XK vs DB9 vs ?

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Discussion

Trendsetter

Original Poster:

93 posts

66 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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Due to some recent threads I've gotten the impulse to start looking for a 'forever' car. This would be a second car for trips and weekends.

While I'm in the early days of my search, two which stand out are the Jaguar XK and Aston Martin DB9.

Before I start my usual obsession about such things can anyone give a good comparison for the two? I'm really looking for a comfortable cruiser and would need to use four seats for children ferrying.

While the budget is flexible a £10k XK would be an easier sell to the other half than a £30k Aston. Any other model suggestions? I previously had a a 4.0 TDV8 Audi A8 which was my favourite car so wouldn't rule out a super saloon either.

Cheers!

4Q

3,387 posts

145 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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You won’t get kids in the back of the DB9 unless they’re really young.

Trendsetter

Original Poster:

93 posts

66 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
quotequote all
4Q said:
You won’t get kids in the back of the DB9 unless they’re really young.
I did suspect this given the shape. I assume that it would most likely be an issue for the XK too but wondered whether one would be any better than the other

4Q

3,387 posts

145 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
quotequote all
Would your budget stretch to a Rapide?

Edited to add, I’ve just had a quick look online and they’re similar money to a DB9

Edited by 4Q on Wednesday 8th March 22:10

Rough101

1,807 posts

76 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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Maserati Granturismo.

Will cost a lot less than the AM to run

Trendsetter

Original Poster:

93 posts

66 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
quotequote all
4Q said:
Would your budget stretch to a Rapide?

Edited to add, I’ve just had a quick look online and they’re similar money to a DB9

Edited by 4Q on Wednesday 8th March 22:10
I had looked at Rapides and concluded they started around £45k although it seems I was wrong about that. They are similar money to the DB9s and appear to be slightly newer at that.

I'm probably a year or so away from being able to buy anything but that seems a fairly good alternative

braddo

10,630 posts

189 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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Rough101 said:
Maserati Granturismo.

Will cost a lot less than the AM to run
Maserati seems to be the best answer for when decent rear seating is needed. There are also the 4200 and the quattroporte that you could consider.

SD_1

7,266 posts

159 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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I've recently bought an XK, a 2009 5.0 coupe. It is an excellent car, but I really don't think the back seats are usable at all so make sure to look at one before purchasing. They might fit a small child if you aren't very tall and sit further forward, but I would be surprised.

In the sub 30k price range you basically have your pick of XK / XKRs whereas you are looking at bottom of the market DB9s. 10k would get you a decent 4.2 XK and they seem to be very reliable. Increase the budget and you can get a later 5.0 if that is your thing. I'd lean towards the Jag on that basis, but then if it is a forever car and you really want an Aston then that's one for you to figure out!


NDA

21,707 posts

226 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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I've owned a couple of XKR's and a Vanquish.

You wouldn't get Douglas Bader in the back of either.

The Jaguars have been totally bullet proof but lack the 'certain something' (whatever that is) of the Aston.

It is a tricky choice to be honest - but as above, you'd probably get a nicer example Jag for the budget. Cheaper to run/service and probably be more reliable.

shithotfast

1,132 posts

269 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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I had a 2004 XKR 4.2 jag for a few years as a "toy" car. Fantastic value for money. Compared to the similar Aston, the jag was faster, more comfortable and half the cost to buy. I do feel the aston "badge" costs a lot more than the jag but I guess that's the market and just life.

But I also have a Bentley GTC. Stupidly expensive to run etc .... but it does have a Bentley badge !


SFTWend

875 posts

76 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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Bought a DB9 a few years ago. Quicky came to the conclusion it was not as special as I'd hoped and should have bought a 5 litre supercharged Jag for half the price.

ZX10R NIN

27,734 posts

126 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
quotequote all
Trendsetter said:
Due to some recent threads I've gotten the impulse to start looking for a 'forever' car. This would be a second car for trips and weekends.

While I'm in the early days of my search, two which stand out are the Jaguar XK and Aston Martin DB9.

Before I start my usual obsession about such things can anyone give a good comparison for the two? I'm really looking for a comfortable cruiser and would need to use four seats for children ferrying.

While the budget is flexible a £10k XK would be an easier sell to the other half than a £30k Aston. Any other model suggestions? I previously had a a 4.0 TDV8 Audi A8 which was my favourite car so wouldn't rule out a super saloon either.

