Evo Magazine - DBS
Discussion
I think as many specialists that the Vanquish S is indeed the next DB5 
The last of Newport Pagnell and only 1086 ever built. So more than 3 times rarer than a DBS.
Classic Cars of July 2011 :
Sorry guys, sure the DBS is a good car, but what is the main advantage of it except that it appeared in James Bond twice ?
A DB9 MY2013 has the same engine power, has more torque, a better steering, a 3-settings suspension system, a refresh interior, and to my eyes a better esthetic.
I test drove all modern Aston (except One-77) and I didn't think the DBS was really special. It is a good GT car but the DB9 MY2013 was better in my opinion.
OK, manual DBS are pretty rare (should be 30% of total production ?) but still I really don't see it as a great collectable car.
It is a good car but it has nothing really special/incredible next to a DB9 MY2013.
Plus, all Gaydon cars all look like each other...
Just My 2 Cents.
The last of Newport Pagnell and only 1086 ever built. So more than 3 times rarer than a DBS.
Classic Cars of July 2011 :
Sorry guys, sure the DBS is a good car, but what is the main advantage of it except that it appeared in James Bond twice ?
A DB9 MY2013 has the same engine power, has more torque, a better steering, a 3-settings suspension system, a refresh interior, and to my eyes a better esthetic.
I test drove all modern Aston (except One-77) and I didn't think the DBS was really special. It is a good GT car but the DB9 MY2013 was better in my opinion.
OK, manual DBS are pretty rare (should be 30% of total production ?) but still I really don't see it as a great collectable car.
It is a good car but it has nothing really special/incredible next to a DB9 MY2013.
Plus, all Gaydon cars all look like each other...
Just My 2 Cents.
Armen said:
I think as many specialists that the Vanquish S is indeed the next DB5
Sorry guys, sure the DBS is a good car, but what is the main advantage of it except that it appeared in James Bond twice ?
...it doesn't break down as often as a Vanquish? Sorry guys, sure the DBS is a good car, but what is the main advantage of it except that it appeared in James Bond twice ?
...or indeed a DB5
Edited by RobDown on Tuesday 15th September 22:10
That's totally wrong and a stupid idea since Clarkson criticized the gearbox on Top Gear.
Got our '07 S since 5 years and has been completely bullet-proof with not a single problem.
There are many owners of Vanquish/S here and at the AMOC who can tell you that the Vanquish is a very reliable car as long as it is driven regularly and maintained properly.
Got our '07 S since 5 years and has been completely bullet-proof with not a single problem.
There are many owners of Vanquish/S here and at the AMOC who can tell you that the Vanquish is a very reliable car as long as it is driven regularly and maintained properly.
Yes Armen, my slightly tongue-in-cheek comment was made based on reading the AMOC forums and the travails of GTJoey et al in recent years - and triggered a little bit by your thread hijack (and no need to say someone's idea is stupid)
Don't get me wrong, I love the Vanquish, great shape, lovely noise. Still have fond memories of following Russell's to an AMOC concours with him setting off all the parked car alarms as we went through town. And Armen your parent's Vanquish looks fabulous!
But I already have one 'classic' Aston Martin that costs me a fortune/a lot of energy to keep on the road. So if I were to swap my modern AM in for another at this point in time I'd want something a little more effortless and I can see why people are suggesting the DBS manual as a future classic (better still a DBS Volante Manual, but they're like gold dust). They represent for me the pinnacle of the Gaydon design (I find new vanquish too fussy)
Don't get me wrong, I love the Vanquish, great shape, lovely noise. Still have fond memories of following Russell's to an AMOC concours with him setting off all the parked car alarms as we went through town. And Armen your parent's Vanquish looks fabulous!
But I already have one 'classic' Aston Martin that costs me a fortune/a lot of energy to keep on the road. So if I were to swap my modern AM in for another at this point in time I'd want something a little more effortless and I can see why people are suggesting the DBS manual as a future classic (better still a DBS Volante Manual, but they're like gold dust). They represent for me the pinnacle of the Gaydon design (I find new vanquish too fussy)
Edited by RobDown on Tuesday 15th September 22:40
Edited by RobDown on Tuesday 15th September 22:53
Armen said:
That's totally wrong and a stupid idea since Clarkson criticized the gearbox on Top Gear.
Got our '07 S since 5 years and has been completely bullet-proof with not a single problem.
