Thoughts a DB9 Volante
Discussion
Hi all, interested to hear from anyone that has owned a DB9 volante, I am considering buying one over the winter. I would be selling my 2012 boxster S to fund it. I recently had a 2006 vantage 4.3 coupe that I owner for 5 years and replaced that with a 991 4S. The vantage I loved and would consider a vantage roadster, but quite fancy the V12 this time.
Interested to know what the volante is like in terms of comfort, scuttle shake ? rattly ? wind noise etc ? I used the boxster purely as a summer car, doing circa 1000miles per year, the volane would be the same, I am less concerned about preformance, more about comfort, (getting old lol)
any comments appreciated.
regards
Scott.
glasgow,
Interested to know what the volante is like in terms of comfort, scuttle shake ? rattly ? wind noise etc ? I used the boxster purely as a summer car, doing circa 1000miles per year, the volane would be the same, I am less concerned about preformance, more about comfort, (getting old lol)
any comments appreciated.
regards
Scott.
glasgow,
I have a 2006 DB9 Volante (although modified more like a DBS)
It is an extremely comfortable car, nice driving position and good seats (better after 2007), although personally I didn't find the steering wheel comfortable and I got it modified to suit me better.
It does suffer from some scuttle shake, it did bother me so I upgarded it by fitting the shear plates from a DBS to the front and rear (as well as the anti roll bars), this reduces the scuttle shake considerably and makes the car feel much nicer.
Its reasonably quiet with the roof up (2008 plus are supposed to have more insulation in thh roof to make them quieter still), but if you treat the rubber seals regularly to keep them supple it is quiet enough, with the roof down it is obviously noisier but you can hear that wonderful exhaust noise even better.
Overall, I absolutely love it.
Chassis mods
It is an extremely comfortable car, nice driving position and good seats (better after 2007), although personally I didn't find the steering wheel comfortable and I got it modified to suit me better.
It does suffer from some scuttle shake, it did bother me so I upgarded it by fitting the shear plates from a DBS to the front and rear (as well as the anti roll bars), this reduces the scuttle shake considerably and makes the car feel much nicer.
Its reasonably quiet with the roof up (2008 plus are supposed to have more insulation in thh roof to make them quieter still), but if you treat the rubber seals regularly to keep them supple it is quiet enough, with the roof down it is obviously noisier but you can hear that wonderful exhaust noise even better.
Overall, I absolutely love it.
Chassis mods
Phuketpaul said:
I have a 2006 DB9 Volante (although modified more like a DBS)
It is an extremely comfortable car, nice driving position and good seats (better after 2007), although personally I didn't find the steering wheel comfortable and I got it modified to suit me better.
It does suffer from some scuttle shake, it did bother me so I upgarded it by fitting the shear plates from a DBS to the front and rear (as well as the anti roll bars), this reduces the scuttle shake considerably and makes the car feel much nicer.
Its reasonably quiet with the roof up (2008 plus are supposed to have more insulation in thh roof to make them quieter still), but if you treat the rubber seals regularly to keep them supple it is quiet enough, with the roof down it is obviously noisier but you can hear that wonderful exhaust noise even better.
Overall, I absolutely love it.
Chassis mods
thanks for reply, appreciated, link is excellent info, It is an extremely comfortable car, nice driving position and good seats (better after 2007), although personally I didn't find the steering wheel comfortable and I got it modified to suit me better.
It does suffer from some scuttle shake, it did bother me so I upgarded it by fitting the shear plates from a DBS to the front and rear (as well as the anti roll bars), this reduces the scuttle shake considerably and makes the car feel much nicer.
Its reasonably quiet with the roof up (2008 plus are supposed to have more insulation in thh roof to make them quieter still), but if you treat the rubber seals regularly to keep them supple it is quiet enough, with the roof down it is obviously noisier but you can hear that wonderful exhaust noise even better.
Overall, I absolutely love it.
Chassis mods
I also have an '06 DB9 Volante. I've made a few upgrades over the eight years I've owned it, but nothing as extensive as PhuketPaul's work (which has been guided by good taste and good judgment, and has been extremely well-executed).
I'm in the U.S., and find the DB9 Volante very well-suited to our roads, which tend to be somewhat better matched to a GT than British roads in many cases. As Paul said, a DB9 is a very comfortable car. It is certainly not merely a "boulevard cruiser," though, and is a more capable sports car than my former Porsche 928S.
