DB9 - Is it REALLY soft?
Discussion
Close to the end of production of both DB7 Vantage & DB9 they produced the GT/GTA & GT in DB9 and basically made the car the way they should have made it in the first place so it could be thrown around a track without going off unless really pushed OTT. Being a limited edition also commanded a premium and secured their places as future classics.
7&9 are both luxury tourers at the end of the day and heavy. The DB7 was indeed supposed to be the replacement for the Jaguar XJS but seeing as AML was about to go under again the lifeline was thrown to them and project NPX I recall it was called became the DB7 which went on to save AML from doom from 1994-2004 when DB9 was introduced and took over in a new format build completely different and more modern than that of the ancient under pinnings of the DB7.
Both great cars but deffo not track cars so regarding OP's points made he is indeed correct and the car in question was probably a tired old model being used until it dies.
If it were not for 7 & 9's input there would be no AML today.
7&9 are both luxury tourers at the end of the day and heavy. The DB7 was indeed supposed to be the replacement for the Jaguar XJS but seeing as AML was about to go under again the lifeline was thrown to them and project NPX I recall it was called became the DB7 which went on to save AML from doom from 1994-2004 when DB9 was introduced and took over in a new format build completely different and more modern than that of the ancient under pinnings of the DB7.
Both great cars but deffo not track cars so regarding OP's points made he is indeed correct and the car in question was probably a tired old model being used until it dies.
If it were not for 7 & 9's input there would be no AML today.
Edited by Car mad enthusiast on Sunday 26th March 09:27
You can transform the handling readily on these cars. Installing the larger DBS roll bars, missing completely on the DB9 Volante, makes a huge difference and the updating the springs also helps as they are very soft. Finish off with some Bilstein shocks and you will be able to track the car easily against a stock V12V.
It doesn't ruin the comfort level too much either.
It doesn't ruin the comfort level too much either.
There are far too many cars set up for the Nurburgring today IMHO, and not enough for the real world. If I could change anything on my DB9 it would be to make the ride more comfortable. I'm hoping to help that along by a change of tyres from the Bridgestones (which I've never really liked personally on any car) but expect the sport suspension is the limiting factor.
Again IMHO Aston Martins were never meant to be crashy bangy things, I think they have evolved that way to keep up with the way a certain brand of typically red cars have developed. Big AMs should whisk at least 2 and preferably 4 people great distances in style and reasonable comfort, not be charging up the Stelvio. The absence of useable rear seats is also a step completely in the wrong direction.
Again IMHO Aston Martins were never meant to be crashy bangy things, I think they have evolved that way to keep up with the way a certain brand of typically red cars have developed. Big AMs should whisk at least 2 and preferably 4 people great distances in style and reasonable comfort, not be charging up the Stelvio. The absence of useable rear seats is also a step completely in the wrong direction.
+1, I totally agree 100%
Loose_Cannon said:
There are far too many cars set up for the Nurburgring today IMHO, and not enough for the real world. If I could change anything on my DB9 it would be to make the ride more comfortable. I'm hoping to help that along by a change of tyres from the Bridgestones (which I've never really liked personally on any car) but expect the sport suspension is the limiting factor.
Again IMHO Aston Martins were never meant to be crashy bangy things, I think they have evolved that way to keep up with the way a certain brand of typically red cars have developed. Big AMs should whisk at least 2 and preferably 4 people great distances in style and reasonable comfort, not be charging up the Stelvio. The absence of useable rear seats is also a step completely in the wrong direction.
Again IMHO Aston Martins were never meant to be crashy bangy things, I think they have evolved that way to keep up with the way a certain brand of typically red cars have developed. Big AMs should whisk at least 2 and preferably 4 people great distances in style and reasonable comfort, not be charging up the Stelvio. The absence of useable rear seats is also a step completely in the wrong direction.
Loose_Cannon said:
There are far too many cars set up for the Nurburgring today IMHO, and not enough for the real world. If I could change anything on my DB9 it would be to make the ride more comfortable. I'm hoping to help that along by a change of tyres from the Bridgestones (which I've never really liked personally on any car) but expect the sport suspension is the limiting factor.
Again IMHO Aston Martins were never meant to be crashy bangy things, I think they have evolved that way to keep up with the way a certain brand of typically red cars have developed. Big AMs should whisk at least 2 and preferably 4 people great distances in style and reasonable comfort, not be charging up the Stelvio. The absence of useable rear seats is also a step completely in the wrong direction.
