RE: Aston Martin DB9 | The Brave Pill
Discussion
If you’re going to compare cars shouldn’t you compare the right ones? I always thought a XK8 was a fine car and a great GT car, if you wanted a sportier version with more grunt you had the XKR8.
I Aston terms the DB9 is a fine car and a superb GT, I loved mine. If you wanted more performance you had the option of a DBS.
Aren’t these more like for like comparisons?
For me an Aston is far, far more aspirational than a Jag but that’s purely personal. I adore my current vantage v12s, it’s just stunning and as nice as an F type is I wouldn’t even put it in same league but again this is just a personal opinion.
It’s a bit like watches, they all do the basic same thing, some do some things better than others, some cost more and some are just plain more desirable than others.
I Aston terms the DB9 is a fine car and a superb GT, I loved mine. If you wanted more performance you had the option of a DBS.
Aren’t these more like for like comparisons?
For me an Aston is far, far more aspirational than a Jag but that’s purely personal. I adore my current vantage v12s, it’s just stunning and as nice as an F type is I wouldn’t even put it in same league but again this is just a personal opinion.
It’s a bit like watches, they all do the basic same thing, some do some things better than others, some cost more and some are just plain more desirable than others.
tberg said:
For those arguing which car looks better the DB9 or the XKR, here is a look at them side by side. Their profiles are nearly identical and both are beautiful! As for 12 cylinders vs. 8 cylinders, the proof has to be in the "pudding." The 5.0L XKR will simply outperform the V12 Aston every time. As for the sound, I love the sound of every Aston, but for about a $1000.00 at any muffler shop, the XKR can be made equally ferocious sounding.
Well, now do the same exercise but with front and rear pics.Jex said:
My wife likes DB9s which is good start, but we would want a different colour! I'm very tempted by DB9s at that sort of price. How usable are the rear seats?
cough .....cough ....not very usable unless you have small kids mine are 10 and 8 ...our daughter can't fit comfortably in the back now last year we drove to Bruges for a christmas chocolate run ,,,,,,,will probably be the last now sadly Edited by Jex on Saturday 4th July 17:32
a video the wife filmed at last Aston show to give an idea
thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQOS7c3R23c
and a micky take dressed as Santa delivering the chocolates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veAC7ppA4z4&li...
Edited by DBSV8 on Saturday 4th July 18:54
tberg said:
The DB9's Ian Callum designed clone over at the Jaguar store known as the XKR may not have the Aston panache but in nearly every other way is a better, more satisfying automobile. The 5.0L XKR will outperform any DB9 version and in every face to face comparison I have ever read in review, it is always named as the preferred car. True the interior of the XKR may not be quite as special as the DB9, but as it leaves the DB9 in the dust on any kind of performance comparison, its advantages become obvious. And the fact is excellent 5.0L examples can be had for the very low $20,000 range, are extremely reliable, beautiful, and a pleasure to drive I have 175,000 miles on my 2010, it is still a pleasure to drive everyday, has been to the track dozens of times, and is quicker than my Pantera. Anyone considering a DB9 ought to at least take a look. 
Its not really an apples and pears comparison .with a DB9 . now if you compared the XKR V the DBS that would be a fairer comparison .... or maybe not with the ceramic brakes cheers
tberg said:
The 5.0L XKR will simply outperform the V12 Aston every time.
This again. It just bloody won't. The Aston is lighter, has more horsepower than the contemporary XKR and a higher top speed. Acceleration is fairly similar, but on the Autobahn when the XKR has run out of puff at 170 odd the DB9 will still be accelerating.
As for looks, these are clearly subjective, but I've never liked Geoff Lawson's styling, and the sharp corners on the XK headlights seem forced and simply don't match the rest of the car, whereas to my eyes the Aston Martin is absolute perfection and possibly the last truly beautiful car we will ever see.
Also, let's put the reliability thing to bed. My DB9 has never gone wrong and has required nothing other than servicing. It is beautifully built, and they are known to be pretty bomb-proof among their rivals. On the other hand, have you seen where JLR are on the JD Power index? There is a reason that old Jags end up with 4 figure prices.
Sebastian Tombs said:
... the XK headlights seem forced and simply don't match the rest of the car...
Good observation – the original design had twin headlights but the Ford board vetoed because it would’ve looked too avant-garde for the target market (aka the average bourgeois golf-playing bore) 
Tyre Smoke said:
hashluck said:
Turbobanana said:
Surely someone at PH Towers will soon realise that any copy describing the colour of a car will be contentious. Colour choice is a very personal thing: to me, this looks flat and boring, even more so inside. There's no contrast: it's all grey (despite AM calling it "Tungsten Silver").
No doubt someone will be along soon to explain that it's subtle, blends in or flies under the radar etc, but if you want that then don't buy an Aston in the first place.
Lovely car, but it's so grey I fear I'd trip over it on the driveway.
Agreed. No doubt someone will be along soon to explain that it's subtle, blends in or flies under the radar etc, but if you want that then don't buy an Aston in the first place.
