DB7 - tell me I don't need one

[simpo two]

I was collecting the TVR from an Indy today and saw a lovely dark green P-reg DB7 Volante with about 45K miles that had just sold for around £35K. Ever since they came out, I've thought they're the best-looking car on the road.

At present I have two cars, a TVR Griffith and an S-type Jaguar: I'd need to sell both (= £25K) and then add some, as I really prefer the Volante to the hardtop. On the plus side I'd have an awesome car with real heritage (unlike TVR) and save one helping of insurance, tax and servicing - on the minus side I'd need to sell some investments to make up the £10K-ish shortfall. (Instinctively I don't like the idea of taking money from a place that's going up and putting it in a place that's going down...)

Also I might miss the rortiness of the Griff, the DB7 wouldn't fit in the garage and turning up to see clients in a DB7 might be a bit OTT...

So it doesn't make sense at all - and then I look at more pictures of them and it won't go away...

I'm not looking for any 'JFDI' replies but any other pros/cons and your own experiences if you made the same decision.

[shadowninja]

Well, you don't want people to think you have exquisitely good taste so I wouldn't get a DB7.

[VirginiaUSA]

Best looking car of the 90's IMHO. You wouldn't want to raise your profile with the clients by showing up in a unique car.

You'd be trading off a bit of reliability and be looking at higher maintenance/repair bills. The i6 total cost of ownership is less than the V12 Vantage but can't match that V12 Aston engine roar. Go visit Chiltern, talk to them, get an education, take a couple cars out for a drive. There's just nothing like driving an Aston.

[fittster]

Is a DB7 really a practical everyday car?

If it's going to be your only car aren't the running costs going to be horrific?

Could you really drive it to the supermarket and leave it in the car park without having heart palpitations?

[simpo two]

fittster said:

Is a DB7 really a practical everyday car?

If it's going to be your only car aren't the running costs going to be horrific?

Could you really drive it to the supermarket and leave it in the car park without having heart palpitations?

Running costs shouldn't be too bad; I do about 10K miles a year, servicing would be at Scole - a good indy who look after the TVR very well and see a few Astons too - and hopefully there's some specialist insurer (at present I pay about £350 each for TVR and Jag). So cost-wise the only real hurdle is the extra investment needed to purchase.

But practicality is a good point - parking it at Morrisons, B&Q etc is a bit of a worry I agree. I won't be able to run a shopping car as well.

Have any of you had problems with keying etc? Do you take your DB7 everywhere you go?

[J_S_G]

Very happy to have switched from Tivs to the Aston as a toy. I wouldn't have done it for an I6 engined one, though; it was just too gutless after the previous cars, so I had to wait till I could justify a Vantage. I've picked up a diesel Passat for a few grand, too, so I don't have to turn up everywhere where I don't want to be noticed in it, too. Would imagine a cheap Vectra/Mondeo/Laguna for £1k or less would do the job nicely, too, and save on putting lots of miles on it & worries about clients/keying/etc.

The only thing I'm upset about (other than the £1200 bill for a simple service!) is the handling. It just noses down WAY too much into the corners. And that's the Vantage... the I6 was even worse.

[manek]

Yup, the DB7 is a tourer, not a hooning car. If you can live with that -- or fancy coughing for a Driving Dynamics Pack -- then you should get one. And the looks you get, plus the way that people cannot move fast enough to get out of your way in the outside lane, almost make up for the DB7's dynamic shortcomings.

Go on, you know you want to...

[jeremyc]

If nothing else consider it a petrolhead itch that you have to scratch - might as well do it now if you can. You will never own a better looking car.

However, if you're going to do it you might want to stretch to a Vantage to get the full V12 experience ....

[aeroresh]

Although both i6 and vantage can take mileage well without reliablity problems, residuals really suffer with high milers, so be warned if using it as your "only" car.

[simpo two]

All sound stuff, thanks!

The prospect of having to drive a diesel Passat rather cancels out the pleasure of having a DB7!

I think I should stay as I am for now, for a combination of reasons. It's partly cost (business is treading water), partly the need for a second car and partly the loss of the 'hoon' element as someone nicely put it. The DB7 would be much more like a Jaguar than a TVR in nature, heavy and no doubt softer, and things that heavy don't go fast so easily. The current pairing of S-type and Griffith works well - air-conditioned toy-laden cruiser you can go shopping in, and weekend hooner. The DB7 falls somewhere in the middle but closer to Jaguar and would have to be the sole car.

However one day in the not too-distant future I shall find myself left with a second house and then I'll revisit and reconsider

Thanks very much everyone for your input.

[goodlife]

Picked up mine today

JFDI!!!

Awesome. 1999 Vantage, 27k miles, silver with black leather.

Previously had an XKR which had Racing Green lower/stiffen/widen slightly as it was a barge to drive. The Aston is bang on, if anything initial feeling is it's a little hard/harsh over pot-holed town roads.

[craigw]

congrats Danny, sounds lovely