First Aston db9
Discussion
Hi Guys
I know you have covered a lot of these questions in the past but I just wanted to touch base as I'm a new member.
Iv had very standard cars since learning to drive.
Seat Ibiza
Pug 306
Vauxhall vectra B
Vauxhall Vectra C (currently own and will be keeping)
I've always driven older bangers and have said if its not an Aston martin db9 then I'm not upgrading. Well now I have the disposable cash to buy one and my new double garage is finished which will house the beast!!!
So I've started looking. My planned spend is around the 30k mark, (I know this is the bottom end of the market) One has just come up for sale in my local town Lincoln for 34k. It is an 05 plate with 37k on the clock. Full Aston martin service History.
I have been looking at forums (mostly on here) but I'm still a little lost what to look out for in buying a second hand model of this age. Are there any major pitfalls I should look out for?
Obviously this is a big spend for me and I don't want to make any mistakes.
Thanks Guys in advance for any help given to a newbie in the land of performance cars!!
Cheers
Alan
I know you have covered a lot of these questions in the past but I just wanted to touch base as I'm a new member.
Iv had very standard cars since learning to drive.
Seat Ibiza
Pug 306
Vauxhall vectra B
Vauxhall Vectra C (currently own and will be keeping)
I've always driven older bangers and have said if its not an Aston martin db9 then I'm not upgrading. Well now I have the disposable cash to buy one and my new double garage is finished which will house the beast!!!
So I've started looking. My planned spend is around the 30k mark, (I know this is the bottom end of the market) One has just come up for sale in my local town Lincoln for 34k. It is an 05 plate with 37k on the clock. Full Aston martin service History.
I have been looking at forums (mostly on here) but I'm still a little lost what to look out for in buying a second hand model of this age. Are there any major pitfalls I should look out for?
Obviously this is a big spend for me and I don't want to make any mistakes.
Thanks Guys in advance for any help given to a newbie in the land of performance cars!!
Cheers
Alan
Hi Alan
Read through the posts on here on paint corrosion/bubbling.
The DB9 has a reputation as a fairly robust model which most have no serious problems with.
If buying privately I would take it to a reputable garage with experience of Astons to have it fully checked over.
Like any performance car things can go wrong.
Tyres ,brakes etc cost money and if you are on a budget check them.
Without a warranty you will always be at risk so you have to be aware of that.
FAMSH is good but not foolproof.
Allow say 800/900 for annual service.
Good luck .
Read through the posts on here on paint corrosion/bubbling.
The DB9 has a reputation as a fairly robust model which most have no serious problems with.
If buying privately I would take it to a reputable garage with experience of Astons to have it fully checked over.
Like any performance car things can go wrong.
Tyres ,brakes etc cost money and if you are on a budget check them.
Without a warranty you will always be at risk so you have to be aware of that.
FAMSH is good but not foolproof.
Allow say 800/900 for annual service.
Good luck .
Welcome.
Some DB owners should be able to guide you ref. specifics, but buying an Aston Martin is no different from other cars (ignoring the extra naught on the price).
Condition is everything. Look really closely and thoroughly both outside and inside, and that should give you an idea of the care taken by previous owners. Even scuffs on the sill plates might indicate a careless owner.
A previous maintenance printout might be a clue to any past mechanical problems.
If you are concerned, some independents can do an inspection.
I am sure you know this stuff anyway.
Good luck with your search, and although not always easy, be patient if you can.
Hi Alan
There's not too many Astons here in Lincoln so good luck, it would be nice to see a few more around.
With regard to your questions I'm afraid I'm no help whatsoever except to say that I've had a Vantage and now a DB9 and they seem pretty solid to me. A few niggles covered by warranty but nothing serious.
Neil
There's not too many Astons here in Lincoln so good luck, it would be nice to see a few more around.
With regard to your questions I'm afraid I'm no help whatsoever except to say that I've had a Vantage and now a DB9 and they seem pretty solid to me. A few niggles covered by warranty but nothing serious.
Neil
A recent look at an '06 DB9 by one of the less-sober members on here revealed;
Door locking not correct; likely to be door modules
Satnav screen leaking LCD fluid
Radio intermittent
Oil leaks underneath from front end and sump
I would certainly check all these things as well as condition, especially paintwork. Also take a disinterested mate with you as you will see it, fall in love and moght miss some key things.
This little list added up to a 10k+ spend and the inspection was abandoned at that point as it was a no-go. It went to auction and will be bought by probably a small non-specialist dealer who will endeavor to hide or repair cheaply as many of those parts as possible. Such is the trade. You take a risk buying from outsde the main dealer network but that can be mitigated by a pre-purchase inspection. Yes it'll cost you a few hundred but its a tiny part of a 34k spend.
