DB9 for the day! What's the thought process on purchasing?
Discussion
J-P said:
Sorry to be so harsh but seriously you can't call it a high quality interior and that's in fact proven by the fact that it looks so shabby in spite of the fact that it's been treated roughly. I've driven ropey 996 turbos, that live exclusively on the track and although the interior looks dated, the general qualilty of the car's materials is far superior, proven by the fact that they've lasted well in spite of rough treatment!
I'm a bit late getting to this thread and most of the valid responses have already been made but I would just like to say that your assessment lost all credibility with me when you made the 996 interior comparison. It's just wrong on so many levels as the 996 was already very dated when I had mine back in 2006 and a great example of poor design poorly executed. As for claiming the interior lasts well that's just nonsense. All interiors need a reasonable amount of care and attention to keep them in good condition. Sounds like you have been in a neglected DB9 but there are examples of 996's and 997's around that exhibit the same levels of neglect.
alxce said:
I'm a bit late getting to this thread and most of the valid responses have already been made but I would just like to say that your assessment lost all credibility with me when you made the 996 interior comparison. It's just wrong on so many levels as the 996 was already very dated when I had mine back in 2006 and a great example of poor design poorly executed.
As for claiming the interior lasts well that's just nonsense. All interiors need a reasonable amount of care and attention to keep them in good condition. Sounds like you have been in a neglected DB9 but there are examples of 996's and 997's around that exhibit the same levels of neglect.
As I said to Zod, let's agree to disagree. I wasn't actually talking about wheel shineyness or any of the typical naffness you see with neglect - I meant buttons that look out of place in £100k car, that aren't damped properly as they would be in a Golf (indicator stalks). If you read what I said about the 996, I acknowledged that the design was crap - I wasn't referring to a dated-looking interior, I meant that even though the design is rubbish the actual quality of it especially the touch points are better. Everybody is different, I had a Merc e-class a few years ago and I hated a bit of plastic trim behind the interior door handle - it looked crap but at least I wasn't constantly reminded of its crapness unlike the indicator or windscreen wiper stalks which presumably you have use at least some of the time. And the big shiney plastic bit in the middle doesn't appear to stand the test of time particularly well. Although in later cars it looks like you can order this in some kind of piano black lacquer, which looks much nicer!As for claiming the interior lasts well that's just nonsense. All interiors need a reasonable amount of care and attention to keep them in good condition. Sounds like you have been in a neglected DB9 but there are examples of 996's and 997's around that exhibit the same levels of neglect.
And you're wrong some interiors do last very well - Audi springs to mind in this regard. My Dad has an 8 year old A4 convertible, which isn't looked after at all - still looks good though!
J-P said:
alxce said:
I'm a bit late getting to this thread and most of the valid responses have already been made but I would just like to say that your assessment lost all credibility with me when you made the 996 interior comparison. It's just wrong on so many levels as the 996 was already very dated when I had mine back in 2006 and a great example of poor design poorly executed.
As for claiming the interior lasts well that's just nonsense. All interiors need a reasonable amount of care and attention to keep them in good condition. Sounds like you have been in a neglected DB9 but there are examples of 996's and 997's around that exhibit the same levels of neglect.
As I said to Zod, let's agree to disagree. I wasn't actually talking about wheel shineyness or any of the typical naffness you see with neglect - I meant buttons that look out of place in £100k car, that aren't damped properly as they would be in a Golf (indicator stalks). If you read what I said about the 996, I acknowledged that the design was crap - I wasn't referring to a dated-looking interior, I meant that even though the design is rubbish the actual quality of it especially the touch points are better. Everybody is different, I had a Merc e-class a few years ago and I hated a bit of plastic trim behind the interior door handle - it looked crap but at least I wasn't constantly reminded of its crapness unlike the indicator or windscreen wiper stalks which presumably you have use at least some of the time. And the big shiney plastic bit in the middle doesn't appear to stand the test of time particularly well. Although in later cars it looks like you can order this in some kind of piano black lacquer, which looks much nicer!As for claiming the interior lasts well that's just nonsense. All interiors need a reasonable amount of care and attention to keep them in good condition. Sounds like you have been in a neglected DB9 but there are examples of 996's and 997's around that exhibit the same levels of neglect.
