Things to look out for?

[Controller39]

Hi all,

I know I have asked this before but can't find the post.

I have finally got to the place where I have a deposit to be able to buy my dream DB9 and I am lucky I can get the finance.

My question is when I go to look at these cars what should I be aware of? I know that the vantage has likely changes at different mileages eg gearbox due to faults. Is the DB9 the same?

Also should I avoid low mileage cars. I remember seeing somewhere these cars can seize if not driven.

I am also looking for any insights into general ownership and if there is anything different than owning a regular car.

For reference I am looking at face-lift cars 2013+

Edited by Controller39 on Sunday 6th November 21:29

[Longy00000]

Not sure of your budget but the official AM dealer network got a decent selection available.
The timeless warranty can help to alleviate any new purchase nerves and my experience of a few different AM dealerships has been pretty good
Can't offer any DB9 ownership experience though

[Controller39]

Thanks I have been looking at cars in the range of 65k.

I have heard good things about the main dealers but know that they charge a premium but this is not unexpected.

What do you drive?

[pschlute]

Controller39 said:

Also should I avoid low mileage cars. I remember seeing somewhere these cars can seize if not driven.

Never heard about an engine seizing due to not being driven. You will find plenty of very low mileage DB9s around. As long as they have a full service history they should be fine, but i would not seek out an ultra low mileage one and pay a premium for it.

Controller39 said:

I am also looking for any insights into general ownership and if there is anything different than owning a regular car.

For reference I am looking at face-lift cars 2013+

For DB9 the coils and plugs will be replaced i think at 5 years service. if you look at a car with over 40k miles on it check whether it has been done. It is quite a hefty bill.

You can budget for around £1k servicing costs per year, but remember that anything that needs doing that is not covered by a warranty will be expensive.

If you buy from a main dealer you may pay more but will get a 1 year warranty, so worth it for peace and mind.

Different from owning a regular car ?...... hell yes. You wont stop grinning like a schoolboy for years

[Longy00000]

Controller39 said:

Thanks I have been looking at cars in the range of 65k.

I have heard good things about the main dealers but know that they charge a premium but this is not unexpected.

What do you drive?

I drive a gen 2 Vanquish S so another v12.

As long as the engines are used and serviced they're pretty bullet proof.
There is always a good selection of DB9 for sale so I think its worth giving some thought to what YOUR car would look like, colour choice, interior and options so you end up with something that ticks a lot of your boxes from the off.
For a new owner I think there are only two sensible options
1. You buy from a main dealer and get a timeless warranty. Yes you pay a bit more but it will put you at ease and allow you to enjoy it from rhe off. Any issues you just take it back and most likely they would sort it. Almost all faults can be challenged in rhe first few months of sale and the warranty is pretty good to fill in therafter. About as safe as you can get.
2. Buy else where but get an independent pre purchase inspection done. This may be easier said than done. You will have to have a good established and proven independent garage near by for the inspection. You then need the vendor to agree to let it be inspected at your cost of course (£300 to £400 should cover it) can be a faff but essential in my mind when going outside the dealer network.

Lastly be prepared to travel. I did close to 2000 miles looking for my car and lots of fellow PH members will have done the same. Its part of the process and can be enjoyable.
Highlight half a dozen cars worthy of your time, book a few days off work, plot a route to see them and book a cheap hotel if necessary and off you go !
Funnily enough the car I bought was one of the worst visually rough 20 yatd cars I had seen. Entirely down to some very old ppf that had seen better days and clearly been on from new. I got the main dealer to remove it as part of the deal and it was as I had hoped brand new fresh paint underneath.
Now of course it's lovely and polished to the hilt

[Simpo Two]

Longy00000 said:

There is always a good selection of DB9 for sale so I think its worth giving some thought to what YOUR car would look like, colour choice, interior and options so you end up with something that ticks a lot of your boxes from the off.

Colours can be tricky, unless you like monochrome. Compared with 'normal' cars there are very few around, so don't expect to find your perfect spec; compromise may be needed.

[Caslad]

Excellent advice above.
One thing which is rarely mentioned in buying guides is the condition of the interior. Leather shrinkage on the dash & damage to the ski-slope centre console can be more difficult & expensive to repair than some mechanical or bodywork issues.

[Longy00000]

'Compromise may be needed' can be read as WILL be needed
However if you have a list of must haves and a list of 'would like' then it starts getting easier.
That said there are best laid plans and then there are people buying their first aston
I was adamant I didn't want a black interior but ended up with one as I convinced myself the yellow stitching lifted it enough to be an acceptable compromise....no regrets though.

[Controller39]

Longy00000 said:

Controller39 said:

Thanks I have been looking at cars in the range of 65k.

I have heard good things about the main dealers but know that they charge a premium but this is not unexpected.

What do you drive?

I drive a gen 2 Vanquish S so another v12.

As long as the engines are used and serviced they're pretty bullet proof.
There is always a good selection of DB9 for sale so I think its worth giving some thought to what YOUR car would look like, colour choice, interior and options so you end up with something that ticks a lot of your boxes from the off.
For a new owner I think there are only two sensible options
1. You buy from a main dealer and get a timeless warranty. Yes you pay a bit more but it will put you at ease and allow you to enjoy it from rhe off. Any issues you just take it back and most likely they would sort it. Almost all faults can be challenged in rhe first few months of sale and the warranty is pretty good to fill in therafter. About as safe as you can get.
2. Buy else where but get an independent pre purchase inspection done. This may be easier said than done. You will have to have a good established and proven independent garage near by for the inspection. You then need the vendor to agree to let it be inspected at your cost of course (£300 to £400 should cover it) can be a faff but essential in my mind when going outside the dealer network.

