DB7 V12 vantage volante..would you? should I?

DB7 V12 vantage volante..would you? should I?

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Coxy914

Original Poster:

691 posts

205 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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Anyone out there able to offer some advise (good, bad or indifferent welcome) on the DB7 V12 vantage volante.

I fancy scratching an Aston itch and fancy a nice open top GT with plenty of power for some lazy afternoon drive short and long.

What are they like to live with? Service costs etc.
It's more of a 3rd or 4th car so will only be used for maybe 2-3k a year tops and am after something which in time will increase in value as the DB7's look to be back on the up again now so it's free fun motoring apart from the running costs.
Fuel costs are what they are and I don't expect it to be giving me more than 15mpg on a good day anyway.

Little Donkey

1,544 posts

140 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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OK - let's get the bad stuff out of the way. It's a bit of an odd driving position because AM couldn't find anywhere better other than under the drivers seat to site the car's computer, so the seat is higher than what it could be. The steering is a little vague. Never had any electrical problems but I'm still always surprised that everything works every time I start her up. Stone chips are an occupational hazard as the front design makes it a stone magnet. The lights are so dim that I'm sure it actually gets darker when they're switched on. Just because she's but of an old girl with old tech, expect service and maintenance bills to be reassuringly expensive. Budget £2K to be safe and hope that nothing serious comes along.

And remember, even if you buy a later model, it's still early nineties tech based on an even earlier chassis design.

And now the good stuff. It looks gorgeous and it's an Aston Martin. One of the most memorable drives I've ever had was on a summer's Sunday morning, not a cloud in the sky, trundling round the English countryside with the roof down. Utterly wonderful. The engine is a peach although on one with a bit of mileage, check that it's had a new coil pack.

Get her looked after that someone that knows DB7's better than their own children. Chiltern Aston comes to mind. Be patient to find a good one. Scrub that - and exceptional one - and I'll wager you won't lose a penny.

I only do around 500 - 1000 miles in mine and always enjoy it.

OK, she's a bit of an old lady in the same way that Helen Mirren is.

But you still would!


Coxy914

Original Poster:

691 posts

205 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
quotequote all
Little Donkey said:
OK, she's a bit of an old lady in the same way that Helen Mirren is.

But you still would!
I'd have used Julie Christie as my analogy on that one, but appreciate the answer as well!

My plan is to start looking around end of August/September time when people are starting to think about putting them away for winter and maybe the thought of selling them on has come to the fore of their mind once again.

AMDBSNick

6,990 posts

161 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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I agree with everything Greg has said and was in a similar situation 14 months ago. Make sure you drive an early DB9V too wink

roughrider

975 posts

185 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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There are a handful of manual DB7 Vantage Volante around,,,,very nice!

Coxy914

Original Poster:

691 posts

205 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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what about manual vs automatic?

I'd normal go for manual only but for me, this car will be about a nice weekend cruiser as opposed to something to chuck in to corners and drop down a gear or 2. I have a GT3 for that kind of roguish behaviour!!!

StephenP

1,886 posts

209 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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Bought mine a couple of years ago after having a V8V and V8V N400 from new. Love the car, and she won't be leaving us any time soon! A nice place to be on a sunny weekend. The design is one of the prettiest droptops in my opinion and they are rarer than you might imagine, with (apparently) less that 400 still on the road in the UK. She's not a hooligan car and seems to promote quite calm "GT" driving rather than the more raw world of my old V8Vs (or the current CL63 that is my daily driver).

The Tiptronic auto is quite smooth although not as engaging as a modern auto (but then it is a 20+ year old design!). Manual is certainly much rarer and I would consider switching mine to manual if my auto box ever dies!


After the initial purchase cost and some bits and pieces to get her where I wanted her, the only costs have been servicing. As a guide, I've been quoted just over £1000 inc VAT by AM Works Service for the major service (mine is due now) and the minor services are much less. Note the service interval on these is 6 months but very few people I know of do anything other than 12 months - it seems to be the norm.

As already said though, check the coil packs have been done as they are a weak spot on cars that haven't had them done. Budget around £800+fitting, which involves quite a bit of labour.

Also look for corrosion under the carpets in the footwells and also on the bulkhead. Also look for delamination of the front wings. Some of the parts are pretty expensive these days, just due to the availability.

Basically, look for the best example you can afford and consider an inspection by an expert as it could save you from some of the higher bills!

Taking in to account what I paid for the car, the remedial work at the time and the servicing, I suspect I'm still in profit (just!) and I just don't see them going down in value. They reached their lowest and bottomed out a few years ago and good cars with good service history seem to be pretty strong price-wise. You don't see that many on the roads, compared to the Gaydon-era cars.

