The DB9 - are they reliable?

[jezzwelda]

I'm currently considering a DB9 - however the dealer has done nothing to alay my fears on reliability. Phrases like "well sir, you've got to remember it's a handbuilt car" and "mmmm 15,000 miles a year will make you one of our high mileage drivers" leave me feeling somewhat concerned.

My question is a simple one to other DB9 owners - is the car reliable?

Look forward to any feedback.

[v12Aston]

My first DB9 did 10,000 miles within the year with no more faults than I have with more conventional modern cars. My second one is now on similar mileage (and I am somewhat cruel to cars) and has had not a single problem.

Good luck with deciding

[Petrol_Noggin]

I can echo almost exactly what V12 aston said, however my first 9 had serious paint problems, however this has been corrected in newer builds. If you're getting a brand new one then you have very little to worry about. Interior is well fitted, I had an initial problem with the GPS door not fitting quite flush to the centre panel but this was quickly rectified, other than that I have had no mechanical trouble, and its been free of any glitches in electronics.

The dealer will say about 15,000 miles being a high mileage because many people just buy the car and leave it in a garage until the weather is absolutely perfect, then drive it up and down the road.

[shadytree]

Yep, thirded. My DB9 did 14,000 hard miles in one year including, a tour of the Scottish Highland, Eurohoon 04 down to the Alps and three Vmax's, where I Topped the beast out at 187.

Never put a single foot wrong, a superb car


doh, it's not Titanium Silver, Iron Ore leather with two previous owners is it

>> Edited by shadytree on Wednesday 10th May 14:39

[aston67]

I do love the DB 9, a superb car but... but for the same money you can get a second hand Vanquish

Reliability? Should be on par with the DB 9 but the _lool_ and _sound_ is soo much better.

This just to make the choice even harder

Good luck

A67

[COL87]

aston67 said:

I do love the DB 9, a superb car but... but for the same money you can get a second hand Vanquish Reliability? Should be on par with the DB 9 but the _lool_ and _sound_ is soo much better. This just to make the choice even harder Good luck A67

Agreed. The Vanquish would be my choice even if it would be a 2 or 3 year old example. Ignore Clarksons moans about the gearbox, he's not using it right. With the Vanquish out of production from February 2007 prices may come down alot.

[SuperCharge]

You MUST be kidding, the Vanquish over the DB9 and V8?? the exterior is too overweight and tacky and the foglamps make the front bumper look like that of a Subaru Impreza/ Mitsi Evo. The interior is full of horrid feeling plasticy buttons and a poor layout, and it's performance is worse (before the Vanquish S) than the DB9's, not to mention the exhaust which sounds like a chavs saxo. Get real! The new Astons have quality interiors(hmm shitty red plastic starter button or exquistly crafted crystal starter??) and muscular exteriors, with a fantastic soundtrack and real engine notes. Id rather drive a Lagonda than the overweight mondeo known as the Vanquish to be honest, at least it has genuine character.

[siscar]

aston67 said:

Reliability? Should be on par with the DB 9 but the _lool_ and _sound_ is soo much better.

I'd question that, the DB9 is a more modern design built in a modern factory. Reliability of the 9 is going to be much better than the Vanquish. As for the look and sound, the 9 wins that as well IMHO. The 9 is also a nicer place to sit and to drive. The quality and design of the cabin is better, it looks much better (Vanquish is a bit too 'power bulge & body kit' for my liking) and that gearbox in the Vanquish is hard to use well.

>> Edited by siscar on Saturday 13th May 08:42

[aston67]

the DB 9 is more "sterile" in look

the Vanquish has a presence that the DB 9 (in spite of being a great car) does not have

Just put the 2 next to each other...

at the AMOC Concours this weekend there was such an opportunity and the Vanquish wins by a mile

And if you do not like the interior well with the money saved in the initial purchase you can go to Works Service and, at a price, get the manual gearbox and a personalized interior that suits your taste

And that would be the ultimate Vanquish

[SuperCharge]

aston67 said:

the DB 9 is more "sterile" in look the Vanquish has a presence that the DB 9 (in spite of being a great car) does not have Just put the 2 next to each other... at the AMOC Concours this weekend there was such an opportunity and the Vanquish wins by a mile And if you do not like the interior well with the money saved in the initial purchase you can go to Works Service and, at a price, get the manual gearbox and a personalized interior that suits your taste And that would be the ultimate Vanquish

No thanks, vanquish= DB7 that has been on the Burger King diet and been hit arse first by a bus straight into a branch of halfords. In fact the DB9 looks like a pert young model, the vanquish is a silicon infested wannabe with a fat arse, as seen in this pic:

[aston67]

As you can imagine, I respectfully disagree

[petrol_noggin]

I personally and with great bias prefer the 9, as you can see as I bought one.( Nothing to do with finances, in fact far from, more to do with personal preferance) However I appreciate every Aston including the Lagonda believe it or not (I believe it kept Aston Martin afloat for a period).

