DB9 : It's a bit cramped is'nt it?
Discussion
A lovely car and I have coveted a DBS for some time.
However, I drove a DB9 for the first time this weekend and although lovely, what struck me was how small inside the car is and how poorly packaged compared to the Vantage body.
In comparison, the V12V also at the dealer was much more spacious for the larger gentlemen, feeling like an MPV compared to the DB9 even though it was substantially smaller.
I am disappointed that the DB9 is so cramped inside when it's size suggests otherwise.
How do tall drivers get on with the DB9?
However, I drove a DB9 for the first time this weekend and although lovely, what struck me was how small inside the car is and how poorly packaged compared to the Vantage body.
In comparison, the V12V also at the dealer was much more spacious for the larger gentlemen, feeling like an MPV compared to the DB9 even though it was substantially smaller.
I am disappointed that the DB9 is so cramped inside when it's size suggests otherwise.
How do tall drivers get on with the DB9?
What range of adjustment does the seat have?
I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
Murph7355 said:
What range of adjustment does the seat have?
I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
Thats what I experienced as well, but the truth is that the DB9 is quite a bit smaller inside than the Vantage, with little hope of someone 6'4 ( as I am ) getting comfortable. The Vantage is fine, but the DB9 is much smaller inside.I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
toppstuff said:
Murph7355 said:
What range of adjustment does the seat have?
I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
Thats what I experienced as well, but the truth is that the DB9 is quite a bit smaller inside than the Vantage, with little hope of someone 6'4 ( as I am ) getting comfortable. The Vantage is fine, but the DB9 is much smaller inside.I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
I am slightly mystified. I am 6ft and have driven DB9s since they were launched. I spent a couple of weeks driving a V8V. I could not find any noticeable difference in cabin space (same width, same seats, same length seat runners, same centre console, same dash, same dimension door cards) but the DB9, with its (near useless) rear seats feels much roomier inside.
Is it a headroom thing only?
If you ask on the AMOC forum, a longtime member has just switched from a DB9 to a V12V. He is at least 6'3". He would give you the best view.
Is it a headroom thing only?
If you ask on the AMOC forum, a longtime member has just switched from a DB9 to a V12V. He is at least 6'3". He would give you the best view.
I guess people are different shapes.
With a DB9 and a V12V side by side in Lancasters, jumping in and out of each, the fact was that I could not squeeze comfortably into the DB9 but could into the V12V...
The seats in the DB9 did not go far back enough before they hit the rear seats and the seat was forced into becoming more upright.
Maybe it is because the V12V has the thinner sports seats?
With a DB9 and a V12V side by side in Lancasters, jumping in and out of each, the fact was that I could not squeeze comfortably into the DB9 but could into the V12V...
The seats in the DB9 did not go far back enough before they hit the rear seats and the seat was forced into becoming more upright.
Maybe it is because the V12V has the thinner sports seats?
andymac01 said:
toppstuff said:
Murph7355 said:
What range of adjustment does the seat have?
I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
Thats what I experienced as well, but the truth is that the DB9 is quite a bit smaller inside than the Vantage, with little hope of someone 6'4 ( as I am ) getting comfortable. The Vantage is fine, but the DB9 is much smaller inside.I'm 6'4" and when I first tried the V8V thought it was might cramped. 10mins playing with the seat and it was great. But it took some non-intuitive adjustments to sort - e.g. moving the seat forwards and then tilting down at the back etc.
Not sure if the DB9 has similar adjustment, but would imagine it has. And can't imagine it has less room than a V8V?
being 6ft and 18stone I'm new to PistonHeads and new to Aston Martin, having just acquired a DB9 Volante; I have some new info, comments and questions:
First, let me verify that the Vantage, whether V8 or V12, has fractionally more headroom than the DB9. The specs say about .6", and my 6'3" frame is just the size to notice the difference. It is, however, fractional; and I bought the DB9 despite the difference.
I drove not only the DB9 Volante and the V8 Vantage roadster, but also the DB9 coupe - which has a bit more headroom still - and I rode in the newly arrived Rapide, which has a couple of inches more headroom. I prefer the open car, however, with its infinite headroom.
Even with the top down, I find myself looking through the top of the windshield, and even over it, more than I would like. I wonder, therefore, about lowering the driver's seat. I've done this in other cars, notably the E-type roadster and coupe I drove for decades, from which I simply removed the tracks beneath the seats, bolting them directly to the floor as far back as possible. The factory service manual teaches that there are shims beneath the seat tracks, and it shows me how to remove and replace the seat . . .
