A nice problem to have !!!!! help ?
A nice problem to have !!!!! help ?
Author
Discussion

whirlybird

Original Poster:

650 posts

218 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
In the next few weeks I,ll be in a position to buy my first Aston (Thanks Mum )!!!!. I,ve a adequate budget, so have been looking at V8 Vantages, but heres the rub,
I,m now thinking of a DB9, so whats the pros and cons of each model, 2 seats will do for me and Mrs W, but extra seats in the rear could be useful? and theres the 4 extra cylinders, most seem to be Auto, which with my dodgy left leg, could prove helpful.
The floor is open to ideas guys and girls, discuss !!!!

Jockman

18,414 posts

191 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
Price bracket?

whirlybird

Original Poster:

650 posts

218 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
40K ( max !!!!!!!) ?

The Surveyor

7,624 posts

268 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
DB9 is classically beautiful and you get the full V12 experience. The rear seats are useless and leave you with a small, almost useless boot. Rare in manual form and a pure GT in character.

V8 Vantage is more muscular in appearance and more sporting in nature even though its no faster, certainly in 4.3 form. Proper useful hatch and space behind the seats means its more practical despite being shorter. The V8 likes to rev and lacks torque and is less common with the sportsshift auto. More a sporting GT that either a pure GT or pure sports car.

I've got a V8 Vantage and love it, a good mate has a similar priced DB9 and that is equally lovely. Buy the best version of the one you like the most.

Jockman

18,414 posts

191 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
McGurk's got some nice stock in -

http://www.mcgurk.com/used-Aston-martin-sales-serv...

I can't find a DB9 on the Dealer network at that price but there are 5 V8Vs.

The seats in the rear of the DB9 are useless but yes you get the bigger engine and it's 12" longer.

Space utilisation is better in the smaller V8V.

Congratulations - nice quandry to have.

Bincenzo

2,606 posts

210 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
Take your time and try them both. V8V is a great car, it was my first Aston and I still miss the nimbleness and character it provides. Previous poster is bang on though with the pros and cons, especially the slight lack of Torque at lower rpm. A fabulous car though.
DB9? A different proposition, glorious V12 (although I still prefer the sound of the V8), a true GT but don't rely on the rear seats for anything other than shopping.

Get out and about, try a few of both, not just one, and if you do nothing else, buy Grants Book, details at the top of the AM forum page - best £25 I've ever spent.........and it's entirely responsible for me being on my second Aston. Enjoy the search, if you have any more questions fire away. Good luck.

whirlybird

Original Poster:

650 posts

218 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the feedback, Grants book arrived a couple of weeks ago so thats getting regular use & I,ve spoken to John McGurk,
to arrange a test drive the next time I,m near Coventry/Southam.
Boot space is important as I need to carry my Time-Trial bike, and another poster sent pics of his bike in the back.
I also like the idea of the "smaller" V8, but what will swing it (I think) will be manual against sport shift ,years of Smart Cars and paddle shift
have left its mark!!! V8 & DB9 test drives will swing it eventually, I may even surprise myself ?

peterr96

2,226 posts

206 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
whirlybird said:
Thanks for the feedback, Grants book arrived a couple of weeks ago so thats getting regular use & I,ve spoken to John McGurk,
to arrange a test drive the next time I,m near Coventry/Southam.
Boot space is important as I need to carry my Time-Trial bike, and another poster sent pics of his bike in the back.
I also like the idea of the "smaller" V8, but what will swing it (I think) will be manual against sport shift ,years of Smart Cars and paddle shift
have left its mark!!! V8 & DB9 test drives will swing it eventually, I may even surprise myself ?
If you need to get a bike in it, count the DB9 out. No way is it going in there.
Depending on your frame size you may get a bike in an V8V but if you're tall then you may need to drop the saddle.


rossyl

1,217 posts

198 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
I had a similar question not so long ago and went for a Vantage.

The DB9 I had read of issues with engines. A ticking noise meaning potential high prices to fix. However, what i read may have been a unique issue.

This was the thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=122...


jonby

5,367 posts

188 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
as a coupe, vantage has much more boot space than DB9

gearbox is a big factor - DB9 has a conventional auto or rarely, a conventional manual

V8 Vantage has conventional manual or sportshift. I think sportshift is poorly reported on by journos but there's no question it's not for everyone - especially in the earlier versions, it needs thinking about when being used, reverse isn't great, going uphill from a standing start can be tricky, etc



whirlybird

Original Poster:

650 posts

218 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
peterr96 said:
If you need to get a bike in it, count the DB9 out. No way is it going in there.
Depending on your frame size you may get a bike in an V8V but if you're tall then you may need to drop the saddle.
Current bike is a 54cm CINELLI, but next year I,ll buy a full blown TT Bike
probably a Cervelo P5 ?, but as I build Racing and Track (Velodrome) bikes as a sideline, pulling it apart to load
into the car will not pose a issue,may even get a custom made bike bag made, (Now theres an idea !!!!)
and Factor bikes built an AM liveried bike too.