And you're wrong some interiors do last very well - Audi springs to mind in this regard. My Dad has an 8 year old A4 convertible, which isn't looked after at all - still looks good though!
alxce said:
J-P said:
alxce said:
I'm a bit late getting to this thread and most of the valid responses have already been made but I would just like to say that your assessment lost all credibility with me when you made the 996 interior comparison. It's just wrong on so many levels as the 996 was already very dated when I had mine back in 2006 and a great example of poor design poorly executed.
As for claiming the interior lasts well that's just nonsense. All interiors need a reasonable amount of care and attention to keep them in good condition. Sounds like you have been in a neglected DB9 but there are examples of 996's and 997's around that exhibit the same levels of neglect.
As I said to Zod, let's agree to disagree. I wasn't actually talking about wheel shineyness or any of the typical naffness you see with neglect - I meant buttons that look out of place in £100k car, that aren't damped properly as they would be in a Golf (indicator stalks). If you read what I said about the 996, I acknowledged that the design was crap - I wasn't referring to a dated-looking interior, I meant that even though the design is rubbish the actual quality of it especially the touch points are better. Everybody is different, I had a Merc e-class a few years ago and I hated a bit of plastic trim behind the interior door handle - it looked crap but at least I wasn't constantly reminded of its crapness unlike the indicator or windscreen wiper stalks which presumably you have use at least some of the time. And the big shiney plastic bit in the middle doesn't appear to stand the test of time particularly well. Although in later cars it looks like you can order this in some kind of piano black lacquer, which looks much nicer!As for claiming the interior lasts well that's just nonsense. All interiors need a reasonable amount of care and attention to keep them in good condition. Sounds like you have been in a neglected DB9 but there are examples of 996's and 997's around that exhibit the same levels of neglect.
And you're wrong some interiors do last very well - Audi springs to mind in this regard. My Dad has an 8 year old A4 convertible, which isn't looked after at all - still looks good though!
Ps: Your V8V looks very nice by the way
The DB9 interior is what makes the car special. It is a far better place to be than other cars I've been in. Materials are superb. If the interior was 'rubbish' as you say, I'd never have bought the car in the first place. Everyone who sits in my car is wowed by the 'specialness' of the interior. Porsche? You've got to be kidding. It's just a run-of-the-mill interior, not close to the quality of a DB9.
DB9VolanteDriver said:
The DB9 interior is what makes the car special. It is a far better place to be than other cars I've been in. Materials are superb. If the interior was 'rubbish' as you say, I'd never have bought the car in the first place. Everyone who sits in my car is wowed by the 'specialness' of the interior. Porsche? You've got to be kidding. It's just a run-of-the-mill interior, not close to the quality of a DB9.
I'm glad to hear it. You'd have to be crazy to buy a car that expensive if you also thought it looked crap!The design of the interior is nothing more than OK IMHO but that's not what I'm talking about. I, personally don't like the array of confusing buttons, the poor quality of the mass produced switches and the feel of the buttons. Since writing my original post I've had a look at newer cars an they do look better IMHO. A car that costs more than £100k new should be awesome in every way. What Porsche do is irrelevant, the DB9 is a car that costs £50k more then a base spec 911. It should not only have a better design, it should also be of far superior quality and there are some areas where it simply isn't and in my view that's not good enough.
For example our ML looks, feels and is a higher quality product than our Mini in every way. And so it should be it's more than £20k more expensive. The Aston is more than twice as much as our ML but it doesn't feel that way to me. But I'm just a fussy chap
J-P said:
The Aston is more than twice as much as our ML but it doesn't feel that way to me. But I'm just a fussy chap
I wasn't sure if you were just on here for a wind-up or if you had a serious point but now you've lost all credibility 
Can you imagine it, night out off to the theatre then dinner afterwards; "Darling, I'll pick you up in the Aston." or... "I'll pick you up in the 4x4 Merecdes truck"
You funny man!
RichB said:
J-P said:
The Aston is more than twice as much as our ML but it doesn't feel that way to me. But I'm just a fussy chap
I wasn't sure if you were just on here for a wind-up or if you had a serious point but now you've lost all credibility Can you imagine it, night out off to the theatre then dinner afterwards; "Darling, I'll pick you up in the Aston." or... "I'll pick you up in the 4x4 Merecdes truck"
You funny man!
