Ive been driving a 911 for the past 10 years. I don't drive often, but consider it my second car for evenings out and weekends. I love how reliable and built solid it is, but it may be time for a change.

Im thinking of a change and the natural move i think is the db9? Just wanted to get views from the AM community. Do you think this will be a good switch? I like the price point of the 2006/2007 db9s. I can't seem to find a model in manual stick shift, but i guess i'll live with an automatic, especially in and around NYC. Thoughts?

 

I recently traded my 2007 997 911 for a 2007 V8 Vantage. While not a DB9, there are many similarities between the two. I have been a Porsche club member since 1978 and have had many Porsche's over the years. My 997 was the best of all those Porsches. It handles somewhat better than the Vantage but the Vantage is no slouch. I find the Vantage is more upset by mid corner bumps than the Porsche. The steering feel is good in the Vantage but not as good as the 911. Other than that, I feel they are comparable handling wise and the brakes are at least as good.

The exterior looks is what first attracted me to the Vantage. It is a lovely car. While the 911 is far from ugly, it does not have the same impact as the Vantage or a DB9. Secondly, I love the interior. I like that fact that there is little plastic in the Aston. Aluminum *****, gauges, AC vent surrounds, door pulls, etc. It feels more bespoke that my 911.

The reduced plastic content in the engine bay is also attractive to me. That the facia piece between the nose and the radiator is metal rather than plastic appeals to me. To replace the door struts, I had to remove the inner plastic fender liners. The quality and number of the fasteners for those liners speaks volumes about this being a special automobile. And with the fender liners removed, you can see the intricate aluminum castings for the suspension uprights and control arms.

As for reliability, I will have to wait and see. Of course there are some clouds on that front with your 911 engine. Even the 2006's are not immune to intermediate shaft failures. That being said, it is hard to beat the reliability of a Porsche.

I am very happy with my car. BTW, it would be far easier to find a Vantage with a manual transmission.

 

Thanks for the feedback! I like the vantage, but i need a 2+2 even if its small. If im in a bind i love to squeeze in the little ones back there to get around.

 

I have been a Porsche owner and lover for years, and while I just got a 2011 Vantage S, I decided to keep my 997S. You really need to drive the AM, be it a DB9 or a Vantage, before making a decision- they feel very different.

IMO, the 997 is a very easy car to drive, even daily, and it's maintenance costs are (relatively) low. My V8VS on the other hand, while an absolute joy to drive and fantasy to look at and listen to, is in some ways more difficult to drive and live with. This is just my take- perhaps I am just not as used to it yet. Don't get me wrong, I love it, more than my 997, it's clearly a more "special" car. I see 30 911's each month, and not even 1 AM in that same time. Maintenance costs are very high with an AM, but reliability should be as good as your 911.

Drive a few AM's, you'll feel the difference.
CATTMAN

 

A DB 9 is a GT and not a sports car. More softly sprung etc. Make sure you drive a few to see for yourself. Also, avoid the Linn Audio as they have known problems. They were replaced with the AM premium audio in 07. I would look at 07-09 cars. Some had the sport pack option and a manual. Read The Definitive Guide to Aston Martin by Grant Neal.

 

I wouldn't bank on the 2+2 of the DB9 unless your kids are small and you don't mind them kicking the back of the front seats. My 5 foot nothing wife barely fit back there when I took the test drive (dealer took the passenger seat). Her head was against the ceiling and knees on the back of the front seat. Today the only thing we use the back seats for is extra storage space on road trips.

I'll second that the DB9 is not a canyon carver or track car, but is a GT car. And it's a beautiful GT car. I've found it to be a very comfortable car for road trips but it's just too big and cumbersome for really tearing up a track.

 

Understood. Thank you all for the good feedback. I may like the move from a sports car to a GT car. I definitely dont track the car, just putz around town with the 997. I put my 7 and 5 year old kids int he back of the 997 which is also extremely tiny and tight so i figure the DB9 backseat will be the same.

 

From being inside a 997 c2s & turbo vs my v8v of the same model year, I would have to say the AM feels more bespoke, and by bespoke I meant less "solid" / well built in that the interior will creak and groan a bit more, its just a different feeling. Not in a bad way, just different.

 

I owned several porsches and like them. But now owning a 2007 db9 with sports pack it is so much better! The only porsche i would consider besides a Aston is a 996 gt3.

 

Is your 997 paid off? If so, keep it and start the DB9 on new terms...can't compare 997 to DB9...road sport vs GT = apples and oranges comparison. DB9's can be found for decent prices and if you negotiate well, no reason why you can't find a DB9 sport pack for a great price.

 

Here are the back seats of my 2009 DB9 Volante. I'm 6'2" and the driver's seat is adjusted accordingly.

 

I own both a 911 Porsche and '06 DB9 V12, am not mechanically inclined and don't race. But enjoy the look, feel & pride of ownership. As said, they are different in many ways and you are the best judge, so drive AM's to determine. I'm on eastern LI, if you want to take a drive. Mike

 

I have a 2002 C4S since 2013 and just got a 2009 DBS. I have not driven the DBS much yet as I’m doing the coil packs but the 996 is more toss-able I would say. Or May be I’m still scared of pushing the DBS.

 

If I had a choice of transmissions on the DB9, I'd take an automatic. It's a hoot shift and the gear ratios are just like you'd want on a manual. Make sure you get car with the valves that are open or can be opened with a remote.

 

I would avoid pre 2009 cars. They had all kinds of oiling issues that led to catastrophic engine failure. Some got lucky, some didn't.

Manual DB9s are super rare. Its much easier to get a manual DBS. But if you're patient you will find a manual DB9.