What is there not to like? biggrin













Edited by StephenP on Wednesday 8th July 23:13

Coxy914

Original Poster:

691 posts

205 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
quotequote all
That is stunning, and the reason why I want one! Some people say they look dated, but for me, they've got better with age.

With the servicing, it's the 12 monthly service based on any particular mileage or out of necessity for any other reason?

Zuman

188 posts

112 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
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I'd suggest that you challenge yourself to really analyze why you want an Aston. If it's mostly love of the marque and pure hobby, then I think you have a solid option in a DB7 or any early car... and I DO believe that DB7s deserve a place in the pantheon along with more handmade Astons.
However... if driving the car regularly - possibly hard - plays a reasonably big role in your interest, then I'd lean toward a Gaydon car. I planned to get a 7, but I did the aforementioned analysis and ended up waiting a couple of extra years and getting a 9. It was the right choice for me.

brianjone5

70 posts

168 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
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I have had my DB7 VV for four or five years.It has proven really reliable. After I had the coils replaced (and I doubt there is a car left that has not had this, due to poor initial quality at manufacture) the only thing I have done is replace the passenger door lock actuator. Over 35,000 miles and I'm still loving it. The car makes me smile, in it, and just looking at it.

I DO NOT find the steering vague - quite the opposite. I have the Quicksilver exhaust and the sound is fantastic, if a little loud.

Mine is a keeper. Hope your will be too.

Coxy914

Original Poster:

691 posts

205 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
Zuman said:
I'd suggest that you challenge yourself to really analyze why you want an Aston. If it's mostly love of the marque and pure hobby, then I think you have a solid option in a DB7 or any early car... and I DO believe that DB7s deserve a place in the pantheon along with more handmade Astons.
However... if driving the car regularly - possibly hard - plays a reasonably big role in your interest, then I'd lean toward a Gaydon car. I planned to get a 7, but I did the aforementioned analysis and ended up waiting a couple of extra years and getting a 9. It was the right choice for me.
I have a Porsche GT3 for driving hard and am after something that will cruise along effortlessly, with power when I need it, and something which will put a smile on my face and has to look good.

I tried a TVR 2 years ago and frankly, no wonder they went tits up!

Little Donkey

1,544 posts

140 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
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AMDBSNick said:
I agree with everything Greg has said and was in a similar situation 14 months ago. Make sure you drive an early DB9V too wink
Good shout - an early, well sorted DB9V in the right spec would be a very tempting proposition indeed.

To the classifieds!!!

AMDBSNick

6,990 posts

161 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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Little Donkey said:
AMDBSNick said:
I agree with everything Greg has said and was in a similar situation 14 months ago. Make sure you drive an early DB9V too wink
Good shout - an early, well sorted DB9V in the right spec would be a very tempting proposition indeed.

To the classifieds!!!
biggrin


paddy328

2,902 posts

184 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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The mere sight of Gregs Db7 has been known to make people let out a bit of sex wee....

LordBretSinclair

4,285 posts

176 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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Sold mine 15 months ago and miss it every day - 'nuff said .


Ed50

2,574 posts

180 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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AMDBSNick said:
I agree with everything Greg has said and was in a similar situation 14 months ago. Make sure you drive an early DB9V too wink
I still think thats a stunning find Nick,by far my favourite combination I've seen as a DB9 Volante………...:thumb up:

If your ever thinking of sel……………..no best not go there,it's a keeper..smile

Ed50

2,574 posts

180 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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[quote=StephenP] Love the car, and she won't be leaving us any time soon!




Is that the hands off warning to me again then Steve…………biggrin

If I was a rich man biddy biddy bum I'd be having Rachel's DB9 Volante much to Nick's annoyance,your 7 and one or two others that kick around on here.

Happy days.


JS1500

579 posts

176 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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Interesting topic for me, this.
I'm in the process of trying to convince my 76 year old dad to replace his 1967 MGB Roadster (4.0 V8 conversion/custom build) with a DB7 Vantage Volante.

He was complaining that he can't enjoy the MGB like he used to as the roads are in such poor condition - what is the ride like in a DB7? Much more compliant, I'd imagine?

StephenP

1,886 posts

209 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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Ed50 said:
Is that the hands off warning to me again then Steve…………biggrin
Indeed it is! biggrin

If I were a rich man, she'd be getting an 80's Oscar India V8 as a garage friend ... maybe even in X-Pack form. I fear I've missed the boat on those beauties now though!

Coxy914

Original Poster:

691 posts

205 months

Friday 10th July 2015
quotequote all
Interesting with the DB7/DB9 comparison as DB7's are now back on the up price wise, whereas DB9's are probably pretty much at the bottom and maybe we'll start to see a steady increase from well looked after examples over the next 12-18 months, which now means I have to work our whether to continue to look for a DB7 or intact start looking at similar priced DB9's???