I've always wondered why Aston are so good at making a stunning piece of art like the DB9/DBS but they can't give it 600hp+ like the 599 and the Lamborghinis. For the price and the category it's quite slow. It can't be that hard to make a 6 ltr V12 put out 600hp+, they also seem "sluggish and lazy", I don't know how to say it they just don't feel as lively as the 599. It's such a stunning looking thing, almost perfect and the interior and sound are also great but why is it slow.

 

Simply because British cars have historically used powerplants for a long time, usually well beyond their 'expiration' date, if you will. This means that when first introduced, the cars (and powerplants) are usually in the competitive 'range', but as time marches on (and competitors upgrade engines) they fall behind. This generality applies to NA cars, because once supercharging is brought into play, it is much easier to boost power to remain competitive.

For example, when the Jaguar 5.3L V12 was introduced, it was at the top of the heap (300 hp), but by the end of its life, you had turbo 4 cylinders in Japanese econoboxes kicking sand in its face.

If HP/L numbers are important to you, then unfortunately Astons are the wrong tree up which to be barking. If you decide an Aston is what you want, then you've got to make peace with the fact that there are a whole host of cars for the same money that will smoke you, or for far cheaper will stay with you.

 

That is definitely the case, along with the fact that Aston, along with other smaller volume marquees, makes a choice to focus on one thing or the other: engine or accoutrements. Aston can't compete with Ferrari on engines because they don't have a Fiat-type owner that can eat the costs of newer engines or uprated components with more hp. Aston is not a "sports car" in the way that Ferrari and Lambo are; it is a "very sporty car" for people who also want creature comforts, and it is hardly slow. Aston chose to focus on having the most beautiful surfaces and a very good engine with power. You can't compare Lambo, Ferrari or the others against AM when it comes to finishes; they don't come close.

I for one will take the hp that they do offer, as it is substantial, along with the most beautiful interior and exterior lines in the industry. When looking at the whole package, (engine and grace and appointments on the drive), this wins hands down. I never intend to drive at 220 mph anyway, even if the car could. I can't shift fast enough to take advantage of what the Ferrari can do off the line. I be happy

 

While I agree that there are faster cars out there for the price (or less), I think it's silly to call the V12 cars "slow" or "sluggish and lazy." The V12 Vantage and DBS get to 60 mph in around 4 seconds or so and top out at around 190 mph. The V12 engine in each produces 510 bhp. Not the most of any sports car, but it's not like 500 bhp is anemic. XJRS Owner is right, if that is not sufficient for you, you should look elsewhere.

 

Ditto!
Also, I believe Aston leans more toward luxury-sport, with emphasis on luxury. You can see it in the designs and interiors. You see it in the roominess. With that being said, no way do I consider 510hp to be slow....unless you track it.

 

I'm in the process of trying to find a reasonably priced, used V8V. For the same money I could buy a decent 911, an M5/3, an AMG, some sort of generic Japanese beast and maybe a Ferrari from the mid '90's.

I want to buy a car and hang onto it for the rest of my life, enjoying it on sunny days and winding roads. All of these cars are quick by today's standards and some drive better than others. But which one would you describe as having truly timeless beauty? Think about all the cars I mention above and how you think they will look in 15 or 20 years?

If there is one car that has the best chance of remaining relevant, design-wise, for decades to come, IMHO it's the V8V*.

This is what I think of when I look at it. This is just a car that will not become forgettable and dated like the others (look at how examples of those brands look now from the late 80's and early 90's).

The lines are sublime and it is a hell of a lot of fun to drive ... nothing more to say really.

* albeit if budget would allow I might be looking higher up the food chain - but I would still take the more aggressive stance of the V8V over a DB9 for e.g., much as I'd love to be able to pick all my kids up at school with it, but hey, why not make 3 trips? More driving, more fun

 

I may be biased because I had a Vantage and I now own a DBS but here is how I look at it:

I recently drove a Lambo. Not sure what model it was but I can tell you that it was a beast, in every way. It was raw power (probably in the 600hp range). But, I also felt like I was trapped inside of a go-cart. There was a lot of vibration and it didn't feel like it had much room inside.

When I was first looking for my next car (after my 911), I looked at Ferraris, Lambos, Maseratis, Bentlys and Astons. After all of my research, using looks, cost, maintenance history, performance, exclusivity, and comfort, I landed on the Aston.

Just yesterday, I had an opportunity to introduce the gas pedal to the firewall and I have to say, that grin is still hurting my face. As another poster mentioned, we're not going to get many changes, off the track, to play around the 200 mph range but, so what. The car is amazing when you look at the overall balance it provides.

Let's face it...horsepower is cheap these days. So, if what you really want is mind-blowing horsepower, you can have it for very little money. You can keep that rocket in your garage until you find that there are no other cars on the road and you just want to just let loose.

For the rest of the time, slowly pull your Aston out of the garage (with our without your lady)...head towards the best looking area in your city...turn the radio down a few clicks to make sure you hear that glorious sound behind you...find a building or two with nothing but glass fronts so that you can see your car as you drive by...and finally, smile, knowing that if you still have that Aston, 30 years from now, you will still be smiling as you drive by that $10k plastic car that has 2,000 hp driven by a teenager.

 

Nicely said!!

 

I'm wary of anyone saying "I want to buy a car and hang onto it for the rest of my life ..." with a modern car. Why? Because the cars that people are hanging onto forever are mostly from the 60's and earlier, they don't have modern electronics. You can maintain those older cars from the junkyard and even fabricate replacement parts. You can't do that with modern electronics. Is it really going to be possible to find a replacement for a 50 year old body computer that controls the windows and doors? Perhaps only on cars that have a serious 3rd party industry supporting them.

I won't even mention the periodic attempts to outlaw cars over 25 years old or eliminate gasoline engines altogether.

 

They'll have to pry my gasoline-engined car from my cold, dead hands!

 

If there's a $ to be made ... someone will create a solution and sell it ... jsut have a look at all the after-market ECU tuning and reverse engineering that's going on out there. Maybe the Concours judges will poo-poo a reverse engineered electronic fix the way they do now for someone having just not the right blue wire on that vintage Alfa ... but I won't care ... I'll still be plowing my V8V around corners and grinning madly despite the scowls from the global warming police on the curb ...

 

I agree 100%