DB9 - Is it REALLY soft?
Discussion
I did one of those supercar experience days yesterday (I've done a few before) at Goodwood.
One of the cars I was keen to try was the DB9 and as luck would have it, the cycle of DB9 and V8 Vantage went my way and I did my laps in the DB9.
First off, it's a lovely car and I can imagine owning and driving one as a daily driver would be very pleasant, but I was a little shocked by just how soft and rolly it was.
Now, I appreciate it's not a track car (And I'd driven a Gallardo a few minutes before, so I suspect my zero was distorted), but I reckon my nigh on 100K miles RX8 would be a lot less wallowy around there.
So, are they all like that or was the car I drove just a bit tired and worn out? I suspect it was at least 10 years old, although the plates were all obscured.
M.
One of the cars I was keen to try was the DB9 and as luck would have it, the cycle of DB9 and V8 Vantage went my way and I did my laps in the DB9.
First off, it's a lovely car and I can imagine owning and driving one as a daily driver would be very pleasant, but I was a little shocked by just how soft and rolly it was.
Now, I appreciate it's not a track car (And I'd driven a Gallardo a few minutes before, so I suspect my zero was distorted), but I reckon my nigh on 100K miles RX8 would be a lot less wallowy around there.
So, are they all like that or was the car I drove just a bit tired and worn out? I suspect it was at least 10 years old, although the plates were all obscured.
M.
Well, I think you've opened a can of worms there.
There will be lots of various people now responding differently depending on what they drive.
As a vantage owner, I would say that the DB9 is a little 'wollowy' around corners.
I think its to stop the horlicks from spilling out the cup holder.........
I don't think the DB9 was ever going to be a track car, nor is the standard Vantage really.
Both great cars on the road, but not track focused enough as standard.
There will be lots of various people now responding differently depending on what they drive.
As a vantage owner, I would say that the DB9 is a little 'wollowy' around corners.
I think its to stop the horlicks from spilling out the cup holder.........
I don't think the DB9 was ever going to be a track car, nor is the standard Vantage really.
Both great cars on the road, but not track focused enough as standard.
It's a GT car not a track car. It's big and heavy , so not surprised it wallows on track. Great on roads, not designed to be driven at 10/10ths.
A Vantage would wallow less, but again is not designed for the track, but would be better, especially in something like a later S model, or a V12V nutter machine.
A Vantage would wallow less, but again is not designed for the track, but would be better, especially in something like a later S model, or a V12V nutter machine.
HBradley said:
Seems are very odd choice for a Track Day car?!
What it lacks on the track it more than makes up for on an intercontinental trip via an Autobahn/Autostrada/AutoRoute!
I'd get one tomorrow if I could, but unfortunately I am missing the odd £100k.
A very odd choice for a track car indeed... whilst the DB9 can certainly be set up to be a awlful lot sharper it's not exactly its natural abode... The Vantage is a much more focused device!
Ithe DB9 is more of a vehicle for those who really don't have to prove themselves by driving aimlessly in circles... ;-)
Just think, in time you spent doing that I suspect you could have made it to an agreeable chateaux for dinner in the DB9.. :-)
- let the flames begin!
Ithe DB9 is more of a vehicle for those who really don't have to prove themselves by driving aimlessly in circles... ;-)
Just think, in time you spent doing that I suspect you could have made it to an agreeable chateaux for dinner in the DB9.. :-)
- let the flames begin!
Edited by Squaremeal on Friday 24th March 12:54
If you would like to do one of the Aston Martin courses at Millbrook, they used to take you on the handling course in a DB9 (probably DB11 now).
With a race driver throwing the DB9 around the corners, the g forces were quite uncomfortable. The car can certainly corner, although I wonder if the model which I was in, might have had adaptive suspension.
Before getting divorced I had its sister car Jaguar XKR.
Coming from a BMW 130 it was really apparent that whilst power was massively up, the Jag wasn't as happy being flung around corners. The XKR was IMHO very much a grand tourer and although I haven't driven a DB9, I would have guessed it to be similar
Coming from a BMW 130 it was really apparent that whilst power was massively up, the Jag wasn't as happy being flung around corners. The XKR was IMHO very much a grand tourer and although I haven't driven a DB9, I would have guessed it to be similar
marcosgt said:
Thanks all.
I can certainly see it'd make a great trans-continental transport .......... (or they'll be too old and knackered for me to take a chance on it!)
