I'm looking back to get into an AM. I had the Nurburgring Edition N400 V8 Vantage and I loved everything about it except the power. But the AM is simply the most beautiful car inside and out. So now I am looking at the DBS. The DBS has 510 hp over the 470 hp in the DB9. I'm assuming that will be fast enough. The kicker is that I do need two rear seats for my kids (5 and 2) in the rare case that I have to pick them up after work. I don't necessarily like the Rapide, as it looks a little too elongated. I do like the aggressiveness of the DBS, but I would certainly settle for a "supercharged" DB9. I've test driven a DB9 and it also seemed to feel a touch underpowered (e.g. Slower than my E60 M5 which I love driving as my DD).
hmmm....good point....does anyone own one and have feedback on the Virage? I'm not sure where in the lineup it is supposed to be amongst the Vantages and DB9's....
the virage is supposed to be right in the middle of the DBS and standard DB9, of course the new vanquish (565hp) is the DBS replacement to bad there isn't a Rapide DBS version
Have you tried a manual DB9? They're out there, maybe that would give you enough control over the engine to feel a little sportier.
I see, the Virage has 490hp so right between the two No but that's a thought Love it but need two back seats for the kids. Man, now I'm considering an Evora.
What about 2 cars? An ordinary used car kept at work in case kids have to be picked up and something without rear seats, e.g. a Vantage V12, for regular use. Kids may grow faster than they can use the rear seats of a DB9. Just an idea though and depends on how long you plan to keep the Aston.
I am in almost the same situation, but I would never ever buy a new AM so I have been looking at used ones. I already have speed (my 580hp 997S & Z06) which I cannot really use where I live, so I could care less about which one is faster. The DB9 is fast enough for anything you could ever do on the street. The DBS though just has that look, but my twin boys are almost 8 and those back seats are not that big so I give them two more years before they outgrow them.
My stable right now is: 430 Spider - weekend toy Lotus 211 - track toy E60M5 - great DD that can fit my 3 kids in rear LR4 - wife's One of these cars has to go to let the DBS in or else my wife will kill me. It's either gotta be the M5 or my track toy - really tough choice. Of note, I never keep a car more than 2 yrs because of my car addiction.
I'm with you - would never plunk down the first wad of cash on a new exotic, but the DBS is now at about 50% depreciation as some 09's can be had for $140k. I'd say within a year they are in the $100-$120k range which is a superb buy IMO. I still think the DB9 will be a bit underpowered for me. 510hp vs 470hp may make the difference. The Virage at 490 hp is good though these are the newest cars on the lot and are all still pricing high. I still wish there were a nice supercharger for the DB9. My boys are 5, 2, and 5 months. No way I can fit the baby. But the 5 and 2 yr old should be able to fit in the rear of a DBS (with rear seat options) or the DB9 or Virage (can't get over the look of the Rapide).
I used to share your addiction but after 250 cars and millions spent I came to enjoy new passions but I still love cars and know a great deal about doing mods to them. I have not looked that closely but from a brief look over an the DB9 engine annd chasis set up and the room the car has I cannot see how you could get a supercharger in there. I am though pretty sure I could get 30hp out of it and probably a bit more torque with some bolt on mods. But yesterday I saw a jag XJRS and I just said wow even my boys thought it was cool and they are pretty spoiled after what they have seen. I think I might go test drive one very soon.
That is the newest model that I know of;the last xjrs I recall was the old v12 back in the 90's to 2000 I think?The XKR-S at 550 hp and I think 510 lb torque it is all anyone needs. I drove a new XKR in Decemeber....it was awesome BUT I just have held off b/c I want a stick but that animal is never going to be made; I believe if that car(XKR-S or XKR) came in a stick ,for me, it would be the most performance car for the least money...dogdoc
I have considered the Jag as well - great car for the $. However they seem to fall inches short of the exterior styling of an Aston. I haven't been impressed by the interior of Jags either. There is just something about the craftsmanship of an Aston that oozes elegant class. I think the only way to squeeze say 30-40 more hp out of a DB9 is to do headers back and tune. I know RSC does this for Astons.
Any chance to convert the DB9 V12 engine (455 hp/476 hp) to a Vantage V12 engine (517 hp)? This plus stick and you may be happy.
With early DB9 prices in the ~$60k range, I'm surprised there's not more of a tuner aftermarket. I would love to see what a tuner could do with a forced induction setup on the V12... a manual DB9 supercharged (or TT) would be a gorgeous beast!
@ plastique Did you ever consider the new M5/M6 instead of old M5 plus DB9? Certainly not as pretty as the DB9, but lots of power and enough room for the kids.
With DB9 prices being so low compared to where they began, it might be worth looking into a custom twin turbo set up at a reputable local shop. With the cost of the car and the upgrades, there's a good chance you'd still be into it less than a new M5.
I do not know how many of you have ever installed a supercharger or an induction setup but with some cars it is a fairly easy (though time consuming) process with other cars it is just something else. Like I said I took quick look at a D9 from above and under the car and there is not a lot of room for the cooling a supercharger would need and even less for induction. BMW and Porsches are simple to do this car I'd say would be a huge challenge and you would need to design for the car which might be more than the car cost!
Agreed...it would be difficult to SC a V12 - don't know if there is a company in the U.S. that does it, and it would be quite $$$ With the Lotus platform, I have put a S/C on the Elise without intercooler and it worked great. The Evora S is set up that way as well without an intercooler though it does have oil coolers. I have thought about the new F10 M5, but I hate the design - how the models all look alike now, and I am more of a fan of the NA V10 in my E60 M5. It's a shame BMW moved to a V8 TT, but it's where the market is going. So it would be great to get a nice NA V12 as in the DBS or DB9, just a shame that AM didn't squeeze more power out of it....look at the 599 with its 661 hp out of its V12....sheesh!
I had an 07 M6 and I loved it! But with the kids traded it for my current M5. I was excited to hear about the 4 door 6 series Gran Coupe. The body style is banal and the boat weighs 4600 lbs with under 500 hp. I'm hoping an M6 Gran Coupe will be aggressively styled.
