DBS/DB9 Volante feedback
Discussion
Hello all from the other side of the pond. Looking for feedback on the top up/down driving and sound characteristics of the Volante. The brief:
I am buying a DBS that will be sent to Bamford Rose for some of his magic dust engine TLC. Looking for a MT, but that will depend on what is available here at the time that I buy. I can live with either. Going back and forth on a Coupe and Volante. I am foolishly assuming that the DBS and DB9 both are the same, for the sake of this argument.
The car will be kept strictly in New Orleans and Los Angeles. City driving, canyon carving in L.A. and lots of long, open stretches of highway driving on A roads in both localities. I am concerned about 2 issues.
The first is the lines of the Volante vs. the Coupe. They are both beautiful in their own way. On the other hand, both cities in which she will reside have 320 days of sun. So there's that.....On the other hand, there are few cars out there with the beautiful, graceful lines of the Coupe.
The second issue is wind. No, not mine...How does the Volante react to 50mph + driving with the top up/down? Is it overwhelming, long term? It's one thing to drive in town, another to go 80+ on the highway.
Yes, I have done test drives. Small sample size applies. What are the real world characteristics,longer term?
Thanks for all responses.
I am buying a DBS that will be sent to Bamford Rose for some of his magic dust engine TLC. Looking for a MT, but that will depend on what is available here at the time that I buy. I can live with either. Going back and forth on a Coupe and Volante. I am foolishly assuming that the DBS and DB9 both are the same, for the sake of this argument.
The car will be kept strictly in New Orleans and Los Angeles. City driving, canyon carving in L.A. and lots of long, open stretches of highway driving on A roads in both localities. I am concerned about 2 issues.
The first is the lines of the Volante vs. the Coupe. They are both beautiful in their own way. On the other hand, both cities in which she will reside have 320 days of sun. So there's that.....On the other hand, there are few cars out there with the beautiful, graceful lines of the Coupe.
The second issue is wind. No, not mine...How does the Volante react to 50mph + driving with the top up/down? Is it overwhelming, long term? It's one thing to drive in town, another to go 80+ on the highway.
Yes, I have done test drives. Small sample size applies. What are the real world characteristics,longer term?
Thanks for all responses.
Edited by CurveEater on Tuesday 25th October 02:14
The original idea was to get an '09 DBS, send it to Mike, and have Sarah Maynard re-do the interior to a different standard. I did not want to order new, as the wait time is about 5 months here. There are a lot of DBS's available second hand, many with the MT, but not in a Volante.
I have seen pics of the new Virage, but have not seen it in person. A Virage would require only engine mods from Mike, as the trimming of the interior is quite nice, and for some reason, dealers here have shown a willingness to put some nice color combos together on floor models. That is not the case with the 14 DBS's that are on dealer floors, which are all pretty bland to my taste.
From the pics that I have seen, the Virage looks more than a bit angular, with the front bumper looking very close to a cow catcher on a locomotive. I have been in hospital for a few months, so have not had the opportunity to see or test drive. Thoughts on the look of it?
I have seen pics of the new Virage, but have not seen it in person. A Virage would require only engine mods from Mike, as the trimming of the interior is quite nice, and for some reason, dealers here have shown a willingness to put some nice color combos together on floor models. That is not the case with the 14 DBS's that are on dealer floors, which are all pretty bland to my taste.
From the pics that I have seen, the Virage looks more than a bit angular, with the front bumper looking very close to a cow catcher on a locomotive. I have been in hospital for a few months, so have not had the opportunity to see or test drive. Thoughts on the look of it?
Mike would be able to work his magic on a go-kart, so I do realize that the difference between the DB9 and DBS is, for him, of no consequence. The conundrum is whether or not I want a MT at the expense of a Volante, I guess. Love the lines of the Coupe, but I could also see myself driving top-down on a smog-choked day in sunny southern Cal.!
clorenzen said:
Either you want a posers car then: volante + touchtronic or a drivers car then: DBS manual and if you want a real sports car then: V12 Vantage. So for New Orleans you get the V12 Vantage, take the DBS for the stretches in between and jump in the Volante once arrived in LA. Simple really.
An elegant solution!The car will be driven in the city as well as canyon curves and freeways, equally divided I would think.
George H said:
Fair enough, but I see that as a drawback. With TT2 in sport mode when using the paddles it behaves exactly like a manual anyway - i.e. can have it bouncing off the rev limiter if you want, but you get the added bonus of it being fully auto if you so wish.
I use the flappy paddles approx 75% of the time, in both my cars which have them. I think they're great fun, especially on downshifts, but I also like the fact that I don't always have to be involved with the car, I can just sit back.
Which brings up an interesting question. How many of you with TT2 use the paddles regularly when the opportunity arises, assuming that that opportunity is something other than in-city traffic or motorways. Do you generally find enough back roads to justify paddle shifting?I use the flappy paddles approx 75% of the time, in both my cars which have them. I think they're great fun, especially on downshifts, but I also like the fact that I don't always have to be involved with the car, I can just sit back.
JohnG1 said:
What are you going to ask Mike to do?
With regards to your choice, I have no comment, both lovely cars.
Mike will put in new headers, exhaust, intake manifold, different cats and pipes (that he has manufactured to his specs), as well as LWFW and clutch plate, 3-way dampers, new non-brembo's (from the 24-hour racing aston brakes that he has designed). The engine internals will also be vastly improved/bored.With regards to your choice, I have no comment, both lovely cars.
The engine costs on the v12 are actually quite reasonable considering a gain to 600hp and much better low, mid and high torque. The ponies are already in there; Aston just never quite went to the level that they should have with it. All in, the cost is a hell of a lot less than a new, or slightly used DBS. I just want everything that I can get out of this engine, and Mike has proven that he has that ability.
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