Which route after DB9? Vanquish S vs DBS vs Vanquish V12

[4leks]

Having had my DB9 (470bhp) for almost 3 years now it looks like time to change. No rush, I have 1-2 month to choose right car if needed
I am completely puzzled though to what I have next. I still need a 4 seater (6 y.o at the back), this is going to be everyday car plus family trips. I have Ferrari 360 to play with when I am on my own

The dilemma is really between these 3. I must admit I have not driven any of them as yet but will certainly test drive them all
I love the look & sound of Vanquish S (06/07 years). I suspect it will be slightly 'old school' compare to my current DB9 but I guess on par with my 360F1. I love my F1 box so expect I'll be fine with Vanquish S as well. Also, it looks like Vanquish S are slightly appreciating now which is a bonus. I will not be buying the car as asset anyway plus I will be doing 7-8k miles in it per annum, so I do not expect any appreciation; just don't want to loose £40k in next 2-3 years. I have concerns re its reliability though, heard horror stories. Will only buy one with extended man. warranty (any of these 3) but I still don't want the car to spend half of its life in the repairs bearing in mind it is every day car. Also I guess maintenance will be on the high side.

DBS looks like best value for money of all 3. I may even consider Volante for this budget but my Mrs hates soft top convertibles, so not necessarily. Again, love the looks however not much of an 'upgrade' from my existing DB9. I guess the power & handling upgrade is noticeable but in terms of looks, especially inside, I would feel like sitting in the same car. I am not sure how DBS will be doing in terms of depreciation, I guess I will loose less money than in Vanquish V12 but more than in Vanquish S over the years.

Vanquish V12 is lovely car inside/out except I don't like the rear but can live with it. Most expensive out of 3, will be looking at early car to fit in the budget. I also guess it will be worst of all 3 in terms of depreciation if it follows similar curve to DBS

So, any thoughts?

Also looked at California which I think works brilliantly with hard top etc but both me and Mrs prefer the look of Aston and I already have one Ferrari which I am not planning to sell at the moment

[DB9VolanteDriver]

For 3 or 4 more years, with a rugrat? You sound like a good candidate for a Rapide. It at least looks somewhat different than the DB9/S from the driver's seat, and is far more practical than the others, plus you can buy one that's already heavily depreciated.

Would never think of using a VS as anything but a weekend fun car (too special for that). New V...perfectly suited for daily use, but far too much of a depreciating purchase.

[Vee12V]

Personally I'd go for the DBS. No point in going for the new Vanquish unless you can stretch the budget to one of the later 8 speed models.
The original Vanquish on the other hand would only interest me if it had the manual works conversion done.

[4leks]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

For 3 or 4 more years, with a rugrat? You sound like a good candidate for a Rapide. It at least looks somewhat different than the DB9/S from the driver's seat, and is far more practical than the others, plus you can buy one that's already heavily depreciated.

Would never think of using a VS as anything but a weekend fun car (too special for that). New V...perfectly suited for daily use, but far too much of a depreciating purchase.

Thx. I looked at Rapide but would only consider it if/when we have another child or when the child is too old for the rear seat. It looks nice but still looses to coupe aesthetically.
Do you think VS is too much of a car to be used everyday? Too fragile? I used 360 everyday for a year or two April to Oct and it was absolutely fine. I would not consider VS too special, would worry about reliability though. However I actually had less maintenance problems with 360 when I used it every day compare to weekend / occasional use only
I agree on Vanquish V12 will depreciate a lot by the look of it.

[4leks]

Vee12V said:

Personally I'd go for the DBS. No point in going for the new Vanquish unless you can stretch the budget to one of the later 8 speed models.
The original Vanquish on the other hand would only interest me if it had the manual works conversion done.

Looks like DBS is the safest option here, agree. Should handle every day usage fine, not much more expensive to maintain vs DB9 and depreciation wise does not look too scary either. IMO. I am not an expert at all thus trying to pick up better brains then my

[vankypanky]

old vanquish is not a daily at all in any stretch. going up in value very well in the region of £750-£1,000 a month over the past three years.
same cars selling at £90k now at £120k
i still wouldnt buy one if you intended to use it a fair bit. it isnt child friendly in the slightest. it has the same interior as the early DB9.

the DBS is a better option really out of them all IMO

[Jockman]

I went from 470 DB9 to DBS and I feel like I'm in a different car altogether. The DB9 is a beautiful car but the DBS harks back to masculinity initially espoused by the old Vanquish.

If you went for the Virage then I concur with your sentiments about being in a very similar car.

New Vanquish is fab but not far enough along the depreciation curve for me.

[SELON]

Of course! The Virage. Don't rule it out. Great VFM!

And a brilliant car...

[wokkadriver]

I tried the DBS after the DB9, and found that it was good, but not £40k better than a DB9.

