RE: Aston Martin DB7: Spotted
Discussion
85Carrera said:
I know it's subjective but have never subscribed to this view. The XK8 is a far better looking car for starters.
I agree. I've always preferred the XK8 (I am a bit of Jaguar person though, so probably a bit of bias here).When you look at what a well sorted, early XK8 goes for these days, it only serves as a reminder that either the DB7 is over-priced, or the XK8 is very under-valued.
Mind you I did see a V12 DB7 with a manual gearbox at Goodwood Revival last year, I think it was up for £25k. Seemed like quite a lot of car for the money.
I do think that it's the best looking Aston Martin ever made (it makes the DB9 to me look clumsy).
I'd happily have one knowing that it's more about being a cruiser than a sports car.
And I don't think that six cylinder automatics will ever be worth much. Maybe manual GTs will, but not an automatic six. There are loads of them and they're considered crap compared to everything that has come from Aston Martin since.
I'd happily have one knowing that it's more about being a cruiser than a sports car.
And I don't think that six cylinder automatics will ever be worth much. Maybe manual GTs will, but not an automatic six. There are loads of them and they're considered crap compared to everything that has come from Aston Martin since.
I agree the mark 1 XK8 makes a lot more practical sense and is a good car, and visually seems to be aging very gracefully. But in the Aston's favour you can't get the Jag with a V12, and especially you can't get it with a manual box and a V12, which is a very special combination.
I would take a nice late 4.2 auto XK8 over a straight six auto DB7 though.
I would take a nice late 4.2 auto XK8 over a straight six auto DB7 though.
I do rather like the DB7.. but I can't help but feel that were I in the position with £20k to drop on one that I'd just be saying to myself "hang on for a bit, if you can get another £10k then you can get a DB9", to me the DB9 is a far more beautiful car (I acknowledge that is completely subjective) and has all the benefits of being a newer car with a better engine, better driving dynamics and an interior which knocks 7 shades of s
t out of the DB7's
t out of the DB7'sDB7 doesn't seem to be getting much love here!
My dad has owned one for the past 7/8 years now, and in that time I think I've got to know it quite well. I can't really understand why some people seem to dislike it so much - yes it doesn't drive as well as an F355 or a 996, but then again it wasn't supposed to. It's a GT car, and having been down to the South of France in ours annually for the first 5 years of ownership, I can certainly say it does the whole 'GT' thing rather well! Crap around corners, but ace for mile munching. They say the DB5 is a rubbish drive as well, but that doesn't seem to have de-valued them much...
Secondly, the interior. Yes it has sourced parts from Ford, Mazda etc...but I can honestly say it has never bothered me. Sure it would obviously be nicer if everything was Aston bespoke, but it certainly doesn't ruin the experience of the car - it's an ace place to sit. & as for the 'controversial' interior colouring, such as burgundy dashboards - I love it. Feels so much more special than just a plan black/grey dash, like so many contemporary GT cars.
Pricewise they will rise, especially the GT & GTA cars, they're already twice the price of an i6 now. Also I have a feeling that the i6 may one day be the more valuable car (over the Vantage). It's always the earlier cars that end up being more valuable (Mini, Escort..) just a purer design. Plus the Vantage was produced in much higher numbers.
However I'd be cautious at buying a used one now, due to how cheap they've dropped a lot of people have been tempted and bought them, but whilst they could afford the purchase price, the servicing costs can be scary, and so there's quite a few out there now that may look nice on the surface, but need some serious sorting. This again, will soon boost the prices of the few that have been properly looked after.
They are fairly bulletproof though, my Dad mainly does all the work on his himself, it has over 130k miles and competes in both the concours and the sprint events in the AMOC. It's a great all rounder really. Plus all those that say the XK8 is a better looking car, that's not really true. The Jag's have a hideous rear arch gap (as do the Vantage/GT DB7's, it's huge!), and the way the rear bumper drops down at the sides, it just looks like a trout from the back - pretty awful.
So if you can get past the fact that it isn't a track car, and that yes, the switches are from a Ford and lights from a Mazda (Koenigsegg, another car that shares Mazda lights btw) it's actually a cracking car, set to rise in value and certainly feels very special to be in and drive
My dad has owned one for the past 7/8 years now, and in that time I think I've got to know it quite well. I can't really understand why some people seem to dislike it so much - yes it doesn't drive as well as an F355 or a 996, but then again it wasn't supposed to. It's a GT car, and having been down to the South of France in ours annually for the first 5 years of ownership, I can certainly say it does the whole 'GT' thing rather well! Crap around corners, but ace for mile munching. They say the DB5 is a rubbish drive as well, but that doesn't seem to have de-valued them much...
