out in cost by now. But as to whether they'll go down more - who knows?
Yeah, I realise its like trying to predict the stock market..
If a purchase was to be made it wouldn't be 12 months or so which gives plenty of time for thought (saying that I imagine it would actually take quite a while to find the "right" one too). I'm thinking a bit longer term anyway then whether they will drop a bit more in the next couple of years or so.. wondering more what would happen to the prices over say 10-15 years..? (which needs an even better crystal ball )
BUY A DB7 Vantage ! shadytree said:Thank you
Welcome
shadytree said:
I've had a DB7 (straight six), DB7 Vantage, DB9 (and soon AMV8).
If you can stretch to a DB7 Vantage, I would. The car is far more balanced and superior to the DB7 straight six. The DB7 is very soft and spongy in corners, where as the DB7 Vantage is much more composed. Also the V12 engine is far superior to the supercharged six. The Vantage version is what the original DB7 should have always been like.
hope this helps
Shady
Yes indeed... The vantage is quite a bit more ££ though so whislt it would be marvelous, I'm just not sure the piggy bank will be fat enough.
Cheers,
Matt
M@H said:
Yes indeed... The vantage is quite a bit more ££ though so whislt it would be marvelous, I'm just not sure the piggy bank will be fat enough.
Cheers,
Matt
In that case stay with a TIV.
You will be so dissapointed by a DB7. Trust me I was. I went from a Cerbera 4.5 to a straight six DB7, then rapidly to a DB7 Vantage. The difference is HUGE.
shadytree said:
Yes indeed... The vantage is quite a bit more ££ though so whislt it would be marvelous, I'm just not sure the piggy bank will be fat enough.
Cheers,
Matt
In that case stay with a TIV.
You will be so dissapointed by a DB7. Trust me I was. I went from a Cerbera 4.5 to a straight six DB7, then rapidly to a DB7 Vantage. The difference is HUGE.
Hopefully wasn't planning on parting with the Tiv
although thanks for the comparison This is, ahem, predominantly for the better half.. 
although the plan I am trying to formulate involves a SIPP hence the longer-term £ comments. Matt.
Pedantic mode on.....even TVR use i6 engines now
You're right, without a crystal ball one can only guess if they will go up in value (or at least bottom out).
I'd suggest the leggiest early DB7's may fall to around £18k within a few years. How long it takes for them to start appreciating will be anyone's guess.
I guess it's worth looking at the old "V8" series. The first i6 versions are the cheapest (around £20k for a good one) up to £80/90k for a late Vantage.
Not sure that answers your question though!
You're right, without a crystal ball one can only guess if they will go up in value (or at least bottom out).
I'd suggest the leggiest early DB7's may fall to around £18k within a few years. How long it takes for them to start appreciating will be anyone's guess.
I guess it's worth looking at the old "V8" series. The first i6 versions are the cheapest (around £20k for a good one) up to £80/90k for a late Vantage.
Not sure that answers your question though!
Twin Turbo said:
... Not sure that answers your question though!
Well it all adds to the nutrients in the pool, thank you
Basically Mrs H has wanted, wants, and will always want a DB7 (ideally a volante, naturally 
). And I reckon with a bit of scraping around and some cunning I could potentially have a lump of cash big enough to buy one in a year or two if I'm able to use a chunk of tax to buy it also.
Therefore if I can decide on and find a sensible model/spec that I can justifiably put into a SIPP, then Mrs H has something shiney on the Drive, I have the warm feeling that Gordon Brown bought me 40% of it, and I also have actually put the 60% of it into my pension, which seems eminently sensible. (the thing is I would prefer my 60% not to turn to 10p)
Oh I dunno.. maybe I'm just deluding myself..
Matt
..oh and I meant "proper" TVRs
>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 2nd November 12:30
They will stop depreciating, but they will keep going down for a while. V12 less so then the I6.