Lovely car, but it's so grey I fear I'd trip over it on the driveway.
Toro Red and just 14K miles with full main dealer history for me please :
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1232621
The red one also comes with an interesting plate. I suspect there will be some room for negotiation in that price. Somewhere around £30k would probably be about right, depending on precise history, condition and warranty.
I have had my DB9 just over a year bought from a dealer so had the timeless warranty.
Mine is a 2008 car with the sport pack which means better looking lighter wheels and slightly sharper handling, the later cars also have a bit more kit as standard (iirc) which the early cars are missing, e.g. memory seats, bluetooth and the like.
Over the past 12 months the car has required:
- a new wing mirror as the old one was sticking instead of retracting when I locked the car
- some kind of sensor which caused the CEL to come on
- a new keyfob because the leather strap loop broke
- new coilpacks x 12 to cure a misfire
- new sparkplugs because they were in there anyway doing the plugs.
Without a warranty that list would have cost about £3500 (estimate) plus about £800 for a service including brake and transmission fluid. That said nearly all of the items are DIY able, albeit with a 5 spanner Haynes manual rating for the coils and plugs.
I had originally intended to keep the car for a year then move on to something else, but have decided to keep it for another year because I like it so much.
Ben
p.s. to keep it on topic a Jaguar never really crossed my mind and I am a fan of Jags in general.
Mine is a 2008 car with the sport pack which means better looking lighter wheels and slightly sharper handling, the later cars also have a bit more kit as standard (iirc) which the early cars are missing, e.g. memory seats, bluetooth and the like.
Over the past 12 months the car has required:
- a new wing mirror as the old one was sticking instead of retracting when I locked the car
- some kind of sensor which caused the CEL to come on
- a new keyfob because the leather strap loop broke
- new coilpacks x 12 to cure a misfire
- new sparkplugs because they were in there anyway doing the plugs.
Without a warranty that list would have cost about £3500 (estimate) plus about £800 for a service including brake and transmission fluid. That said nearly all of the items are DIY able, albeit with a 5 spanner Haynes manual rating for the coils and plugs.
I had originally intended to keep the car for a year then move on to something else, but have decided to keep it for another year because I like it so much.
Ben
p.s. to keep it on topic a Jaguar never really crossed my mind and I am a fan of Jags in general.
Interesting thread. I've pretty much my entire life been the budget end of car buying (sub 10k), but in the last few years, work and money have improved a lot in that I can now look at a 30K Aston, which for me, is an absolute dream. I've had this very discussion with my mate about both cars, but I'm looking for a comfortable GT car and aesthetics is top of the list, and hands down, the DB9 wins. Its a beautiful car from any angle.
I like slightly odd colour schemes, so my heart and money are focused on this one at the moment.
Black & Tan
I like slightly odd colour schemes, so my heart and money are focused on this one at the moment.
Black & Tan
tberg said:
For those arguing which car looks better the DB9 or the XKR, here is a look at them side by side. Their profiles are nearly identical and both are beautiful! As for 12 cylinders vs. 8 cylinders, the proof has to be in the "pudding." The 5.0L XKR will simply outperform the V12 Aston every time. As for the sound, I love the sound of every Aston, but for about a $1000.00 at any muffler shop, the XKR can be made equally ferocious sounding.
No, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.Sebastain Tombs,
Some models of the 5.0L XKR have governors on them that restrict the top speed, but if you disable that or get the XKR175 or the XKRS, they are good up to 186mph the same as the factory claims for the DB9. So, I wouldn't go choosing one off at the next red light or on the Autobahn. and with a $600-700 pulley and tune, which many of us have done, we're straddling 600+ hp. I think the DB9 is a gorgeous car, and I like everything about it, but as we say on the Jaguar Forum, "why go sideways?" And honestly, you really don't want to challenge a 5.0L XKR on any performance parameters with your DB9.
Some models of the 5.0L XKR have governors on them that restrict the top speed, but if you disable that or get the XKR175 or the XKRS, they are good up to 186mph the same as the factory claims for the DB9. So, I wouldn't go choosing one off at the next red light or on the Autobahn. and with a $600-700 pulley and tune, which many of us have done, we're straddling 600+ hp. I think the DB9 is a gorgeous car, and I like everything about it, but as we say on the Jaguar Forum, "why go sideways?" And honestly, you really don't want to challenge a 5.0L XKR on any performance parameters with your DB9.
So now you’re comparing tuned / modified cars with a DB9?
No one cares, there’ll always be faster cars, it’s not what’s it’s all about.
The thread is about ‘a pill’, which I personally don’t think it is. It was invaded by someone pushing their body kitted jag?
The XK / XKR is a nice car, but an Aston it is not.
No one cares, there’ll always be faster cars, it’s not what’s it’s all about.
The thread is about ‘a pill’, which I personally don’t think it is. It was invaded by someone pushing their body kitted jag?
The XK / XKR is a nice car, but an Aston it is not.
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