This car had a full service history; HOWEVER buyer beware. There are two ways of looking after a performance car (or any car really). You can do everything as soon or before it's an issue, or you can wait if it's not crucial, save some money and pass the problem to the next owner. If the car hasnt been looked after with money no object (as it should) by a loving owner then problems can manifest. It's a 9 year old car regardless of mileage.
Good luck
Door locking not correct; likely to be door modules
Satnav screen leaking LCD fluid
Radio intermittent
Oil leaks underneath from front end and sump
I would certainly check all these things as well as condition, especially paintwork. Also take a disinterested mate with you as you will see it, fall in love and moght miss some key things.
This little list added up to a 10k+ spend and the inspection was abandoned at that point as it was a no-go. It went to auction and will be bought by probably a small non-specialist dealer who will endeavor to hide or repair cheaply as many of those parts as possible. Such is the trade. You take a risk buying from outsde the main dealer network but that can be mitigated by a pre-purchase inspection. Yes it'll cost you a few hundred but its a tiny part of a 34k spend.
This car had a full service history; HOWEVER buyer beware. There are two ways of looking after a performance car (or any car really). You can do everything as soon or before it's an issue, or you can wait if it's not crucial, save some money and pass the problem to the next owner. If the car hasnt been looked after with money no object (as it should) by a loving owner then problems can manifest. It's a 9 year old car regardless of mileage.
Good luck
Hi Guys thanks for the great quick feedback.
Yeti, they are some good points. I cant really take my friends they will fall in love with it more than me, im pretty cautious, i think. :s
Where could i find someone to come and do pre-purchase inspection when i find one that im thinking of buying????
Yeah iv never been one to demand for a service history as i know its not foolproof by any means. I've always just asked for the car to be started from cold and see how it sounds. Then just a good look around. I have just kept up with oil changes. Nothing else really, but my previous cars have been on the cheaper side, where small faults ain't a big deal.
Haven't there been some mods to look out for? Think i remember seeing something about the oil level dipstick/sensor being to short in length and it causing total engine failure in some cars.
Iv purchased the guide which has been recommended on here so hopefully that will also help.
Yeti, they are some good points. I cant really take my friends they will fall in love with it more than me, im pretty cautious, i think. :s
Where could i find someone to come and do pre-purchase inspection when i find one that im thinking of buying????
Yeah iv never been one to demand for a service history as i know its not foolproof by any means. I've always just asked for the car to be started from cold and see how it sounds. Then just a good look around. I have just kept up with oil changes. Nothing else really, but my previous cars have been on the cheaper side, where small faults ain't a big deal.
Haven't there been some mods to look out for? Think i remember seeing something about the oil level dipstick/sensor being to short in length and it causing total engine failure in some cars.
Iv purchased the guide which has been recommended on here so hopefully that will also help.
owb82 said:
Where could i find someone to come and do pre-purchase inspection when i find one that im thinking of buying????
Yeah iv never been one toand for a service history as i know its not foolproof by any means. I've always just asked for the car to be started from cold and see how it sounds.
Pre-purchase inspections can be done at AM specialists (I gather the feeling here is that a good Indie is probably best).Yeah iv never been one toand for a service history as i know its not foolproof by any means. I've always just asked for the car to be started from cold and see how it sounds.
Main dealers have access to computer maintenance records (possibly only within their own group). That will list everything done to the car. If the printout only lists routine items, and other insignificant work, it is at least reassuring that the car has run well. Obviously Aston Martin's are quite complex, with high spec. parts, so a car with 'gremlins' is going to be expensive to repair.
I mostly follow V8 matters, so don't know anything about any major engine disasters with V12.
owb82 said:
Where could i find someone to come and do pre-purchase inspection when i find one that im thinking of buying????
Have a look in the FAQ (which is a sticky at the top of the forum). There is a list of recommended independent AM specialists. They are there because at least one of us (in certain cases, lots and lots of us) have used them and are very happy with the service that we've received.When you find a car that you like, I suggest that you contact the specialist closest to the car and ask them about pre-purchase inspections. Such an inspection usually takes a couple of hours so the cost is usually a couple of hours labour (ie 100 to 300UKP, depending on who you contact). The only inspection really worth having involves getting the car up on a lift. (Any inspection on a drive or road isn't going to be able to tell you much more than you can see for yourself). So, you will have to arrange getting the car to the specialist somehow. A motivated seller (who's got nothing to hide) should have no problem arranging this with you.
Some times if you pay a little more for car with a perfect history it's worth it in the long run......but DB9 are robust and you should find a cracker for 32-35k ......don't be afraid to come back to the forum and ask more questions
Do your homework.....call whoever has been servicing it and ask them about the car
Happy hunting ......it's half the fun !
