Early DB9 rear seats

[Simon813]

Greetings all,

I am in the process of writing a business plan to start up a wedding car /prom care hire business. My intention is to provide a prestige/sports car to transport the groom and best man to the wedding venue and then provide a photo opportunity afterwards if required.

As you can imagine there are not that many cars that would fit the bill and top of my list is an early (05/06) DB9.

So, my question is, is it really feasible to fit a grown man in the back of a DB9 for any length of time? I have read lots on this forum and on the web in general that suggest that the rear seats are virtually unusable. Is it possible to sit on one rear seat and put your legs across the other one and into the opposite footwell? Is there more scope for fitting someone behind the front seat passenger or in reality does that seat need to be in the same position as the driver for the sake of the front passenger's leg room?

I will add that I do intend going to look at one for myself, but the closest one in a dealer near me is an hour and a half away so I just wanted to get some expert opinions first!

Thanks in advance.

Simon

[L0TT0]

Wrong choice of car I'm afraid.:-(

DB9/DBS rear seats only usable by children. My 20something son cannot even get into the rear of the DBS. 18 year old daughter can by using the method you suggest with legs on opposite side behind driver but it's still cramped and headroom is very limited. Rapide would be more suitable Soz

[Sump]

My 30 year old 5ft1 sister couldn't sit in the back. It's genuinely only for 4 year olds or luggage.

[pschlute]

Simon813 said:

Greetings all,

Is it possible to sit on one rear seat and put your legs across the other one and into the opposite footwell?

Simon

Problem with that idea is the bulk of the transmission tunnel gets in the way. As the others have said, your idea is not a good one, sorry.

I am 5' 8" and although I can get in the back, I would have to sit with legs splayed, and lean forward so my head is nearly touching the driver/passenger headrest. Any attempt to sit back in the seat results in my head hitting the rear window/roof.

[Simon813]

Thanks for the quick responses. I had feared that that might be the case. I would still like to try one for myself but it sounds as though I need to go back to the drawing board. Problem is there is not much out there that fits the bill for my budget which is around £35k.

I welcome any more views.

Thanks

Simon

[Leatherseat]

Hi Simon,

I have recently been trying to see if my 8 and/or 10 year old can fit in the back (behind the passenger, not the driver) of a DB9. They can fit in, but not a grown man.

As far as alternatives - generally, Italian (and apparently German ones) cars are more generous with rear seat space. I used to have a Maserati 4200 which would fit 4 adults. Two door Italian options in your price range would include - Maserati 4200, Gransport or a Granturismo, or a Ferrari 456. Not quite Astons, but nice cars, nonetheless.

Good luck,

David

[Vee12V]

The Rapide is your only logical option but I'd go with a prev gen Quattroporte with your budget.

[Voguely]

I would second the Gran Turismo. The rear is pretty spacious. Another alternative could be a Bentley GT, although not quite on the same level of special in my eyes, the interior is nice though.

[Simon813]

Thanks for the above replies. I had looked at the Granturismo, but they are a little bit above my budget I think and I am worried (maybe unduly) about reliability.

I had also considered the Bentley GT but as stated, not really the image I am looking for for the business!

I will look at the 456.

Out of interest what is the deal breaker with the DB9? Is it the fact that legs will not go into the rear footwells or is it head room or a combination of both?

Thanks

Simon

[Sump]

It's everything.

[gpb1]

The rear seats are unusable by anyone above the age of about 8, even for short journeys. The headroom is very limited, an adult in the back would have their head tilted over at an uncomfortable angle, and the legroom, even with the front seat as far forward as they will go, is minimal. My 5'7" wife nearly threw her back out trying to get in and out (as a trial when we first got our 9)

[jeremydb9]

My 4 and 7 years old hate the db9 and tell dad to use the range rover as it is too small

[dazzalse]

I have run 4 of these over a 9 year period and had to move into a Rapide in the end as my 10 year old daughter just didn't fit anymore, and it was becoming a real point about actually using the car, there is NO way to fit an adult in the back under any circumstances

[Simon813]

Hmm, ok I take the point! Back to the drawing board!

Thanks for your help.

Simon

[pschlute]

Simon813 said:

Out of interest what is the deal breaker with the DB9? Is it the fact that legs will not go into the rear footwells or is it head room or a combination of both?

Thanks

Simon

As others have said it is both. I have never travelled in the back (I stick to the front right seat), but I would find the headroom the most annoying. And I am not tall !