I drive a 2005 DB9. Did a 2500 mile round trip to Germany; Switzerland; Italy, and back through France a few years ago. I wouldn't hesitate to jump in and do the same again. They are very reliable. Bit thirsty though !I can certainly see it'd make a great trans-continental transport .......... (or they'll be too old and knackered for me to take a chance on it!)
Gemmot said:
I'll happily be corrected, but I thought the XKR and DB9 were similar?
The do both have four wheels, but I am not aware of any common parts. Even the body/chassis construction is mostly from very different materials.
Supply and demand differences do kick in, very noticeably as the two cars become older. Here is an XKR, yours for £4,000. Used Astons seem to reach a particular low point, then tend to begin appreciating in price.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/jaguar/1998-jaguar-xkr-s...
Don't take our comments too seriously Mark. We just love our cars. Glad you enjoyed your Aston Martin drive at Goodwood.
Vantage for track! DB9 for travel! I have seen many a DB9 having zero bother keeping up with everything on a fast mixed car road blast - absolutely real world compliant! The big bro Rapide (and I think later DB9?) has a switch to firm up the dampers too - but I find this tends to shake the tobacco out of my pipe when crossing a continent 
Gemmot.....
Now, what you have done is confuse the DB7 with a XK......?.....not a DB9.
Getting back to the subject of the DB9.....
This is indeed an interesting thing concerning the suspension on the DB9 as when it first came out, lots of DB7 owners went and tried them out.
Fantastic car to drive, but the DB9 was considered to have to hard suspension, which quite a few people had bought and then became fed up banging over the bumps?
Yes, things move forward in motoring, but with the state of our roads today this has become an issue with sports cars.
The F type has been set to a slightly softer setting, but still firm, because they know that if it was to harsh it would sell less.
I did do the Jag invitation day at the top gear track a few years ago in both the v6 and v8, and I thought it was just right...
But some would find it far to soft for a sports car.
Just goes to show how important it is to drive a car, and drive them on all surfaces otherwise as some did with the DB9, they sold them within a few years so they didn't have to replace their teeth?
Yes we are all different.
For ordinary driving, and no track days the DB7 was fine for me, but not for others. I kept mine for 6 years......the longest I have ever owned a car?
Gadgit
Now, what you have done is confuse the DB7 with a XK......?.....not a DB9.
Getting back to the subject of the DB9.....
This is indeed an interesting thing concerning the suspension on the DB9 as when it first came out, lots of DB7 owners went and tried them out.
Fantastic car to drive, but the DB9 was considered to have to hard suspension, which quite a few people had bought and then became fed up banging over the bumps?
Yes, things move forward in motoring, but with the state of our roads today this has become an issue with sports cars.
The F type has been set to a slightly softer setting, but still firm, because they know that if it was to harsh it would sell less.
I did do the Jag invitation day at the top gear track a few years ago in both the v6 and v8, and I thought it was just right...
But some would find it far to soft for a sports car.
Just goes to show how important it is to drive a car, and drive them on all surfaces otherwise as some did with the DB9, they sold them within a few years so they didn't have to replace their teeth?
Yes we are all different.
For ordinary driving, and no track days the DB7 was fine for me, but not for others. I kept mine for 6 years......the longest I have ever owned a car?
Gadgit
gadgit said:
Gemmot.....
Now, what you have done is confuse the DB7 with a XK......?.....not a DB9.
Gadgit
No, I did mean the DB9...Now, what you have done is confuse the DB7 with a XK......?.....not a DB9.
Gadgit
http://carsort.com/compare/Aston-Martin-DB9-vs-Jag...
Gemmot said:
gadgit said:
Gemmot.....
Now, what you have done is confuse the DB7 with a XK......?.....not a DB9.
Gadgit
No, I did mean the DB9...Now, what you have done is confuse the DB7 with a XK......?.....not a DB9.
Gadgit
http://carsort.com/compare/Aston-Martin-DB9-vs-Jag...
The original db7 (the contemporary of the early xk) was I believe based on the chassis of the XJS (someone will correct me please if I'm wrong on that). But the db9 uses the then new VH architecture unique to Aston Martin
On suspension the car shouldn't be too wallowy, albeit as others have said it's not really intended to be a track car. The problem though with a lot of these Experience companies is that they're using old models (did it have a normal key or the glass ecu?) and the cars have a tough life. I remember I did a track day in a db9 and wasn't impressed, then went and test drove a newer model at a dealer and bought t straightaway
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