Aston Martin DB9 Volante | Spotted
It's March next week, then the clocks go forward, then it's summer - time for an appropriate set of wheels
If it’s also cold and rainy outside your office today, take solace in the fact that it will change soon. It must do. March is next Saturday, the clocks go forward before April is here, and the sun will be shining before we know it. Let’s hope, anyway. By that time, everyone will be wanting a drop-top sports car to enjoy the warmer months; time to beat the crowds (and the winter blues) with a summer convertible ahead of time.
There’ll be new Aston Martin Volantes coming this year, including the already revealed DB12 - and, eventually, a heavily updated Vantage Roadster. There have been almost 60 years of Volantes now, all the way back to the first ‘Short Chassis’ models of 1965; almost all of them have been hugely desirable, combining monster powertrains with handsome good looks and the sort of caddish cool Aston does better than any other.
The DB9 Volante is now 20 years old, launching soon after the coupe in 2004. Just like the hardtop, it represented a huge step up from the DB7, with a fresh new look and massively updated interior. Like pretty much everything from the period, the interior certainly looks of its time - just look at that sat nav screen - but the exterior design is ageing absolutely beautifully. It’s delicate, simple and elegant like all the very best Aston DBs, perhaps even better as a drop-top than a coupe.
Tungsten Silver with Obsidian Black leather and Walnut veneers will be a spec familiar to a lot of ‘9s, though none the worse for it. But neither the colour combo nor the extras - including a £3k stereo upgrade - that make this one special - it’s the condition. This Volante has covered just 9,000 miles with one owner since 2006, supported by a comprehensive service history almost exclusively at the same main dealer - it went to Aston Martin Sevenoaks 16 times. Which is quite an investment. The only service not there was at specialist Chiltern Aston Martin. This DB9 has wanted for nothing.
Unsurprisingly given the mileage and the love lavished on it, this Aston is impeccable. There just isn’t a blemish to be seen anywhere, inside or out, and even a dashboard prone to scratches and wear has survived almost two decades incredibly well. Factory fresh is an overused term but, bar some inevitable leather wear, it really does look showroom quality. As summer suntraps go, it looks stunning.
As one of the lowest mileage DB9 Volantes out there, this one commands a premium over the rest; early, higher mileage ones are available for little more than £20k for the brave. This one is £49,995, with the later, more powerful, facelifted DB9s commanding anything up to £65k. Given its ability still to turn heads and put a huge smile on your face, it’s easy to see why the Aston might appeal. It could continue as a wind-in-the-air V12 for summer Sunday best or, given the meticulous service record, probably put into more regular use if its charms prove irresistible. Either way, there won’t be many more pleasant ways to embrace the sunshine. When it finally arrives.
SPECIFICATION | ASTON MARTIN DB9 VOLANTE
Engine: 5,935cc, V12
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 456@6,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 420@5,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: 368g/km
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 8,766
Price new: £126,233.30
Yours for: £49,995
The day it was delivered I spent ages just looking at it dreamy eyed and sniffing that distinctive AM interior aroma. It drove beautifully and the V12 sounded magnificent.
On the second day of ownership it wouldn't start. AM Assist diagnosed battery and dealer came and fitted a new one. A week later and it again failed to start. I think I was unlikely, perhaps having bought a lemon, as these do appear to have a good reliability record.
I rejected the car and got my money back. In a way it was a relief. After the initial excitement I concluded the car wasn't any more capable than a supercharged Jag at half the price.
Bit like a chap i worked with, a few years ago, who bought (what he thought) was an immaculate, reliable, sensible , honest, low mileage , well looked after purchase etc. etc Bentley Continental for about £40k.....Only to spend a further £9k on repairs (alone) in his first year of ownership (on top of Insurance, servicing etc.). Expensive cars brand new...still demand expensive repairs , servicing when cheap & old.
Stick to your MX5's and alike..
Bit like a chap i worked with, a few years ago, who bought (what he thought) was an immaculate, reliable, sensible , honest, low mileage , well looked after purchase etc. etc Bentley Continental for about £40k.....Only to spend a further £9k on repairs (alone) in his first year of ownership (on top of Insurance, servicing etc.). Expensive cars brand new...still demand expensive repairs , servicing when cheap & old.
Stick to your MX5's and alike..
Bit like a chap i worked with, a few years ago, who bought (what he thought) was an immaculate, reliable, sensible , honest, low mileage , well looked after purchase etc. etc Bentley Continental for about £40k.....Only to spend a further £9k on repairs (alone) in his first year of ownership (on top of Insurance, servicing etc.). Expensive cars brand new...still demand expensive repairs , servicing when cheap & old.
Stick to your MX5's and alike..
They do take a bit of looking after, but it need not be ruinous. I think I averaged about 1500 to 2000 a year for servicing and maintenance while covering about 4000 miles a year, and never suffered any kind of breakdown. A lot of money sure, but totally worth it to me. I haven't seen The Grand Tour episode, but I wouldn't pay the slightest bit of attention to how reliable or otherwise any of those cars may have been; it's pretty widely known that show, like Top Gear before it, is carefully scripted. What I absolutely would not do is touch a car with just 9000 miles on it with a barge pole unless I was looking for a museum piece; you want one that has seen some use, preferably recently.
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