612 vs. DB9

Does anyone have any thoughts/experience on this? I'd settled on getting a year old DB9 but my partner saw a 612 the other day and is sold.

Personally I don't like the scalloped styling and a year old example will cost at least £30k more than a DB9, though that's probably £40k off list.

The 612 has more rear seat space than the DB9 but the only person going there will be my ten-year old son so I don't think that's a huge issue.

Will have to have the F1 gearbox and I've heard the manual-based Ferrari box is slower and harsher than the auto-based Aston Touchtronic.

Most things are steering me down the Aston route - longer warranty, build quality, lower depreciation, £30K cheaper to buy but I'd love to hear alternate opinions.

Any thoughts?

Dan

 

If you're on a budget (sort of) DB9. Otherwise a dark blue 612 with fresh butter interior looks stunning.
And the performance is amazing.

 

The 612 would eat the DB9 performance wise. Looks wise though I think the DB9 is better. Put in mind however that the 612 has tones of space inside compared to the DB9.

 

IMHO the 612 is a better performing car, whilst the DB9 is without a doubt better looking you'll see dozens of identical astons every day of the week floating round London (I spent 20 mins waiting to be picked up from the station at seven oaks and spotted 8!)

 

Same as above, the ferrari has better performance and more space, but the aston is gorgeous, and is just much more stylish.
On a side note, I think that the 612 is very color dependent. IMO it looks good in silverstone or a blue like the one Jeremy Clarkson drove on TopGear, but to me it doesn't work as well in lighter silvers.

 

The 612 is a genuine 2+2 . The rear seats of the DB9 are a joke.
The performance of the 612 is much better than the DB9. And it must be much more satisfying to drive with its "mid engine layout" .
And if i see tons of DB9 in Paris, i cant imagine how comon they must be in Ldn.

 

From the Top Gear episode, where the team races a 612 against a plane;

 

+1 love the db9's styling but performance wise the 612 kills

 

Just pretraded my DB9 Volante toward the 599.
I would not even compare the Aston against 612.
F car is on a different level ,it's like comparing E500 MB against a Bentley FS.

 

how long do you plan on keeping the car? your 10 y/o may fit in the back of a DB9, but I wouldn't bet on a 12-13 y/o. and even 11 may be risky!

 

actually that isn't true. In other cars, I fit comfortably in the back seats. For example, I fit comfortably in the back of an M3 and a Maserati Spyder. I see no reason to not try it out.

 

The DB9 does of course have two mondeo engines joined together to make its V12...

And comedy rear seats, even a 5 year old can't fit in there with an adult in the front, there is zero leg room.

 

Have you been in the back of a DB9. It makes xk8 back seats seem spacious. they are about 10 inches wide! the 612 back seat can accomodate adults! comfortably too!

 

Back of a Maserati Spyder? In the trunk?

You probably meant to say Maserati Coupe. The coupe interior is quite nice for 4 people.

 

Has anyone got a photo of the DB9 rear seat?
I think the Ferrari would be better, because of the limited rear seat space and performance.

 

Aesthetically it's a toss-up depending on color, exclusivity and personal preference. I was somewhat underwhelmed by a dark gray DB9 Volante and I was decidedly deflated by a 612 Bi-Colore. However, I was seduced by a 612 in Titanio, of all colors, and very deeply attracted to an all-black DB9 coupe.

Engine note has to go to the Aston.

In every other respect the 612 is leaps and bounds beyond everything in the 2+2 class.

But it should be since it costs nearly the price of two DB9s and 3 M6s.

Have you considered a Maserati Quattroporte? It's every bit as beautiful as these two, drives nearly as well as the Aston (maybe as well), is a true four seater and has an engine note to match the Aston's.


Forza,


Cavallini

 

Between the two cars you mentioned I'd go for the 612. It seems to be a common theme (at least in my humble opinion) that as soon as one considers a Ferrari, no matter what they get, that Ferrari will be in the back of their mind ALWAYS. I say try the Ferrari and if you don't like it you'll know and then seek out the Aston or other options too.

 

I would suggest having an extended test drive in a DB9 before you buy. My Dad found the seats painfully uncomfortable (in the thighs) after about 50 miles of driving no matter how the seat was adjusted, a problem he has never had with any of his Ferraris. When he sold the car the dealer did say that other customers had complained of similar problems.

 

Thanks for the feedback, pretty much in favour of the 612, though I guess I could have expected that

Andrewg - you probably saw Astons on their way to the main dealers as the one for the whole of Kent and Sussex is in Sevenoaks!

I've just read loads of negative reviews of the DB9 by folk claiming to be owners at this site...

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-readers.aspx?RT=651

...which is troubling me as the Vantage owner in EVO complained of the amount of garage time as well. My 456GT needed a new clutch but was otherwise reliable.

I guess the answer is to road test both though I'm loathed to walk into Maranello unless I'm very serious about a 612, for which I've got to get past the styling. Now if I could have a 612 Kappa...

 

Dan Just for full disclosure, I prefer the look of the DB9. As you state, the back seats are sufficient for a young child, but that's it. If you tell me you are only keeping the car 1-2 years, the DB9 is a great choice. But if you're planning on 3+ years, the DB9 will likely become a problem with your son in the back.

For me if I didn't need back seats, I'd get a 575/599. If I need them, I'd get a DB4 ! (no it's not a typo)

 

612 based on practical and yes reliabilty issue, the new age Astons dont seem to be any less unreliable then the previous generation and IMHO the DB9 looks too much like the V8 Vantage...

Really 612 vs DB9 isnt a comparison IMHO...

 

There was a Ferrari event in Sarsota, Florida in March/'06.....on the side were 2 DB9s brought by the dealer in Tampa.....walked right past them at first, didn't even notice them there were so many gorgeous Ferraris littered about the place. When I made an effort to go over I was taken back by the DB9's elegant beauty. It is like a beautiful bird, stunning to behold...the Ferrari is a caged tiger pacing...beautiful, exciting and dangerous. The Ferrari calls to you, and if not careful you may make some large "error in judgement," that will get your wife mad at you, the neighbor's envious.....the DB9 is a decision about a car that fits into your life...the Ferrari seduces you to do something you know you shouldn't.

 

I've had my 612 for over a year now and wouldn't swap it for anything else. Don't sweat the test drive, just stroll in and tell them you want to test drive one, that's exactly what I did and after that it took me about 3 months to make up my mind (so don't worry about them thinking you're a time waster).

The car is fantastic, it would easily eat a DB9 (which are as common as muck in London), and it's just as happy strolling around town as it is thrashing the backroads. Rear seats space is surprisingly good and I've had adults back there for long-ish journeys. I've had both rear and forward facing seats for kids, we've got an ISOFIX one in there now for my nine-month-old (just wait until he realizes he's in a Ferrari).

Here are a few pics of mine (Mirabeau Blu):
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gorgeous...simply gorgeous....I have to wait until they dpreciate down to about ~$130K (USD).....another 3 years probably.

 

I'd say you should be looking at the Bentley GT.

The DB9 doesn't actually have rear seats, but the 612's are very reasonable. The 612 is very pricey though.

Another consideration would be a Maserati, the rear seats are very (surprisingly) spacious, especially compared to its rivals (911).