Looking to buy my first Aston

[juddcampbell]

First time poster, I wanted to get everyones opinion on a few items I am debating. I am looking at picking up a DB9 Volante this year. I was looking at the 07-08 model years but with the updated interior I have moved up to the 09 at this point. I have yet to drive one but I am headed down to Miami in just over a month and I figure I will look at a few while down there. (I live in Kentucky, not many around)

I have read through Grant Neal's 12th edition of "The Definitive Guide to new Gaydon era Aston Martin" so much the pages fell out of the book!

I have always had manual transmission cars however I am leaning towards the auto in the DB9 as I read it is brilliant. (and my wife can drive the car then as well)

I am coming from Porsche as I sold a modified 996 Turbo in 2014 to fuel some real estate purchases. Things went well and 996 Turbo money has turned into DB9 money!

The 2009 cars seem to carry a 15k premium in price over a similar 2007 or 08 car. Do you feel this is warranted for the improvements? I plan on keeping the car 3-4 years and putting 5k / year on the car.

I am looking at 20-30k miles on the car as my target. I figure that is the sweet spot as I will not be paying a premium for a sub 10k garage queen yet when I go to sell it will be under 50k miles ( a mental barrier for some)

I have 2 kids, 5 and 2.5 currently I figure they only have a few more years to fit into the rear seats so I had better hurry and get one!

Anyone else come from Porsche? I do my own work currently, can I continue that on the DB9 well enough?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFjrSQbJQWo

my two last Porsche cars

[mrpseudonym]

Good man for reading the book.
My opinion only on a couple of your other questions..
Yes, the 09 onwards cars are worth the premium
By all means do things yourself, brake pads etc, but get annual service done at dealer to get the service stamps for resale value

[Murph7355]

I'm not sure the auto is "brilliant", more likely it just suits the DB9 better.

Have you seen an old and new interior up close? See both before committing. IMO there were elements of Aston's facelifted interiors of that generation that weren't an improvement. Felt cheaper to me.

[clarkmagpie]

The kids won't fit in the back surely?
When I drove a 57 plate, with the seat in the closest position to the wheel I was comfortable with, there wasn't even a gap between the back seat and the front seat.
I'm 5'10 so hardly a giant.
That was a coupe rather than volante though - I'm not sure if there is a difference...

[M5MarkM]

I've got a 9V and love it. I don't it use much at all now I've Vanquish S, but I decided to keep it, so should tell you something about the 9V In reality the Porka probably handles better than the 9V and the auto box is actually pretty poor compared to others out there. But it's a great car, sounds amazing and outs a real smile on my face every single time I use it, I don't think you could be dissapointed

[johns355]

I'm now looking for an early DB9 volante too! It was between the Massa granturismo with a full 4 seats or stick with the mpv and get an aston- we decided on the db9, now the search begins!

[rog007]

clarkmagpie said:

The kids won't fit in the back surely?
When I drove a 57 plate, with the seat in the closest position to the wheel I was comfortable with, there wasn't even a gap between the back seat and the front seat.
I'm 5'10 so hardly a giant.
That was a coupe rather than volante though - I'm not sure if there is a difference...

Came from a 996 Turbo heading to a DB9; walked out the dealers with a Vantage.

'Seats' in the rear of the DB9 weren't and I actually thought the Vantage a prettier car.

Good luck!

[The G Kid]

I do the school run in my DB9 with my 9 and 6 year old's, which is fine with just the three of us, however with my wife in the car it is a bit of a squash and you have to compromise your driving position. I am 6ft 1, and having my 6 year old behind me isn't massively comfortable! I wouldn't want more than a 30 min drive with a 4 of us, but up to that is fine.

[kipv12]

I bought a low mileage 06 db9v 2 years ago,absolutely love it.
Just bought a 4 door hatch (rapide s) as a daily but the volante is a keeper and will be coming out when the sun shines,Neil
Pictures will follow

[juddcampbell]

5'10" and I will be dropping the kids at school with the car maybe 2 days a week. I only have a 15 min drive to school and I anticipate longer drives would only be on rare occasions.

[RobDown]

I drove my DB9 with two kids in the back, indeed I've driven from Birmingham to Liverpool with two adults in the back (not recommended). The thing is, if you sit in the back your knees go either side of the seat in front. And with 2 kids just put the smaller child behind the driver

The limiting factor in the back for me actually became the headroom, the roof curves down quite steeply. That's one reason why I was originally thinking of swapping the '9 for a volante. But in the end went for a Rapide S

[The G Kid]

juddcampbell said:

5'10" and I will be dropping the kids at school with the car maybe 2 days a week. I only have a 15 min drive to school and I anticipate longer drives would only be on rare occasions.

You won't have any problems then! I presume there is no difference with a Volante though, as my experience is purely on my DB9?