ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE
Discussion
OK, it's only because you all know I already have an AM on order that I can get away with a genuine 'it's not for me, I have a friend' query ! Well, that's assuming you believe I have friends....
So, he needs advice on which AM to look at. Drives a Maser GT, fancies a change. Lives in London, it's a DD and an occasional touring car (e.g. Le Mans). Wife drives a 4x4, so doesn't need to be too spacious but needs occasional rear seats for the young kids. Needs an element of practicality dealing with London speed bumps, parking, etc. No garage but parks on his private driveway. Ruled out 2 seaters. Would prefer not to have a manual and probably not single clutch auto so it's conventional auto or dual clutch transmission. Budget 100-130k, new or low miles used. Knowing my mate, he'll keep the car for 18-30 months
Non Astonwise, California has been on his radar but he's not sure he wants a Fez DD. I've suggested FF in a yrs time at 150k used is worth thinking about, but not his cup of tea. Porsche not 'special enough', Bentley too boring
So he's been to an AM showroom and haven driven a DB9 & Virage, asked me should he buy demo model of current DB9 for 96k or wait 6-9 months til 'new DB9' comes out, possibly then buying a low miles/pre-registered one, he imagines for say 110kish ?
My advice is neither - I've said either get a low miles Virage which I expect is highly negotiable right now (nov '11 one with 4k miles asking £100k or jan '12 with 2.5k miles asking £115k) or what I've suggested makes the most sense is a low miles DBS - Aston site shows March '11 Carbon Ed DBS with 8k miles for £118k or March '12 DBS with 3-5k miles for £130kish.
So if we ignore the fact (as I've already repeatedly made this clear) that all 2 door Astons have effectively incidental rear seats, what do you folk think ?
So, he needs advice on which AM to look at. Drives a Maser GT, fancies a change. Lives in London, it's a DD and an occasional touring car (e.g. Le Mans). Wife drives a 4x4, so doesn't need to be too spacious but needs occasional rear seats for the young kids. Needs an element of practicality dealing with London speed bumps, parking, etc. No garage but parks on his private driveway. Ruled out 2 seaters. Would prefer not to have a manual and probably not single clutch auto so it's conventional auto or dual clutch transmission. Budget 100-130k, new or low miles used. Knowing my mate, he'll keep the car for 18-30 months
Non Astonwise, California has been on his radar but he's not sure he wants a Fez DD. I've suggested FF in a yrs time at 150k used is worth thinking about, but not his cup of tea. Porsche not 'special enough', Bentley too boring
So he's been to an AM showroom and haven driven a DB9 & Virage, asked me should he buy demo model of current DB9 for 96k or wait 6-9 months til 'new DB9' comes out, possibly then buying a low miles/pre-registered one, he imagines for say 110kish ?
My advice is neither - I've said either get a low miles Virage which I expect is highly negotiable right now (nov '11 one with 4k miles asking £100k or jan '12 with 2.5k miles asking £115k) or what I've suggested makes the most sense is a low miles DBS - Aston site shows March '11 Carbon Ed DBS with 8k miles for £118k or March '12 DBS with 3-5k miles for £130kish.
So if we ignore the fact (as I've already repeatedly made this clear) that all 2 door Astons have effectively incidental rear seats, what do you folk think ?
If he wants 4 seats then try the Rapide?
Im ready to be kicked here, but I personally dont count the rear buckets in any of the other AM's as seats! Unless you are a child there is pretty much no chance of getting a fully grown adult in them with any dignity!
AND... not sure if this is true, but i was told by one of the AM technicians that the rear seats in the DB9 are not approved as 'seats' in the UK market and insurance etc ???? Is this true??
Im ready to be kicked here, but I personally dont count the rear buckets in any of the other AM's as seats! Unless you are a child there is pretty much no chance of getting a fully grown adult in them with any dignity!
AND... not sure if this is true, but i was told by one of the AM technicians that the rear seats in the DB9 are not approved as 'seats' in the UK market and insurance etc ???? Is this true??