BigMig

205 posts

142 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
You might need to avoid V8's that have the B&O stereo, there's an extra "lump" in the boot, probably an amp, that makes the load space less bike friendly. Having said that, mine has B&O and I've as yet not tried a bike in the back. I'll see if I can get my TT bike in there and report back.



whirlybird

Original Poster:

650 posts

218 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
BigMig said:
You might need to avoid V8's that have the B&O stereo, there's an extra "lump" in the boot, probably an amp, that makes the load space less bike friendly. Having said that, mine has B&O and I've as yet not tried a bike in the back. I'll see if I can get my TT bike in there and report back.
Just a thought, are there towing eye hook points on the rear,(x2) a THULE type
transverse bike rail could be made to fit, Ive still an interests in a local engineering co
that I sold my business too.> www.bantamtrailers.co.uk

66MK

375 posts

138 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
Why is there a conversation involving Aston Martins and putting bicycles in boots?

Range Rover?

getmecoat


If you have a pipe and slippers buy the DB9, if you are still alive buy a V8 and a 4.7 if you can. Manual is great, I have a sportshift - its great too.

by the way I have a bicycle as well, and a Range Rover...

wink

SlartiF430

1,828 posts

185 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
I've had both. I miss the db9 the most. This is because I've since owned a ferrari and 2 mclarens. These cars kiss v8v ass from here to the moon on sportiness (which is what the v8v is about) but they can't hold a candle to the db9 for its abilities as a GT cruiser (beautiful, effortless, v12). I'd get a db9 again but never a v8v.

whirlybird

Original Poster:

650 posts

218 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
66MK said:
Why is there a conversation involving Aston Martins and putting bicycles in boots?

Range Rover?

getmecoat


If you have a pipe and slippers buy the DB9, if you are still alive buy a V8 and a 4.7 if you can. Manual is great, I have a sportshift - its great too.

by the way I have a bicycle as well, and a Range Rover...

wink
SIMPLES :-) I need to put my racing bike into the boot of any car I buy. hence the original question, about the merits of the 2 models I,m looking at !!!!

Impasse

15,099 posts

272 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
On that point alone the V8V will be the more practical but even then it will be a squeeze to cram a bike in there. It's doable though, more than one PHer uses their Vantage as a mobile bike rack.


Another way to decide is personal finances. If you're paying in to your pension then the Vantage is for you. If you're already drawing on your pension look for a DB9.

peterr96

2,226 posts

206 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
whirlybird said:
Current bike is a 54cm CINELLI, but next year I,ll buy a full blown TT Bike
probably a Cervelo P5 ?, but as I build Racing and Track (Velodrome) bikes as a sideline, pulling it apart to load
into the car will not pose a issue,may even get a custom made bike bag made, (Now theres an idea !!!!)
and Factor bikes built an AM liveried bike too.
Should be fine then.
Mines a 54 equiv (50 sloping)

Here's how it fits in

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=102...

whirlybird

Original Poster:

650 posts

218 months

Monday 15th August 2016
quotequote all
Impasse said:
On that point alone the V8V will be the more practical but even then it will be a squeeze to cram a bike in there. It's doable though, more than one PHer uses their Vantage as a mobile bike rack.


Another way to decide is personal finances. If you're paying in to your pension then the Vantage is for you. If you're already drawing on your pension look for a DB9.
There seems to be a bit on an 'agest' slant to how this thread is going rolleyes I may be well into my 60,s but I still plan on going to enjoy my life, ( pension or not )
so on that note the V8V will be the car I,ll buy, (and if it get a bit too expensive to run as a daily driver, I CAN USE MY FREE BUS PASS) ! laugh

skeena river rover

57 posts

132 months

Tuesday 16th August 2016
quotequote all
It's funny how guy's say a db9 is for old folkssmile I am 37 and own a 2007 DB9 with sports pack. Its the best car i ever owned! I use to own Porsches etc even a 67 e-type, but the Aston is always special to drive.

I drive my db9 quite fast and i love it. The torque, speed, sound is intoxicating. And the lines of the db9 are the best ones in my personal opinion.

The pros of a vantage is that there quite a view out there. In any price range from manual to sport shift. If you like the look of a vantage, go for it. I am a tall guy and i like the bigger cars like DB9 or Vanquish. But they are more pricy to buy, or to run.
Every Aston is special. Just buy one and enjoy itsmile