OK guys, i have asked several questions about these cars and this will be one of my last. These 2 cars are priced similar, is one better than other for reliability?

I ask cause if i am not mistaken the DB9 was built under different AM ownership than this year Vantage. also, the Vantage has the "sport package" upgrade

Thoughts?

 

I prefer the look and driver feel of the DB9. The experience with the V12 is breath taking. Again this is all subjective and the best thing to do is drive them both and make your own opinion.

 

^i am more concerned about the reliability of these model years to each other

 

You can't go wrong with either. Mine has been dead reliably so far. Common issues I know on the DB9 are: Linn Stereo amplifiers will die, NAV gears break (easy fix $15), and transmission cooling line will seep (updated kit). Other than those issues the DB9 has proven to be really reliable. This has been beat to death on the forum and a search will prove both cars are reliable. Shoot.. there is one on Autotrader with almost 90k miles for sale. I think this speaks volumes about reliability.

 

^thanks, this is the feed back i am looking for

is your car a auto or manny

 

Automatic, I did not want to deal with the expense of clutches. The auto transmission is exactly that full auto with no computer controlled clutch plate like in Lambo's E-gear. In other words there are not clutches to change on the automatic in this car unlike Lambo's auto transmission (e-gear).

 

does the db9 shift smooth and fast? its a paddle behind the wheel correct?

 

DB auto gearbox is a tough ZF unit and uses a torque converter like any other auto box. My DB is a manual gearbox (graziano rear mounted transaxle same as Ferrari and other exotics) with sport pack, it's much more sports oriented and tight on the twisties but it's harsher on the road you feel more than the non sport pack, I think it adds a new dimension to the grand touring. The vantage is more sportster, the v12 option in any Aston is desirable but the v8 is great also. Both DB and vantage are dead nuts reliable, and in the exotic car world that says spades. Drive both, if your a porsche 911 guy you may like the vantage right off the bat.

 

Generally, the cars got better over the years, so it's likely that an '07 will be better-built and more reliable than an '05, whether it's a V8 or a V12. That said, the DB9s and the V8Vs are generally reliable. A V8V, especially with the Sports Pack (which must have been retrofitted since it wasn't available in '07), will be a much sportier drive than an '05 DB9, which is much more of a GT. Through the gears, the performance will be nearly the same, but the V12 has massive torque, while the 4.3 V8 needs to be revved to extract its performance.

 

Very smooth! and yes and yes, would be my answers.

 

Mike is just being modest...honestly it feels like, well, remember in Star Trak when they hit warp speed, and everything outside becomes a blur of bright streaking lights...well sorta like that!

 

There is nothing wrong with an early DB9, but I think you'll find that the steering on the later DB9s is a significant improvement, providing more road feel and response, and eliminating the artificial heaviness that exists in the middle of a turn.

This heavy steering was a relatively common complaint with road testers, but was something that Bez preferred so that's the way the steering was designed. When the DBS came out in early 2008, the steering effort was greatly reduced so that it is much more linear throughout the range. This improved steering was fitted to DB9s also.