To DB9 or not to DB9?

[andrewsedward]

I'd love to get petrol head's opinions on what car to buy. I'll be selling my 04 plate BMW 645 convertible, and am contemplating spending up to £40k on it's replacement. If I do, I'm thinking of an early DB9 coupe, early Bentley Conti GT, early 997 C2S/C4S convertible, or Jag XKR convertible. I'm worried the Aston will break, that the Conti has a dodgy image, the Porsche is a bit unimaginative, and the Jag is an old man's car. One other option would be an M6.
Any thoughts from people that lover their cars??!

[Willber]

For me it would be the M6 BWAAAAAAAARRRPPP!

[jas xjr]

for me it would have to be the db9

[andrewsedward]

I can agree with both your opinions! Great noise and fast, the M6. Beautiful car the DB9. But will it break? I can't get my head round spending £40k on a car that might go wrong.

[soad]

M6- all out power. Cost a bit to run though

[andrewsedward]

More than a DB9? Surely not. I know main dealer Bentley servicing is £1500!

[Dr G]

DB9 is not a 40k car, it's a 120k car and will have the running costs that go with that price bracket sadly! I'm no Aston expert but you'll want a few K in the kitty every year for maintenance.

I'd have the 997 and find a good specialist.

[Caddy93]

Why just limit yourself to a DB9. My dad's mate has had an 06 plate V8 Vantage since new. Never had any problems with it at all. Gets it serviced once a year and thats it. But if you don't fancy that, i've heard good things about m6's

[andrewsedward]

I have the need for 4 seats, so V8 Vantage is out.
Seems the M6 is winning at the moment! Could there be a reasonable residual interest in it now that all new M cars are going to be forced induction V8s?

[kambites]

I think from what I've read, the XKR would be my pick out of that lot.

[Zippee]

I love the current shape XKR so that would be high on my list, alongside either the M6 or V8 Vantage.

[Rawwr]

This probably won't be a popular view on here but in the last few months I drove a DB9 and an M6 back-to-back. I can honestly say, hand on heart, the DB9 is singularly the most disappointing car I've ever driven.

Yes, it may look good and may be just the plug you need in your life to fulfill the James Bond fantasies but as a drive? Just didn't do anything for me. At best, I'd describe it as bland.

The M6, by comparison, just felt so much more alive and involving, not to mention the overwhelming power.

Aside from the subjective issues of looks, the M6 crushes the DB9 like a brick on a damp sponge.

(others' opinions may vary)

[chippy17]

I love my M cars and the M6 is a serious bit of kit, but the DB9 is just soooo good looking and the M6 well isn't

lovely dilemma to be in, I cannot decide

[off_again]

Dr G said:

DB9 is not a 40k car, it's a 120k car and will have the running costs that go with that price bracket sadly! I'm no Aston expert but you'll want a few K in the kitty every year for maintenance.

I'd have the 997 and find a good specialist.

I know a few people who have gone for cheaper Astons in the past - most recently by boss's boss was going for a 50k DB9, but decided to do some hunting around and spoke to EVERYONE he could. Ended up spending quite a bit more (wont tell me!) but has a few issues with electrics only. Speaking to others who have gone for the cheaper ones have been landed with BIG bills to correct lots and lots of things. Not necessarily unreliable, let you down type problems, but lots of issues with stuff not working. Not great and I wouldnt go cheap on an Aston.

That said, I wouldnt go cheap on a 996 / 997 either....

[Caddy93]

andrewsedward said:

I have the need for 4 seats, so V8 Vantage is out.
Seems the M6 is winning at the moment! Could there be a reasonable residual interest in it now that all new M cars are going to be forced induction V8s?

If you need four seats, discount the DB9 & Carrera almost straight away. The Bentley however...

[Zod]

I can speak with a reasonable degree of authority here. My DB9 has been as reliable as my M5. The story is though that the earliest, and therefore cheapest, DB9s are more delicate and less resolved than the later ones.

Drive a DB9 and an M6. The standard auto DB9 is a rather different car from the M6, but you have to decide what you want. The DB9 is quick, has the looks and the sense of occasion. The M6 is seriously quick and has the extraordinary V10.

Edited by Zod on Thursday 4th November 11:30

[bobmcgod]

Maserati Granturismo in your price range?

[andrewsedward]

If you need four seats, discount the DB9 & Carrera almost straight away. The Bentley however...
[/quote]

I'd just get my 2 1/2 yr old son to sit cross-legged behind me. He has to do that in my 645 already, as I'm 6ft 2! But I get your point.

I'm glad to see so many varied opinions, but I'm still really struggling.
One other option would be a GTR! But......

[Zod]

andrewsedward said:

If you need four seats, discount the DB9 & Carrera almost straight away. The Bentley however...

I'd just get my 2 1/2 yr old son to sit cross-legged behind me. He has to do that in my 645 already, as I'm 6ft 2! But I get your point.

I'm glad to see so many varied opinions, but I'm still really struggling.
One other option would be a GTR! But......

I'm 6'2" too. My four and a half year old sits behind my wife in the DB9 without crossing his legs and he's huge (115cm). My 19 month old son has to cross his legs behind me and I have to move my seat forward a bit.

[300bhp/ton]

andrewsedward said:

I'd love to get petrol head's opinions on what car to buy. I'll be selling my 04 plate BMW 645 convertible, and am contemplating spending up to £40k on it's replacement. If I do, I'm thinking of an early DB9 coupe, early Bentley Conti GT, early 997 C2S/C4S convertible, or Jag XKR convertible. I'm worried the Aston will break, that the Conti has a dodgy image, the Porsche is a bit unimaginative, and the Jag is an old man's car. One other option would be an M6.
Any thoughts from people that lover their cars??!

Still not convinced on the old man image of Jags. I had an XJ-S at 19, but hay, maybe I'm old before my time

£40k you say. Well what a HUGE and I do mean flippin HUGE choice of cars you have to choose from.

If it was me I'd be looking at a late Aston V8 coupe (the Virage shape, not the XK8 shape one). Maybe some older Ferrari's. But you could also look at a C6 or C6 z06 Corvette, a Chevy Camaro new or a new Mustang GT 5.0. Morgan's Aero 8's and the like. Dodge Viper.

To me at least, these would all be more interesting than simply following the masses.