Boot space - DB9 vs XK

[Simpo Two]

I know this is a minor issue for most, but as it would be my only car I need to make sure it's adequate.

I had a look at a DB9 Volante a few days ago, and was surprised by the small size of the boot compared to the XK Convertible (X150)

Both cars are about the same length and concept with the roof folding down into the upper boot space, so why the huge difference? The XK boot goes back much further and has a sliding panel above, so that when the roof is up you can retract it to make more room. Not so the DB9 Volante, just a fixed vertical wall. Just wondering why this should be. Bigger fuel tank?

[LTP]

Very easy. The DB9 has a rear transaxle - the gearbox is in the back. On the XK the gearbox and diff are conventional

[Simpo Two]

Ah, is that for weight distribution purposes?

[LTP]

Yes. And it means Aston could push the engine right back to the firewall as well so most, if not all of the V12 is behind the front axle - they call it a front-mid layout

[Simpo Two]

Thanks.

Bit of a bugger for stowage though... I do need to carry stuff back and forth to the boat.




Maybe I can squeeze a bag into the front of the engine bay

[DickyC]

A gentleman's luggage always precedes him.

[Jon39]

Perhaps surprising, but the Vantage boot has a bigger capacity than a DB9.
With the Coupe, some owners have even carried a bicycle.
If you want an Aston Martin, take a look.

[Simpo Two]

DickyC said:

A gentleman's luggage always precedes him.

Jon39 said:

Perhaps surprising, but the Vantage boot has a bigger capacity than a DB9.
With the Coupe, some owners have even carried a bicycle.
If you want an Aston Martin, take a look.

I have looked at Vantages, but I like a light-colour interior and they all seem to be mostly black inside.

I'll have to take another look at a DB9 Volante and decide if the space is workable - though I'm not sure if car viewing/buying is allowed under Tier 4. If not, then most of the car trade is buggered for some time...

[LTP]

Simpo Two said:

I have looked at Vantages, but I like a light-colour interior and they all seem to be mostly black inside. .

Not all of them - you have to shop around and be patient. This is mine - Obsidian Black over Winter Wheat, with Raven Black stitching

[MGDavid]

I am interested in the boot space of these cars because I am thinking of buying either a DB9, modern Vantage or perhaps a DB7 for continental touring. Currently I use an MGB for such trips but i am dreaming of going further post Covid!

Wikipedia list the DB9 boot capacity as a rather small 187 litres. Guess there is the back seat to put things on. One of the posts above talks of the Vantage boot being bigger and I have seen similar remarks about the DB7. Does anyone have boot capacity figures for either of those cars?

Thanks,
David

[CAPP0]

Jon39 said:

With the Coupe, some owners have even carried a bicycle.

Yes, but it was one of these:




I'd struggle to get the saddle from my pushbike into the boot of my DB9!

[Jon39]

[dwell]

MGDavid said:

I am interested in the boot space of these cars because I am thinking of buying either a DB9, modern Vantage or perhaps a DB7 for continental touring. Currently I use an MGB for such trips but i am dreaming of going further post Covid!

Wikipedia list the DB9 boot capacity as a rather small 187 litres. Guess there is the back seat to put things on. One of the posts above talks of the Vantage boot being bigger and I have seen similar remarks about the DB7. Does anyone have boot capacity figures for either of those cars?

Thanks,
David

I wanted a GT for touring Europe, went to buy a DB9 and bought a Vantage. Larger boot and room another two overnight bags on the shelf behind the seats. No regrets, 30,000 very pleasant miles including a three week trip to Tuscany - travel relatively light but certainly everything needed went in - great fun 😊

[Simpo Two]

The Vantage boot looks like an excellent design - like the XK/R coupe. Could they not have done that with the DB9?

[RMDB9]

Vantage often feels like a revised/facelifted/improved DB9.

[LTP]

Simpo Two said:

Could they not have done that with the DB9?

Clearly they could, as they demonstrated with the Rapide, below. But they didn't.

[Aldhun]

Vantage boot is 144 litre vs 300 litre for the Coupe

DB9 Volante has 195 litre plus the space behind the seats

[Jon39]

Simpo Two said:

The Vantage boot looks like an excellent design - like the XK/R coupe. Could they not have done that with the DB9?

The Vantage was actually designed before the DB9, although the DB9 was first in production as a DB7 replacement.
DB9 built at the new Gaydon factory, so then the DB7 factory could be closed.

Vantage was not replacing any existing model, but if that had been first in production, there would have been three models, each one being built in a different factory. Ford were in charge then, imagine how they would have reacted to such inefficiency.

To try to answer your question, I guess it was the requirement for rear seats which resulted in a modest boot size.
Also perhaps did not want a tailgate on a GT car.
Convertibles of course usually reduce boot capacity further.