Hi all

From a pure pricing perspective, I have the opportunity to purchase a 2007/08 Aston Martin DB9 or a 2013 Evora S 2+2. Both manual transmission.

I know the old adage to buy the newest car you can afford and following that logic, buying the Evora, which is practically new from a Lotus dealer, would be the way to go.

However, it probably helps to know what I'm looking for in a car.
I have driven the Evora (and other Lotuses) and the Evora is hands-down the best driving car I ever been in. It felt exactly how I want a car to feel. Never driven the Aston.

My favorite car time period was late '50s - mid '60s - I love the European sporty roadsters and long nose GTs of that era. That's what I would be buying if I can afford to, but I think the Aston provides the more modern equivalent of the GT (I think the 612 Scaglietti is the actual modern re-incarnation of that era, but good luck finding a stick shift and better luck affording one - also, Ferrari does not depreciate as much so even if I opted for the auto/paddle shift Scaglietti, we're talking $20-$25K more than a similar-aged Aston).

For what it's worth, the particular Aston I am eyeballing is a private sale vs. a dealer sold Evora.

The Evora provides great handling, exotic looks, and a punchy, fine-tuned V6 that from all accounts doesn't break down.
The Aston provides more classic/elegant styling, a V12 beast, and sumputuous interior.
Both are hand built British cars and provide a level of exclusivity.

So, I guess the question comes down to practicality of owning and running - comparable build quality ? running costs ?

Do you get more "car" for the money with the Aston, or does the 5-6 year age advantage of the Evora make up for it in safety and tech advancements ?

In the end, the Aston is probably prettier, but the Evora is very good looking as well. Just different.

Another issue - if I forego the manual, my options open up immensely.

Let me know.

thanks

 

A AM DB9 with a 6-speed manual transmission is a RARE car. Very few out there, much less for sale. These are the DB9s that will maintain some value while the automatics drop to the 40's.

Evora: Toyota engine???? Yea, well should be reliable and not cause any problems.

The DB9 is pretty much the competitor to the 612 I think and is a much better car also. Things you will find reading on the DB9s as far as issues are :

1. Shocks leaking or weeping near the tops around the 10yr mark. Replace as needed or desired, but you can get parts at AMBits which helps.
2. Coil packs for the engine. Most DB9s need these replace at least once within the first 10yrs

Nothing more that I am aware of. You can do your own maintenance if you prefer. REDPANTS can provide all the parts you need for that, and there are plenty of DIY blogs showing how to perform the work also. They are fairly simple to work on, and for the most part more reliable than a BMW or Mercedes.


Interior there should be really no issues and continue to be that way. Other than the above, with the AM you should be fine, especially if its a garage car. Most owners on here have ZERO complaints and will say they are more reliable than their DDs.

Hope that helps.

 

Thank you so much.

 

The automatic transmission in the DB9 is pretty nice as well IIRC its your typical ZF 6 speed, not as big an issue as with the vantages with the automanual transmission burning up your clutch

 

Apples and oranges.

Since you've already driven an Evora, drive the Aston. That's going to be the only way to decide what you want. The two cars are drastically different.

Mid-engine V6 in a lightweight sport chassis vs. front-engine V12 in a heavier GT chassis. The DB9 is a foot longer, 700lbs heavier, and has a hundred horsepower more.

 

I think I may be uniquely qualified to give you some information. I owned a 2005 Lotus Elise (ordered new), and a 2011 Evora (ordered new as well)
The Evora can deliver all the driving excitement of the Elise in a more refined practical user friendly package.
I loved both my Elise and Evora. My Evora was not an S, if it was available when I ordered my EVORA I would ordered the S, the more BHP, and torque really make a difference. I owned my Evora for 5 years and around 10,000 miles. It was a fourth car. I did not have many serious problem with it. I replaced the Alpine radio that crapped out with a new Alpine, install the sport exhaust and had a few small parts replaced under warranty.
I would highly recommend the Evora as a lower cost to operate a vehicle.
The caveat is there are less lotus dealers than Aston Martin and sometimes parts are a little harder to get. I also think lotus will have a steeper decline in value.

I am on my second Vantage, my first was a 2007 preowned manual coupe. Purchase from my local Aston Martin dealer. It had 2800 miles on it when I bought it and after two years I had amassed 10,000 miles. I did buy it with the pre-owned warranty for two years. In that time both rear shocks were replaced as well as the door struts and that was it as far as problems.
When I traded the 2007 in on my new 2016 I received roughly $20,000 less then I had paid for the car on trade for my 2016 Vantage GT.
I know that the Aston Martin is a higher maintenance cost vehicle down the road. I certainly would not buy one without a pre-purchased inspection from a dealer.
All that being said I have not driven a DB 9, I can only imagine the V 12 is a great car for long distances. I do think the early comments that they are two very different cars and would require you test driving both to see witch one checks all the boxes for you . As for the newer vehicle having more equipment, the Evora only has front airbags where I believe the 2007 vantage and my new one have side and front airbags .Good luck.
Ron

 

When I lost my new 2007 Vantage at the recession I was pretty much crushed. When I began recovering I was in the market for a used Aston I drove two used DB9's locally here in Minneapolis at the Jag dealer - and literally I thought (a 2006 and a 2007) they both drove awful, almost turned me off Astons! They had not been well taken care of. Then a buddy of mine lent me his 2006 Vantage and it was love all over again. I ended up buying a 2009 with a sportshift and a 2 year extended Aston warranty with 30,000 miles on it - and drive that 12,000 more trouble free miles, and traded up to a 2015 GT which they gave me $50K for in trade (I paid $70K with the 2 year warranty, a $5k added cost). So similar story as Ron Avery. The 15 Vantage is an improvement over the 2009, but only in small details, and the fact I went from a non-S to essentially an S. Had the 2009 been an S, I'd probably not have traded and instead extended the warranty another 2 years.