Discussion
I am lucky enough to be number three up on my dealers list for a new DB9. So last week I was invited up to Gaydon for an exclusive preview.
After being met at the door we were shown to a suite for a video of the DB9 (similar to the M&S DVD, which is superb) Even the leather seats in the conference room smelt of quality.
Once the video had ended we were ushered into an atrium where the Le Mans AMR1 was sitting, and next to it the DB9, but covered and awaiting an almost 'ceremonial' unveiling.
All we needed were the Royal trumpeters !
WoW......
I've heard from people close to Aston Martin say that you have to wait and see the car in the flesh. They were so right. Recent press and PR photos don't do justice to the DB9's curves.
It was even better than I expected, and I haven't even opened the door yet !
After a few minutes checking every angle I open the door. Gone are the Mazda and Mondeo door handles and hello to a new flush fitting lever. All very clean and neat. As an owner of a DB7 Vantage I was hoping they would correct the small niggles and problems that car had. In the DB7, the centre transmission tunnel took up so much space, that your leg room was always restricted. Not the '9' , I had plenty of leg and head room. I'm 6ft1 and still had 2" clearance above my head. The driving position felt perfect and the window switches have now moved to the door handles, and are just at the end of finger reach (perfect).
I was told that this is still a pre-production model, so some of the switches will not be the finished article. The centre consul was neat and once again the control for the optional Sat Nav was just at the end of finger reach. As a pre-production model , the Sat Nav wasn't installed, but the position on the top of the dash, in the form of a revolving 'Bond like' panel looked great. No need to take your eyes off the road (unlike other models such as Porsche)
The rear seats (or Hamster nests) looked deeper in height to the '7' and maybe even a touch smaller. Purely only for kids or the pet hamster!
After the other guests had dispersed to sign on their dotted lines I still lingered around and had a chance to contemplate what I was sitting in. Moments later the Aston rep joined me and asked me what I thought.
He switched the ignition on to show my the instrument display, which looked fantastic, but I really wanted another quarter turn to fire up the V12. I said come on, no one's watching.
So with a cheeky schoolboy grin on my face I pressed the new glass starter button and fired her up.
Blimey.......This was the best part of the day. The sound is simply awesome. It made my DB7 Vantage sound like a coffee machine grinding beans. If you have heard a Vanquish up close, then this is pretty similar, just only better. I just hope the production models sound this good. Unfortunately we only ran the engine for about ten seconds otherwise we risked carbon monoxide poisoning (remember we were in doors).
I now have an agonising wait for three months until I get mine, but if you have the means or the chance to see the automobile then you must........
After being met at the door we were shown to a suite for a video of the DB9 (similar to the M&S DVD, which is superb) Even the leather seats in the conference room smelt of quality.
Once the video had ended we were ushered into an atrium where the Le Mans AMR1 was sitting, and next to it the DB9, but covered and awaiting an almost 'ceremonial' unveiling.
All we needed were the Royal trumpeters !
WoW......
I've heard from people close to Aston Martin say that you have to wait and see the car in the flesh. They were so right. Recent press and PR photos don't do justice to the DB9's curves.
It was even better than I expected, and I haven't even opened the door yet !
After a few minutes checking every angle I open the door. Gone are the Mazda and Mondeo door handles and hello to a new flush fitting lever. All very clean and neat. As an owner of a DB7 Vantage I was hoping they would correct the small niggles and problems that car had. In the DB7, the centre transmission tunnel took up so much space, that your leg room was always restricted. Not the '9' , I had plenty of leg and head room. I'm 6ft1 and still had 2" clearance above my head. The driving position felt perfect and the window switches have now moved to the door handles, and are just at the end of finger reach (perfect).
I was told that this is still a pre-production model, so some of the switches will not be the finished article. The centre consul was neat and once again the control for the optional Sat Nav was just at the end of finger reach. As a pre-production model , the Sat Nav wasn't installed, but the position on the top of the dash, in the form of a revolving 'Bond like' panel looked great. No need to take your eyes off the road (unlike other models such as Porsche)
The rear seats (or Hamster nests) looked deeper in height to the '7' and maybe even a touch smaller. Purely only for kids or the pet hamster!
After the other guests had dispersed to sign on their dotted lines I still lingered around and had a chance to contemplate what I was sitting in. Moments later the Aston rep joined me and asked me what I thought.
He switched the ignition on to show my the instrument display, which looked fantastic, but I really wanted another quarter turn to fire up the V12. I said come on, no one's watching.
So with a cheeky schoolboy grin on my face I pressed the new glass starter button and fired her up.
Blimey.......This was the best part of the day. The sound is simply awesome. It made my DB7 Vantage sound like a coffee machine grinding beans. If you have heard a Vanquish up close, then this is pretty similar, just only better. I just hope the production models sound this good. Unfortunately we only ran the engine for about ten seconds otherwise we risked carbon monoxide poisoning (remember we were in doors).
I now have an agonising wait for three months until I get mine, but if you have the means or the chance to see the automobile then you must........
Shaydtree, your going to love it. I am Mr cynical when it comes to new cars (been there seen it all before, heard the marketing spin in different words from many different manufacturers etc etc) However, we did our product training on DB9 last week and the more I find out about it the better it gets.
What people outside ownership of one these machines won't realise is just the lengths and detail that goes into the car. Its not just a nice looking, sounding and hopefully handling machine with top quality leather and paint. Its a car designed and manufactured with logic and craft not just bottom line and group manufacturer sourcing.
Enjoy it. Your a very lucky man. Top colour choice by the way, shows the lines well.
What people outside ownership of one these machines won't realise is just the lengths and detail that goes into the car. Its not just a nice looking, sounding and hopefully handling machine with top quality leather and paint. Its a car designed and manufactured with logic and craft not just bottom line and group manufacturer sourcing.
Enjoy it. Your a very lucky man. Top colour choice by the way, shows the lines well.
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