DB9 2 Volante for the weekend
Discussion
My car went in yesterday to fix a couple of rattles and to undertake the heated seat fix. It was supposed to be ready this afternoon, but wasn't. I was offered a C Class, that I rejected gently, but firmly. They quickly came up with a more acceptable alternative.
It's a while since I drove a DB9, so it feels huge! The engine start is rather tame and the gearstick is missing, along with the clutch pedal. The kids will be excited about the rear seats (until they try them
).
Will report after the weekend.
It's a while since I drove a DB9, so it feels huge! The engine start is rather tame and the gearstick is missing, along with the clutch pedal. The kids will be excited about the rear seats (until they try them
). Will report after the weekend.
The car is a 2014, Carbon Black edition demonstrator with 5k miles on the clock. The interior is probably a little too black, with every component that is satin metal finished on my car black on this one, even the pedals, which makes them look like ordinary rubber pedals.
It is significantly quieter than the V12V at start-up and the exhaust note is generally more polite, even with the flaps open and the throttle open wide.
Having owned a DB9, I was ready for the difference in handling due to the longer wheelbase. I much prefer the Vantage's handling. The steering felt less direct (is the rack's gearing different?). Grip levels were difficult to judge, because it had normal P-Zeros and it is winter. I know my car;'s characteristics in warmer weather on Corsas and in winter on SottoZeros. The P-Zero are predictably in-between, but when pressing hard on B roads, I occasionally felt that the rear was not firmly connected to the tarmac. I preferred the dampers in the sport setting, other than around town and on the motorway. The sport setting is rather less firm than either the V12V (even allowing for the difference in wheelbase) or my old Sports Pack DB9.
The brakes, despite being carbon-ceramic felt less immediate than the V12V's brakes. It's not easy to explain because they are very good and stop as well as my car's brakes, but they feel somehow, like most of the car's features, tuned to give a more "gentlemanly" feel.
The car is quite relaxing to drive with the six speed TT2 in auto. For more sporty driving, it works quite well in manual mode, but falls short of the 8 speed box or a good DCT.
I do like the incremental improvements, like the vastly better tyre pressure monitoring and the new bluetooth audio streaming, This is the second car I've had for a weekend with the Garmin satnav. It looks more modern, but I don't think it's really any better. It's still miles away from the BMW system.
I took my boys out yesterday for a drive with the top down. They are nearly 9 and nearly 6. The younger one sat behind the elder and declared the seat to be very comfortable. He could see out and was very happy there for an hour or so, until he decided it was too cold and wanted the roof back up.
It is significantly quieter than the V12V at start-up and the exhaust note is generally more polite, even with the flaps open and the throttle open wide.
Having owned a DB9, I was ready for the difference in handling due to the longer wheelbase. I much prefer the Vantage's handling. The steering felt less direct (is the rack's gearing different?). Grip levels were difficult to judge, because it had normal P-Zeros and it is winter. I know my car;'s characteristics in warmer weather on Corsas and in winter on SottoZeros. The P-Zero are predictably in-between, but when pressing hard on B roads, I occasionally felt that the rear was not firmly connected to the tarmac. I preferred the dampers in the sport setting, other than around town and on the motorway. The sport setting is rather less firm than either the V12V (even allowing for the difference in wheelbase) or my old Sports Pack DB9.
The brakes, despite being carbon-ceramic felt less immediate than the V12V's brakes. It's not easy to explain because they are very good and stop as well as my car's brakes, but they feel somehow, like most of the car's features, tuned to give a more "gentlemanly" feel.
The car is quite relaxing to drive with the six speed TT2 in auto. For more sporty driving, it works quite well in manual mode, but falls short of the 8 speed box or a good DCT.
I do like the incremental improvements, like the vastly better tyre pressure monitoring and the new bluetooth audio streaming, This is the second car I've had for a weekend with the Garmin satnav. It looks more modern, but I don't think it's really any better. It's still miles away from the BMW system.
I took my boys out yesterday for a drive with the top down. They are nearly 9 and nearly 6. The younger one sat behind the elder and declared the seat to be very comfortable. He could see out and was very happy there for an hour or so, until he decided it was too cold and wanted the roof back up.
I meant to reply but never got round to it
It is obviously a GT from your findings
Interesting comments on the wheel base and steering.
That would put me off I like my quick turn in.
Curious to know how they "detuned" the CCM's as I'm light on the brakes and have always found them too sharp for my taste.
Worth noting the Volante "Sport Pack" is softer than the coupe
It is obviously a GT from your findings
Interesting comments on the wheel base and steering.
That would put me off I like my quick turn in.
Curious to know how they "detuned" the CCM's as I'm light on the brakes and have always found them too sharp for my taste.
Worth noting the Volante "Sport Pack" is softer than the coupe
I read this with interest. I have never driven a Vantage. But I have a Virage (vvvv similar to a DB9.2 allegedly)...On mine the CCMs work really well and never had the issues with feel/abruptness before warming up etc.
I am a bit envious of the noise of the Vantage/DBS/Vanquish - it certainly is tamer than those. "Smooth" was how I recall MollyGT3 describe the start up sound...she could have been referring to me of course... Although Y100s seems to make a nice loud sound. Taking out fuse 15 helps.
I am definitely not a 8 or 9 tenths driver. But I do feel the car is capable of far more dynamic performance than most of us mortals will be able to handle. I was able to keep up with a V12S at Snetterton. But not a well driven S3... Although looking forward to Cadwell....
Steering I found as sharp and feelsome and certainly comparable to my 911 C4S, albeit in a heavier car with almost 200bhp more under the right foot.
As always it comes down to what floats your boat.
As an aside I did have a peak at a 2015 Vanquish this week...sorely tempted but the head and heart says I have still got a lot more to enjoy in the Virage this year and do what it does fantastically well: long distances.
Love it.
I am a bit envious of the noise of the Vantage/DBS/Vanquish - it certainly is tamer than those. "Smooth" was how I recall MollyGT3 describe the start up sound...she could have been referring to me of course... Although Y100s seems to make a nice loud sound. Taking out fuse 15 helps.
I am definitely not a 8 or 9 tenths driver. But I do feel the car is capable of far more dynamic performance than most of us mortals will be able to handle. I was able to keep up with a V12S at Snetterton. But not a well driven S3... Although looking forward to Cadwell....
Steering I found as sharp and feelsome and certainly comparable to my 911 C4S, albeit in a heavier car with almost 200bhp more under the right foot.
As always it comes down to what floats your boat.
As an aside I did have a peak at a 2015 Vanquish this week...sorely tempted but the head and heart says I have still got a lot more to enjoy in the Virage this year and do what it does fantastically well: long distances.
Love it.
I love the feel of the brakes in my car, but I'm very used to how immediate they are, so they need a very light foot, much like the throttle in sports mode. I was surprised therefore to feel the difference with the Volante's brakes. By the end of the weekend, I was wondering whether I had got it wrong, but getting back into my own car on Monday, the difference was clear. The Volante's brakes were just as effective, but not quite so eager to bite the instant you feathered the pedal.
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