Tuesday 21st January 2014

Aston Martin DB9 manual: Spotted

Well if the 612 Scaglietti isn't a pretty enough manual V12...

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The manual Ferrari has been dead for a while now, the Huracan means the Lamborghini with a gearstick is no more and what does the future hold for Porsches with driver-operated clutches?

Familiar and still beautiful from outside...

In amongst those we've seen the slow demise of manual Astons too. The DBS lost its manual option when it became the Vanquish and so did the V12 Vantage, replaced by the Sportshift III-only Vantage S. Only the base V8 Vantage offers two transmission options.

Which all makes this DB9 manual rather a novelty, especially as it's another Aston model only available with an auto. With the 2013MY facelift the auto became the only transmission choice, with Aston saying customers simply didn't want three pedals.

Here was where the case for an auto-only DB9 range was going to be made. The V12 Vantage's manual shift came in for a fair bit of criticism after all, thanks to its baulky shift and awkwardly-sited lever. And the DB9 is more of a GT, isn't it? Let the auto shuffle along as you wile away the miles to the next European city of choice and all will be well.

... with a rather lovely surprise inside

But then reading back through PH's first experience of the manual DB9 rather changed that opinion. 'The harder you drive the better the change gets' we wrote, and also mentioned well placed pedals. Apparently 'sending the revs soaring towards the red line before snatching the next ratio is to indulge in an act of pure ecstasy.'

So it turns out a manual DB9 may indeed be something worth seeking out. But unsurprisingly, they aren't exactly common. Though the PH classifieds list eight manuals including this car in the 106 DB9s for sale, two are without interior pics and one 'manual' doesn't have a gearlever.

As a 2009MY facelift car, this DB9 benefits from extra power (470hp) and is one of the first to use Bilstein dampers too. As a PHer's modern Aston at £50K, this DB9 is a very exciting proposition.

Moreover, there are very few alternatives, or so it seems. A Ferrari 550 would probably be an even more absorbing drive for the same money and values seem to be rising, but the £50K cars are 15 years old now. And other than that, what other manual V12 GTs are there?

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ASTON MARTIN DB9 MANUAL
Engine: 5,935cc V12
Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 470@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 443@5,000rpm
MPG: 17.2 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 389g/km
Price new: £116,950
Yours for: £51,495

See the original advert here

[breuilly66]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

[will_]

Also an older example coming up for sale at auction soon:

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/aston-martin-db...

Could be a bit of a bargain....

[yeti]

I have the even-rarer DB9 Volante with the manual gearbox... it really is an astonishingly good car, the manual box and lack of torque converter completely changes the way the car drives. As for GT credentials; there's so much torque, 3rd in town and 6th on the motorway covers all the bases

A great car in that ad.

[ghibbett]

We didn't ever manage to line up an auto versus a manual side-by-side, but from seat of the pants feel the manual was noticeably faster.

[folos]

Meh, looks very dated now IMO..

[iloveboost]

One of these was parked down my road the other night. The DB9 still looks lovely in the flesh probably the nicest car in our little town that night. Gorgeous wheels on that car as well. If anyone looking at that is thinking maybe they should buy it, I would.

[911Thrasher]

looks very dated IMO - i think the DBS will age better, those tiny little tweeks just make the difference.

[Charlie Michael]

I'm not normally a fan of the DB9 - much preferred the V8 Vantage - However, that colour on those wheels looks pretty much spot on IMO.

I disagree with the other posters above that it looks dated - to my eyes, it looks a lot less fussy than the more aggressive looking Astons, almost svelte.

[vrooom]

They all look same... zzzzzzz

[kambites]

911Thrasher said:

looks very dated IMO

I think that's why I like it. The later Astons are all infected with the ridiculous creases and vents and things that ruin most modern cars.

To my eye, modern cars are ugly; the DB9 was one of that last cars that isn't.

[soad]

vrooom said:

They all look same... zzzzzzz

Driven one? The same thing could be said for the 911 models too.

[Garlick]

Yes please. Had a lovely few days with a manual '9.

The chassis tweaks made to the DB9 post Virage were notable though, so a late car holds a little more appeal in the real world.

That 550 is also jolly lovely too.

[F1GTRUeno]

Still a genuinely beautiful thing to behold.

Never liked the sport pack wheels though. The original DB9 wheels suited it far better.

[vixen1700]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Agreed, that first picture above looks very nice and far from dated, a lot less fussy than what came after it.

.

[TaylotS2K]

Still looks decent in my eyes, especially in the right colour. Much prettier than the 612.

[Contigo]

Lovely and got to love Manaul supercars. All the people banging on about Flappy Paddle, SMG, CC, ZF really ought to go back to basics!

[dukebox9reg]

First DB9 I sat is was a manual and I got ragged round the local roads by a member of the Aston Martin Owners Club around the roads round Headley Court. Sounded lovely but really didn't feel that fast.

Prefered the fully rebuilt and blueprinted old V8 Vantage I got taken out in. Noise was epic.

[BorkFactor]

I love that, if I can ever afford one I would seek out a manual without a doubt.

Still a beautiful car.

[Gorbyrev]

One to buy, drive and cherish. Wish my daily driver looked as dated as that

[Corkman]

Contigo said:

Lovely and got to love Manaul supercars. All the people banging on about Flappy Paddle, SMG, CC, ZF really ought to go back to basics!

Back to basics... I wholeheartedly agree...

...and why stop at the gearbox... lets do away with ABS... lets bring back leaf springs... lets chuck out ECUs and go back to carbs and a magneto........

Meh...


Is it just me or is anyone else bored of the whole manual vs auto debate?