I get that I should have posted something more reasonable. Michael was spot on when he said I shouldn't work in the diplomatic Corp, I don't have that skill set. I apologise if I've upset anybody on here and I'm gutted that a car that I'd rate as the most beautiful car in the world (alongside the Alfa 8C) didn't float my boat. But I am pleased that there's an Aston community that loves and treasures this car as the car world would be a lot worse off without it.
Cheers
J-P
J-P said:
I get that I should have posted something more reasonable. Michael was spot on when he said I shouldn't work in the diplomatic Corp, I don't have that skill set. I apologise if I've upset anybody on here and I'm gutted that a car that I'd rate as the most beautiful car in the world (alongside the Alfa 8C) didn't float my boat. But I am pleased that there's an Aston community that loves and treasures this car as the car world would be a lot worse off without it.
Cheers
J-P
I wouldn't completely rule out the Diplomatic Corp..... Cheers
J-P
I hired a DB9 in July 2008 for a week and was somewhat disappointed with it. But I ended up buying a DB9 just before Xmas and the difference between the two cars is huge. The suspension is very firm on both but mine makes no noise and the ride is fine as well as the steering.
The difference is that the car I have has been maintained regardless of cost and it shows. It is so good they had it in the showroom to show it off.
If you want a better impression drive a better example.
As for the lights the switch is in the same place as on all my Mercedes and my indicator stalk is just fine.
To be honest I bought an engine and the car came with it.
The difference is that the car I have has been maintained regardless of cost and it shows. It is so good they had it in the showroom to show it off.
If you want a better impression drive a better example.
As for the lights the switch is in the same place as on all my Mercedes and my indicator stalk is just fine.
To be honest I bought an engine and the car came with it.
I have a 2006 Volante manual and there is no doubt the suspension is poorly damped but in every other respect - and especialy the interior -I find the car
is hugely more desireable than others in the same price bracket . I am curious as to what interior you have sat in that justifies a £100k price tag ?
IMHO we are all mad spending more than £50k on a car - so why do we buy a DB9 - because it looks and feels special - inside and out . Of course it's not worth £100k - but what is ?
is hugely more desireable than others in the same price bracket . I am curious as to what interior you have sat in that justifies a £100k price tag ?
IMHO we are all mad spending more than £50k on a car - so why do we buy a DB9 - because it looks and feels special - inside and out . Of course it's not worth £100k - but what is ?
hartley said:
I have a 2006 Volante manual and there is no doubt the suspension is poorly damped but in every other respect - and especialy the interior -I find the car
is hugely more desireable than others in the same price bracket . I am curious as to what interior you have sat in that justifies a £100k price tag ?
IMHO we are all mad spending more than £50k on a car - so why do we buy a DB9 - because it looks and feels special - inside and out . Of course it's not worth £100k - but what is ?
Well said. is hugely more desireable than others in the same price bracket . I am curious as to what interior you have sat in that justifies a £100k price tag ?
IMHO we are all mad spending more than £50k on a car - so why do we buy a DB9 - because it looks and feels special - inside and out . Of course it's not worth £100k - but what is ?
hartley said:
I have a 2006 Volante manual and there is no doubt the suspension is poorly damped but in every other respect - and especialy the interior -I find the car
is hugely more desireable than others in the same price bracket . I am curious as to what interior you have sat in that justifies a £100k price tag ?
IMHO we are all mad spending more than £50k on a car - so why do we buy a DB9 - because it looks and feels special - inside and out . Of course it's not worth £100k - but what is ?
I agree - the point I'm making is not about whether any car is worth paying more than £100k for - what I'm saying is this:is hugely more desireable than others in the same price bracket . I am curious as to what interior you have sat in that justifies a £100k price tag ?
IMHO we are all mad spending more than £50k on a car - so why do we buy a DB9 - because it looks and feels special - inside and out . Of course it's not worth £100k - but what is ?
moveover said:
... 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...
Which to me isn't acceptable on a £100k +car. I accept that it is to other people.And so far the best responses to this are both what Moveover said (after the bit above) and this:
SLacKer said:
...To be honest I bought an engine and the car came with it.
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