I am seeing late model db7's priced under 90, and they have piqued my interset. How would they compare to the 550? I would assusme that they do not need engine out servicing, and would be more reliable. This is assuming British electrical components have advanced since my time with Triumph spitfires. Would they make a cool daily driver with a really short (8 mile )commute? I do have alternate transportation Any real life experince with these cars? They look pretty sweet.
Sorry can't help much, but these DB7's are really beautiful cars. I agree with you and see where you're coming from. I think you are right in considering one.
Drove one a bit, see a garage queen one pretty often. Great car, sumptous interior. Great engine sound. Not very fast. You'll love either car.
I asked this to Redhead a while back, who works at SVAG (an Aston dealer). He said 550 hands down. I've driven both, and I preferred the driving feel of the 550 (w/Fiorano handling package). While I prefer the looks of the 550 dash/cluster, both interiors are both swathed in leather and smell/feel similar - super luxury cruiser. The DB7 V12 Volante with touchtronic auto wasn't terribly impressive in low-end acceleration, but on the freeway it had plenty of thrust and pulled from 60-90ish in a hurry. In the end, I like both and would get the 550 over the DB7... UNLESS I wanted a convertible in which case I'd go for the DB7 Volante. There are V12 Volantes under $85k (and that's *asking*), while 97 550's are still asking $10-20k more.
I am thinking that the db7 could be had for at least 20-25 less than the 550. If there is no engine out change the belt thing on the aston, it would be another big plus on their side of the comparison. The cars on the short list would have a 6 speed v12 coupe. I'm not a ragtop guy for a year round car.
I think 6spd would do wonders for the car - my complaints about the performance would likely be reduced if I could have kept the car in the gears I wanted. I think wspeer has a hardtop, you could ask him.
I'd never compare these 2. The 550 is a real sports car the DB7 is just an ancient Jaguar XKS that Ford rebodied. Its just a GT car & an old 1 at that w a new body. The 550 is a purebred compared to the DB7 Now a DB8, Thats sweet
Handling,performance in a different league ,550 beats both DB9 and Vanquish easily. The only reason I still have it is because I will pre-trade in Summer for 599.
For a daily driver go with the Aston It's going to be a better everyday car. If it's a well kept car then for sure more reliable Now if you want the better car go with the 550. If you care anything about resale don't drive it as a daily driver. Are you considering a Vantage or a Volante?
Having driven both a fair bit the DB7 is just rubbish in comparison to the 550. The steering is simply appalling and the whole thing shakes. I'm talking about V12's here. Not a nice ride on any road with a bump or two and not particularly fast. It also feels really badly made inside. It's when you get out of one, on it's own with no other cars around and you look at it and go wow. I could never buy one because even though it looks beautiful it's just not a very good car IMHO. Very sad because I badly wanted one. The 550 is in another league, better made, much faster, sounds better, handles better and looks stunning too. It's also a Ferrari. 'nuff said. The Aston is far too common in the UK. The DB7 V12 managed to destroy my childhood dreams of Aston ownership, unless of course one day I can afford a DB4 GT or GTZ. I went past a new V8 in my GTC the other day, sounded nice and looked nice, appeared to handle too. Certainly worth a look see if you could stretch to one of them but I'd still choose a 575M.
For a daily driver go Aston, its more of a tourer if you will. The 550 is race car, both are pretty sweet though.
I looked at the jag, but they all come with automatic transmissions. I like a clutch pedal. My "Daily Drivers" would get about 6000 miles per year.
ferraris and lambos are fantastic....but compared to the ORIGINAL gentleman's sporting coupe;aston martin;...well,they seem kinda boy-racerish with their loud colours and overstated details. however,if u want a "proper" driving experience,nothing beats a 550/575/murcie/ diablo 6.0! still,if you;as i have;have completely fallen in love with the ASTON;try looking for a DB7 Vantage-Zagato.MIND BLOWING!
I drove a neighbors db7...very disappointing, with sloppy steering, too much body flex, and non sports car performance....not only this, but the aston martins have been very unreliable in the past and my neighbors was in the shop way too many times...it never could have his daily driver..ford has supposedly improved the reliablity of the new astons but ironically there have been several electronic and reliablity glitches with their cars during magazine road tests......550 is in a different league and class..the two should not be mentioned in the same sentence....
Never driven one but saw a couple and 1 in particular last year. Derfinately not a vanquish. I though it was a jag at first.
