Aston DB9 Owners...Why?
Discussion
Ok here's a question or two for the few of you who own a DB9 Coupe, maybe even the Vanquish.Point blank, honest and blunt replies are wanted.I am asking the same sort of questions to the other owners of mentioned vehicles.As one or two of you may be aware I am in the market for a GT and I love the DB9, but a few questions are bouncing about upstairs that I'd like you to help me with if you would
Why did you opt for an Aston DB9/Vanquish, why not a Bentley Conti GT, Maserati Grandsport/Grand tourismo, maybe even a new Jaguar XKR
What was it above all else that swayed your decision to buy one and not one of the above.
What's so good about them, what do you feel are the cars best attributes. What are the real niggly points, bad points, if any.
What kind of reactions do you get driving it, good, bad , indifferent, above all how do you feel driving it.
What are they like to live with as daily drivers, are they problematic, heavy on servicing, would you go to main dealer or are there many good indie servicing places for Astons.
Am I best going through a main dealer to buy for peace of mind and the Aston warranty.
I am looking to buy a quality GT for around 40-50+ k,but I am struggling to decide.
I went out for a test drive in a V8 Vantage last week at my local dealer and I loved it,and I would really love to own one, even given my size I can fit in it really comfortably and drive, however after a conflab with Wifey I can't justify the two 2-seater sports cars now that I'm spending a bomb on my TVR and keeping it.
Why did you opt for an Aston DB9/Vanquish, why not a Bentley Conti GT, Maserati Grandsport/Grand tourismo, maybe even a new Jaguar XKR
What was it above all else that swayed your decision to buy one and not one of the above.
What's so good about them, what do you feel are the cars best attributes. What are the real niggly points, bad points, if any.
What kind of reactions do you get driving it, good, bad , indifferent, above all how do you feel driving it.
What are they like to live with as daily drivers, are they problematic, heavy on servicing, would you go to main dealer or are there many good indie servicing places for Astons.
Am I best going through a main dealer to buy for peace of mind and the Aston warranty.
I am looking to buy a quality GT for around 40-50+ k,but I am struggling to decide.
I went out for a test drive in a V8 Vantage last week at my local dealer and I loved it,and I would really love to own one, even given my size I can fit in it really comfortably and drive, however after a conflab with Wifey I can't justify the two 2-seater sports cars now that I'm spending a bomb on my TVR and keeping it.
Saw the Vanquish and baught it, didnt even look at anything else, i know what i want when i see it..i like the Bently gt and will buy one when i sell the Slk.,but too common a car.
The last of the hand built Astons,fastest and most expensive The Admaral of the fleet, the Vanquish has real presence, agressive sexy lines on every panel totaly different to the mass produced db9s basic smooth bodypanel shapes.
Bit like a sumo wressler chewing a wasp compared to a skiny chick.
No real bad points, 14 mpg,(some times) small glove box, learnt to live with early centre consoles looks
Reactions all possative, thumbs up, pictures, shouted comments, flashing headlights waves etc.all admire from young children to elderly.. big wow factor from all.
Mods, wheels 20x11/9 ,twin strikes, lowerd suspention, rear splitter on the way
A car you just want to drive and drive in a class of its own
The last of the hand built Astons,fastest and most expensive The Admaral of the fleet, the Vanquish has real presence, agressive sexy lines on every panel totaly different to the mass produced db9s basic smooth bodypanel shapes.
Bit like a sumo wressler chewing a wasp compared to a skiny chick.
No real bad points, 14 mpg,(some times) small glove box, learnt to live with early centre consoles looks
Reactions all possative, thumbs up, pictures, shouted comments, flashing headlights waves etc.all admire from young children to elderly.. big wow factor from all.
