Can the Vanquish honestly be worth 70k more than a DB9?

[V12AML]

Probably been bought up and discussed many times before, but the way i see it the Vanquish is a slightly beefed up DB9 with a worse gearbox and a cheaper interior and pretty much the same engine. Im not trying to bash the Vanquish, its an awesome car and one of my all time favourites, but at about £170,000 how does it stand now the DB9 and even the AMV8 is around?

Although it has to be said a 4 year old example can be bought for about the same price as an AMV8!!

[:J:]

How is the gearbox worse ?

[v12Aston]

A couple of points - Vanquish:

1: Takes nearly twice the amount of time to build
2: Is more exclusive - I would guess that by the time Vanquish finishes production they would have produced about the equivalent volume of 2yrs of DB9.
3: Components are different - eg extensive use of Carbon Fibre Composites
4: Skills - Panel beating on the ALL aluminium body (no plastic wings etc)
5: Is a very different driving experience - anybody who has extensively driven both DB9 and Vanquish would say that they are poles apart. I own both and still believe that despite the difference in technological years the Vanquish "has something" that the more high-tech DB9 does not.

.....I shall not go on

[Twin Turbo]

Good points, all. However, if the DBS is, in fact, the next Vanquish, it's going to use the V/H platform so should take no longer to build than the DB9. It's unlikely to use carbon in the build either. So unless it still has alluminium panel (hand beaten), there's no reason it should cost the same.

The same goes for the Rapide. That too is based on the DB9 and is proposed to cost £170k. Worth £70k more than the '9? Unlikely, but people will still buy them.

Exclusivity has a lot to do with it. 2000 DB9s may not be many a year, but 350 Vanquishs is very exclusive in comparison.

Me? I'd give any of them a home

>> Edited by Twin Turbo on Wednesday 1st February 13:51

[:J:]

v12Aston said:

5: Is a very different driving experience - anybody who has extensively driven both DB9 and Vanquish would say that they are poles apart. I own both and still believe that despite the difference in technological years the Vanquish "has something" that the more high-tech DB9 does not.

Definately !!

[v12Aston]

"Unlikely, but people will still buy them. "

Ultimately, it all comes down to that ... Some thing is only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

It is along the same lines as- that in later years you can proportion some increase in a car's value because it was the 1st or last of line, belonged to somebody of note, has racing pedigree etc etc.

Those very abridged reasons I gave were mainly to demonstrate why the car "costs" more to build, an explanation which is always a good starting point in reply to something akin to the initial question.

[V12AML]

:J: said:

How is the gearbox worse ?

Not from actual experience, but pretty much all reviews of the car and people i have met who have driven it say in comparison to the DB9 its not as good, and overly easy to break. Even Mr Bez (i think thats his name) says this is a problem with the Vanquish. Im not saying the gearbox is complete crap though, just that it could be better.

[v12Aston]

Without a shadow of a doubt, I agree that it "could be better" especially the gearbox issues which have been apparent over the years. Dr.Bez has obviously admitted as much - he would be a fool to deny it. I was really only discussing why and how it has a place in the market at the price it does (as per original question)

Following on with the gearbox comment - a topic that has been discussed to the n'th degree but in my mind a reliability thing not a design/function thing. To risibly use the term "when it works" .....it is a superb transmission - lightening quick, involving and very responsive. Obviously whether you think that at 180K a "reliability" problem is acceptable or not in relation to its different cheaper brother is another issue. For me, it is not a problem (not perfect, but not a problem)

[Twin Turbo]

Sir, I've just realised you mentioned you own BOTH a DB9 and a Vanquish. A man of great taste

Do you have pictures of the two beauties together?

[tombaron]

Twin Turbo said:

A man of great taste

And great £££!!!

[Twin Turbo]

At least he spends it with his heart!

[jeremyc]

Twin Turbo said:

Sir, I've just realised you mentioned you own BOTH a DB9 and a Vanquish. A man of great taste Do you have pictures of the two beauties together?

It is always possible that he works in the trade with these cars and therefore gets to drive the whole range ....

[v12Aston]

The "heart" and a healthy income, certainly not in the motortrade. (I dont think that my covet coat resembles the camelhair one associated with the later occupation)

[V12AML]

v12Aston said:

The "heart" and a healthy income, certainly not in the motortrade. (I dont think that my covet coat resembles the camelhair one associated with the later occupation)

Just wondering do you have the 'S' or previous Vanquish, and is the old vanquish still in production? If you have driven both versions could you explain what has changed for the better?

[v12Aston]

Just about to head in to a meeting so excuse this being a little abbreviated. There is plenty of reference on the differences between Vanquish and Vanquish S on the web etc...but

I had a "normal Vanquish" and now an S - Following are different from memory Power and Torque, brakes and suspension, bodywork, some interior tweeks. Overall it is IMHO a more competant car than the original because of the 5yrs worth of tweeking ideas that went into it. The power increase doesnt make a huge difference but enough that the mid-range is noticably improved and " it can claim its 200+ spurs" ride and handling are more confident and steering is improved, brakes are better- I like the aesthetic changes etc etc etc

I dont know if they still build the "Standard" but at the equivilent of 10K more, the changes are dramatic enough on the S that I would seriously doubt it.

[pentoman]

I used to think the Vanquish was pointlessly expensive, but the other day I went to the local Aston dealer and poked around all the models. The Vanquish surprisingly seemed a lot nicer than the DB9 and I would consider it. Comparable lack of power is a shame but hey.

Looks loads better than the DB9, the DB9 is a nice coupe like a 330Ci or a 406 coupe, but the Vanquish looks a lot more special, like a 550 Maranello or some such.

Funnily enough they salesmen didn't try to sell me one though.

[richb]

pentoman said:

... the DB9 is a nice coupe like a 330Ci or a 406 coupe... Funnily enough they salesmen didn't try to sell me one though.

If you genuinely believe that the BD9 is comparable to the Peugeot 406 Coupe then I suspect he'd have been wasting his time anyway Rich...

[pentoman]

Heh no not comparable but; it was meant to illustrate that it looks like a relatively everyday car like either of those 2 (albeit a very pretty one), compared to a Vanquish which does not.



>> Edited by pentoman on Friday 3rd February 15:20

[:J:]

pentoman said:

Heh no not comparable but; it was meant to illustrate that it looks like a relatively everyday car like either of those 2 (albeit a very pretty one), compared to a Vanquish which does not. >> Edited by pentoman on Friday 3rd February 15:20

[sarcasm]
I know what you mean, a DB9 clearly looks like and disappears into the background like any BMW or Peugeot......
[/sarcasm]