Ended up in a V12V….

[4leks]

SELON said:

Of course! The Virage. Don't rule it out. Great VFM!

And a brilliant car...

Can't see myself in Virage. I don't think it is worth all the hassle replacing DB9 with smth v similar.
DBS might be a way to go
Just looked at classifields and was supriced:
1. The price difference between good touchtronic dbs 08/09 and new vanquish 2012 is about £30k; either dbs holds the value well or vanquish 6speed is pushed by 8 speed model; that means vanquish might loose quite a bit over next 2-3 years (on another hand I can't believe vanquish price equals dbs)
2. Vanquish S is now worth more then dbs (or will in a year time if trend continues). I know very little re AM prices (follow F and L prices more)...is it due to overall quantities build i.e 3400 dbs vs 1000 vanquish s?

[wokkadriver]

I tried the DBS after the DB9, and found that it was good, but not £40k better than a DB9.

Ended up in a V12V….

[4leks]

wokkadriver said:

I tried the DBS after the DB9, and found that it was good, but not £40k better than a DB9.

Ended up in a V12V….

I had similar experience with 360 vs F430. Decided to keep 360 as could not afford 458 at the time
Hope db9 vs dbs would be different but who knows

[divetheworld]

wokkadriver said:

I tried the DBS after the DB9, and found that it was good, but not £40k better than a DB9.

Ended up in a V12V….

Maybe, but not not enough to keep me from one. V12V is a madman. DBS is an iron fist in a velvet glove. Should have got both...

For the OP,
It may look like a 9, but it acts and drives like a completely different car. Everything that the 9 didn't have, the DBS does with aplomb. I think a lot of people don't realise the DBS isnt a 9 in a party frock. Its not a DB9-S, its a different car. DBS values are rock solid at the moment, you'll lose very little, might even go the other way one day. Probably the strongest residuals.
Drive one, listen to it, I reckon you'll choose one.

[Jockman]

wokkadriver said:

I tried the DBS after the DB9, and found that it was good, but not £40k better than a DB9.

.

Agreed. Thats why I paid half of that. Just depends when you buy

[Speculatore]

Give your car to Bamford Rose and ask for the 'Blofeld Upgrade' and spend half of what you would on another car. 450 to 520 bhp, switchable suspension, DBS undertray and manifolds, front brake 380mm upgrade, high lift inlet camms, pinnacle exhaust system with 200 cell density cats, electronic dampers/performance springs, lightweight flywheel and twin plate clutch (Mines a manual) and loads of other little tweaks.

[tonyhall38]

Not a DBS is though is it.......

[Speculatore]

tonyhall38 said:

Not a DBS is though is it.......

No mate.... But I couldn't afford one and I loved my manual DB9 so much I opted for plan 'B' and saved some money...

[downr]

Be careful with the old Vanquish. I think they're lovely, the sound is fantastic and they are currently going up in value, in part as they are seen as the last true "hand-built" Aston Martins.

However, I'm always alarmed when I read the AMOC forums on them; there are pages and pages of warnings about things that go routinely wrong and things that you need to make sure they have had done before you buy one etc. And many of those warnings come from people who are clearly very competent mechanics doing a lot of the work themselves. So as Russell has said earlier, if you intend to use the car as something approaching a DD, then an old Vanquish might not be up to the job, as it might well spend more time in for repairs than out on the road. I see it as more like one of the classic Astons; a car better suited to come out to play at weekends in the sunshine

[4leks]

downr said:

Be careful with the old Vanquish. I think they're lovely, the sound is fantastic and they are currently going up in value, in part as they are seen as the last true "hand-built" Aston Martins.

However, I'm always alarmed when I read the AMOC forums on them; there are pages and pages of warnings about things that go routinely wrong and things that you need to make sure they have had done before you buy one etc. And many of those warnings come from people who are clearly very competent mechanics doing a lot of the work themselves. So as Russell has said earlier, if you intend to use the car as something approaching a DD, then an old Vanquish might not be up to the job, as it might well spend more time in for repairs than out on the road. I see it as more like one of the classic Astons; a car better suited to come out to play at weekends in the sunshine

Thank you. Yes, I read some stories about VS reliability as well thus I am cautious. I would deffo use it as DD or almost DD so have to be v careful

[4leks]

Speculatore said:

No mate.... But I couldn't afford one and I loved my manual DB9 so much I opted for plan 'B' and saved some money...

I liked the idea of saving money however I am concerned that the car with such mods will not be covered under extended AM warranty. If it is the case I doubt I want to do that for sake of adding extra 40bhp. I also guess that any money spent on mods are not recoverable i.e it is extremely unlikely modded AM would cost more than straight car (could be even less due to more ltd market) Yeap, you potentially save 20k on upgrading the car by modding exisiring one but I am not entirely sure this is my way to go. Thx for the tip anyway