2011 DBS Coupé from AM dealer vs 2013 DBS Volante Ultimate

[Ploggy]

Hi all,

I’m looking at two DBSs and would really appreciate owner input before I decide.

Option 1: 2011 DBS Coupé, sold by Aston Martin Cannes, around 37k km, automatic, Onyx Black / Obsidian Black, B&O, carbon ceramics.

Option 2: 2013 DBS Volante Ultimate, 56.5k km chassis mileage, automatic, black/black, advertised as “1 of 100”, B&O, heated memory seats, front/rear sensors, full exterior carbon, Aston-only service history with invoices.

Important extra point on the Volante: the engine was replaced by Aston Martin at around 41,000 km, so the current engine has done roughly 18,000 km.

I live in the Alpes-Maritimes, so the Volante suits the climate, but I also want the better overall buy rather than just the more emotional choice.

Main questions:

Which would you choose?
Is the Ultimate genuinely worth paying up for?
How should I view the Aston Martin engine replacement — reassuring if documented, or still a concern?
What documents should I insist on for the replacement engine?
What proves a DBS Volante is a true and complete Ultimate?
Is the official dealer coupé the safer place to put my money?
What known DBS issues should I check on both, especially carbon ceramics and the Volante roof?
Which would be easier to resell in a few years?

Any advice very welcome, especially from DBS owners or anyone who has compared coupé vs Volante.

[Aldhun]

You either want a Volante or a Coupe, the detailed spec between the two cars your are looking at is irrelevant in my opinion.

I am a Volante fan

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Buy the Ultimate Volante. It is the last and best of the DBS and a Volante which will always sell for more if you keep it. Plus you have the perfect clime for it. Every time you put the top down on a sunny day you will be glad you bought it instead of the coupe. I’m pretty sure that the sill plate identifies it as an Ultimate as ## of 100.

[Purosangue]

Ploggy said:

Hi all,

I m looking at two DBSs and would really appreciate owner input before I decide.

Option 1: 2011 DBS Coupé, sold by Aston Martin Cannes, around 37k km, automatic, Onyx Black / Obsidian Black, B&O, carbon ceramics.

Option 2: 2013 DBS Volante Ultimate, 56.5k km chassis mileage, automatic, black/black, advertised as 1 of 100 , B&O, heated memory seats, front/rear sensors, full exterior carbon, Aston-only service history with invoices.

Important extra point on the Volante: the engine was replaced by Aston Martin at around 41,000 km, so the current engine has done roughly 18,000 km.

I live in the Alpes-Maritimes, so the Volante suits the climate, but I also want the better overall buy rather than just the more emotional choice.

Main questions:

Which would you choose?
Is the Ultimate genuinely worth paying up for?
How should I view the Aston Martin engine replacement reassuring if documented, or still a concern?
What documents should I insist on for the replacement engine?
What proves a DBS Volante is a true and complete Ultimate?
Is the official dealer coupé the safer place to put my money?
What known DBS issues should I check on both, especially carbon ceramics and the Volante roof?
Which would be easier to resell in a few years?

Any advice very welcome, especially from DBS owners or anyone who has compared coupé vs Volante.

As The DBS coupe is from a main dealer , I would expect it to have had the full Aston checks 37k is nothing for a V12 , check the service history . Confirm it comes with Aston Timeless warranty .

Is the DBS volante from a private sale ? or independent garage ? how many owners , A Pre purchase inspection using an Aston specialist is a must . I personally would want to know what happened to the original engine to me that's a red flag the Engine replacement , why did it need changing . Which dealership changed it . Was it actually changed or was it rebuilt ? I would want to check the VIN with the dealership who actually changed it , Has it had full dealership services ?
I don't just mean stamps actually call the dealership quote the VIN and ask about the service history ..does it check out;

remember the oil level on these cars need careful monitoring , originally the dipstick levels on the V12 , where notorious high , if you ran the oil low and the oil light / engine light came on it was usually too late .


I ran a 2011 DBS quantum silver coupe , purchased from a main UK dealer , drove 25,000 miles sold it at 38,000 miles .back to the original Aston Dealership . The Aston engineer commented my engine on the diagnostics was showing near perfect condition.

I was fastidious at pre preventative maintenance checking oil , tyres , brakes etc. I had two sets of wheels , Summer / Winter always used Pirrelli Sotozeros brilliant tyres ,

i bought a set of DB9/DBS jacking pads and would remove the wheels and swap / winter summer myself . i also used ACF-50 to coat the front / rear suspension components ( its an anti rusting spray) Only used Super unleaded fuel. I had the primary catalysts removed ,,,,,,,,, Definitely a must do on v12s

I also took the car to Aston installations and had Apple car play , Front / reverse cameras and all round Dash cameras fitted , they do a 360 camera system now


interestingly when my car was in for the upgrade they had a Bright blue DBS in from Dubai with a lurid signal Red interior , This car became the test car fitted with the 360 camera system and the red interior was replaced with an in house re trim in black leather with " Ultimate spec cross stitching in blue " A very professional upgrade.

Sealed lights have a tendency to fog up , so check them for water ingress , check interior rubber seals especially boot seals , damp carpets etc.

when i bought the car the ceramic discs had weight marks on ...........they weigh them . they should last around 80,000 miles as long as the car hasn't been tracked or cleaned with alloy wheel cleaner { which will eat the ceramic coating} its not the end of the world there are companies now who can repair ceramics at a fraction of replacement OEM parts

The car was reliable but i never tracked mine i did reach 172 mph along the autobahn , in Germany on our way to Bruges on the chocolate run
a bit of info from Mike Bamford on the V12



If I had the choice I would buy from the main dealer , the volante raises a few red flags , everything can be fixed , you could ask for the volante to go to the main dealership for a full inspection if you want to go that route
yes the Ultimate was the last of the line so residuals would be higher , but effectively its a 56k mileage car .

The DBS is a fantastic car in either coupe or volante shape , probably the best looking volante Aston ever built

here's mine on the chocolate run in Bruges as A 007 spoof video wife took



one other note the original DBS exhaust manifold is very restrictive , Bamford rose manufacture an in house replacement that optimises exhaust gas away efficiently & improves overall bhp and optimum exhaust note {was around £5,000 }
definitely worth considering



either way do your due diligence check all paperwork / history at the very least have a pre Purchase inspection .......at the independent or private sale if they baulk at this Walk away

enjoy

Edited by Purosangue on Wednesday 8th April 03:12