Can I afford not to get a DB9?

[ric p]

I currently have a Ferrari F355, which has been faultless for the 5 years that I have owned it. And great fun. However in the last year I have been looking at and driven some DB9s with a view to a change. I have never managed to make the leap from the slightly boy-racer F car to the gentleman's express as the 355 still looks and sounds great, possibly the last beautiful model that they have made and is as quick as you need to go on the pubic roads.
However I've still continued to trawl AutoTrader etc and early models are regularly appearing at the low 30k mark. Buying wisely and with a bit of BR fettling, one could almost have both, keeping the F car, and slowly improve on the early issues. (Proper man-maths that my wife does not yet know about).
How well are these 04 to 06 models standing up to age and mileage?
How low can they go?
If they are retailing at low 30s then trade must be getting them for late 20s.
Or is this a mad idea leaving me with 2 money pits rather than just the 1?
All thoughts welcome (especially if they are encouraging).

[jamesc12]

Do you want a manual or flappy paddle?

I have a manual DB9 - I and many others say that it transforms the nature of the car towards the sportier end due to the control you have over the V12 under the bonnet . They are rarer and probably command a small premium but well worth it if you are looking to replace your 355. If your wife can handle the man math to keep both then perhaps an auto would be a better bet given you'd have the sportier 355 to take out on the weekend.

[brakedwell]

Condition, mileage and service history have a big influence on price. You really ought to be looking at £35-£40k for a decent 2004/5 car. Prices could be bottoming out as there are fewer DB9's up for sale these days. Check all the door locks are working correctly with the remote fob. Also make sure the gearbox oil cooling system update (stainless steel pipes etc) has been done if it is a pre-2006 car. Also check for (minor) paint bubbling around the door handles, bottom rear edges of the doors and the leading edge of the bonnet, which were a result of faulty preparation in the factory up to 2008. Find a good DB9 and it should still look like new and will last for ever.

Buy a copy of The DEFINITIVE GUIDE to new Gaydon-era ASTON MARTIN before you start looking.

[theno23]

I don't personally own one (I've got a V8V), but the general feedback here seems to be that they're pretty reliable, and take miles well, though they depreciate quickly with years and miles (as you've seen), for no very obvious reason.

I doubt you'll get 5 years of troublefree service out of one, but the faults tend to be relatively minor (sticking petrol caps and the like). Not cheap to run, but I've heard the 355 can be pricey to service etc.

You should hear from Yeti soon, he's got an earlyish 9 with BR mods, and is quite happy with it

I would recommend "grant's book", http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=104...

It's got lots of useful info in it for potential buyers.

- Steve

[ric p]

I was thinking of the flappy-paddle one to compliment the manual 355. It would also appeal to my wife to drive it and may assist the maths.
I also drove a Maserati Granturismo but although a great 2+2, it was too soft. Although the Aston was not a sports car it was still a sportier GT even with the paddles, if that makes sense.

[Gdc]

Ric I owned a manual 355 gts 5 yrs ago. Great car, refined, almost delicate intuitive handling, i loved the snick of the gear change, blipping the downchange and the sound of that flat plane crank V8 wail, wonderful. I agree a beautiful looking car but bit square at the front compared with Astons. Now I have 2011 my db9 volante TT2. Completely different. More relaxing as a cruiser when munching miles. Bit of a beast when in Sport mode. Handling more remote than the Ferrari but much more grunt and personally I much prefer the V12 induction roar and exhaust blare, even better I expect with BR mods. I will probably have steering rack changed by BR too to match the 355 and Vanquish.

So driving heaven combo for me would be 355+db9v+ old vanquish or v12v.

Go for the 470 bhp db9 with ADS available from late 2010 if you can afford it.
Mike