The Aston Martin dealers with whom I've spoken are of little help, probably because they are reluctant to assume any liability or incur the wrath of the factory for modifying the car. They do, however, acknowledge that there are aftermarket shops that do these modifications; and there surely is a market, viz., NBA players.
Before I simply remove the seat myself and have a go at it, does anyone have any experience, contacts, sources, words of wisdom?
First, let me verify that the Vantage, whether V8 or V12, has fractionally more headroom than the DB9. The specs say about .6", and my 6'3" frame is just the size to notice the difference. It is, however, fractional; and I bought the DB9 despite the difference.
I drove not only the DB9 Volante and the V8 Vantage roadster, but also the DB9 coupe - which has a bit more headroom still - and I rode in the newly arrived Rapide, which has a couple of inches more headroom. I prefer the open car, however, with its infinite headroom.
Even with the top down, I find myself looking through the top of the windshield, and even over it, more than I would like. I wonder, therefore, about lowering the driver's seat. I've done this in other cars, notably the E-type roadster and coupe I drove for decades, from which I simply removed the tracks beneath the seats, bolting them directly to the floor as far back as possible. The factory service manual teaches that there are shims beneath the seat tracks, and it shows me how to remove and replace the seat . . .
The Aston Martin dealers with whom I've spoken are of little help, probably because they are reluctant to assume any liability or incur the wrath of the factory for modifying the car. They do, however, acknowledge that there are aftermarket shops that do these modifications; and there surely is a market, viz., NBA players.
Before I simply remove the seat myself and have a go at it, does anyone have any experience, contacts, sources, words of wisdom?
I've started my search for an Aston now,but being 6'6" and 21 stone you can guess it's not going to be easy, however after a drive in a V8 vantage at weekend I must admit it was very comfy once you got the seat sorted,as comfy as my TVR Chimaera,and much better than I expected, shame the test drive wasn't longer I was really getting into it. Anyway after an earbashing for even considering another 2 seater I have put in a request for a test drive in a DB9, I've sat myself in one and have gotten really comfy,I've even taken the step of dragging my 7 & 12 year old along later that day to see if they can fit in the back while I adjust my driving position to something bearable to drive, and believe it or not it's possible if only while static in the showroom but only in the tiptronic as a manual would require use of my left leg and that would not be possible. Why I hear you ask would you want to squeeze yourself up in an Aston to drive it, well basically I'd live with it for short journeys if wifey and both kids come along, but most of the time it would only be myself and my 2 boys, the eldest would sit in the front leaving the youngest plenty of room in the back, and with the drivers seat right back they'd be plenty room for ME. I have considered a DB7 but after a brief test drive I found it......snug, more so than the above, however there is also the Vanquish to consider but I'm put of by it's transmission reliability and running costs compared to the others. Well here's looking forward to my test drive in the DB9 with and without my kids in the back, I really hope it goes well, if not I guess it's wait until the Rapide prices drop and go for a Bentley Continental GT in the mean time.
t1blk said:
I've started my search for an Aston now,but being 6'6" and 21 stone you can guess it's not going to be easy, however after a drive in a V8 vantage at weekend I must admit it was very comfy once you got the seat sorted,as comfy as my TVR Chimaera,and much better than I expected, shame the test drive wasn't longer I was really getting into it. Anyway after an earbashing for even considering another 2 seater I have put in a request for a test drive in a DB9, I've sat myself in one and have gotten really comfy,I've even taken the step of dragging my 7 & 12 year old along later that day to see if they can fit in the back while I adjust my driving position to something bearable to drive, and believe it or not it's possible if only while static in the showroom but only in the tiptronic as a manual would require use of my left leg and that would not be possible. Why I hear you ask would you want to squeeze yourself up in an Aston to drive it, well basically I'd live with it for short journeys if wifey and both kids come along, but most of the time it would only be myself and my 2 boys, the eldest would sit in the front leaving the youngest plenty of room in the back, and with the drivers seat right back they'd be plenty room for ME. I have considered a DB7 but after a brief test drive I found it......snug, more so than the above, however there is also the Vanquish to consider but I'm put of by it's transmission reliability and running costs compared to the others. Well here's looking forward to my test drive in the DB9 with and without my kids in the back, I really hope it goes well, if not I guess it's wait until the Rapide prices drop and go for a Bentley Continental GT in the mean time.
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