Help and advice
Discussion
Good afternoon
So having given it some considerable thought, I'm looking at Aston Martin ownership. Budget is upto circa £45K and I'd like four seats ideally. What to go for though and what to look out for? It's only really for weekend use, but I do want to use it year round. I was looking for owner experience/feedback. Many thanks for any advice that you can offer.
So having given it some considerable thought, I'm looking at Aston Martin ownership. Budget is upto circa £45K and I'd like four seats ideally. What to go for though and what to look out for? It's only really for weekend use, but I do want to use it year round. I was looking for owner experience/feedback. Many thanks for any advice that you can offer.
Best asdvice I can give is that DB9 rear seats are of no use - they're there for tax/insurance type reasons, no to be seriously used. It's possible with a short passenger to get one person in the back apparently, but we've never tried. If you need rear seats, it's Bentley or Maser for you, or a Rapide for much more like £70k 
If they are for EXTREMELY occasional use then a very nice early DB9 should be comfortably in your budget, and they are a thing of wonder. Manual or automatic, sports pack or standard ride depending on what you want the car for. It can be made into a very fast and sporty steer if you get a manual car with SP, or a very relaxing and capable cruiser as standard with the TouchTronic box. Either way, it's the world's best Grand Tourer.
If they are for EXTREMELY occasional use then a very nice early DB9 should be comfortably in your budget, and they are a thing of wonder. Manual or automatic, sports pack or standard ride depending on what you want the car for. It can be made into a very fast and sporty steer if you get a manual car with SP, or a very relaxing and capable cruiser as standard with the TouchTronic box. Either way, it's the world's best Grand Tourer.
As others have put above at £45k you are going to stuggle to buy an Aston that is a real 4 seater.
V8 Vantage is readily available for £45k but it is a strict 2 seater. Looking at the cars you have owned I think the DB9 (actually a 2+2 not a 4 seater) is closest to the Porsche 996 in terms of rear seat space - but a DB9 is considerably more cramped.
If you need 4 real seats, then you either need to increase your budget or look at a different make.
V8 Vantage is readily available for £45k but it is a strict 2 seater. Looking at the cars you have owned I think the DB9 (actually a 2+2 not a 4 seater) is closest to the Porsche 996 in terms of rear seat space - but a DB9 is considerably more cramped.
If you need 4 real seats, then you either need to increase your budget or look at a different make.
Having tried to get someone (the current Mrs gpb1 - 5' 7") in the back it's not so much the legroom that is an issue (though it's hardly spacious with the front seat right forward for either the person in the front or rear) it's the headroom. There was no way she couldn't sit up straight. Sub-teenage children may be ok but that's about all they are useful for.
Thanks chaps for the advice; 2+2 would have been a better descirption. The garage list is a little out of date now, but the odd Land Rover does still feature! Rear seats would be the younger, pre-teen Ballast's, so from comments, possibly not so bad. 996 rear seats aren't what you'd call spacious and there is a political element to the four seater bit (easier to get clearance from Mrs Ballast)! So DB9 looks like the route to go - any specifics I should take heed of? I'm a bit of an Aston thicky as you can tell!!
ballast said:
any specifics I should take heed of?
They are mostly automatic (TouchTronic - TT2), a manual would be harder to find if you want one but they do exist - prices are about the same. Sports pack may have been retrofitted; steering rack, lightweight wheels, shear panels, few other bits. Sharopens it up nicely. TT2 is as good as an auto gets really, depends on your intended use of the car. 90% have it, so that tells you about most owners.Service history is critical as is condition. Mileage less so as the are cars that will take miles very well, but they need to have been serviced on time by either AM themselves or a recognised independent AM specialist. Local garage = no-no for me.
Clutches (manual cars) and brake discs last around 30k miles as with most big cars so if it's around that mark, it may need them soon. Tyres are expensive, get one with a) the correct Bridgestones fitted and b) plenty of life left in them. Check very carefully around door handles for paint bubbling, AM had some poor procedures back in the day - a costly fix as the whole door needs repainting if it bothers you.
Test everything including the 6-CD changer and the satnav - check it is where it thinks it is as the antennaes go a bit wobbly sometimes! Check the speakers by turning up the volume too.
Options were few but on early cars would be cruise and phone prep (on the wheel), Bluetooth, HID lights, heated seats, heated windscreen, auto dipping mirror, parking sensors and stereo options. Everyone whinges about the stereo but it's fine, even the basic 128W is OK. Most cars have most things.
Please don't buy a grey one with a black interior. It doesn't make you James Bond.
You will have no fun trying to squeeze two small children in the back of a DB9 .......unless you cut their legs off.......probably get away with it if it's once a month for no more than 10 min.......if you intend to use the rear seats, even with small children on a regular basis then it's the wrong car for you
goorwich said:
I am selling my 1991 Virage . It has been very reliable and well looked after.
It will seat four.
It will seat four.
PICTURES!!!No on second thoughts - don't! Aston Annie has reminded me of your numberplate and George H's reaction! Don't need that again
Love the car - AND the plate.
Edited by Neil1300R on Thursday 20th September 19:28
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