I've also found the car to be reliable, and I've performed all work required myself, except for flashing/programing a replacement convertible roof module, which required a dealer's AMDS computer.
I've found three keys to happiness with a DB9 Volante: 1) Don't expect it to drive like a 911. It's not, and it won't. Enjoy it for what it is, a gorgeous, limited-production GT with an excellent balance of performance driving characteristics without extremes in any area; and 2) Do your own maintenance (oil, brakes, coils and plugs, minor repairs, etc.), which will allow you know your car and also keep cost-of-ownership reasonable; 3) Add a rear anti-roll/anti-sway bar, which will significantly improve the handling of an early Volante.
If you can swing a 2009 or later, you'll get a car that is more powerful, quieter inside, and has many other improvements.
I'm in the U.S., and find the DB9 Volante very well-suited to our roads, which tend to be somewhat better matched to a GT than British roads in many cases. As Paul said, a DB9 is a very comfortable car. It is certainly not merely a "boulevard cruiser," though, and is a more capable sports car than my former Porsche 928S.
I've also found the car to be reliable, and I've performed all work required myself, except for flashing/programing a replacement convertible roof module, which required a dealer's AMDS computer.
I've found three keys to happiness with a DB9 Volante: 1) Don't expect it to drive like a 911. It's not, and it won't. Enjoy it for what it is, a gorgeous, limited-production GT with an excellent balance of performance driving characteristics without extremes in any area; and 2) Do your own maintenance (oil, brakes, coils and plugs, minor repairs, etc.), which will allow you know your car and also keep cost-of-ownership reasonable; 3) Add a rear anti-roll/anti-sway bar, which will significantly improve the handling of an early Volante.
If you can swing a 2009 or later, you'll get a car that is more powerful, quieter inside, and has many other improvements.
Zuman said:
I also have an '06 DB9 Volante. I've made a few upgrades over the eight years I've owned it, but nothing as extensive as PhuketPaul's work (which has been guided by good taste and good judgment, and has been extremely well-executed).
I'm in the U.S., and find the DB9 Volante very well-suited to our roads, which tend to be somewhat better matched to a GT than British roads in many cases. As Paul said, a DB9 is a very comfortable car. It is certainly not merely a "boulevard cruiser," though, and is a more capable sports car than my former Porsche 928S.
I've also found the car to be reliable, and I've performed all work required myself, except for flashing/programing a replacement convertible roof module, which required a dealer's AMDS computer.
I've found three keys to happiness with a DB9 Volante: 1) Don't expect it to drive like a 911. It's not, and it won't. Enjoy it for what it is, a gorgeous, limited-production GT with an excellent balance of performance driving characteristics without extremes in any area; and 2) Do your own maintenance (oil, brakes, coils and plugs, minor repairs, etc.), which will allow you know your car and also keep cost-of-ownership reasonable; 3) Add a rear anti-roll/anti-sway bar, which will significantly improve the handling of an early Volante.
If you can swing a 2009 or later, you'll get a car that is more powerful, quieter inside, and has many other improvements.
Thanks for the reply, yes, I am not expecting it to handle like a 911, I found the vantage wasnt quite up to fast a roads as the boxster or the 911, but it was lovely car to drive, I am really looking or a cruiser, GT car, comfortable, with the lovely sound and they look stunning, afraid budget will be a 2007 most likely, i would consider an earlier one if it had mega low miles but I do prefer the 2007 seats, I'm in the U.S., and find the DB9 Volante very well-suited to our roads, which tend to be somewhat better matched to a GT than British roads in many cases. As Paul said, a DB9 is a very comfortable car. It is certainly not merely a "boulevard cruiser," though, and is a more capable sports car than my former Porsche 928S.
I've also found the car to be reliable, and I've performed all work required myself, except for flashing/programing a replacement convertible roof module, which required a dealer's AMDS computer.
I've found three keys to happiness with a DB9 Volante: 1) Don't expect it to drive like a 911. It's not, and it won't. Enjoy it for what it is, a gorgeous, limited-production GT with an excellent balance of performance driving characteristics without extremes in any area; and 2) Do your own maintenance (oil, brakes, coils and plugs, minor repairs, etc.), which will allow you know your car and also keep cost-of-ownership reasonable; 3) Add a rear anti-roll/anti-sway bar, which will significantly improve the handling of an early Volante.
If you can swing a 2009 or later, you'll get a car that is more powerful, quieter inside, and has many other improvements.
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