Secondly, the interior. Yes it has sourced parts from Ford, Mazda etc...but I can honestly say it has never bothered me. Sure it would obviously be nicer if everything was Aston bespoke, but it certainly doesn't ruin the experience of the car - it's an ace place to sit. & as for the 'controversial' interior colouring, such as burgundy dashboards - I love it. Feels so much more special than just a plan black/grey dash, like so many contemporary GT cars.
Pricewise they will rise, especially the GT & GTA cars, they're already twice the price of an i6 now. Also I have a feeling that the i6 may one day be the more valuable car (over the Vantage). It's always the earlier cars that end up being more valuable (Mini, Escort..) just a purer design. Plus the Vantage was produced in much higher numbers.
However I'd be cautious at buying a used one now, due to how cheap they've dropped a lot of people have been tempted and bought them, but whilst they could afford the purchase price, the servicing costs can be scary, and so there's quite a few out there now that may look nice on the surface, but need some serious sorting. This again, will soon boost the prices of the few that have been properly looked after.
They are fairly bulletproof though, my Dad mainly does all the work on his himself, it has over 130k miles and competes in both the concours and the sprint events in the AMOC. It's a great all rounder really. Plus all those that say the XK8 is a better looking car, that's not really true. The Jag's have a hideous rear arch gap (as do the Vantage/GT DB7's, it's huge!), and the way the rear bumper drops down at the sides, it just looks like a trout from the back - pretty awful.
So if you can get past the fact that it isn't a track car, and that yes, the switches are from a Ford and lights from a Mazda (Koenigsegg, another car that shares Mazda lights btw) it's actually a cracking car, set to rise in value and certainly feels very special to be in and drive
Edited by clougher95 on Wednesday 15th April 18:52
J4CKO said:
How much XJS content is there, is it a reskin or just lightly based on it ?
I'd say lightly based. I think it shares the same floor pans and front subframe, and similar rear suspension. But the engine was changed considerably by TWR and an Eaton M90 supercharger was fitted, churning out 335bhp, against the 201bhp the XJS produced.The DB7 i6 is the most related to the XJS, since it was released first...
It was built on a XJS platform, sharing front and rear suspension (which was modified).
Then you had the GT model - DB7 GT.
Basically the GT is what the DB7 SHOULD have been from day one (and then improved upon).
Zagato models must still be worth a small fortune?
It was built on a XJS platform, sharing front and rear suspension (which was modified).
Then you had the GT model - DB7 GT.
Basically the GT is what the DB7 SHOULD have been from day one (and then improved upon).
Zagato models must still be worth a small fortune?
soad said:
Zagato models must still be worth a small fortune?
Very much so! 4/5 years ago, every time a Zagato coupe or DB AR1 came up for sale, it would be £99k. There seemed to be a long time, a year or two, where they just couldn't be pushed past the £100k barrier. Well they've proved to be excellent purchases, certainly a £200-250k car now!First car I'd buy with a lotto win.
clougher95 said:
soad said:
Zagato models must still be worth a small fortune?
Very much so! 4/5 years ago, every time a Zagato coupe or DB AR1 came up for sale, it would be £99k. There seemed to be a long time, a year or two, where they just couldn't be pushed past the £100k barrier. Well they've proved to be excellent purchases, certainly a £200-250k car now!First car I'd buy with a lotto win.
Love the cars in the magazine - forgot about those original turbine wheels! A manual GT is surely the pick of the bunch.
Don't understand why people are talking about the XK8 like it's much better car. As i said in my first post, that argument completely ignores that these were handbuilt cars; people can claim the XJS heritage all the like, the Aston will always be more special.
Don't understand why people are talking about the XK8 like it's much better car. As i said in my first post, that argument completely ignores that these were handbuilt cars; people can claim the XJS heritage all the like, the Aston will always be more special.
KaraK said:
I do rather like the DB7.. but I can't help but feel that were I in the position with £20k to drop on one that I'd just be saying to myself "hang on for a bit, if you can get another £10k then you can get a DB9", to me the DB9 is a far more beautiful car (I acknowledge that is completely subjective) and has all the benefits of being a newer car with a better engine, better driving dynamics and an interior which knocks 7 shades of st out of the DB7's
That's the thought process I've gone through.t out of the DB7'sThat said, I still love the look of the original DB7 and its wheels. A manual 1995 car still appeals. I must be in a minority though, as all the cars for sale have later wheels fitted.
Although I agree with a lot of the negative comments about the DB7, this does not alter the fact that values have been slightly going up over the last year or so. I am always looking at the values as I own an i6 just to see what they are going for. Regards the servicing, mine has cost me about the same as my old BMW, as I take it to an independent specialist. And regards to how it drives etc well yes it has it's faults as the DB5 certainly did. Now a good DB5 is worth about half a million pounds. Enough said. Not that I am saying the DB7 will ever get near that value but certainly a lot more than they are now in my opinion!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff