DB9 for the day! What's the thought process on purchasing?
Discussion
tuscaneer said:
i most recently drove a ferrari f430 and while it was a fantastic drive i didn't feel the interior was as nice a place (from a tactile point of view)to be as my aston.
Really? Is it signiifcantly different from a California then? I drove one of those last year and felt that it really was very well put together even the tired 360 I drove had a great "sense of occasion" about it...J-P said:
Really? Is it signiifcantly different from a California then? I drove one of those last year and felt that it really was very well put together even the tired 360 I drove had a great "sense of occasion" about it...
California is a world above F430 in interior terms; completely different league.Shmee said:
J-P said:
Really? Is it signiifcantly different from a California then? I drove one of those last year and felt that it really was very well put together even the tired 360 I drove had a great "sense of occasion" about it...
California is a world above F430 in interior terms; completely different league.J-P said:
michael gould said:
I dont really understand your post or what you hope to achive by it........I asume your intention is to wind up Aston Martin owners ?
Not at all, I don't like winding people up, it was just my opinion - I was interested in how they get bought (I'd assumed looks and engine) but it appears that not only was the car an acknowledged dog but that people have very different views on quality, which is understandable - the world would be a very boring place if we were all the same!Maybe I'll try a new one and then post again as per Zod's earlier comment.
you stupid w
ker why are wasting your money on this dog of a car are you totaly insane ??? maybe i'm just a bit sensative Shmee said:
I feel like my 2009 V8V is like pulling the best looking girl at school and she's exactly what I wanted 
You, my friend are one lucky man! I drove a V8V last year, beautiful car, great driving position and pretty quick too - not as pretty as a DB9 (IMHO) and still didn't like the console in the middle but a lovely car to drive. Although as it was a track experience, I was paying a lot more attention to what I was doing and the feel of the car at speed than I was to how it looked anyway.Taking an objective view on this discussion, I do tend to agree with JP that the cars are let down by the intrusion of really poor quality switch-gear from Volvos / Fords. The prime example of this is the key fob on earlier cars. It smacks of AM running out of money at the development stage and bodging the last bit.
Personally, I can overlook these foibles as driving the car is so much fun and on the whole the interior looks and feels pretty good. As an owner, you tend to focus in on the minutiae. But ultimately, you're in the seat of something most people would give their right arm for (sorry - I'm back on Abu Hamza again).
Personally, I can overlook these foibles as driving the car is so much fun and on the whole the interior looks and feels pretty good. As an owner, you tend to focus in on the minutiae. But ultimately, you're in the seat of something most people would give their right arm for (sorry - I'm back on Abu Hamza again).
michael gould said:
I suggest you never apply for a job with the Corp Diplomatique !!! let me tell you how you original post reads to me as a proud DB9 owner
you stupid wker why are wasting your money on this dog of a car are you totaly insane ??? maybe i'm just a bit sensative
In that case, Michael, I apologise profusely. Whenever I drive something that I've never driven before I'll write about it afterwards and normally post on PH, so not intended to insult. I was just surprised by my perception of it, given that I love cars.you stupid w
ker why are wasting your money on this dog of a car are you totaly insane ??? maybe i'm just a bit sensative If you do decide to drive another DB9, think about what you'd want from it: until the very latest ones with the adjustable dampers, the standard DB9 has been very much a GT. The TT2 gearbox is now very good, but I still prefer a manual. To get a proper sports car feel from any DB9 other than the latest ones, you need a sports pack car. The ride is harsher and the car sits a little lower, but it has far more driving feel. It also comes with better looking wheels.
Captain Beaky said:
J-P said:
I guess I just really wanted to love it, so was massively disappointed when I didn't - bit like pulling the best-looking girl at school and realising that she's not what you expected or wanted!
You're still at school ? That explains a lot. 
J-P said:
Really? Is it signiifcantly different from a California then? I drove one of those last year and felt that it really was very well put together even the tired 360 I drove had a great "sense of occasion" about it...
i have no direct experience of a california so can't really comment.don't get me wrong,my test drive was very very impressive.the car drives sensationally it really does but the overall cabin feel wasn't quite as good as my aston.interestingly,my local aston dealer commented that db9's from my08 onwards are an overall improvement from the previous car.just a more cohesive machine.Zod said:
If you do decide to drive another DB9, think about what you'd want from it: until the very latest ones with the adjustable dampers, the standard DB9 has been very much a GT. The TT2 gearbox is now very good, but I still prefer a manual. To get a proper sports car feel from any DB9 other than the latest ones, you need a sports pack car. The ride is harsher and the car sits a little lower, but it has far more driving feel. It also comes with better looking wheels.
I don't mind a firm ride but I don't want a car that has a suspension which makes funny noises (like it's hitting its bump stops in normal road driving conditions). I'd also prefer a manual and I'd want the inside to feel like I'd just bought £100k + of car. What age do you need to get for the adjustable dampers? Do they need a lot of servicing? What's the depreciation like?I've given my view of an admittedly poor example of the car - what's your view of the DB9 as an ownership proposition?
Servicing is not much more expensive than an M BMW. Adjustable dampers are only on MY 2011 cars, but the sports pack ahs been available for a long time. I never get bad sounds from the suspension, but travel is limited (my garage is entered from a steep hill sideways, so there is a difficult transition from downhill to flat on the way in and one of the rear wheels leaves the ground momentarily as I reverse in. My CSL would have had the same issue, I think).
As for depreciation, it's a problem for just about any expensive car, but it's not in anything like F612 territory.
As for depreciation, it's a problem for just about any expensive car, but it's not in anything like F612 territory.
tuscaneer said:
my local aston dealer commented that db9's from my08 onwards are an overall improvement from the previous car.just a more cohesive machine.
