DB9.2 vs DB9 GT

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Discussion

Venosta

Original Poster:

91 posts

14 months

Monday 1st April
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I have read many helpful posts from the past few years on this forum on DB9/DB9.2/Virage/DBS/Vanquish, but am wondering if anyone can enlighten whether it's worth paying the premium for a DB9 GT vs a 2013-15 facelift DB9.2.

I know the GT has more power, haptic dash and a few other differences, but my understanding is that the big improvement in the DB9's life was from V1 to V2 (via the Virage), rather than V2 to GT. But please tell me if I am wrong.

I have driven both but on a short drive on public roads it's not easy to tell a difference beyond the cosmetic.

I would be looking at a Volante, in either case.

I have also driven DB11s, better/more modern cars but not for me, and Vanquish/DBS are a touch too hardcore for my DD use, I do have other cars for more hardcore driving, so that's why I am looking at DB9s.

Thank you.

M1AGM

2,713 posts

39 months

Monday 1st April
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The GT had 540bhp from factory, which the 9.2 (510) can be upgraded to (its just a software change) - so no difference really.

The GT had the AMi2 (haptic) as you note.

The GT had slightly softer front suspension (I was told this by the dealer so it may not be true).

The GT has different leather patterns on the seats and also has leather across the binnacle.

The GT had different wheel paint options.

The GT was often spec’d with carbon splitter and diffuser which is nice but expensive if damaged.

Everything else is the same iirc.

I’d go for the GT if you can stretch your budget just because its the last DB9 iteration. I had a 9.2 and always secretly wished it was a GT if only for the power/torque screen on the AMi lol.

Venosta

Original Poster:

91 posts

14 months

Monday 1st April
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Thank you - very much appreciated.

My daily life involves speed bumps and awkward parking ramps so a carbon splitter would be a minus for me.. a SUV would be a much more practical daily of course but there we go.

May I ask, what were your overall thoughts of the DB9.2? Would you recommend one?

M1AGM

2,713 posts

39 months

Monday 1st April
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I was in a similar situation to you when I bought the 9,2 and it was a great car to own. I used it every opportunity. Daily, trips, couple of nice trackdays. It didn’t do well cosmetically living outside due to my negligence and circumstances but nothing mechanically serious over 6 years / 40k miles. Great car.

Frankychops

930 posts

16 months

Monday 1st April
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Venosta

Original Poster:

91 posts

14 months

Monday 1st April
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Thank you both…good to know re the DB9.2

Vanquish on CC looks nice but I am after a Volante/convertible. And I think I will stick to cars with a main dealer warranty.

Frankychops

930 posts

16 months

Tuesday 2nd April
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Reading the description, it’s got a main dealer warranty. Just the roof that’s the issue!

ram_g

61 posts

12 months

Tuesday 2nd April
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Venosta said:
May I ask, what were your overall thoughts of the DB9.2? Would you recommend one?
My first Aston Martin is a 2015 DB9.2 coupe that I acquired in December last year, so it's only been about 3.5 months. It's really quite a spectacular car and has exceeded my expectations. It does have a few electronic quirks (random warning messages) but these seem to be settling down, touch wood, and there don't seem to be any fundamental underlying issues. My guess is that a lot has to do with the fact that it wasn't driven much in the few years preceding my purchase. I'm gathering that electronic quirks are just a feature of the Aston Martin character!

I never really considered a 2016 DB9 GT seriously as the only ones that were available in the US at the time had quite a bit more miles and were quite a bit more expensive. I did come across one that was priced competitively with the DB9.2s but then discovered that the exterior and interior cosmetics were in really poor shape for the miles - perhaps it had been parked outside the whole time. As the expression goes, there isn't any free lunch.

I purchased my car in California (I live in Texas) from one of the largest and most respected AM dealers in the US. It was advertised as a Timeless certified car but instead I negotiated the price down by several thousand dollars and bought the car without the Timeless warranty. This was deliberate on my part as I am a confirmed DIY addict and intend to do all the maintenance I can on the car myself, at least everything that is possible without having an AMDS system. So far so good.


Venosta

Original Poster:

91 posts

14 months

Wednesday 3rd April
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Thank you - great to know.

MP187

3 posts

8 months

Thursday 4th April
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In what sense are the Vanquish/DBS a bit too hardcore for your use? I think they behave pretty much like the DB9.