Dont forget, they only made just over 7,000 DB7s (although this is, itself about a third of all AM production up to that date), and they plan to make 5,000 V8 Vantage a year. So the market will see a lot of the small, quicker, better handling V8 Vantage cars on the market before too long. I think the V12 will still hold water, but the I6 DB7 could become like the DBS. Still a quick car, but people wont desire it as much.
When this happens, I'll be able to afford one.
All my opinion, of coruse
Dont forget, they only made just over 7,000 DB7s (although this is, itself about a third of all AM production up to that date), and they plan to make 5,000 V8 Vantage a year. So the market will see a lot of the small, quicker, better handling V8 Vantage cars on the market before too long. I think the V12 will still hold water, but the I6 DB7 could become like the DBS. Still a quick car, but people wont desire it as much.
When this happens, I'll be able to afford one.
All my opinion, of coruse
williamp said:
They will stop depreciating, but they will keep going down for a while. V12 less so then the I6.
Dont forget, they only made just over 7,000 DB7s (although this is, itself about a third of all AM production up to that date), and they plan to make 5,000 V8 Vantage a year. So the market will see a lot of the small, quicker, better handling V8 Vantage cars on the market before too long. I think the V12 will still hold water, but the I6 DB7 could become like the DBS. Still a quick car, but people wont desire it as much.
When this happens, I'll be able to afford one.
All my opinion, of coruse
3000 V8's a year William
M@H said:You and your good lady are welcome to have a look around mine at BTaP.
..so best bet is to save even more pennies and get a V12 Volante a bit further down the line it seems ..actually bet bet is probably to go and drive one or two.
Just don't be too disappointed the roof doesn't fold down....
jeremyc said:
..so best bet is to save even more pennies and get a V12 Volante a bit further down the line it seems ..actually bet bet is probably to go and drive one or two.
Just don't be too disappointed the roof doesn't fold down....
Very decent of you sir.
A solid roof is a preference for me anyway M@H said:
Therefore if I can decide on and find a sensible model/spec that I can justifiably put into a SIPP, then Mrs H has something shiney on the Drive, I have the warm feeling that Gordon Brown bought me 40% of it, and I also have actually put the 60% of it into my pension, which seems eminently sensible. (the thing is I would prefer my 60% not to turn to 10p)
Oh I dunno.. maybe I'm just deluding myself..
Yes, I am afraid if you look into it a bit deeper you will find the whole revised SIPP/SSAS rules thing is a trick with lights and mirrors by Gordon Brown.
For instance, if the car is available for your use you will be taxed personally at 20% of its value by way of income tax, every year, due to its benefit in kind potential.
If anyone else were to use it they would have to pay the correct market rental out of their taxed income.
Aside from that it is fairly unlikely that any decent trustees would allow you to put in a "wasting" asset like this as there is a possibility the Revenue would deny it tax relief in the first place.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but your plan was also my first thought when the new rules were announced but Gordon definitely does not want us to be playing with new toys at his(really our) expense.
ean218 said:
Oh I dunno.. maybe I'm just deluding myself..
Yes, I am afraid if you look into it a bit deeper you will find the whole revised SIPP/SSAS rules thing is a trick with lights and mirrors by Gordon Brown.
For instance, if the car is available for your use you will be taxed personally at 20% of its value by way of income tax, every year, due to its benefit in kind potential.
If anyone else were to use it they would have to pay the correct market rental out of their taxed income.
Aside from that it is fairly unlikely that any decent trustees would allow you to put in a "wasting" asset like this as there is a possibility the Revenue would deny it tax relief in the first place.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but your plan was also my first thought when the new rules were announced but Gordon definitely does not want us to be playing with new toys at his(really our) expense.
Oh
Well its back to the drawing board then.. I was quite confident in raising 60% and using the remaining 40% from the Tax Fund. I also thought it was a neat way in stopping Gordie from having £10-£15k. I could just leave it in the garage and look at it..? Sigh
Dunno about this - what happens if the SIPP lends you the money to buy the car - that way your repayments are a payment into your pension scheme... Strill not as good an investment as commercial property for example and you might feel a bit fed up when you get old and realise your pension won't buy a box of matches - let alone a picture of an Aston
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