http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2004112501,00.html
No competition - DB9 wins on looks. Funny - AM were smart enough to drop Zagato years ago, but when I first saw the 612 I thought it must have been styled by them! Just terrible. What are those scalloped sides about for a start?? Not to mention the unremarkable arse and lunatic leer at the front... Dan
I think the pick of the current crop of new AM range is the "baby" AMV8. Had my name on waiting list for 18 mths.....
Yep, the DB9 is a lovely looking car.. What's the difference between that and the AMV8 ? I wonder what it'll do to Vanquish residuals.. There was something not quite right about it.. the mondeo-derived engine did it no favours, or the clunky paddle gears.. or the squarky artificial-sounding exhaust, or the fact that despite being all honeycomb this, lightweight that, it was still a lardy beast.
You do remember these are 4-seaters, right? Who can sit in the back of a "0 to 60mph in less than five seconds and a top speed of 186mph" DB9? "There are two shaped seats in the back but they are strictly for small kids. To be honest, this is not a car you will want to share with anyone except your beloved." Who can sit in the back of a "Fast in a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds and top speed of 200mph kind of way" 612? "...a genuine four-seater. I could comfortably and happily sit in the back from Land?s End to John O? Groats." I'm a huge Aston Fan, but it's a shame how the rear seats keep getting less and less useful. If Ferrari took the same approach to 4-seaters, the exterior would likely appeal to more people, but the interior would suffer - in turn, it wouldn't be any more acceptable as a 4-seater than an Aston.
I would take the DB9 over the 612 and buy something fun for the weekends as well. Never a huge Aston fan due to all the crappy plastic Ford switchgear (I know Ferrari's have used crap Fiat switchgear a lot over the years but Aston has always branded themselves as luxury GT's rather than sportscars) New DB9 seems to address this though. Hope it sounds as good as the Vanquish
That's one of Ferrari's big problems, the fact that the 612 will be £180 k while AM is £104 k . What's the betting 1st year depreciation will get the 612 to around AM levels anyway?
Those were seats back there? Huh, imagine that. I thought it was just additional storage area. Dr "Seat Time" Tax
I'm a bit confused here....happens alot.....but I thought the DB9 was a replacement for the DB7 and so from price and performance would be in the same class as the 360M or the 996TT. So a DB9/612 comparison seems a bit odd. Is it to replace the Vanquish? (the car more suited to a 575/612 comparison, depending how many seats you order) I thought the vanquish was continuing and I've even heard of someone in Italy running a twin supercharged version of the Vanquish (Vanquish Vantage of the future?) with full factory support as a mule/test car. The AMV8 on the other hand was placed more around Maserati GT and Porsche Carrera area of the market. Correct me if I'm wrong, as it wouldn't be the first time Cheers Simon
I think your comparisons are right. AMV8 will be priced around £75-80 K level , so it's right around high spec 911 money, but a bit over Maser coupe.
If you want to walk into your garage every morning and be truelly stunned, then it has to be the 612 - no question. No other car will continually move you to say with all honesty - 'that is the most ugly pile of s***' in the world!' A real achievement. If, on the other hand, you want to be deadly boring and put up with timeless beauty, it's got to be the AM.
Yes, but Astons have always been more expensive than their competitors, the Vanquish is more than the Murcie and the 575 and the DB7 about the same as a 360Spyder. One is still paying for that hand crafted nostalgia ....which unfortunately ended with the last V8Vantage. So I think the Maser comparison still fits. The problem with Astons is they never really ran with the field on a performance level and so to make up for the lack of power they up the price, reduce production and make it a "connoisseurs" choice. Don't get me wrong, I'm an Aston man through and through (but don't tell anyone on this board ) and I think the V8 and the DB9 will be fantastic vehicles. Just a pity the DB9 won't be able to keep up with a Gallardo. Cheers Simon
Yes, the back seats are virtually non-existent on the DB9. That's why I see the DB9 Volante as a 550/575 competitior. A two seat (plus a small storage space shaped like seats), front-engine, V-12 drop top is an intoxicating idea, and one that Ferrari has failed to adequately address. Doesn't AM offer the buyer the option of eliminating the back seat? I think they do on the Vanquish.
I will buy them both for you tony if you help me crack the kit kat code and also the phone no's of them babe's in bikins on the centre pages, Dale.
Bill, that was my thought exactly when I sat in the DB9 in Detroit. It really competes more when the 575 than a 456/612. Be interesting to drive one.