There are many owners of Vanquish/S here and at the AMOC who can tell you that the Vanquish is a very reliable car as long as it is driven regularly and maintained properly.
Nothing more to say Got our '07 S since 5 years and has been completely bullet-proof with not a single problem.
There are many owners of Vanquish/S here and at the AMOC who can tell you that the Vanquish is a very reliable car as long as it is driven regularly and maintained properly.
I recently had a very low mile Vanquish S with a Works manual conversion from new, it looked fantastic but not a great drive, don't believe the hype on these. Prior to that a late V12V, a great drive if a little firm but dare I say it the looks are a bit, well, less than manly
I now have DBS manual, for me just perfect now it has V12V sport mapping....
I now have DBS manual, for me just perfect now it has V12V sport mapping....
I'm right on the edge of purchasing a 2009 DBS (Manual no B&O) in part due to perceived long term value in having one of the last V12 Manuals.
However reading Auto-expresses reports on the new DB11 I'm not so sure. The new car will have significantly better tech and strong possibility of a manual. In 30 years time..... who knows what the market will favor.
"One element set to return to the Aston Martin line-up is a manual gearbox. This move is thought to be a decree from company boss Andy Palmer. The current DB9 comes with only a six-speed automatic gearbox and steering wheel-mounted paddles, but this is set to change with the DB11. A six-speed manual gearbox is likely to be offered alongside a modern ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox."
However reading Auto-expresses reports on the new DB11 I'm not so sure. The new car will have significantly better tech and strong possibility of a manual. In 30 years time..... who knows what the market will favor.
"One element set to return to the Aston Martin line-up is a manual gearbox. This move is thought to be a decree from company boss Andy Palmer. The current DB9 comes with only a six-speed automatic gearbox and steering wheel-mounted paddles, but this is set to change with the DB11. A six-speed manual gearbox is likely to be offered alongside a modern ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox."
@Kevin: funny to see how different opinions there are.
Objectively, the DBS is more nimble than the Vanquish S (because it is lighter) has better brakes (though the replacment cost of the ceramic brakes is huge) and is easier to drive (no driving assistance on the Vanquish S, only a limited slip differential).
But the Vanquish S is rarer, louder, faster, has an unique design, and feels much stronger / rawer.
And so, much more special...
Objectively, the DBS is more nimble than the Vanquish S (because it is lighter) has better brakes (though the replacment cost of the ceramic brakes is huge) and is easier to drive (no driving assistance on the Vanquish S, only a limited slip differential).
But the Vanquish S is rarer, louder, faster, has an unique design, and feels much stronger / rawer.
And so, much more special...
Armen said:
@Kevin: funny to see how different opinions there are.
Objectively, the DBS is more nimble than the Vanquish S (because it is lighter) has better brakes (though the replacment cost of the ceramic brakes is huge) and is easier to drive (no driving assistance on the Vanquish S, only a limited slip differential).
But the Vanquish S is rarer, louder, faster, has an unique design, and feels much stronger / rawer.
And so, much more special...
Rarer than manual DBS? I'm not so sure.Objectively, the DBS is more nimble than the Vanquish S (because it is lighter) has better brakes (though the replacment cost of the ceramic brakes is huge) and is easier to drive (no driving assistance on the Vanquish S, only a limited slip differential).
But the Vanquish S is rarer, louder, faster, has an unique design, and feels much stronger / rawer.
And so, much more special...
Louder, irrelevant.
Isn't every design unique?
Stronger, rawer, more special than what?
The Vanquish has a lot going for it, but I wonder how long it will take to be a classic. Both it and the DBS are relatively new, while the DB5 has had a film pedigree and aged a few years to bring it up to the coveted in-demand stage.
I think the DBS has a better chance of being a classic than the Vanq. The Vanquish has delightful styling - that's what attracted me to my 2003 model a few years back - but the foglight carry-over seems out of place and the interior seems dated even now. At least with the DBS and even the DB5 you cannot fault the design.
Here's a photo of my Vanquish being serviced alongside film producer Peter Jackson's DB5 a few years ago. Regardless of their potential as classics, or lack of - I would own both of them in a heartbeat...
I think the DBS has a better chance of being a classic than the Vanq. The Vanquish has delightful styling - that's what attracted me to my 2003 model a few years back - but the foglight carry-over seems out of place and the interior seems dated even now. At least with the DBS and even the DB5 you cannot fault the design.
