Aston DB9 Volante: Reviews, experiences?

This gorgeous convertible has been panned by most of the British press but I wonder what life is like on a daily basis with it?

Many thanks,



Cavallini

 

Must be fantastic if you like convertibles. The car is a joy to drive, although I have yet to try the 6sp.

Let them depreciate a bit... they're at the 130s with minimal (~2k) miles.

--Dan

 

I drove one about 4 or 5 months ago at Silicon Valley Auto Group in Los Gatos, and I can honestly say that it is the only car that I have driven that made me even remotely consider trading in my 360. I really enjoyed the car and it was very well sorted out. Power was great and the SMG gearbox operation was flawless.

 

I think I'll have mine in burgundy, Yum

 

You must mean 170's. They sticker a tick over 190 with options and 05 was the first year. The DB9 coups aren't even in the 130's yet unless it has a salvage title.

 

Which begs the question, do Aston V-12s hold their value better than 550/575/456? It looks that way, based on asking prices.

 

Not entirely accurate. Both Bentley Downers Grove and Lake Forest Sports Cars currently have 05 coupes with less than 3000 miles listed at an asking price of $139,900.

 

very true, these cars drop like rocks and low milage coupes can be had for 130k and their still dropping...perhaps its the sterling aston martin record for reliability????

 

Coupes can be found in the 130's but most aren't. Converts are not even close which is what this thread was about. Some of these coupes had a sticker of 170 in 04 so 130's doesn't seem so bad. Either way they drop like any other and will be good used car deals in the future.

 

Agree 100%

The drop-tops are going to hold their value hard for the push into spring. After that, they'll drop, though not with the hard wooshing sound of the coupe.

Astons, Jags, Bentleys and Rollers all make fantastic buys secondhand. Most of the people I know with some Aston experience have found them to be more reliable than the current crop of BMWs and MBs.

 

That is because it is a full torque converter automatic transmission, albeit one with a fully manual override with little to no intervention. The line is almost meaningless these days as manuels have become autos and vice versa, but bottom line is this one has a torque converter which will help the smoothness substantially. Qudos to them for keeping the auto-upshift out of the picture.

 

My dad and I drove a coupe last summer... it was fantastic-- Nothing better than downshifts with that torque converter.

And it's by far the best looking coupe. The Volante is probably the best looking vert too ( 360 spider nipping at it's heals).

 

I think much of the price support of Aston Martins comes from its name: A certain kind of enthusiast wants a contemporary Aston Martin, period.

Following this line of reasoning, DB9 resale prices will head sharply downward once the AMV8 starts arriving on the scene at +/-US$110K new. Then people who want Astons will be able to find this very good one, new.

Look what happened to Vanquish resale values once the DB9 came out.

 

I think that the AMV8 is a huge disaster ontheir part. Why wouldn't you pay the extra 30k for a V12?

As a result, Rachane is right: db9 prices will plummet.

FWIW, I did a comparison of the 550 and the db9 coupe some time ago.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134575442&postcount=1

--Dan

 

I saw two AMV8 coupes at a recent local invitational preview. Visually and comfortably I thought they were just as impressive as the Vanquish & DB9. In fact the AMV8 looks rather a combination of the two: a sort of Vanquish-muscular DB9. The interior is just as elegant, and like the other Astons can be accessorized as lavishly as you want.

That leaves performance, for which so far we must fall back on the magazines, I suppose. After having driven both V8s and V12s, I actually prefer the 8s, as in my experience you don't really get to the torque curve of a 12 until you're pretty high on the tach. 8s have more grunt at the low end, which is generally more pertinent to US driving conditions. Supercharge the 8 and you've really got it at the low end.

One thing I like about the AMV8 is that it comes with a 6-speed stick. I am one of those who dislikes paddles (after living with a 2002 Maserati Cambiocorsa for a year). Paddles are mandatory on Vanquish and prevalent on DB9s. [I have to say, however, that I drove a DB9 with a stick the other day at AM of Marin, and it was an absolute fireball! IMHO paddles hamstring that car.]

 

I say the same thing about people who buy SL55s instead of SL600s. (though the price difference is almost none existent.

Americans just really love their 8s.

BTW Odd a V8 with more low end torque then a V12. Every car I have driven with both available (V8 and V12) the V12s had far more low end grunt.

 

I haven't checked the DB9 coupe MSRP in a while but I think it used to be $155K. For the $45K price difference between it and the V8, you get rear seats (which are only of use to the smallest of children), a 12 cylinder engine, and 400-500 extra pounds.

The performance figures I have seen are nearly identical between the two cars except for a few extra MPH top end for the DB9. Most reviewers have preferred the driving characteristics of the V8. One example from the March Car and Driver concerning the V8: "The Vantage, however, quickly raises doubts that the two cars are from the same company" ... "this is no tweedy gentleman's express a la DB9, flaring with style and with hot-temp warning lights after a few hard laps" ... "the Vantage wants to burn brakes, drift sideways, bounce over curbs and bomb down straights..."

The Volante Version of the V8 is expected in 12-18 months.

John

 

But how many Aston v-12's are produced compared to the 550,575 and 456? wouldnt the Ferrari production be alot more than aston?

 

Aston plans on 2000 DB9s per year and 100-200 Vanquish (with production ending this year). Relative depreciation is probably the same as compared with 550/575/456 although I think the rate of drop is faster with the Aston.

 

I believe it has a paddle shifter automatic transmission, not an SMG(sequential manual gearbox) ?

 

Thanks for posting this. I missed it in the past.
I am considering for DB9, so these information is helpful.

 

3/06 Car and Driver compares the V8 w/997S. Not to mag race on you, but it won the test, and the bottom line is Aston has created a sports car in the V8 where the DB9 is very much a GT. It is 400+ lb lighter, smaller, shorter wheel base, and has all the road manners to go with.

I think an equally valid question is why spend an extra 30k for two useless rear seats and no gain in power-to-weight?

 

I am not comparing the AMV8 to the DB9, persay. The rationale was more to the effect of price differential: two major cars set apart by merely 30k? It's absolutely silly.

The AMV8 should have been a $90k car. Then A-M would have had plenty of differentiation in the model line-up (90k, 150k, and 250k), clearly defined market segments (911, 430/gaylardo/ford gt/etc, 575/murci/whatever other gt car).

Now you get basically two very similar performing cars (albeit with different feels entirely) for close to the same money. I don't get it.

--Dan

 

The look almost identical too

I think the point is that the V8 isn't a cut rate DB9, but rather a very different experience-- one is a classic long legged GT cruiser, the other a nimble 911-like drivers car.

Two women with the same measurements- one is librarian the other a rock star. Stats don't tell you about personality....

 

Agreed. I am confused as well. But more so from the sports car AM V8, to the mid level GT DB9 to upper level GT Vanquish. Now what to do with the Rapide and Vanquish? Two GTs and a 4 door?

I just love the lines of the Rapide, I got a demo CD from my Aston dealer.

I spoke with another Vanquish owner who also had a similar experience: the 575 "felt" slower than the Vanquish, though it wasn't. He said the 612 was a beautiful car to drive and was very impressed with it in respect to the 575, his comment the 599 should be tremendous, as based on the similar aluminum chassis. He preferred the Vanq over the 575 with respect to noise, comfort etc.....and of course it has a cupholder...if it only had cruise control..............

P.S. I'm #1 on the Vanq replacement list........maybe the Rapide though...