Mods, wheels 20x11/9 ,twin strikes, lowerd suspention, rear splitter on the way
A car you just want to drive and drive in a class of its own
t1blk said:
Why did you opt for an Aston DB9/Vanquish, why not a Bentley Conti GT, Maserati Grandsport/Grand tourismo, maybe even a new Jaguar XKR
Bentley....Too pretentiousMaserati...Italian
Jaguar...Commonplace
The DB9 elicits praise everywhere it goes. It's rare but not pretentious. It is not a 'look at me' car in the way of Italian choices like Lambo or Ferrari or Maserati.
Everyone likes the DB9...other comparable cars seem to garner looks, but not in a good way.
DB9VolanteDriver said:
t1blk said:
Why did you opt for an Aston DB9/Vanquish, why not a Bentley Conti GT, Maserati Grandsport/Grand tourismo, maybe even a new Jaguar XKR
Bentley....Too pretentiousMaserati...Italian
Jaguar...Commonplace
The DB9 elicits praise everywhere it goes. It's rare but not pretentious. It is not a 'look at me' car in the way of Italian choices like Lambo or Ferrari or Maserati.
Everyone likes the DB9...other comparable cars seem to garner looks, but not in a good way.
Maserati.......have had 2 and both broke down
Jaguar.....poor mans Aston
Next time you go to your old school reunion and you x school chums say to you "so what do you drive " need I say more
DB9 - looks, feel, sound, drive
Bentley - vulgar and every chav with an equity release loan has one.
Maserati GranTurismo - big, fat, slow and I think it's not particularly attractive.
XKR - looks like an Aston with all the detailing gone badly wrong from trying too hard. Great engine.
Bentley - vulgar and every chav with an equity release loan has one.
Maserati GranTurismo - big, fat, slow and I think it's not particularly attractive.
XKR - looks like an Aston with all the detailing gone badly wrong from trying too hard. Great engine.
Edited by Zod on Monday 23 August 15:23
Now the time has come to post a link to this thread on the, mazarati, bently and jag forums, if only i knew how to post a link.
Must admit my Bently (when i get one) will be black,lowerd, de chromed de badged,big chrome american spinners, blacked out windows and a monster sound system , oh and one of those false arms hanging eather out of the window or boot.
Just off to read the comments on the other marks forums
Must admit my Bently (when i get one) will be black,lowerd, de chromed de badged,big chrome american spinners, blacked out windows and a monster sound system , oh and one of those false arms hanging eather out of the window or boot.
Just off to read the comments on the other marks forums
The story on buying my Vanquish goes like this:
While driving (in a montego estate) to collect my new (4month old) BNW Z4 M Coupa,
My friend asked: What car are you going to have next?
My reply was: a newer Navara, not to bothered about cars any more.
Friend : well what would you like if you had to have one?
Me: A pimped Bentley, and described as above (without the arm) OR an Aston (meaning db9)
We arived i paid for the z4 and walked roud it, then i glanced oposite it,and said to my friend "f*** me thats got my name on it",
friend: What the Porche ciane?
Me: no next to it
friend : what is it ? An Aston? (front badge was missing)
Me: yeah i think so
we had a quick walk round it,to find it was a vanquish,
just the centre console i thaught bland,
Didn`t bother looking at any other went home baught a badge off e bay and baught the Vanquish when it came up for sale a fortnight later.
I was telling another aquaintance about having one,he was supprised and went on to tell me he baught a bend new db9 (in 2005 ish) deal all done, on collection saw a Vanquish next to it instantly changed his mind paid the extra £60k ish and has a Vanquish now
I went to look at a Bently a month ago,it wasnt there but got side tracked by a Carbon fibre bodied Diablo gt
My SLK and Tuscan were streight on e bay,
While driving (in a montego estate) to collect my new (4month old) BNW Z4 M Coupa,
My friend asked: What car are you going to have next?
My reply was: a newer Navara, not to bothered about cars any more.
Friend : well what would you like if you had to have one?
