Passenger leg room in a DB9 was dissapointing?
Discussion
I've been shopping for a new DB9 and this is my first high end car as a reward for a long hard fought career. I have found there is but one thing that concerns my purchase and it's the comfort of the wife in the passenger seat for long trips. I'm 6'1" and when I sat in the passenger seat of a new one I was appalled at the lack of leg room on that side. I had an MGB in college and it had more leg room on that side. I tried to adjust the seat back and it hits the leather of those back seats quickly and doesn't go back far. So, does anyone know if the passenger seat goes back more if you order a DB9 without the back seats and go with the shelf? Even a couple inches more and it might allow the seat to support your legs more. One thing that concerns me is that the wife won't like riding in it very long and that would limit my enjoyment of it. Course it won't stop me cause that baby is for my pleasure and the drivers side had all the leg room I needed. But for the wife's comfort, if ordering one with the shelf does allow the seats to go back more, it might be worth it. Any one have an opinion on this onr, everyone marry little women?
Christian51 said:
I've been shopping for a new DB9 and this is my first high end car as a reward for a long hard fought career. I have found there is but one thing that concerns my purchase and it's the comfort of the wife in the passenger seat for long trips. I'm 6'1" and when I sat in the passenger seat of a new one I was appalled at the lack of leg room on that side. I had an MGB in college and it had more leg room on that side. I tried to adjust the seat back and it hits the leather of those back seats quickly and doesn't go back far. So, does anyone know if the passenger seat goes back more if you order a DB9 without the back seats and go with the shelf? Even a couple inches more and it might allow the seat to support your legs more. One thing that concerns me is that the wife won't like riding in it very long and that would limit my enjoyment of it. Course it won't stop me cause that baby is for my pleasure and the drivers side had all the leg room I needed. But for the wife's comfort, if ordering one with the shelf does allow the seats to go back more, it might be worth it. Any one have an opinion on this onr, everyone marry little women?
As just mentioned, if you order lightweight seats, the car is a plus zero, and you get shelf storage. The seats are super comfy on long distance, and give more leg room. If you can find a DBS with lightweights in, it might be worth a trip to sit in and see how they feel. DB9's fitted with lightweight seats are very rare.roughrider said:
As just mentioned, if you order lightweight seats, the car is a plus zero, and you get shelf storage. The seats are super comfy on long distance, and give more leg room. If you can find a DBS with lightweights in, it might be worth a trip to sit in and see how they feel. DB9's fitted with lightweight seats are very rare.
US buyer; no lightweight seats for him. However, a good idea is to indeed find a 2009 DBS, since many are 2+0 configuration. There may be a little bit more rearward travel for the seat with the +0 since the shelf depth seems less than the seat cushion.Thanks guys, I'll see what I can find out but it doesn't matter in the end, I'm going to have one regardless. The wife will just have to deal with it. For me it is a trophy for making it this far in life so a second hand car would not do. I have been out looking at everything from a 458 to a 911 to find the car that will please me the most and for me the DB9 is it. Besides, the wife hated getting in and out of a track car like the 458, at 63 it was just a little to hard and very ungraceful. I was sure I saw a 2014 with the shelf when shopping on the net, have to look again. Just an inch or two would really help
Hi Christian
I have had a DB9 between 2005 and 2009 and used it extensively across Europe with my wife as a "co-driver". She and I are both quite tall so the fit was snug rather than super generous but I never got any complaints from the passenger seat. That changed when i swopped it for a V12 Vantage with the carbon backed sport seats. Whilst the cabin is larger for taller people in the V12V due to the swooping roofline descending further behind the seats the carbon seat was very uncomfortable for my wife. I liked the the the seat but they are very "marmite" . There was a change of seat configuration in 2009 i believe in the DB9 where the most recent seats got thicker and then the headroom in the DB9 became compromised for me at 6:3.
I have had a DB9 between 2005 and 2009 and used it extensively across Europe with my wife as a "co-driver". She and I are both quite tall so the fit was snug rather than super generous but I never got any complaints from the passenger seat. That changed when i swopped it for a V12 Vantage with the carbon backed sport seats. Whilst the cabin is larger for taller people in the V12V due to the swooping roofline descending further behind the seats the carbon seat was very uncomfortable for my wife. I liked the the the seat but they are very "marmite" . There was a change of seat configuration in 2009 i believe in the DB9 where the most recent seats got thicker and then the headroom in the DB9 became compromised for me at 6:3.
hornbaek said:
Hi Christian
I have had a DB9 between 2005 and 2009 and used it extensively across Europe with my wife as a "co-driver". She and I are both quite tall so the fit was snug rather than super generous but I never got any complaints from the passenger seat. That changed when i swopped it for a V12 Vantage with the carbon backed sport seats. Whilst the cabin is larger for taller people in the V12V due to the swooping roofline descending further behind the seats the carbon seat was very uncomfortable for my wife. I liked the the the seat but they are very "marmite" . There was a change of seat configuration in 2009 i believe in the DB9 where the most recent seats got thicker and then the headroom in the DB9 became compromised for me at 6:3.
