DB 7 / DB 9

[Redeem]

I have tried today a DB 9 owned by a friend of mine and I must say what a delight. I am not familiar with Aston Martin and I know Porsche much more. I am sorry to ask these questions as they will be very basic for most of the people on this forum:

1. What is the better car, the DB 7 or DB 9 ? Are they both potentially appreciating assets ?
2. I believe that both the DB7 and DB 9 have automatic or manual gearbox. Which is is better and more desirable, automatic or manual ?.
3. I have cheched the DB9 advertised on Pistonheads and they are all very reasonably priced. Why these cars are so cheap compared to the Porsche 996 or 997 ?
Best wishes

[petop]

Better car..personally the DB9. Newer for a start and different timelines in Aston history.
Manual or Auto...manual but again thats personal. The autos though suit the type of car the DB9 is. Better than the Vantage S/S (early, which isn't really auto and lets not open that can of worms!). But again the 9 and 7 are 2 different cars.
Price....If you are hinting that the 996 and 997 are close to the price of a DB9 then the cheapest 996's are sub 10k and 997 sub 20k. Cheapest DB9 is 31k. So not sure they are comparable at all. DB7's you can get for sub 20k but be careful.

Aside from what you have asked you are comparing 911's to a larger GT level DB7/9. I would look at a Vantage as a comparison in terms of ability.

[Little Donkey]

If you're considering either, remember this: the reason there is no DB8 is because the DB9 is two generations further forward than the Db7. I have one of the last 7's tucked up in my garage and although it's a 2003 model, everything about it would suggest it's from the eighties. Which by and large, it is.

I'm not being derogatory, I love my 7, but you can't compare it to a 9 in any way, shape or form.

[NeinFondue]

To add to this.. The DB9 sold very well (along with the V8 Vantage), and due to the large numbers produced, I seriously doubt that they'd be appreciating any time soon.. Great cars, just make sure that you find one that has been looked after well.

[Redeem]

Thanks - I am currently looking at a 993 turbo or a DB9 as a long term keeper.. I am fully aware that they are two different cars and are therefore not comparable. They are also not in the same league in terms of prices, it is difficult to find a good 993 turbo for less than 80 K pounds. Regarding Porsche, there are dozens of Porsche specialists that can service any Porsche even the old ones. Is it the same for Aston Martin ie are there very good and reliable independents or do AM owners use AM official dealers? Regarding the DB 9, are they generally reliable (as Porsche generally are) or are they more the TVR type ? i am sorry to ask all these questions but I know very little about Aston Martin. Thank you. I really like the shape of the DB 9.

[petop]

Sorry but Porsche and reliable cant be put into the same sentence (being a ex 996 owner). 991 GT3 engines, 997 Bore scoring, 996 IMS & borescoring.....im afraid i would say a Aston Martin beats it in reliablilty. I see you are a ex 996TT owner which you can say is probably the most reliable of the Porsche range but others, no.
You are right about the nil comparison looking at a DB9 or a 993 Turbo.....definite worlds apart. With that decision i can suggest only you can make that.

[Philip0]

DB9 every day. better looking, better build quality, better performance, better car...

[NeinFondue]

OP, I actually have both a DB9 and 993 (Just a C2 Cab, not a turbo), and you just cannot compare these cars.. The DB9 is a brilliant GT that is very comfortable, refined and modern compared to the 993. I would cross the country / continent in the DB9, but not sure I'd do more than a couple hundred miles at a time in the 993. On reliability, my DB9 has been superb, and I have complete confidence in it.. When it comes to appreciation, the 993 will do better..

Edited by NeinFondue on Friday 14th August 10:41

[jshell]

The DB9 should be the better car, but someone drove past me in a DB7 Volante the other day and it is a truly beautiful thing when compared to the DB9's relative blandness.

[NeinFondue]

Now if you could have both the DB9 and 993....


I enjoy them in very different ways, and wouldn't be without either of them.

[AMDBSNick]

NeinFondue said:

and wouldn't be without either of them.

Utter bullst

[NeinFondue]

AMDBSNick said:

Utter bullst

Very good point Nicque... I should have said V12 Aston and 993..

[Redeem]

Thanks. Has someone compared the DB9 and the 997 turbo or are they radically different. The price of the 997 turbo is relatively low, you can get a very good 2007/2008 997 turbo for around uk pounds 50K which is very cheap seeing now the price 996 turbo are sold. Has someone tested both the 997 turbo and the DB9 ?

[petop]

Ok look at it like this....the DB9 is a Riva Aquarama Speedboat.....some wood, classic lines, put your family in it and they will feel special as they go past the pedalos but when you get a little bored you can open up the throttle and it shifts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riva_Aquarama

The 997 Turbo is like a Donzi Speedboat (think Miami Vice)....sleek, hi-tech and you can go around the marina and people will think flash bd and laugh when the seagulls crap on it. Yes you can, open throttles and it will motor like anything but thats it. You wont get that feeling you get with the Riva.
http://www.donzimarine.com/Boats/ZR_35_c.html

[NeinFondue]

^^^^ I like this ^^^^

Good analogy for an Aston vs Porsche vs some others too..

[avinalarf]

,

petop said:

Ok look at it like this....the DB9 is a Riva Aquarama Speedboat.....some wood, classic lines, put your family in it and they will feel special as they go past the pedalos but when you get a little bored you can open up the throttle and it shifts.

Exactly .......I wouldn't wish to be without either.....

Edited by avinalarf on Friday 14th August 16:44

[Redeem]

I have spent an hour or so on the internet and it seems based on what i have read that prior to the 2012 model the DB9 had a weak engine in terms of reliability but that this has been rectified in the 2012 model. Is this correct ? Thank you.

[Jon39]

avinalarf said:

Another new photograph of your beautiful DB9, Mr. Avinalarf.
I dId spot though, that you have driven on to the pavement.

I have used a windscreen notice on occasions, when a pavement is obstructed regularly by a car. My notice reads; ‘I use this pavement every day, and I do hope that I have not scraped the paintwork of your car. You left me so little room for my wheelchair to pass, and my eyesight is not very good.'

Works every time. -

[kashn]

This one is one I used to own and never had any engine problems in the time I had it.
http://www.mcgurk.com/stock/214/Used-Aston-Martin-...

PS No affiliation to McGurks but good firm to deal with in my experience

[avinalarf]

Ugh

Jon39 said:

Another new photograph of your beautiful DB9, Mr. Avinalarf.
I dId spot though, that you have driven on to the pavement.

I have used a windscreen notice on occasions, when a pavement is obstructed regularly by a car. My notice reads; ‘I use this pavement every day, and I do hope that I have not scraped the paintwork of your car. You left me so little room for my wheelchair to pass, and my eyesight is not very good.'

Works every time. -

I was reluctant to use this pic,however the car is legally parked,because the roadway is narrow the council have agreed to allow parking on the pavement so that emergency vehicles can pass. The pavement is quite wide so those in a wheelchair or have visual disability still have plenty of room to pass.
For some reason the pic I wanted to post kept appearing upside down and after several attempts I gave up.
Jon....you should know better that I would never do anything illegal.
I thought that you might have commented on how dashing I looked in my Riva off the coast of Ischia.

Edited by avinalarf on Saturday 15th August 09:17