This is the real issue - you guys are talking about a much newer and presumably much better car anyway! Perhaps you should drive an 05 version to see how much your cars have moved on. No doubt it'll make you feel even better about the car you own!Zod said:
Servicing is not much more expensive than an M BMW. Adjustable dampers are only on MY 2011 cars, but the sports pack ahs been available for a long time. I never get bad sounds from the suspension, but travel is limited (my garage is entered from a steep hill sideways, so there is a difficult transition from downhill to flat on the way in and one of the rear wheels leaves the ground momentarily as I reverse in. My CSL would have had the same issue, I think).
As for depreciation, it's a problem for just about any expensive car, but it's not in anything like F612 territory.
Is it in the Maser GT territory? I'll have a look online to see what's available at what price. Thank youAs for depreciation, it's a problem for just about any expensive car, but it's not in anything like F612 territory.
J-P said:
This is the real issue - you guys are talking about a much newer and presumably much better car anyway! Perhaps you should drive an 05 version to see how much your cars have moved on. No doubt it'll make you feel even better about the car you own!
just to clarify my position fella, my car is a v8v my07 that i'm about to chop in for a db9 but i have driven an 04 db9 and found it fine.if you are interested i will report back the differences between an 04 and the most recent incarnations after a test driveI think if you drove a 5yr old ropey example of a BMW it would not give you a good impression either - especially if compared to a new AM!
Try comparing the old ropey AM to an old ropey BMW... Old and ropey is just that, regardless of it it was once a good car back when it was new! I know you were trying to do a like for like cost comparison with a newer, cheaper car, but as they say, you can't polish a t*rd...
Try comparing the old ropey AM to an old ropey BMW... Old and ropey is just that, regardless of it it was once a good car back when it was new! I know you were trying to do a like for like cost comparison with a newer, cheaper car, but as they say, you can't polish a t*rd...
When brand new, the interior was praised, but the game has moved on a lot since then (think of the original TT and how ground-breaking that seemed at the time. Now its worse then "normal"
The Autocar test from June 2004 noted that the "rotary heater controls feel cheap and the headlamp switch is nasty, but the rest is a joy"
And, as we're all agreed, driving any tired car will feel like a chore. In fact, I'm surprised you didnt mention the sat-nav too!
Unhappily, Aston have NEVER had the budget to develop a car like Ferrari or Porsche (or the longevirty to develop the car like a Porsche) and their interioprs have always been a bit parts-bin. My 1971 Aston had door handles from an MGB/allegro, ford cortina indicators, Midget switches, Jag switches, Hillman rear lights. I could go on...
I can recommned you drive a good one. One which has been serviced properly, looked after and whose owner has been more attentive then, perhaps the one you drove has. Then you'll see the difference, and jhopefully see the DB9 for the car is really is: A "Stunning British GT" as Autocar summised
The Autocar test from June 2004 noted that the "rotary heater controls feel cheap and the headlamp switch is nasty, but the rest is a joy"
And, as we're all agreed, driving any tired car will feel like a chore. In fact, I'm surprised you didnt mention the sat-nav too!
Unhappily, Aston have NEVER had the budget to develop a car like Ferrari or Porsche (or the longevirty to develop the car like a Porsche) and their interioprs have always been a bit parts-bin. My 1971 Aston had door handles from an MGB/allegro, ford cortina indicators, Midget switches, Jag switches, Hillman rear lights. I could go on...
I can recommned you drive a good one. One which has been serviced properly, looked after and whose owner has been more attentive then, perhaps the one you drove has. Then you'll see the difference, and jhopefully see the DB9 for the car is really is: A "Stunning British GT" as Autocar summised
williamp said:
When brand new, the interior was praised, but the game has moved on a lot since then (think of the original TT and how ground-breaking that seemed at the time. Now its worse then "normal"
The Autocar test from June 2004 noted that the "rotary heater controls feel cheap and the headlamp switch is nasty, but the rest is a joy"
And, as we're all agreed, driving any tired car will feel like a chore. In fact, I'm surprised you didnt mention the sat-nav too!
Unhappily, Aston have NEVER had the budget to develop a car like Ferrari or Porsche (or the longevirty to develop the car like a Porsche) and their interioprs have always been a bit parts-bin. My 1971 Aston had door handles from an MGB/allegro, ford cortina indicators, Midget switches, Jag switches, Hillman rear lights. I could go on...
I can recommned you drive a good one. One which has been serviced properly, looked after and whose owner has been more attentive then, perhaps the one you drove has. Then you'll see the difference, and jhopefully see the DB9 for the car is really is: A "Stunning British GT" as Autocar summised
You know what - you all seem like nice chaps, not mad or delusional or anything, so I'll just accept the car I drove was rubbish and a poor example and I think I'll do just as you've said and try a good example.The Autocar test from June 2004 noted that the "rotary heater controls feel cheap and the headlamp switch is nasty, but the rest is a joy"
And, as we're all agreed, driving any tired car will feel like a chore. In fact, I'm surprised you didnt mention the sat-nav too!
Unhappily, Aston have NEVER had the budget to develop a car like Ferrari or Porsche (or the longevirty to develop the car like a Porsche) and their interioprs have always been a bit parts-bin. My 1971 Aston had door handles from an MGB/allegro, ford cortina indicators, Midget switches, Jag switches, Hillman rear lights. I could go on...
I can recommned you drive a good one. One which has been serviced properly, looked after and whose owner has been more attentive then, perhaps the one you drove has. Then you'll see the difference, and jhopefully see the DB9 for the car is really is: A "Stunning British GT" as Autocar summised
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