Edited by Arjxh56 on Wednesday 3rd October 10:08
[quote=Arjxh56]If he wants 4 seats then try the Rapide?
Im ready to be kicked here, but I personally dont count the rear buckets in any of the other AM's as seats! Unless you are a child there is pretty much no chance of getting a fully grown adult in them with any dignity!
quote]
Agree but as I mention at the bottom of the post, Ive told him that already - he thinks the seats are good enough and wants 2 door
Im ready to be kicked here, but I personally dont count the rear buckets in any of the other AM's as seats! Unless you are a child there is pretty much no chance of getting a fully grown adult in them with any dignity!
quote]
Agree but as I mention at the bottom of the post, Ive told him that already - he thinks the seats are good enough and wants 2 door
v8woollie said:
New Panemera? AMG Merc? Maser Quattroporte?
he wants 2 door and the 'specialness' of a car like the maser GT, Aston 2 door, fezza that those cars above (arguably) don't haveThe real question, having set the backdrop, is if he is looking at a 2 door Aston GT, does he choose low mile current DB9 or wait for 'new DB9 or look at my suggestions of low mile DBS or low mile Virage
jonby said:
he wants 2 door and the 'specialness' of a car like the maser GT, Aston 2 door, fezza that those cars above (arguably) don't have
The real question, having set the backdrop, is if he is looking at a 2 door Aston GT, does he choose low mile current DB9 or wait for 'new DB9 or look at my suggestions of low mile DBS or low mile Virage
If it was my decision, out of the above i would go with the DBS.The real question, having set the backdrop, is if he is looking at a 2 door Aston GT, does he choose low mile current DB9 or wait for 'new DB9 or look at my suggestions of low mile DBS or low mile Virage
yeti said:
I'd wait for the new DB9.
Yes it looks like the Virage, but that new engine is so much better from a tech point of view. Would eat the DBS with all that extra torque and way better economy.
It's an interesting point. Preference between looks of virage/new DB9 and DBS are subjective. But as you say, it has all the benefits of the DBS engine plus some torque gains from new Vanquish tech......Yes it looks like the Virage, but that new engine is so much better from a tech point of view. Would eat the DBS with all that extra torque and way better economy.
jonby said:
yeti said:
I'd wait for the new DB9.
Yes it looks like the Virage, but that new engine is so much better from a tech point of view. Would eat the DBS with all that extra torque and way better economy.
It's an interesting point. Preference between looks of virage/new DB9 and DBS are subjective. But as you say, it has all the benefits of the DBS engine plus some torque gains from new Vanquish tech......Yes it looks like the Virage, but that new engine is so much better from a tech point of view. Would eat the DBS with all that extra torque and way better economy.
silverspeed said:
If you go down the list of available cars with 2 doors and 4 seats there arent that many. I would argue he is in the best of the bunch currently. If he wants a change I would go for the best Virage he could find . Might find a new one for that money ? Very exclusive !!
Keeps coming back to the same thing - little point buying current DB9 unless price was exceptional, certainly not at 96k for a demo one - it's no surprise it's struggled to sell since Virage was launched, even though I accept some will, on a purely subjective basis, prefer the looks of DB9/S over VirageI've also told him the Maser he's in is arguably the best car for doing the job he wants
I know it's got marmite looks but bearing in mind the rear seat situation, I can't help but think the FF is going to make one hell of a convincing case as a 4 seat 2 door GT when you can pick them up for less than 150k - apparently some have already sold trade at 165 - that's a car that will have typically cost 250k with extras new, no more than a yr old, 650 bhp V12, modern dual clutch flappies - what a buy
I'd wait a couple of months for the new DB9 to start filtering out and I would "guess" in that time the Rapide will be receiving the same engine and 3 stage ADS etc as the latest DB9. This will put further pressure on used Virage and Rapide prices. They already look good value, but year old models will be even better value IMO. The Rapide sounds ideal for him, he can even have DVD screens in the seats for the kids! If he wants new then best wait for the latest DB9, but there will be few deals in its initial honeymoon period.
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