Edited by MP187 on Thursday 4th April 22:01

Venosta

Original Poster:

91 posts

14 months

Saturday 6th April
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DBS and Vanquish are set up to be stiffer and sportier than DB9. I like the more mellow touch of the DB9. But having said that I have never owned any of these, just driven them.

I have 2 seater Ferraris for more hardcore driving. This needs to be different, a daily car. I feel a DB9 is one step towards a Conti GT from a DBS/Vanquish in some ways.

Interested to hear owners' thoughts.

Simpo Two

86,956 posts

272 months

Saturday 6th April
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Venosta said:
I feel a DB9 is one step towards a Conti GT from a DBS/Vanquish in some ways.
I wish mine was!

It's more like an expensive and better-built TVR.

Peter McKean

83 posts

90 months

Sunday 7th April
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I’ve been lucky enough to own both a DB9.2 and a DB9 GT in the past. The GT’s extra power wasn’t really detectable to me. Both were equally good cars. It really comes down to your interior preference.

Neither has great infotainment, but I recommend the Aston Installations CarPlay upgrade to sort that. If keeping it natural, the GT at least has DAB radio and Bluetooth audio streaming.

The GT was the last of the 9’s so will likely hold its value better in the long run - there are only just over 200 or so in the country, counting both coupe and Volante styles.

Venosta

Original Poster:

91 posts

14 months

Sunday 7th April
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I wish mine was!

It's more like an expensive and better-built TVR.
Oh wow..I did like TVRs but I'm not sure I'd use one daily..

Venosta

Original Poster:

91 posts

14 months

Sunday 7th April
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Peter McKean said:
I’ve been lucky enough to own both a DB9.2 and a DB9 GT in the past. The GT’s extra power wasn’t really detectable to me. Both were equally good cars. It really comes down to your interior preference.

Neither has great infotainment, but I recommend the Aston Installations CarPlay upgrade to sort that. If keeping it natural, the GT at least has DAB radio and Bluetooth audio streaming.

The GT was the last of the 9’s so will likely hold its value better in the long run - there are only just over 200 or so in the country, counting both coupe and Volante styles.
Thank you, that is helpful. The other car I am considering is a California 30 Handling Speciale, but I feel the DB9 might be more relaxing day to day..although maybe I'm wrong.

ram_g

61 posts

12 months

Sunday 7th April
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Peter McKean said:
Neither has great infotainment, but I recommend the Aston Installations CarPlay upgrade to sort that. If keeping it natural, the GT at least has DAB radio and Bluetooth audio streaming.
Bluetooth streaming was introduced on the 2015 model year DB9s - mine has it and it seems to work well.

(As a related digression, I am amazed at the year-to-year “tinkering” that Aston Martin seems to do. All other marques that I am familiar with save up their improvements to be batch-issued every few years.)

Simpo Two

86,956 posts

272 months

Sunday 7th April
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Venosta said:
Simpo Two said:
I wish mine was!

It's more like an expensive and better-built TVR.
Oh wow..I did like TVRs but I'm not sure I'd use one daily..
Nor me; I could fit a TVR in the garage and have a 'normal' car as well. When I sold the last TVR I fitted out the garage as a workshop, so a car wouldn't fit now, and there's only room to park one car outside.

M1AGM

2,713 posts

39 months

Sunday 7th April
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ram_g said:
Bluetooth streaming was introduced on the 2015 model year DB9s - mine has it and it seems to work well.

(As a related digression, I am amazed at the year-to-year “tinkering” that Aston Martin seems to do. All other marques that I am familiar with save up their improvements to be batch-issued every few years.)
I had a 14 plate car and it had BT streaming. I thought it was on 9.2 from the start?

Peter McKean

83 posts

90 months

Sunday 7th April
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Mine was also a 14 plate and Bluetooth was telephone-only, in my case. I used a Bluetooth FM transmitter as a stop-gap, which worked OK. I did hear that an update to the later Bluetooth module was available for a substantial sum of money, but it didn’t really make financial sense.

Chekm8

4 posts

44 months

Saturday 19th October
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....my .02......I have a 2014 db9.2.....however, It have a 2ndary cat delete and the bosch vanquish ecu tune......I'm thoroughly satisfied