I’ve been kicking around a 2006 997 c2cS for a while now and enjoying the manual transmission and fun driving experiences.

the car is tired now and I’m looking for a switch. I like the DB9 a lot but I’m concerned about maintenance and things going wrong etc etc. you know the stigma , hand built car and all. My wants are a convertible, sporty and fun factor and a joke of a back seat for those few times I need to take my toddlers around. That’s why a 912 always made sense. DB9 could fit the bill and maybe a Mercedes Cl or s coupe.

I have zero mechanical experience so if anything goes wrong i have to find a repair shop and hope not to get hosed.

Is this a wise trade? Will maintenance be more than a 997? I’ll be looking at an 07-09 db9.

whatya think?

 

Look to get the 09+ DB9 it would be more upgraded bits and interior, most likely more reliable - with Aston there are changes mid-year factory runs so the newer the better. Also see the post below on Bamford Rose clicking problem - seems it was early DB9's, not later. I've had 4 V8 Vantages and 3 V12S vantages - highly reliable, but one (timeless certified) was tracked and they (Aston Martin Corporate) hid that past. That car engine blew up weeks after they (Aston Martin Corporate) replaced it with a non-abused V2S. So the lesson is, past history and ownership is key. On a Vantage, it's more sports car than DB9, so I would suspect a DB9 is less likely to be tracked.

 

I agree the timeless doesn't mean much. There's a car with paint work on the rear bumper for sale under timeless with no mention of the repair from the prior owner at the dealership. The dealership wouldn't answer other questions about the vehicle either.

 

Go drive it and see if you like it.

Looking at my v12, I will attribute all engine wear issues to a very ambitious oil lubrication system (equal to 2 ford duratec v6 s) with a pump that is derived from a 4.6L modular. To compensate they run 0-40 weight. That would be fine but dilution is always an issue and thus as the oil ages it wears.

Changing the oil when it is worn (Blackstone oil testing) is a good way to make sure it is still viable. As is letting the motor actually warm up before moving up the rpm band.

YMMV
Larry

 

I don't own a db9 but a 997 and an Vantage and assume they are similar from an maintenance and reliable standpoint.
The 997 had more "bubus" and required more maintenance than my Aston for the last three years.
I replaced from shifter cables, over engine mounts over to refinish the whole plastic landscape in the Porsche.

I wouldn't want to miss the 997 manual though. I call her the heel toe machine.
Aston manuals have hanging gas pedals what makes it very hard to proper heel toe.

 

If you are new to Aston, drive both a DB9 and Vantage. May change things or reinforce others.

 

If you have a good independent near you then it isn’t bad maintenance wise so that would be first step. If you must have a manual then it will be very tough to find a post 2009 car. If you are flexible on manual/auto try a virage or db9.2, I think you will be amazed about how much car they are for the price.

 

I'm actually coming from a 2006 997 C2S into my current 2006 Vantage with both being manuals. Had the 997 3 years and have the Vantage a little over a year. I like the Vantage a little more than the 997. Performance and handling about the same for street driving though the Vantage slower off the line without mods. Exhaust note and stereo better in the Vantage. I've not driven a DB9. I do most my own maintenance and minor repairs. Both have been reliable though I've had to do a few minor things to the Vantage such as door struts. Harder to find a shop and parts for the Aston and Aston parts are more expensive based on my experience. It also seems to me that the maintenance cost is higher on the Aston though like I said I do my own maintenance. You might want to find something more mainstream unless you like the idea of owning an exotic and don't mind the cost and hassle that COULD come with it. My 2 cents.

 

You should drive both and decide which you prefer. Leaving that aside, Porsche parts and service are clearly less expensive, there's way better aftermarket support, and it's far easier (in my area, Northern VA) to find independents who will work on them. So if maintenance costs are a concern I'd lean hard toward the Porsche.

I like both cars a lot, but if I had to pick one I'd keep the Porsche. They are easier and more rewarding to drive quickly, and much less to worry about, frankly. (For the record, my 997 is a GT3, but I had a 996C2 before that and have driven a lot of 997 and 991s.)

 

Thank you all for the great insights. I’m gonna try and give it a go with a DB9. The prices are really attractive for the pre2009 years. Is it worth a look or should I strictly focus on 2009+? Visually they look the same to me Front he outside and the interior is beautiful to me on both versions.

 

I've just sold my highly modified 996 turbo and swapped into a 2009 DB9. Very pleased with the change. The '9 is plenty quick enough. It is able to do the angry sports car thing very well, but not as well as a 911. The 911 is able to do the long distance powerful cruiser well too, but nowhere near as well as a DB9.

Theres a huge sense of hand built craftsmanship in the DB9 compared to a 911 of any vintage, and the interior is a massive improvement over the mondeo 997 interior or the dated 996 one.

I say do it! I have and haven't regretted it 👍🏻

 

You might not mind the pre 09 cars but be aware it’s not just mechanical changes, the interior materials are also much improved. Go drive both, heck I drove every model and was shocked at which one I liked best.

 

As someone who was dead set on buying a 997 C2S/C4S prior to purchasing my Vantage a couple weeks ago, make sure you do your homework about the 997. People claim it's reliable and inexpensive to maintain but there are a substantial percentage of them that experience increasingly bad bore scoring issues which cannot be resolved without a complete engine rebuild. To do the rebuild correctly, it costs about $18,000-$20,000 and takes months. You're seriously playing russian roulette with the 997 and many of the cars that are for sale already have bore scoring issues which are undiagnosed.

 

There were quite a few reliability improvements to the '09+, if that's what scares you, but you will pay more for the initial purchase. The TPMS system was improved. The Lynn audio and vehicle electronics were improved too, there have been reports of bugs. In a Aston1936 video, Steve mentioned a earlier generational issue with his '06 paint and how it wasn't durable. Most concerning though is the v12 engine tick issue that according to Bamford Rose is only on the 450hp (earlier) engines, not on the 470hp ('09+) engines. Here's their video on how to at least perform a proper test, which would likely even not get noticed in a PPI.
I'm not intending to bag on the earlier DB9s, just reflecting that I see more posts that make me glad I have my '11, but I also paid about 40-50% more for the newer model and 6sp.

 

I sold my 997s and bought a Vantage after and love it.

But now that I have kids, I wish I held out for a DBS manual with rear seats OR a late model DB9 (post 2013).

Are you going for a manual or automatic transmission?