DB9 v Vantage
Author
Discussion

Jon1967x

Original Poster:

8,176 posts

154 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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Its probably been done to death on here and each to their own and al that.. but I don't get the DB9. I've been let the dealer demo while V8VS is in to be put right (paint thread from a week back of the swirl and halo marks - I'm happy to let them have first crack until there is no clear coat left to buff as they've been very good about the whole thing)

Anyways..

I've been out in the DB9 and the weather isn't great but the Carbon brakes just don't seem to work in this weather as my electric gate was on the verge of testifying, the engine seems very calm, the exhaust pretty quiet and I didn't really get any sense of occasion and then when I pulled out onto a main road the thing wouldn't pull away and kangarooed into the road - maybe the rears are shot (its done 4k miles) and the traction control had a field day but still a surprise in a slush box auto. The suspension is softer, in sports mode better but all round it just didn't feel as engaging.

All respect to those that have one, a summers day and it will no doubt be a different story, but I'm more than comfortable I've the right Aston outside the house (or will be when it comes back). Is it (or am I) just having a bad day or is the character of the car really that different?

whoami

13,200 posts

270 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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Can't comment on the other items, but the carbon ceramic brakes on my V12 Vantage (and previous DBS) are peerless.

divetheworld

2,565 posts

165 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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If it matters how you arrive, use the DB9. If it matters how you get there, V8V.
If you can't decide, get both...... wink

Jon39

14,929 posts

173 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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Whenever I drive a car with a torque converter gearbox, I change into Mr. Relaxed.

I suppose another relevant comparative aspect, might be the larger overall size of a DB9, compared to a Vantage. The Vantage size does somehow make the car feel 'chuckable'.


V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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If the rears are shot I can't see how you could Kangaroo that would be down to you mis judging the clutch bite.
I assume this is the latest DB9 if it has CC and my brakes are ok in any weather however they do squeal from time to time.

downr

3,807 posts

158 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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My kids wouldn't fit into the back of a vantage.....

DB9VolanteDriver

2,658 posts

206 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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V8 Animal said:
If the rears are shot I can't see how you could Kangaroo that would be down to you mis judging the clutch bite.
I assume this is the latest DB9 if it has CC and my brakes are ok in any weather however they do squeal from time to time.
What clutch?

DB9VolanteDriver

2,658 posts

206 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
quotequote all
divetheworld said:
If it matters how you arrive, use the DB9. If it matters how you get there, V8V.
If you can't decide, get both...... wink
If the drive AND the arrival both matter, then obviously the only choice is DBS.

Far Eastender

1,362 posts

248 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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downr said:
My kids wouldn't fit into the back of a vantage.....
Really? There's plenty of room in the boot...

8Tech

2,212 posts

228 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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The "Kangaroo" effect is probably the rear wheels losing traction and the TC cutting in when the tyres are very cold. My DB9 does the same if I give it any power for the first mile or so, especially in even a slow corner.

The only issues you should have with the carbon brakes are cost, they should be fine in all other respects. I use steel discs so could not comment further on that. If the discs were cold and wet, then any material will have a slight delay on full engagement when the pads initially aquaplane over the water.

In a short description, you are comparing a SWB Sports car to a LWB GT car.



Edited by 8Tech on Friday 3rd January 18:41

Zod

35,295 posts

288 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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downr said:
My kids wouldn't fit into the back of a vantage.....
my kids won't fit in the back of a DB9.

Neil1300R

5,768 posts

208 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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divetheworld said:
If it matters how you arrive, use the DB9. If it matters how you get there, V8V.
If you can't decide, get both...... wink
If it matters keeping your pipe alight and your slippers dry use a DB9. If it matters that you look good in a shell suit, V8V

V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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DB9VolanteDriver said:
If the drive AND the arrival both matter, then obviously the only choice is DBS.
That has a clutch well the early ones do biggrin

V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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DB9VolanteDriver said:
What clutch?
banghead

Jon1967x

Original Poster:

8,176 posts

154 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
quotequote all
The brakes I can accept were just cold and wet. I have also found with but my vantage and maybe the db9 is that at very low speed the transmission doesn't disengage in the same way as my bmw giving a bit more of a push the brakes have to deal with, it might be a bit if that. The ss2 gearbox in the vantage I'm liking more and more. It's much more direct than the dct twin clutch thing in the wife's z4. That's just seamless but also characterless, I love the way the box in the vantage has more of a feeling of a manual change.

As for the rear seats in the db9 - as one friend said 'I've seen bigger bras than that pair of buckets'

divetheworld

2,565 posts

165 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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Neil1300R said:
If it matters keeping your pipe alight and your slippers dry use a DB9. If it matters that you look good in a shell suit, V8V
Hmm, what about looking good in the shell suit with a pipe and slippers?


montecristo

1,081 posts

207 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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divetheworld said:
Hmm, what about looking good in the shell suit with a pipe and slippers?

If you think this lot are joking about the shell suit....

williamp said:
Bit late but here is the Aston Martin shell suit, made "exclusively" for them from about 1991-92:

First, the packaging. Just like you'd find on a shell suit from a market stall:


The suit in all its glory:


Cream, Green and red. Superb! The trousers have an elasticated waist, and zips at the end of ther trouser legs. No doubt designed as a "surprise and delight" feature



And the label. Remember- if it doesant have this label, its probably a copy...

josh bear

575 posts

213 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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Hi

Thought I would pitch in as I moved from a v8 (although not the S) to a DB9.2. I also thought I would update the thread with pictures of the latest DB9 wink

This is a link to a post I made after I took delivery. I think it sums up how I was feeling about the car at that time. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=126...

9 months later and my views have not changed. There is no doubt in my mind that the DB needs driving in a different way to the vantage. The vantage does give that constant feeling of being attached to the road if that makes sense. The DB9 needs to be in track mode suspension with the sport button pressed to achieve that (note not sport suspension mode).

By having the flexibility of suspension I have had a lot more enjoyable trips out with the other half who just was never comfortable in the vantage. In addition the DB9 allowed me the option to go out with the children. Yes it is tight in the back but we have been out for 45 minute journeys as a family without complaint and the kids were 13 and 10! The thirteen year old has shot up recently so I suspect her journeys in the back are over thoughsmile

Anyway, having completed three times the mileage in my DB9 in 9 months than I did during 12 months of my second vantage I am happy with the switch.

Best regards

Josh


IMG_2314 by Josh Bear, on Flickr


Db9 by Josh Bear, on Flickr

divetheworld

2,565 posts

165 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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I'm on an emotional roller coaster.
Felt a little bit nauseous when I saw the shell suit, a bit like seeing your hero in speedos. Then Josh goes and puts up Aston porn pictures like those.
I need a sit down.

michael gould

5,698 posts

271 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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The V8VS is a wonderful car, my brother has one and it's far more of a drivers car than my DB9 could ever be.....but I would rather have a DB9.2 .......or a DBS .......they just look so glorious and I rarely drive a car at more than 140mph these days so in my twilight years looks and comfort have become more important than chuckability