Aston Martin DB9 Review & Buyers Guide (2004-2016)

The Aston Martin DB9 thrust the British brand into the mid-2000s with a bang. Drop-dead gorgeous with a V12 soundtrack to match, the DB9 might be the perfect example of a classic car in the making.

• The DB9 was Aston Martin’s replacement for the big-selling DB7
• It used the same ‘VH’ aluminium-and-carbon chassis as the more expensive Vanquish
• 16,500 DB9s were made, making it one of the most popular Astons of all time
• It used a 6.0-litre V12 engine, originally with 450hp
• The DB9 is 4.7 metres long, 2.0 metres wide, and weighs 1,785kg

The Aston Martin DB9 could, rightly, be thought of as the first proper modern Aston Martin. Previously, Aston had been relying on either aged technology — the Virage-based cars from the 1980s through to the late 1990s — or cast-off Jaguar parts — the hugely successful DB7 was, whisper it, basically an XJS under the skin.

The DB9, though, was truly modern. OK, so technically the V12 engine was developed out of the Ford Mondeo’s V6 engine (Ford owned Aston Martin at the time of the DB9’s development) although it’s not quite right to say that it was two Mondeo engines bolted together.

The versatile and strong ‘VH’ chassis — made up of extruded aluminium panels, held together by incredibly strong aerospace-level adhesive with bolts as backup, and carbon-fibre sections for extra strength — had been tried out on the 2002 Vanquish, but was further refined for the DB9. Equally, the Vanquish’s troublesome robotised-manual paddle-shift gearbox was, for the DB9, replaced by a more reliable, easier to use six-speed ZF automatic (although there was a rare six-speed Graziano manual ‘box too).

The DB9 was put through more than one million miles of development tests, overseen by Dr Ulrich Bez, the man who engineered the famous 993 version of the Porsche 911, and recruited by Ford to run Aston Martin. The result was one of the most solidly built, reliable, and usable Aston Martins ever. It would stay in production for a dozen years, bring Aston Martin back to Le Mans, and spin off all number of variants and other models.

A bona-fide modern classic, then? Absolutely.

Is the Aston Martin DB9 a good car?

Pros

• Looks to die for
• Screaming V12 engine
• Solid build quality

Cons

• Some corrosion problems
• Cheap bits in the cabin
• Expensive repairs

The DB9 still looks modern. For a car designed in the early 2000s, that’s a neat trick now that we’re a quarter way through the century, but whether it’s the fact that the DB9’s lines are themselves almost perfect, or the fact that Aston Martin hasn’t dramatically changed things with the subsequent DB11 and DB12 is maybe up for debate. Either way, the DB9 still looks great today, and on a private plate many would confuse it — especially the post-2012 updated cars — for a modern machine.

The V12 engine might have Ford model codes for its components, but that doesn’t stop it being a proper thoroughbred. Starting out at 450hp when DB9 production began in 2004, it would finish in 2014 with 510hp, and still with no turbo in sight. In between it would power Aston Martin’s winning return to the Le Mans 24hrs, and also was found in such DB9 spinoffs as the 2012 Vanquish (effectively an up-gunned DB9 with more muscular styling and 550hp) and the smaller V12 Vantage. It’s also one of the best-sounding engines. Ever.

There was a Volante convertible version, introduced in 2005, which was a little heavier than the coupe, but which proved how strong the basic DB9’s construction was. Aston Martin also created several special edition models over the years, including the sharper GT model, with a 540hp V12; the LM, which celebrated the DBR9 racing version’s win in the GT category of Le Mans; and towards the end of production limited-edition models from 2012 onwards, which are especially desirable if you can find one with the rare six-speed manual gearbox, made by the Italian company, Graziano.

All DB9 models are, at the very least, good to drive although as with the classic 1960s DB cars, the 9 is more of a fast grand tourer rather than an out and out sports car. If you need something that darts about on a British B-road, go and buy the smaller, lighter V12 Vantage. If you want something to drive from London to Rome in one day, get the DB9. The gearbox isn’t the fastest-responding thing, and space inside isn’t the greatest (no human could possibly fit in the seats in the back) but the DB9 is so gorgeous, and so good to drive, that you probably won’t even notice.

