Virage - hard to find gem or a bit lost
Discussion
Found a Virage up for sale which looks pretty nice, but know Aston only made them for a short while.
Was this because it was not as good as a DBS and not better than a DB9, or is it a forgotten model that actually is worth pursuing?
Contemporary reports seem to suggest it was a good compromise between the harder driving DBS and DB9 with standard ceramics, more power and active suspension .
Anybody have any experience?
Was this because it was not as good as a DBS and not better than a DB9, or is it a forgotten model that actually is worth pursuing?
Contemporary reports seem to suggest it was a good compromise between the harder driving DBS and DB9 with standard ceramics, more power and active suspension .
Anybody have any experience?
worth checking Grant's book for his view
"The Virage now offers particularly good value as a used purchase. it looks virtually the same as the new DB9 and is only slightly less powerful than the discontinued DBS. But the short production run hasn't been kind to residuals, so it is available for much less than the equivalent DBS. making it a sensible option if you are considering a lightly used example." Page 157
sounds pretty good
Graze
"The Virage now offers particularly good value as a used purchase. it looks virtually the same as the new DB9 and is only slightly less powerful than the discontinued DBS. But the short production run hasn't been kind to residuals, so it is available for much less than the equivalent DBS. making it a sensible option if you are considering a lightly used example." Page 157
sounds pretty good
Graze
I had one for almost 3 years. Firstly, I loved the car.
Motortrend and Autocar did a couple of pretty accurate reviews of it at the time of launch. Take a google at those.
Great cruiser and also could really hustle around bends as well. The steering I found to be very precise, sharp and direct. A drivers GT. The CCBs were fantastic and would stop all day long.
Styling wise not much difference to a DB9.2, there is no boot lid spoiler on the boot lid like there is on the DB9.2, I think that's it. I like the Virage boot lid as it's smoother. But each to their own.
The DB9.2 which came later had a slightly modified version of the V12 and had 20bhp more. I'm not sure there are any more differences. But with almost 500bhp on tap the Virage never felt slow.
Just looking at the prices of the DB9.2 and the Virages, not a great deal of difference between them now. It's a great choice to have, I can only endorse the Virage as I never drove a DB9.2 or a DBS.
Good luck with your decision making.
Motortrend and Autocar did a couple of pretty accurate reviews of it at the time of launch. Take a google at those.
Great cruiser and also could really hustle around bends as well. The steering I found to be very precise, sharp and direct. A drivers GT. The CCBs were fantastic and would stop all day long.
Styling wise not much difference to a DB9.2, there is no boot lid spoiler on the boot lid like there is on the DB9.2, I think that's it. I like the Virage boot lid as it's smoother. But each to their own.
The DB9.2 which came later had a slightly modified version of the V12 and had 20bhp more. I'm not sure there are any more differences. But with almost 500bhp on tap the Virage never felt slow.
Just looking at the prices of the DB9.2 and the Virages, not a great deal of difference between them now. It's a great choice to have, I can only endorse the Virage as I never drove a DB9.2 or a DBS.
Good luck with your decision making.
Assuming you are talking about the Gaydon era Virage, it's all down to price... the DB9.2 is the better car (as it's an evolution /enhanced version of the Virage) but the Virage gets close and if priced sensibly. Virage has been offering superb value but at the moment DB9 coupe prices are under short term pressure (due to the 11) and some Virage stock has been in main dealers for a while, so prices are much closer than they should be or have been. I'm sure they will realign but what I'm saying is the Virage is a great choice providing it is priced well below an equivalent 9, if not it's DB9.2 all the way 
Grant3 said:
Assuming you are talking about the Gaydon era Virage, it's all down to price... the DB9.2 is the better car (as it's an evolution /enhanced version of the Virage) but the Virage gets close and if priced sensibly. Virage has been offering superb value but at the moment DB9 coupe prices are under short term pressure (due to the 11) and some Virage stock has been in main dealers for a while, so prices are much closer than they should be or have been. I'm sure they will realign but what I'm saying is the Virage is a great choice providing it is priced well below an equivalent 9, if not it's DB9.2 all the way
Seems reasonable. I was surprised at how close the prices are at the moment, from a quick browser of the classifieds.ETA: there are styling differences between them if that makes a difference, albeit very small and I can only think of one
Is there any difference in the ride quality of the Virage vs DB9.2 when both are in Normal mode? I know the DB9.2 has three stages of damping as opposed to two in the Virage, but as I am unlikley to ever use the 'track' setting available in the newer car, it is of little interest to me. More interested in whether one is softer and more compliant/comfortable than the other.
Virage orange said:
Thanks Rappa. Do you know where that photo was taken? Was it at Goodwood?
Hi,It was Wilton Supercar Sunday a few years ago when your car was ‘on show’. Lovely colour.
https://www.wiltonhouse.co.uk/events/wake-up/
Sean
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