[jezzwelda]

Thanks for all the comments boys. I've gone for the DB9 - now all I need to do is to find a way to get one in less that the 2 years the dealer has just quoted ! On the Vanquish/DB9 debate I just can't come to terms with the way the Vanquish's bodywork "bulges" ahead of the rear wheels - from some angles it just looks plain wrong. To add to this the V is simply not built to the same technological standards as the 9 which is put together in a brand new facility at Gaydon.

[:J:]

aston67 said:

As you can imagine, I respectfully disagree

That's very polite of you, I on the other hand disrespectfully disagree.

The comments from SuperCharge are just uneducated and bordering on the ridiculous. Cleary can't put a reasoned arguement together for love or money !!

"The Vanquish sounds like a Saxo", what a comment, in the same guise, I have established that SuperCharge sounds like a .........

I am guessing from your comments that you are around the age of 17 and have therefore probably spent a lot more time in Saxo's than I have ever done, so maybe you know something I don't. However, if you can get a 1.6 Saxo to sound like a V12, then good for you, lol....

Either that or you are tone deaf

>> Edited by :J: on Monday 22 May 13:19

[anonymous-user]

His profile is "unavailable!. Just another Troll!!!!

[petrol_noggin]

:J: said:

aston67 said: As you can imagine, I respectfully disagree That's very polite of you, I on the other hand disrespectfully disagree. The comments from SuperCharge are just uneducated and bordering on the ridiculous. Cleary can't put a reasoned arguement together for love or money !! "The Vanquish sounds like a Saxo", what a comment, in the same guise, I have established that SuperCharge sounds like a ......... I am guessing from your comments that you are around the age of 17 and have therefore probably spent a lot more time in Saxo's than I have ever done, so maybe you know something I don't. However, if you can get a 1.6 Saxo to sound like a V12, then good for you, lol.... Either that or you are tone deaf >> Edited by :J: on Monday 22 May 13:19

I hear they do horsepower boosters on ebay, not sure on increase in cyliders though

[petrol_noggin]

:J: said:

aston67 said: As you can imagine, I respectfully disagree That's very polite of you, I on the other hand disrespectfully disagree. The comments from SuperCharge are just uneducated and bordering on the ridiculous. Cleary can't put a reasoned arguement together for love or money !! "The Vanquish sounds like a Saxo", what a comment, in the same guise, I have established that SuperCharge sounds like a ......... I am guessing from your comments that you are around the age of 17 and have therefore probably spent a lot more time in Saxo's than I have ever done, so maybe you know something I don't. However, if you can get a 1.6 Saxo to sound like a V12, then good for you, lol.... Either that or you are tone deaf >> Edited by :J: on Monday 22 May 13:19

I hear they do horsepower boosters on ebay, not sure on increase in cyliders though

[kenel]

I agree with the comments re supercharg, he has probably never sat in one let alone driven it, but to the point. The Vanquish is the last hand built Aston and that must be worth something. I was impressed enough by what I saw at the factory to make me want to own one. It hasn't come off a production line as has the 9. That being said if you want a car that is absolutely reliable then buy Japanese. I have never driven a 9 but I am sure it is more user friendly in town than the Vanquish as it hates slow, but put into bends and twists and down autobahns and you will love it, as I do.

[:J:]

I jumped from the 9 to the Vanquish, to the 9 and back again.....

Getting in the Vanquish is still an experience and one that gave me a better feeling than the 9, I cannot put my finger on why, it just did. The same with them parked next to each other as well, the Vanquish just has 'something'. You need to ignore what is on paper and experience them both to know what I mean, maybe not agree, but it has to be done before it can be commented on.

As for round town, the Vanquish is just as happy as the 9 to pootle around

[jezzwelda]

Thanks for all the comments guys - found a slot - ordered a 9 - November delivery ! Which only goes to prove that if you make a few calls you can get an Aston in a sensible time frame. All the best.