Do your homework.....call whoever has been servicing it and ask them about the car
Happy hunting ......it's half the fun !
owb82 said:
Just noticed the car in Lincoln is manual
Very rare and absolutely magnificent! A V12 paired with a 6 speed Graziano transmission is just motoring Nirvana - can't get that with Lambo or Ferrari anymore, and even if you could, compare the costs... You're getting that experience for thirty grand What miles has the car done? Check if it's had a clutch change, if not, one could be looming at around 30-40k which is a chunk of change. Very normal for a powerful RWD car, Porsche, Maser, they all last that long.
There are fans of the slushy-slushy box but where's the joy of motoring?
Hi Alan, I have not long since bought a DB9 and live south of Lincoln. Bought private and have some jobs to do on it( low mileage garage queen).As an engineer, they are well made and fairly reliable, but remember its a specialist high performance car which demand specialist care. This doesn't worry me as restored many over the years. However listen to the other guys advice etc. If you want me to help etc, feel free to pm me. Regards Gav
My DB9 is up for sale and at 40k miles I have had the plugs, coil packs and engine breather pipe work done. The coil pack issue was not overly apparent but what I got was an intermittent shudder at idle after say 30 seconds with the car in D noticable at traffic lights. When driving never got a misfire or dash light so look out for that.
Also check the rear lights for signs of water ingress look for water droplets. The cd changer stopped working so I got it replaced with a new unit (not from AM but the same unit from a specialist repairer) so take a few cd's along with you. Look for flaking paint on the wipers and door mirror supports and also paint blistering around door handles and locks but can happen elsewhere as well. The front lights do fog up but it should only be a little if you see water droplets then that is something else.
You mentioned the dipstick and I checked mine has the later part no which is correct for the car I got the number from on here.
Another tip off here was to depress the throttle to the floor and then press start this cuts off the fuel and allows the engine to spin circulating oil. I do it if the car hasn't been used in the last week or so. I guess Aston figured that the cars were not always in use and added the feature.
Of course things like this are all worse case scenarios and some owners will not have issues and some will. I like the Auto box although it tends to change up rather quickly but I tend to drive with a light right foot and the V12 hardly stirs so that may be why. Of course the paddles are there for that but a manual version is an interesting prospect and should be explored.
Also check the rear lights for signs of water ingress look for water droplets. The cd changer stopped working so I got it replaced with a new unit (not from AM but the same unit from a specialist repairer) so take a few cd's along with you. Look for flaking paint on the wipers and door mirror supports and also paint blistering around door handles and locks but can happen elsewhere as well. The front lights do fog up but it should only be a little if you see water droplets then that is something else.
You mentioned the dipstick and I checked mine has the later part no which is correct for the car I got the number from on here.
Another tip off here was to depress the throttle to the floor and then press start this cuts off the fuel and allows the engine to spin circulating oil. I do it if the car hasn't been used in the last week or so. I guess Aston figured that the cars were not always in use and added the feature.
Of course things like this are all worse case scenarios and some owners will not have issues and some will. I like the Auto box although it tends to change up rather quickly but I tend to drive with a light right foot and the V12 hardly stirs so that may be why. Of course the paddles are there for that but a manual version is an interesting prospect and should be explored.
Gavc said:
Hi Alan, I have not long since bought a DB9 and live south of Lincoln. Bought private and have some jobs to do on it( low mileage garage queen).As an engineer, they are well made and fairly reliable, but remember its a specialist high performance car which demand specialist care. This doesn't worry me as restored many over the years. However listen to the other guys advice etc. If you want me to help etc, feel free to pm me. Regards Gav
Nice gesture. That's the power of Pistonheads right there michael gould said:
Some times if you pay a little more for car with a perfect history it's worth it in the long run......but DB9 are robust and you should find a cracker for 32-35k ......don't be afraid to come back to the forum and ask more questions
Do your homework.....call whoever has been servicing it and ask them about the car
Happy hunting ......it's half the fun !
Michael did you not read Yeti's earlier post. The car with the "perfect history" turned out to be a complete dog. Quite amazing that the main dealer had taken it in px on its aesthetic appearance. OP check some of the Indies as they will have cars not far off your budget and a reputation to protect Do your homework.....call whoever has been servicing it and ask them about the car
Happy hunting ......it's half the fun !
I've also been looking at that car but still would prefer Volante budget permitting.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321400881826?ssPageName=...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321400881826?ssPageName=...
kippax said:
I've also been looking at that car but still would prefer Volante budget permitting.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321400881826?ssPageName=...
It's Volante season unfortunately for you, prices will be very strong right now...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321400881826?ssPageName=...
That's a nice car; manual with top spec stereo - that tells me that it's a car that had money spent on it when buying, but was owned by a keen driver who wanted the manual (rather than just speccing manual because it's cheaper than TT2).
The hope then, is that it's been owned by other keen drivers who look after their cars, not a James Bond fantasist with an OBD reader to switch off the warning lights!
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