Aston Martin as daily driver

New or used? Brother runs a DB9 and seems sorted. AC and regularly long runs. Not sure Bluetooth, but that’s just a head unit issue. Prior to that had a v12 DB7, no issues either.


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When DB9s came out I got a Volante for my wife but since she did no like it, I took it as a daily driver for a year.
Driven daily, rain or snow, no issues (granted, car was brand new).

 

I daily drove our Rapide S for a few months and it was great. No issues

 

Durability and reliability - warranty so sorted (hopefully you live close to your main dealer just in case and their courtesy car is like for like!) maintainence - you’re looking at standard servicing and possibly tires depending how you drive - so call a dealer / check with your local specialist.

Have you considered leasing? You’ll take a depreciation hit if new - don’t think they are jumping up just yet.

An official Aston used one year old - interesting why the owner moved it on - will again have warranty etc.

Have you looked at the AMOC and forums there?


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Aston dealers in the US (at least those I'm familiar with) don't provide courtesy cars (and if they do, certainly not an Aston). So few Astons are used as daily drivers, that there's little justification to provide loaners. UK vs US usage and dealer experience are very different.

 

I daily drove my '11 Vantage, so my experience is based on that and some limited time in a DB9 and Rapide.
Maintenance was far less than a Ferrari, but more than a Porsche. AMs are pretty limited production so they have some of the quirks and problems that go with that: Infotainment sucks, leather shrinks, squeaks and rattles, glass key is expensive to replace if dropped, gas cap commonly sticks, dealer service network is somewhat limited. The sport shift transmissions are pretty bad, manuals can have a heavy clutch (but that seems to vary a bit from car to car.)

They're beautiful to look at inside and out, sound great, and perform very well for what they are. If you buy used, you will get a lot of car for the money.

 

+1!

 

As long as you're looking for a newer model, no problem. My 2009 Aston DB9, while probably one of the most beautiful cars on the road imho, left a lot to be desired in terms of technology. The Bluetooth was unusable. The Nav was mediocre at best. No major mechanical issues. Build quality okay. The new DB11 is leagues above the DB9 in terms of technology thanks to their collaboration with the Germans.

 

German technology => failures just waiting to happen
No thanks, I'll take Aston's 'old' tech any day.

 

I just tried the new Vantage. Totally liveable as a daily IMO - all the new MB tech: nav, 360º cameras, parking and distance sensors, etc.

 

I totaled my Mercedes S class coupe and considered replacing it with a 2016 Vanquish as my daily driver. I thought it would be a nice compliment to my 612.

While I think the Vanquish is the most beautiful car on earth, I was very unimpressed with the interior and the ride. The windshield pillars are very pronounced and I felt visibility was extremely compromised and I had almost a claustrophobic feeling inside. It was also very rough and raw. I felt my 612 was significantly better on the inside as well as the ride.

At the end of the day I felt I would be getting something that was similar to but less enjoyable than my 612 if I went with the Vanquish as a daily driver. So I replaced the old S Class with a new S Class and alternate it with the 612 as my daily driver. For me, a much better decision than the Vanquish.

 

Don't know what you were looking at, but the Vanquish interior is far better in both design and quality than a 612, which has that typical minimalist look and feel about it. Ferrari interiors have never been luxurious.

 

XJRS Owner, I think you perhaps can accuse the 612 interior of being “gaudy” and the Vanquish interior could be called “subtle” and everyone has their own views. However, I don’t think your description is accurate. Here is a picture of my 612 interior.


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Ferrari interiors have never looked to be in the same league as Bentley/Aston Martin. Your 612 above is probably the best F interior I've seen, bringing it up to the lower levels of British design and quality. Other F interiors are bland and appear somewhat unfinished (but nowhere near as Spartan as Lamborghini interiors, which approach kit car levels).

 

Isn’t it the last generation Mercedes user interface?

 

I believe that the collaboration between Aston Martin and Mercedes began with the DB11. It was a wise decision on Aston Martin’s part.

 

I mean on the new ones. Latest gen for Mercedes cars, previous gen for Aston Martin?

 

The new Astons do get the last generation Mercedes user interface. I checked it out and I looked at a new Mercedes.

 

Can anybody tell me where I can find the specs of a 2012 DB9 described as an "LE Sport".

Are the 2012 DB9's the best of the first generation? Is there a good guide to the changes from 05 to 12?

 

'09 saw an upgrade to the auto transmission and a bump in horsepower.
That was enough for me to find an '09 or later. Very happy!
Mine has the "Sports Package" which is a suspension upgrade only.

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For discussions on AM's try:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&f=70

or:
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/aston-martin-39/

 

i had and 08 vantage a few years ago. i would definitely not recommend that generation vantage as a DD. while a great looking car not suited for daily duty,
the sportshift is not desigened for daily use and would have to be replaced once every 15-20 k miles. i know have a16 vanquish. while i can see it handling
DD duties. i am in NY so it is a summer only car. But if weather and traffic were not an issue. i can see the vanquish serving daily duties. and it is by far one of the most good looking cars on the road today.
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