Here's a photo of my Vanquish being serviced alongside film producer Peter Jackson's DB5 a few years ago. Regardless of their potential as classics, or lack of - I would own both of them in a heartbeat...
KevinBird said:
Rarer than manual DBS? I'm not so sure.
Louder, irrelevant.
Isn't every design unique?
Stronger, rawer, more special than what?
I was talking about global DBS production numbers (3385) but I bet that even compared to manual DBS (Coupe and Volante), total Vanquish S (1086) are rarer or at least at the same level.Louder, irrelevant.
Isn't every design unique?
Stronger, rawer, more special than what?
I drove many times the Vanquish S next to a DBS and especially in tunnels, I can assure you that the sound of the Vanquish S is so powerful that it was hiding the DBS' one. Completely different beast.
What I meant is that the DBS "remains" a DB9 with more aero details and carbon fiber but it is not that different of a DB9, it is globally the same design and they share the same Gaydon interior, it is not that exclusive.
When I drove the DBS, to me it felt exactly the same as the DB9 MY2013 and even not that far from a DB9 MY2009. I mean the global feeling and the atmosphere, because I perfectly know that the DBS is sportier than a DB9 477 bhp.
With a Vanquish S, everything is more impressive, the sound first of all (no need to delete the valves...), the toughness of the steering, the way it changes direction (despite the weight, the chassis is very stiff and well-balanced), the way the car behaves itself on a wet road, much rawer and less "smoothed". All that feels more muscular and stronger when you drive it. Replace the original s
tty Yokohama tires by Michelin Super Sport and it really transforms the car.Once again, I say that the DBS is a good GT car but to me it is not that different of a DB9 MY2013 to be considered as really special or magical.
To each his own, enjoy your manual DBS
This is like the Ferrari forum, people talking up how their car is the next big thing.
I'm sure everyone thinks their car is best, as the same rough budget gets a choice of Vanquish S, DBS or V12V (or DB9.2, Virage etc) So whichever someone chose, they made a choice. I could have bought any of the 3.
Hope everyone is as happy with their choice as I am with mine. I'm not going to tell you how much better mine in than yours though...
I'm sure everyone thinks their car is best, as the same rough budget gets a choice of Vanquish S, DBS or V12V (or DB9.2, Virage etc) So whichever someone chose, they made a choice. I could have bought any of the 3.
Hope everyone is as happy with their choice as I am with mine. I'm not going to tell you how much better mine in than yours though...
Armen said:
What I meant is that the DBS "remains" a DB9 with more aero details and carbon fiber but it is not that different of a DB9
I'm sorry Armen but this is rubbish. I own both and they are vastly different.If however you are referring to the MY 2013 this is irrelevant as no manual box.
As for value I couldn't give a toss but I do hope my 3 year old boy may one day be able to enjoy it. He may care.
With regard to current "classic" values its all a load of hype. Yes, the really good old stuff is probably worth the money but sadly the good stuff drags up the s
t and a lot of people are going to be very disappointed in a few years time with their leggy, overvalued, poor condition "classic" 
velocitas said:
I'm right on the edge of purchasing a 2009 DBS (Manual no B&O) in part due to perceived long term value in having one of the last V12 Manuals.
However reading Auto-expresses reports on the new DB11 I'm not so sure. The new car will have significantly better tech and strong possibility of a manual. In 30 years time..... who knows what the market will favor.
"One element set to return to the Aston Martin line-up is a manual gearbox. This move is thought to be a decree from company boss Andy Palmer. The current DB9 comes with only a six-speed automatic gearbox and steering wheel-mounted paddles, but this is set to change with the DB11. A six-speed manual gearbox is likely to be offered alongside a modern ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox."
yes but DB11 will be twin turbo only which puts into a different class of car to the oft preferred naturally aspirated V12However reading Auto-expresses reports on the new DB11 I'm not so sure. The new car will have significantly better tech and strong possibility of a manual. In 30 years time..... who knows what the market will favor.
"One element set to return to the Aston Martin line-up is a manual gearbox. This move is thought to be a decree from company boss Andy Palmer. The current DB9 comes with only a six-speed automatic gearbox and steering wheel-mounted paddles, but this is set to change with the DB11. A six-speed manual gearbox is likely to be offered alongside a modern ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox."
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