Hello chaps,

In the spirit of pommehogster's post I though I should introduce myself as your newest Brit interloper. Have been looking for another forum like Pistonheads (which goes a little quiet at times - I'm 'yeti' for those on there as well, and marcos on AMOC's forum) and have been recommended this one so we'll see how it goes!

Currently on my second Aston, first was a DB7 Vantage Volante, took the big step in January to a DB9 Volante with a rare (at least in the UK) manual transmission. The car was a little too smooth and sauve for my needs so I have gradually evolved it to where I want it to be.

Handling wise it is lowered an inch and rides on H&R progressive springs. I fitted sports pack wheels and Ti nuts and had a fast road geometry set up. I had a DBS steering rack fitted prior to a pan-European trip last month and also the brakes sorted with Brembo GranTurismos, drilled 380/330mm with 6pots on the front and 4pots on the rear. They are a revelation and along with the rack were the single biggest changes.

Exhaust wise I have 200cell race cats and a Quiksilver Supersports, this was measured last week at Goodwood to be 112dB at 4750rpm so it's err... loud! I love it though, all adds to the experience.

Cosmetically it has a DBS carbon fibre bonnet, clear rear lenses and a full magnum slver mesh kit. Also the 3 lower grilles are 2mm polished stainless steel like a Bentley grille, a huge improvement. The orignial designer of the DB9/Vantage interiors , Sarah Maynard is also working on a bespoke interior for me (engine turned contarstedw tih anodised aluminium don't ya know) so it will be a very special place to sit.

Engine wise I have a good ECU remap to take into account the exhaust mods and and also sharpen throttle response, it has worked very well to make the car sharper all round. Estimates are that the car puts out 470-480bhp (up from the standard 450bhp) and it is this figure that I want changed far more than a remap can accomplish. I have talked to an engineering company, all ex-factory Aston Martin powertrain engineers who are to remove my engine, fabricate a bespoke manifolds-back system, full bespoke induction system, Vanquish S heads and a full rebuild. The estimate is 550 genuine horsepower with the full exhaust system and will effectively be what the next generation of DBS engine is going to be. I'll have the same adamptive damping system as pommehogster as well though I'll keep my Brembos as I may be a little bit in love with them.

I'll keep anyone interested informed, the changes should start at the end of the year when the racing season is over for the engine builders.

In the meantime I'll hunt for pictures of your cars. The US owners tend to be more interested in modifications and improvements, the UK bunch can be very set in their ways and seem to prefer to drive a car as it left the factory. I've always been a tinkerer and will talk about my other cars on other threads... But I belive cars are built to a price point and there are improvements to be made whether compoents are stronger, lighter, prettier or make you go faster!

 

Ah, British Invasion! We are making strides at 6Speed.....

Pics, please, as the words, I am sure, are not done justice, Marcos. I have seen many of your posts on PH. Great mods, and especially pleased to hear about Sarah, as she will be doing a complete re-fit of my interior.

Do you have any numbers for what the ECU has raised the car to? If you have already done the ECU tune, what is your rationale for the engine work? Are you looking for top end hp or are you planning on seeing gains across the board? I ask, as I plan on having the same engine work done, but in place of an ECU tune.

Thanks

 

Yes I'd love to see some photos of your car as well!

 

British invasion indeed! Welcome yeti!

 

Welcome Marcos! 112db is indeed loud!!

 

God save the Queen! Both her majesty and Graham Norton!

 

Welcome to 6speed and good luck with your DB9!!

I am RyeP at PH

 

Graham Norton is Irish

I will post some pictures if someone can explain how - can I upload from my computer or link the them on another forum (i.e. Pistonheads)? Otherwise I don't have an account anywhere like Photobucket or whatever. I'm guessing though that Pistonheads linking is not allowed?

CRVETR, with regard to the ECU retune (or remap as we call it - I assume they're the same). It made the car 'feel' much more sporty, the throttle reponse was sharpened, everything was more instant and I had the timing adjusted to run solely on 98RON fuel - same as your super grade. With the exhaust and airfilters, it is certainly quicker but not stunningly so. No claims were made as to the power hike, but all are generally in agreement of 30bhp or so in combination with the exhaust mods; it was the way it delivered the power and torque which made me go for it, I found the standard DB9 map was for smoothness and crusiing more than anything. With a manual box especially, it could be so much more! I had TT on my DB7 though I haven't driven a TT2 car. The biggest change I have right now is to habdling, cornering and braking. The car is able to handle far more power now with the brakes, springs, steering rack and geometry set like it is.

Having the engine internals modified is going to give me genuine, measurable, actual power increase, not just a feeling. 100bhp over standard which is a huge jump but not one the car (or driver!) cannot cope with. It won't just feel faster, sharper etc, it will be all those things in every gear. I would also expect a huge torque increase to go along with it as the DB9 is not about peaky, top end power. These are things a simple ECU tune can't physically do, the engine's internal architecture will have to change, though not drastically as far as I know. It was just a modification Aston couldn't afford to make as it gave them no future power hikes for the DB9/DBS/V12V and they'd be too expensive to sell at the original price point

I suppose it'll be like having the 'Vantage' upgrade on a DB5/DB6. Although DB9 'Vantage' doesn't sound right for obvious reasons!

 

Welcome Marcos - hopefully someone can help you with figuring out how to upload pics - your car sounds stunning.

 

You don't need to use Photobucket. You should be able to attach pics stored on your hard drive by using the attachment (paper clip) function. When you select the paper clip icon (at the top of the dialog box when you go to post), a further dialog box pops us and you can browse your hard disk for the pic or pics you want to post and upload them. You are limited to 5 pics per post using this method. The pics will show up in your post minimized, but the viewer can select them to maximize them.

 

Gotcha!

First one is at the Goodwood Kennels in summer, the second at the Hotel Ritter, Durbach in Germany after a tour of the Swiss Alps and Black Forest (new brakes so unpainted red calipers; and the third, the very pert rear at home. Hope they come out!

 

Lol, always nice to come home to a very pert rear ... sweet car, thanks for the pics!

 

The car looks beautiful! You're lucky to have the alps nearby.

 

It's a long hike to get there, usually a day, but always worth it. Endless empty twisting roads with

I'm organising a trip to Monaco in spring for a few friends mostly from the Maserati forum, think we're taking 5-6 days in total. But we'll be in Casino Square for Saturday night

Nothing does the job better than an Aston, for the drive there or the cruise along the Riviera...

 

I'm jealous! My girlfriend and I rented an F430 last year in France and we drove all over the Riviera in it. Found some great (empty!) mountain twisties just north of St. Tropez. At the end of the day we drove into Monte Carlo, had dinner, and then visited the casino. That was a very good day.