Decisions Decisions ....
Discussion
Having thought long and hard (well, most of 2 seconds) I've decided that a new car for next year is a must, and it has to be something special. I want to feel good about the whole experience, everything from the walking into the showroom, the test drive, the purchase, collection and then every single drive thereafter. I've done the BMW thing, and whilst they are very competent, they just don't stir the soul. Porsche is way too "common" (and my brothers got one), Ferrari/Maserati is a possible, the new XKR was a contender and then you have Astons - the DB9 being my first choice out of the brand.
It has to be a 2+2, less than £100k, and it has to be an involving drive, not a disconnected maximum thrust thing. The XKR is now out of the frame (no LSD being a major shortcoming IMHO), the 599 is "ugly", the 4200 is beautiful but perhaps a bit long in the tooth design-wise (and the new one for next year doesn't appeal) so I'm left with Astons.
I've booked a test-drive in a DB9 this week, but the salesman suggested a Vanquish S "might" be a possibility. Now that gives me a bit of a quandary. The DB9 is lovely to look at but very much a GT (allegedly), whereas the Vanquish is more of a brute, and the 550hp model is £20k above budget. So do I save a bit longer and get the Vanquish S, or stick to my plan and get the DB9 next spring?
Does anyone have any experience of both models and comments / suggestions of which is best as a long-term buy, with an annual mileage c 12k and (almost) daily use - how do they drive, are they reliable, are they special....
It has to be a 2+2, less than £100k, and it has to be an involving drive, not a disconnected maximum thrust thing. The XKR is now out of the frame (no LSD being a major shortcoming IMHO), the 599 is "ugly", the 4200 is beautiful but perhaps a bit long in the tooth design-wise (and the new one for next year doesn't appeal) so I'm left with Astons.
I've booked a test-drive in a DB9 this week, but the salesman suggested a Vanquish S "might" be a possibility. Now that gives me a bit of a quandary. The DB9 is lovely to look at but very much a GT (allegedly), whereas the Vanquish is more of a brute, and the 550hp model is £20k above budget. So do I save a bit longer and get the Vanquish S, or stick to my plan and get the DB9 next spring?
Does anyone have any experience of both models and comments / suggestions of which is best as a long-term buy, with an annual mileage c 12k and (almost) daily use - how do they drive, are they reliable, are they special....
Ask pointed questions about the Vanq transmission history and overall maintenance costs. If you just have to have a Vanq, consider extending your budget and having the transmission converted to manual. Putting on 12K a year, the DB9 will be the more suitable/practical choice in the AM lineup, IMHO.
The Vanquish would be the one i'd go for, i don't think its any better or worse than a DB9, just different. Its definatly the better sounding!
Early examples are going for about £85,000 but it would probably be worth waiting for the Vanquish S to reduce further in price. I belive an S will currently set you back about £120,000 - £130,000 for the earliest examples.
Next year the Vanquish S is coming to the end of its production though
Early examples are going for about £85,000 but it would probably be worth waiting for the Vanquish S to reduce further in price. I belive an S will currently set you back about £120,000 - £130,000 for the earliest examples.
Next year the Vanquish S is coming to the end of its production though
Oh dear.
Cross the DB9 off the list.
The steering is nice and detailed, you can feel the tires moving on the road, which is a step up from the M5 and the exhaust noise is to die for, oh yes. The ride is comfortable; firm without being jiggly and the seats are nice and supportive BUT I couldn't get the steering wheel just right - it needed to be just a bit higher really. And there is NO room behind the seats when I'm in a comfortable position (6'2"
. The brakes were effective but quite wooden with very little modulation available.
But the biggest let-down was the response and the gearbox. Now I have to say I'm not a fan of autos at all, I just don't like them but to be fair this one is quite good, very smooth changes, but when in "manual" mode it seemed to take ages to change down. although upchanges were, again, smooth and comparable with a manual in terms of speed of change. So to the performance. Pick up from 100 mph in 6th was the biggest disappointment of all; it was nothing special, probably not as qick as the M (this is all subjective of course), but when your cruising on an M'way, the last thing you want to have to do is change gears at those sort of speeds to get past someone.
To sum up - a lovely looking car with a pretty interior and definitely something that would look great on your driveway, but not something I would spend money on, certainly not £100ks worth.
Cross the DB9 off the list.
