DB7 Yr 2000 £25K
Discussion
Great choice with the DB7! I may be just a tad biased though. 
When I was looking for mine (2003 DB7 Vantage manual, coupe) there were a few big things I was looking for.
Rust, as touched on before, inspect the underside thoroughly. The later models actually had less rustproofing then the earlier models for some reason, I guess to save costs. I'm not sure when they changed.
Coil packs are not a cheap proposition, so check the service history to see when last performed.
Wheel alignment is import and very finicky with these.
Check the AC blows cold. If the compressor goes out, it is very labor intensive, as the dash needs to be removed to get to it.
Hood alignment can get out of line with constant slamming, so ensure it shuts well and aligns properly.
Leather on the dash around the instrument cluster tends to start to come up over time if not properly cared for.
Things I found since ownership:
CHECK WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS LAST REPLACED!
My clutch went out about 6 months after purchase, it had about 28,000 miles on it. I guess the previous owner was not great with a manual. I called around to several dealers here in the US and the cheapest clutch kit I found was $4000! I had a Corvette (C5) prior to the Aston too, and I have an E-Type, so, being an Aston, I was expecting the prices to be a little higher than clutches for those, but $4k was unreal. I called some British dealers and got one from HWM Aston for a much more, relatively, reasonable 2000 pounds, so around $2300. It was an upgraded dual plate clutch and feels heartier than the original. For installation they had to drop the transmission and labor ended up being around $2k. Moral of the story, check the clutch.
The door handles go out and give no warning. My passenger side doo handle just didn't work one day, and I checked online, the AMOC forum said it was common and just needs a new exterior door handle. Picked one up for around $10, since it is a shared part with the Mazda 323.
They go through tires pretty quick. Mine needed tires when I got it, so I had Michelin Pilot Super Sports fitted, and they are great! Noticeable improvement in grip and ride comfort, but a little more road noice. I listen to my music kind of loud though, so not much of a concern.
Overall, it's a great car. More maintenance intensive than my Corvette was, but worth it. They are tremendously smooth and powerful and look incredible. I wouldn't worry about the mileage so much. As long as it's been well looked after she'll have plenty of life left in her. I regularly see DB7's with higher mileage. They can definitely handle duties as a daily and need to be driven to keep them in good working order.
Good luck with the search and post lots of pictures after you get it. You won't be disappointed with a DB7!
When I was looking for mine (2003 DB7 Vantage manual, coupe) there were a few big things I was looking for.Rust, as touched on before, inspect the underside thoroughly. The later models actually had less rustproofing then the earlier models for some reason, I guess to save costs. I'm not sure when they changed.
Coil packs are not a cheap proposition, so check the service history to see when last performed.
Wheel alignment is import and very finicky with these.
Check the AC blows cold. If the compressor goes out, it is very labor intensive, as the dash needs to be removed to get to it.
Hood alignment can get out of line with constant slamming, so ensure it shuts well and aligns properly.
Leather on the dash around the instrument cluster tends to start to come up over time if not properly cared for.
Things I found since ownership:
CHECK WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS LAST REPLACED!
My clutch went out about 6 months after purchase, it had about 28,000 miles on it. I guess the previous owner was not great with a manual. I called around to several dealers here in the US and the cheapest clutch kit I found was $4000! I had a Corvette (C5) prior to the Aston too, and I have an E-Type, so, being an Aston, I was expecting the prices to be a little higher than clutches for those, but $4k was unreal. I called some British dealers and got one from HWM Aston for a much more, relatively, reasonable 2000 pounds, so around $2300. It was an upgraded dual plate clutch and feels heartier than the original. For installation they had to drop the transmission and labor ended up being around $2k. Moral of the story, check the clutch.
The door handles go out and give no warning. My passenger side doo handle just didn't work one day, and I checked online, the AMOC forum said it was common and just needs a new exterior door handle. Picked one up for around $10, since it is a shared part with the Mazda 323.
They go through tires pretty quick. Mine needed tires when I got it, so I had Michelin Pilot Super Sports fitted, and they are great! Noticeable improvement in grip and ride comfort, but a little more road noice. I listen to my music kind of loud though, so not much of a concern.
Overall, it's a great car. More maintenance intensive than my Corvette was, but worth it. They are tremendously smooth and powerful and look incredible. I wouldn't worry about the mileage so much. As long as it's been well looked after she'll have plenty of life left in her. I regularly see DB7's with higher mileage. They can definitely handle duties as a daily and need to be driven to keep them in good working order.
Good luck with the search and post lots of pictures after you get it. You won't be disappointed with a DB7!
Edited by Britcar driver on Thursday 3rd August 23:40
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