Couldn't agree more!! I'm with James May on this, the best way to ruin a good car is to develop it for the Nurburgring!! The number of manufacturers using it to develop their cars is unbelievable! It's an utter irrelevance to driving in the real world! Aston Martin should stay well clear of this Nordschleife 'Arms Race'!Again IMHO Aston Martins were never meant to be crashy bangy things, I think they have evolved that way to keep up with the way a certain brand of typically red cars have developed. Big AMs should whisk at least 2 and preferably 4 people great distances in style and reasonable comfort, not be charging up the Stelvio. The absence of useable rear seats is also a step completely in the wrong direction.
See, what I said earlier about the suspension on the db9 being to hard for some people when they came out,,,,,
People only keeping them for a few years?
Some people returned to a db7 believe it or not, to have a nice ride !
Mind you, I'm thinking about it..... A db9 for £35k, service it yourself with an odd Indy service........ Must be a bargain
Gadgit.
People only keeping them for a few years?
Some people returned to a db7 believe it or not, to have a nice ride !
Mind you, I'm thinking about it..... A db9 for £35k, service it yourself with an odd Indy service........ Must be a bargain
Gadgit.
It's a heavy car 1800kg+ designed for fast gt runs not a chuck it around corners etc. I have HR springs and larger anti roll bars and it's more than capable of going around corners in the real world, not on track. It not like the classic Ferrari 1100kg which is a mid engined go cart. You have to consider what you want from a car. I love the difference that both give.
gadgit said:
See, what I said earlier about the suspension on the db9 being to hard for some people when they came out,,,,,
People only keeping them for a few years?
Some people returned to a db7 believe it or not, to have a nice ride !
Mind you, I'm thinking about it..... A db9 for £35k, service it yourself with an odd Indy service........ Must be a bargain
Gadgit.
The suspension on my DBS is softer than on my old 2005 DB9, but by no means would I have said the DB9 was too harsh. In fact, the DBS is surprising compliant due to the adaptive suspension.People only keeping them for a few years?
Some people returned to a db7 believe it or not, to have a nice ride !
Mind you, I'm thinking about it..... A db9 for £35k, service it yourself with an odd Indy service........ Must be a bargain
Gadgit.
I don't think anyone would be disappointed in an early DB9, but make sure you get a decent one as some I looked at were rolling bankruptcies waiting to happen.
Gemmot said:
Jon39 said:
Gemmot said:
... I had its sister car, Jaguar XKR.
Sister car ?
Apart from sharing the same shareholders at the time, I think the only family connection would be the highly talented designer.
Edited by roughrider on Tuesday 28th March 01:35
vinnie83 said:
The suspension on my DBS is softer than on my old 2005 DB9, but by no means would I have said the DB9 was too harsh. In fact, the DBS is surprising compliant due to the adaptive suspension.
I don't think anyone would be disappointed in an early DB9, but make sure you get a decent one as some I looked at were rolling bankruptcies waiting to happen.
Pre 2009 Multimatic dampers v post 2009 Bilstein dampers are a big factor.I don't think anyone would be disappointed in an early DB9, but make sure you get a decent one as some I looked at were rolling bankruptcies waiting to happen.
roughrider said:
DB7 is more akin to XKR with engine and gearbox joined together at the front. DB9 is front-mid mounted engine, with rear-mid mounted gearbox, in a very strong aluminium chassis/construction, and thus far better handling characteristics. A post 2009 DB9 manual [improved torsional rigidity and Bilstein dampers], is a mighty fine car around a track!!
DB9 on a track ?. I owned a DB9 from 2005 to 2009 when I exchanged it for a V12V and I took my DB9 on the track once and it was bloody awful. Brakes fading pretty quickly, oversteer and the touchtronic gearbox overheating so not much joy to be had in that. If you want to a have a sporty drive and the occasional track day buy a V12V - much better balanced car which is a real hoot on the track. Edited by roughrider on Tuesday 28th March 01:35
The DB9 also needs some finesse to be driven quickly on a track. Having done the AM Performance Driving Course, I was amazed at some of the lateral G that it could achieve when piloted by a professional. There is definitely a way to get the best out of it. The key lesson was that it can't be hustled into corners (it's not "pointy" go-kart like a Ferrari 360 or a V8 Vantage). If one tries an aggressive turn in, the car's nose lurches and washes wide. It needs more precise inputs to set the car up accurately for the corners. Then, it is surprisingly capable (there is a reason that they based the Le Mans class-winning DBR9 on it).
That said, a track is not its natural home.
That said, a track is not its natural home.
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