The steering is nice and detailed, you can feel the tires moving on the road, which is a step up from the M5 and the exhaust noise is to die for, oh yes. The ride is comfortable; firm without being jiggly and the seats are nice and supportive BUT I couldn't get the steering wheel just right - it needed to be just a bit higher really. And there is NO room behind the seats when I'm in a comfortable position (6'2"
. The brakes were effective but quite wooden with very little modulation available. But the biggest let-down was the response and the gearbox. Now I have to say I'm not a fan of autos at all, I just don't like them but to be fair this one is quite good, very smooth changes, but when in "manual" mode it seemed to take ages to change down. although upchanges were, again, smooth and comparable with a manual in terms of speed of change. So to the performance. Pick up from 100 mph in 6th was the biggest disappointment of all; it was nothing special, probably not as qick as the M (this is all subjective of course), but when your cruising on an M'way, the last thing you want to have to do is change gears at those sort of speeds to get past someone.
To sum up - a lovely looking car with a pretty interior and definitely something that would look great on your driveway, but not something I would spend money on, certainly not £100ks worth.
mondeoman said:
Oh dear.
Cross the DB9 off the list.
The steering is nice and detailed, you can feel the tires moving on the road, which is a step up from the M5 and the exhaust noise is to die for, oh yes. The ride is comfortable; firm without being jiggly and the seats are nice and supportive BUT I couldn't get the steering wheel just right - it needed to be just a bit higher really. And there is NO room behind the seats when I'm in a comfortable position (6'2". The brakes were effective but quite wooden with very little modulation available.
But the biggest let-down was the response and the gearbox. Now I have to say I'm not a fan of autos at all, I just don't like them but to be fair this one is quite good, very smooth changes, but when in "manual" mode it seemed to take ages to change down. although upchanges were, again, smooth and comparable with a manual in terms of speed of change. So to the performance. Pick up from 100 mph in 6th was the biggest disappointment of all; it was nothing special, probably not as qick as the M (this is all subjective of course), but when your cruising on an M'way, the last thing you want to have to do is change gears at those sort of speeds to get past someone.
To sum up - a lovely looking car with a pretty interior and definitely something that would look great on your driveway, but not something I would spend money on, certainly not £100ks worth.
Cross the DB9 off the list.
The steering is nice and detailed, you can feel the tires moving on the road, which is a step up from the M5 and the exhaust noise is to die for, oh yes. The ride is comfortable; firm without being jiggly and the seats are nice and supportive BUT I couldn't get the steering wheel just right - it needed to be just a bit higher really. And there is NO room behind the seats when I'm in a comfortable position (6'2"
. The brakes were effective but quite wooden with very little modulation available. But the biggest let-down was the response and the gearbox. Now I have to say I'm not a fan of autos at all, I just don't like them but to be fair this one is quite good, very smooth changes, but when in "manual" mode it seemed to take ages to change down. although upchanges were, again, smooth and comparable with a manual in terms of speed of change. So to the performance. Pick up from 100 mph in 6th was the biggest disappointment of all; it was nothing special, probably not as qick as the M (this is all subjective of course), but when your cruising on an M'way, the last thing you want to have to do is change gears at those sort of speeds to get past someone.
To sum up - a lovely looking car with a pretty interior and definitely something that would look great on your driveway, but not something I would spend money on, certainly not £100ks worth.
Sorry to hear that. If only they made a DB9 with a manual gearbox, then it would be fine.
Oh, hang on.....THEY DO!
And as for saying "the last thing you want to do is to change gear to get past someone on the motorway" Eh???
Ans as for the DB9 having less space in the rear then a 4-door BMW M5. Are you sure?
It sounds lik you went for a test drive having no intention of buying the car. You'd be better off without an Aston, in that case.
Drove a Vanq S and a DB9 on a test day. The Vanq was the one which I would have bought if it was just on pure grinability, but it has a hideous interior and is looking very dated now. The DB9 is a lovely car, but once you're sat in it, it felt like a Jag. Depends on what you really want out of the car, but I took the new XKR out on a track last week and although it doesn't have a conventional LSD, the e-diff is just fine and it sopunds brilliant and goes like stink. I would serioulsy consider the new XKR which for £75k, you can then spend the rest of the money on something else or a second toy?
williamp said:
Sorry to hear that. If only they made a DB9 with a manual gearbox, then it would be fine.