Lastly be prepared to travel. I did close to 2000 miles looking for my car and lots of fellow PH members will have done the same. Its part of the process and can be enjoyable.
Highlight half a dozen cars worthy of your time, book a few days off work, plot a route to see them and book a cheap hotel if necessary and off you go !
Funnily enough the car I bought was one of the worst visually rough 20 yatd cars I had seen. Entirely down to some very old ppf that had seen better days and clearly been on from new. I got the main dealer to remove it as part of the deal and it was as I had hoped brand new fresh paint underneath.
Now of course it's lovely and polished to the hilt

That is one beautiful machine. Congratulations.

I am definitely going to buy from a dealer your post has convinced me of that. I plan to do a number of trips in my car including the North Coast 500 so I think the warranty will just make me feel better that at least some things will be covered if they go wrong.

I am more than prepared to travel to take a look at cars I think most on here would be happy to.

Can I ask what event you went to for these to be taken. It seems well attended.

[Controller39]

Simpo Two said:

Longy00000 said:

There is always a good selection of DB9 for sale so I think its worth giving some thought to what YOUR car would look like, colour choice, interior and options so you end up with something that ticks a lot of your boxes from the off.

Colours can be tricky, unless you like monochrome. Compared with 'normal' cars there are very few around, so don't expect to find your perfect spec; compromise may be needed.

Thanks for your response I have been definitely been putting thought into that as window shopping costs nothing

I have a checklist for myself of must haves and a few bits I am prepared to compromise on.

[Controller39]

Caslad said:

Excellent advice above.
One thing which is rarely mentioned in buying guides is the condition of the interior. Leather shrinkage on the dash & damage to the ski-slope centre console can be more difficult & expensive to repair than some mechanical or bodywork issues.

Thank you for responding. You aren't the first person I have heard this from. You are right it is not in many if any buying guides and probably should be.

[Controller39]

Longy00000 said:

'Compromise may be needed' can be read as WILL be needed
However if you have a list of must haves and a list of 'would like' then it starts getting easier.
That said there are best laid plans and then there are people buying their first aston
I was adamant I didn't want a black interior but ended up with one as I convinced myself the yellow stitching lifted it enough to be an acceptable compromise....no regrets though.

I definitely read it as WILL as I have learnt this over years of window shopping and drooling. It is not often you will find the perfect spec if ever.

I have the list drawn up mentally and have done for a while now but was never in this financial position.

To combat the first Aston fanboy moments I am taking my Dad with me to look at cars. Well he is a car guy he does have an eye for details and is not as big an Aston fan as me and I am sure if he thinks it is a lemon he would say. Only promise I had to make was he goes on the insurance .

[Longy00000]

Controller39 said:

That is one beautiful machine. Congratulations.

I am definitely going to buy from a dealer your post has convinced me of that. I plan to do a number of trips in my car including the North Coast 500 so I think the warranty will just make me feel better that at least some things will be covered if they go wrong.

I am more than prepared to travel to take a look at cars I think most on here would be happy to.

Can I ask what event you went to for these to be taken. It seems well attended.

That pic was taken at this years Stockton-on-Tees super car day around May time I think. You mention the North Coast 500 , so where are you based? Up north Amy chance?

[Simpo Two]

Actually nobody has mentioned the Grant Neal 'bible' yet: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Definitive-Guide-Gaydon-A...

Not being a Kindle person, I was looking for the book version last year only to find they were out of print and £300 second-hand... Then I chanced to see one already in my book collection - I'd bought it a few years before and forgotten about it!

[Controller39]

Simpo Two said:

Actually nobody has mentioned the Grant Neal 'bible' yet: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Definitive-Guide-Gaydon-A...

Not being a kindle person, I was looking for a printed copy of this last year only to find they were put of print and £300 second-hand... Then I chanced to see one already in my book collection - I'd bought it a few years before and forgotten about it!

I will take a look at this thanks

[Controller39]

Longy00000 said:

That pic was taken at this years Stockton-on-Tees super car day around May time I think. You mention the North Coast 500 , so where are you based? Up north Amy chance?

Interesting I may have to check this out.

I am actually based in the South West.

I have friends in Scotland so planned to make a trip of it, as I haven't seen them for a while and they are all petrol heads like me.

[Longy00000]

I thought for moment we were about to get another aston owner up norf ! Anyway it sounds like a great trip.
I would recommend joining some local groups and i'm.sure there are plenty supercar / sports car/ aston type groups in your area you can marry up with for next year. I've probably been to a half dozen super car / charity type events with the car this year and always find them fun and a great place to meet like minded people and can be a great source of information ( a bit like PH but with faces )

[Rappa]

Simpo Two said:

Actually nobody has mentioned the Grant Neal 'bible' yet: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Definitive-Guide-Gaydon-A...

Not being a Kindle person, I was looking for the book version last year only to find they were out of print and £300 second-hand... Then I chanced to see one already in my book collection - I'd bought it a few years before and forgotten about it!

Senior moment there Simpo!

Another support for his book it was essential reading. Shame it’s no longer physically printed. An old one would work if it covers the year of car you are after.