DB9 Gen2 v Vanquish

[anonymous-user]

I am new to AM ownership having taken the plunge late last year with a Gen2 DB9 on a 14 plate.

I was at the AM dealership last week and got talking to the sales manager about the Vanquish (not the next one, the current one). As it is, boys and toys, I am drawn to the Vanquish a little because of the differences (more power, less weight, asthetics of course). There is nothing wrong with my DB9 and I may keep it for several years as it is lovely but, as one does, I did the obligatory autotrader searches over the weekend to see what the man maths needed to be if I did decide to change.

My question isnt about the technical differences between the cars per se, but the bizarre (to me) differences with the amount of second hand cars available.

Vanquish, approx 83 cars available, including the S.
DB9, 2012 onwards, 34 cars available.

I thought the Vanquish was more exclusive being the halo/top of the range model? I like exclusivity if I can find it, but more supply means lower residuals? Seems odd to me that the DB9 is harder to find than the Vanquish, I think the dealer had several Vanquish models in stock and only 1 DB9. For a top of the range car I would expect it to be the other way round.

Thoughts?

[indapendentlee]

DB9 was, even in 2012, towards the end of its life and the demand was nothing like it was in 2004/5. Vanquish was new and therefore in demand, could be sold more easily at a higher price and margin therefore they built more.

Don't think it's much more complicated than that. If you're thinking of changing I would recommend waiting until a Vanquish S or is affordable, or if that is over the top go for post 2014 Vanquish when it got the 8 Speed gearbox. Streets ahead of the 6 speed.

[hornbaek]

As the previous poster has said. I think it is where the respective models are in their lifecycle and probably also the fact that the DB9 has reached a price point where is is not exclusively sold within the dealer network but equally privately and where the dealer warranty is expired anyway.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the replies. So basically demand for the db9 waned into the gen2 cycle whereas the vanquish was a new model. Ok, so the gen2 db9 is more exclusive which is excellent.

Thanks for the heads up on the vanquish 8 speed, I think it would have to be an S if I do the leap one day but just happy slumming about with the paltry 510bhp for now.

[seastorm]

indapendentlee said:

go for post 2014 Vanquish when it got the 8 Speed gearbox. Streets ahead of the 6 speed.

Is this opinion formed from experience of owning / driving both the 6-speed and 8-speed cars? Is it really that much of a difference for real world driving?

I owned a DB9GT with the 6-speed and then a RapideS with the 8-speed and yes there’s a difference but does it make that much a difference on the Vanquish? I’m looking at early 6-speed Vanquish cars and 20k+ difference in price is hard to reconcile for a couple extra gears.

[james-witton]

seastorm said:

indapendentlee said:

go for post 2014 Vanquish when it got the 8 Speed gearbox. Streets ahead of the 6 speed.

Is this opinion formed from experience of owning / driving both the 6-speed and 8-speed cars? Is it really that much of a difference for real world driving?

I owned a DB9GT with the 6-speed and then a RapideS with the 8-speed and yes there’s a difference but does it make that much a difference on the Vanquish? I’m looking at early 6-speed Vanquish cars and 20k+ difference in price is hard to reconcile for a couple extra gears.

I’ve driven both the 6 and 8 speed boxes and I could tell a (small) difference but not in any meaningful way.

[RobDown]

seastorm said:

I owned a DB9GT with the 6-speed and then a RapideS with the 8-speed and yes there’s a difference but does it make that much a difference on the Vanquish? I’m looking at early 6-speed Vanquish cars and 20k+ difference in price is hard to reconcile for a couple extra gears.

I had the same thing (well DB9 to Rapide S). I couldn't really tell much difference in day to day driving. Albeit I thought that may just be my lack of skill

[AstonZagato]

Drive a Vanquish. I sold my DBS for a Vanquish Volante.

[seastorm]

james-witton said:

I’ve driven both the 6 and 8 speed boxes and I could tell a (small) difference but not in any meaningful way.

Just what I was hoping to hear... thanks!

[tonyhall38]

Having owned both the 6 speed Vanquish and the 8 speed.....gearbox wise not a lot in it....Infact preferred the Touchtronic 2 , 6 speed.....you only get to 8 on motorways etc....where it does improve fuel economy.....the main difference between the two is the improved chassis set up....which is miles ahead of the dbs.....so in short..dbs/ six speed......very similar.....the eight speed is a better set up....which in turns gives a much better drive...and a bit of added confidence due to the handling.....can’t comment on the DB9/2......but would imagine set up very similar to the dbs.....

[RL17]

The OP Vanquish numbers include 2017s and a couple of new ones.

If looking at 2013 to 2015 its 27 DB9s verses 50 Vanquish. Very few 2016 DB9s for sale just 4. Did DB9 sales go to the floor in 2016?

It's still quite difference though. Didn't think UK sales were that much different for 2013-2015 though (European numbers on carsalesbase show 900 DB9 v 1100 or so Vanquish for those 3 years.

Know a few people with late DB9s which are well specced run out versions.

Think the number for sale is also connected to who buys cars later in the models life cycle (retaining longer?) compared to those of newer models, and maybe the timing of DB9 replacement with high sales around 9-12 months ago with DB9 owners switching then? Don't know how many DB9's for sale last summer - dealers definitely had more used DB9s on forecourt then.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for all the replies folks, very interesting and helpful.

I got my db9 at the end of August last year and from memory there were only 8 coupes on the market (gen2) at that time. I travelled from york to cardiff to get the one I liked. My local AM dealer only had 1 very old db9 to offer.