Oh, hang on.....THEY DO!
And as for saying "the last thing you want to do is to change gear to get past someone on the motorway" Eh???
Ans as for the DB9 having less space in the rear then a 4-door BMW M5. Are you sure?
It sounds lik you went for a test drive having no intention of buying the car. You'd be better off without an Aston, in that case.
Not second hand they don't, and its a £14k factory retrofit.
You just need to drive a bit faster
Rear space doesn't have to be massive, just enough to fit a 10 year old in for about 30 mins or so, but when the gap between the rear seat and the front seat is less than an inch, I'm sorry, but that isn't a rear seat afaic, its just a space with leather on it.
It was DEFINITELY on my list of possibles, but the whole point of test drives is to test it surely? Does it fit you well, does it do what you want it to do, does it feel right etc and so on. Would you buy without testing or do you always buy the first thing that comes along
amdb7 said:
Well hopefully next years new Vanquish will have the better interior
Actually the 2006 has the new AM interior already...
www.astonmartins.com/vanquish/images/DSC_2965.jpg
razbox said:
amdb7 said:
Well hopefully next years new Vanquish will have the better interior
Actually the 2006 has the new AM interior already...
www.astonmartins.com/vanquish/images/DSC_2965.jpg
I meant the brand new shape Vanquish, the current one is being axed so i'm told.
Almost. They are not selling the Vanquish in the US anymore, and when it finished production next year Newport Pagnall will close and the "new" DBS will start production at Gaydon.
However, they will only make about 300 DBS's, and then stop. So, after a while you will have a two car line-up: DB9 and V8 vantage, with variations on both (Rapide, etc)
However, they will only make about 300 DBS's, and then stop. So, after a while you will have a two car line-up: DB9 and V8 vantage, with variations on both (Rapide, etc)
Hi there. You have summed them up pretty good but will profer my opinion. The DB9 is more a GT tourer, it's pretty easy to drive, it's comfortable and it's got all you need. It's also beautiful to look at. In manual form the DB9 is pretty awesome I have to say, more punchy, more twitchy and more fun! Maybe i just like living on the edge.
The Vanquish, even in it's 460 form is, in my opinion much more involving to drive, and to be honest more edgy plus it makes the most awesome noise to boot. It you cannot afford an S right now you can upgrade a pre S spec car with all the suspension and braking that go on the S for about 8k plus fitting it does make a real difference to the handling and braking performance. Additionally you could if you really wanted to make it S looky likey with a body upgrade which includes the modified rear sreen, boot lid, front splitter, undertrays and wheel arch liners, but not sure there is a huge amount of point in that unless it's a much older car you are updating. Interior wise 06MY onwards cars have the DB9 style centre stack and full S enhancements, pre are a little dated looking really and share switchgear and stack with Jaguar. Sound system is awesome however!
If i could only choose one, i would take the Vanquish although the manual Sport Pack 9 is REALLY close up. I would reccomend the Performance Driving course to learn how to handle that gearbox and indeed the whole car to the best of it's ability. If you go to a Dealer, then get an Extra Cover Warranty on it, could save a lot of heartache should the gearbox problems that can occur materialise.
Good luck in making your decision
The Vanquish, even in it's 460 form is, in my opinion much more involving to drive, and to be honest more edgy plus it makes the most awesome noise to boot. It you cannot afford an S right now you can upgrade a pre S spec car with all the suspension and braking that go on the S for about 8k plus fitting it does make a real difference to the handling and braking performance. Additionally you could if you really wanted to make it S looky likey with a body upgrade which includes the modified rear sreen, boot lid, front splitter, undertrays and wheel arch liners, but not sure there is a huge amount of point in that unless it's a much older car you are updating. Interior wise 06MY onwards cars have the DB9 style centre stack and full S enhancements, pre are a little dated looking really and share switchgear and stack with Jaguar. Sound system is awesome however!
If i could only choose one, i would take the Vanquish although the manual Sport Pack 9 is REALLY close up. I would reccomend the Performance Driving course to learn how to handle that gearbox and indeed the whole car to the best of it's ability. If you go to a Dealer, then get an Extra Cover Warranty on it, could save a lot of heartache should the gearbox problems that can occur materialise.
Good luck in making your decision
Edited by petrolredhead on Monday 23 October 14:20
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