Me: A pimped Bentley, and described as above (without the arm) OR an Aston (meaning db9)
We arived i paid for the z4 and walked roud it, then i glanced oposite it,and said to my friend "f*** me thats got my name on it",
friend: What the Porche ciane?
Me: no next to it
friend : what is it ? An Aston? (front badge was missing)
Me: yeah i think so
we had a quick walk round it,to find it was a vanquish,
just the centre console i thaught bland,
Didn`t bother looking at any other went home baught a badge off e bay and baught the Vanquish when it came up for sale a fortnight later.
I was telling another aquaintance about having one,he was supprised and went on to tell me he baught a bend new db9 (in 2005 ish) deal all done, on collection saw a Vanquish next to it instantly changed his mind paid the extra £60k ish and has a Vanquish now
I went to look at a Bently a month ago,it wasnt there but got side tracked by a Carbon fibre bodied Diablo gt
My SLK and Tuscan were streight on e bay,
Thanks for the views, please keep them coming. It seems that quite a few of you who own DB9's have owned DB7's previously, was the 9 just a natural progression and have you regreted getting rid of the 7 as mentioned in another post on here, also quite a few of you are or have been TVR owners too,if you could would you keep the 2 cars and if so why.
Can't help it Clorenzen, just trying to bleed info from you lot to help avoid the pitfalls if possible that have befell some of you. My heart is definately for the DB9 without doubt but I've had to gain comparrisons, it's just that to me it's a large outlay 40-50+k for a car that does need some justification,I don't have the kind of money some of you obviously have,just an unhealthy passion for beautiful cars so some informed opinions of owners are obviously the best source of fact. Like do I get hung up on the mileage thing and get the best low mileage earlier model I can afford or later model higher mileage with better spec, both with impeccable service history prefferably. I've had the opinion with most cars that earlier low miles cars are iffy, and prone to problems,whereas a mid/ higher miles car that has been used regularly has more of it's inherrant creases ironed out and had all work done.I know miles means a lot to some at resale time but I'm not a high miles driver, none of my cars do more than 5-6000 p.a. which should mean that if I buy a later high miles car ,by the time it comes to change it, it will have done the average miles of most of its model type. Big commitment and trying not to cock it up, I'm keeping a few grands back to make sure I cover servicing and running properly without having to skimp.I met a really nice bloke at Stratstones a few weeks ago, a little older than me who was picking up his gorgeous DB9 volante the same day Phil turned up to look at his new V12V in Mako Blue.While chatting to him I asked why an Aston, why a volante DB9, he could've told me to F**k Off......but eloquently of course, instead he gave me the answer of.."It's a lifetime present to myself"....excellent answer a really nice guy, I hope he's loving it, and this is pretty much my reason too as I get the feeling it'll be a one off and this is my one chance to do it.
Astons are lovely cars, but don't be influenced by those who say that the Jaguar XKR is a "poor man's Aston" or "commonplace". At least drive an XKR and form your own opinion based on the drive (and of course the looks).
If you were to write down the spec of an XKR (aluminium body, 5 litre supercharged engine, that gearbox) vs the DB9, as a petrolhead, you'd struggle to justify the DB9. An interesting angle for me with the XKR was that not only did the average chap on the street think it was gorgeous ("is that the new Aston?"), there were far fewer of them around (certainly in London).
I just don't understand the derogatory comments against the XKR when it's so clearly an outstanding car. I've rarely read anything negative about it in the likes of Evo / Car and to top it all, it's British.
If you were to write down the spec of an XKR (aluminium body, 5 litre supercharged engine, that gearbox) vs the DB9, as a petrolhead, you'd struggle to justify the DB9. An interesting angle for me with the XKR was that not only did the average chap on the street think it was gorgeous ("is that the new Aston?"), there were far fewer of them around (certainly in London).
I just don't understand the derogatory comments against the XKR when it's so clearly an outstanding car. I've rarely read anything negative about it in the likes of Evo / Car and to top it all, it's British.
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