Cheers!
The 4.7 Maserati Granturismo is the pick especially if you need rear space, having had both the DB9 & GT, the Maserati trounced the DB9 & the 4.7 V8 is just as special as the V12.

AstonZagato

12,758 posts

211 months

Friday 10th March 2023
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I had a gen 1 Jag XK8 from new in 1998 (replaced with a DB7 Vantage). I also had a string of DB9s.

The XK8 was great until you pressed on. Then it became too floaty and vague. The DB7 was definitely more planted. The DB9 made the DB7 feel like a pair of comfortable old slippers. So if you ever really push on beyond 7/10ths, the Jaguar might disappoint.

I think the DB9 is better looking and more covetable - but you will face big maintenance bills. They aren't unreliable but anything on them will be expensive to fix - replacing the 12 coil packs is the thick end of £3k IIRC (and you will need to do that once every 5-7 years).

Neither car has any room in the back but the XK8 was better than the DB9 by a country mile. I am six foot and there is literally zero leg room left in the back (seat back touching back seat squab). If back seats are important, then the Rapide is a better bet (an under-rated car) or the Maserati Granturismo (though reliability stories on those are quite scary). A Bentley Continental GT is probably the ticket.

Edited by AstonZagato on Sunday 12th March 11:25

Trendsetter

Original Poster:

93 posts

66 months

Friday 10th March 2023
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I see Maseratti has gotten a couple of mentions but they don't float my boat. I can't quite get on board with the looks.

Interesting to hear people's opinions on both cars. I get the point around the Jaguar being good value compared to Astons. I can understand not seeing one being worth twice the cost of the other. But i think there is a certain magic with the Astons and worry getting an XK would feel like a compromise.

My hope would be to buy something I can keep for the foreseeable future. I have an ev for every day running around so maybe a V12 would balance things out nicely!

ZX10R NIN

27,734 posts

126 months

Friday 10th March 2023
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If it's put of the Jag & Aston, then it's the Aston.

SWoll

18,629 posts

259 months

Friday 10th March 2023
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Neither any good for children ferrying assuming they have legs. They're both 2 seaters with some additional seat shaped storage in the rear for bags etc.

Aston Rapide or Maserati Granturismo are the options as mentioned if you really need to carry 4 humans even occasionally.

Super saloons opens up a lot more options, with the XFR and M6 Grancoupe being in budget and offering excallent value.

Edited by SWoll on Friday 10th March 20:34

fflump

1,450 posts

39 months

Saturday 11th March 2023
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SWoll said:
Neither any good for children ferrying assuming they have legs. They're both 2 seaters with some additional seat shaped storage in the rear for bags etc.

Aston Rapide or Maserati Granturismo are the options as mentioned if you really need to carry 4 humans even occasionally.

Super saloons opens up a lot more options, with the XFR and M6 Grancoupe being in budget and offering excallent value.

Edited by SWoll on Friday 10th March 20:34
In between the super saloons and coupes it’s worth considering the 4 door 2+2s like the Panamera, RS7/S7, both as competent but not as desirable as the Rapide

Trendsetter

Original Poster:

93 posts

66 months

Saturday 11th March 2023
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
If it's put of the Jag & Aston, then it's the Aston.
You obviously know your onions ZX so I'm curious to hear why this is?

Trendsetter

Original Poster:

93 posts

66 months

Saturday 11th March 2023
quotequote all
fflump said:
In between the super saloons and coupes it’s worth considering the 4 door 2+2s like the Panamera, RS7/S7, both as competent but not as desirable as the Rapide
A saloon is without doubt the more sensible option. But then an estate is even more sensible. So although they're good suggestions, I wonder they would actually address what I'm trying to find

SWoll

18,629 posts

259 months

Saturday 11th March 2023
quotequote all
Trendsetter said:
fflump said:
In between the super saloons and coupes it’s worth considering the 4 door 2+2s like the Panamera, RS7/S7, both as competent but not as desirable as the Rapide
A saloon is without doubt the more sensible option. But then an estate is even more sensible. So although they're good suggestions, I wonder they would actually address what I'm trying to find
But you need to be able to fit children in the back both safely and comfortably, so your options are limited by that requirement unfortunately. Such is life.