Interesting hornbaek, the wife is about 5'9" and she didn't complain when setting on that side but I was hit with how little I could stretch my legs out. Hate setting on my tail bone so I didn't think I could relax setting on that side. I have had a DB9 between 2005 and 2009 and used it extensively across Europe with my wife as a "co-driver". She and I are both quite tall so the fit was snug rather than super generous but I never got any complaints from the passenger seat. That changed when i swopped it for a V12 Vantage with the carbon backed sport seats. Whilst the cabin is larger for taller people in the V12V due to the swooping roofline descending further behind the seats the carbon seat was very uncomfortable for my wife. I liked the the the seat but they are very "marmite" . There was a change of seat configuration in 2009 i believe in the DB9 where the most recent seats got thicker and then the headroom in the DB9 became compromised for me at 6:3.
Earlier this year I sold my V12V which I had only had for around 6 months for a couple of reasons of which this was one. My wife is by no means tall, 5' 8" and couldn't straighten her legs in the passenger seat, which lead to some discomfort.
Moreover, and the main reason I was forced to sell was due to the comfort (or lack thereof) sports seats. Neither of us could get comfortable despite spending hours trying to tweak and adjust them in every which way. We would both get pain in the lower parts of our backs, me as driver and her as passenger. After about 90 mins of driving we would both be forced to stop and stretch out. Can't say I've had that in any other car. As a driver I have found it takes time to get used to a driving position, but never experienced anything that bad.
Annoyingly the discomfort always came after this time, so not picked up on a test drive. As such it meant my wife had no desire to spend any time in the car. I loved the car, but after a long journey it would take me about a week for my back to return to normal. At just over 6ft and the tender age of 30, I've never had any back issues before. The whole situation was really bizarre.
Interesting to hear Christian above say that the lightweight seats gave them similar issues as I assumed if I had gone for those I might have been ok, rather than opting for heated sports. I would certainly recommend spending a decent length of time in the seats so you don't end up in the same situation as I was in.
I certainly couldn't have taken my V12V across the continent for a holiday which is what I was hoping to do.
Moreover, and the main reason I was forced to sell was due to the comfort (or lack thereof) sports seats. Neither of us could get comfortable despite spending hours trying to tweak and adjust them in every which way. We would both get pain in the lower parts of our backs, me as driver and her as passenger. After about 90 mins of driving we would both be forced to stop and stretch out. Can't say I've had that in any other car. As a driver I have found it takes time to get used to a driving position, but never experienced anything that bad.
Annoyingly the discomfort always came after this time, so not picked up on a test drive. As such it meant my wife had no desire to spend any time in the car. I loved the car, but after a long journey it would take me about a week for my back to return to normal. At just over 6ft and the tender age of 30, I've never had any back issues before. The whole situation was really bizarre.
Interesting to hear Christian above say that the lightweight seats gave them similar issues as I assumed if I had gone for those I might have been ok, rather than opting for heated sports. I would certainly recommend spending a decent length of time in the seats so you don't end up in the same situation as I was in.
I certainly couldn't have taken my V12V across the continent for a holiday which is what I was hoping to do.
I found the DBS to be the most comfortable of all the cars ive had and my wife thinks so to.
I guess the Auto will be even better.
Found the Vantage to cramped my left leg couldn't stretch out.(paddles)
We've just done 3000 miles in the last month with no dramas to our bodies at all.
more than i can say for my wallet!
I guess the Auto will be even better.
Found the Vantage to cramped my left leg couldn't stretch out.(paddles)
We've just done 3000 miles in the last month with no dramas to our bodies at all.
more than i can say for my wallet!dmm1983 said:
Moreover, and the main reason I was forced to sell was due to the comfort (or lack thereof) sports seats. Neither of us could get comfortable despite spending hours trying to tweak and adjust them in every which way. We would both get pain in the lower parts of our backs
I get the same in my V8V sports seats. A small lumber cushion solves the problem.DMM, that is a terrible outcome after buying something so beautiful and expensive as an Aston. I've heard the same about the sport seats in a lot of cars but not the Aston. You can still order the shelf option in a new DB9 but since there are so few I'd have to order it and that takes 4 to 5 months. I'd hate to wait that long while still not knowing if they will let the seat go back any more than the 2+2 version. I know it wouldn't be an issue with an hour or so drive but longer trips? Well, if it is I guess we'll just have to take her SUV on the long ones. Fingers crossed it never bothers her like it did me. Thanks for the input guys.
dmm1983 said:
We tried cushions of various sorts and still couldn't fix it, glad you got comfy in yours. It's crazy that a seat adjustable in so many ways and I still couldn't get comfy.
In my old car I found the best adjustment for leg length was to lower it right down first then move it all the way back.I have light weights in my current car and had a similar unadjustable seat in my S2000's
The most comfortable seat I've used
I think modern "sport" seats in a lot of cars have too many adjustments to try and get right
Edited by mikey k on Monday 26th May 21:12
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