What to look out for

Oddly, given that the DB9’s body and chassis are both made of aluminium, corrosion can be a problem although it’s generally limited to the edges of body panels — around the bottoms of the doors, the edge of the boot, and the wheelarches — rather than in structural areas. The panels are bonded to the body, so they need specialist care if you need to replace or repair anything, which drives up the running costs for the DB9 significantly.

The DB9’s cabin is fairly hard wearing, but you can play a lengthy game of Spot The Ford Or Volvo Button as you look around, and some of the fixtures are just really not becoming of an expensive Aston Martin. The sat-nav, derived from Volvo, is legendarily clueless and awkward to use. Beware of excessive wear and tear to trim, especially on the seats, and make sure that all of the electrical bits, such as the seat adjusters, are working properly.
Early DB9s used a Linn hi-fi system which was notoriously flakey, but later models received a much better Alpine system, which is a recommended re-fit for older cars.

The V12 engine itself, and the six-speed automatic gearbox, are actually very robust and reliable, but beware of electrical and electronic faults. The rare six-speed manual is desirable, but good luck getting the clutch to last longer than 25,000 miles. Engine coil packs can also be problematic, and nothing is cheap to fix.

The suspension is also pretty tough, but check for uneven tyre wear which may indicate a damaged control arm. Rear tyres wear out with staggering regularity, even if everything is right with the suspension.

It’s worth remembering that DB9 values are about as low now as they’ll ever be, so there are plenty of cars around which have been snapped up cheap, and run on the cheap. Don’t buy one of those, whatever you do…

What is the best one to buy?

Generally speaking, the best DB9 to buy will be a late-model 2012 car, one that’s had the redesign led by Marek Recihmann, still head of Aston Martin design at the time of writing. These cars have sharper-looking lights front and rear and a slimmer grille, so look a little more modern than the early cars. While a six-speed manual is desirable from a collector’s point of view, if you’re intending to drive your DB9 regularly, you’re better off with the robust six-speed automatic. GT versions look a little sharper than standard, but if you’re going down that road you may be better off with the 2006 DBS or the 2012 Vanquish, both of which can be considered a ‘DB9 Plus’.

Again, be aware — and beware — that DB9s have become relatively affordable over the years, and that means many will have been owned and driven by people who can’t really afford Aston Martin running costs, and so have skimped on maintenance. The DB9’s inbuilt robustness allows for a bit of this, but inevitably there are limits.

From an investment point of view, the limited-run LM models probably present the best choice, but for actual driving and ownership, just buy the best DB9 you can find, preferably one with a full Aston Martin service history and sold by a marque specialist.

Of course, if the DB9 itself isn’t quite perfect for you, then there are all manner of spinoffs using the same basic chassis and engine, from the smaller Vantage coupe to the four-door Rapide, to the more aggressive DBS and Vanquish.

Aston Martin DB9 price guide

It is possible to pick up a DB9 in reasonable condition for as little as £25,000 if you shop around. However, this is at the riskier end of the market — expect lots of holes in the service history and problems which will need sorting out. You’re much better off paying between £40,000-45,000 for a well-cared-for DB9, although the very best ones, with full Aston service histories and few owners, could easily stretch to £60,000. You’ll pay around a £5,000 premium for a convertible Volante or similar for an LM.

Budget around £2,000 for servicing each year, including an oil change, but any replacement parts you’ll need will be very expensive, and you can’t skimp on the expert care if you want to keep the DB9 in good fettle. It’s also hugely thirsty — 15mpg on a good day.

History of the Aston Martin DB9

• 2004. DB9 goes on sale in Coupe form
• 2005. Volante convertible introduced
• 2006. DBS and four-door Rapide spinoffs introduced
• 2007. Racing DBR9 wins GT category at Le Mans 24hrs. Aston introduces limited-run LM version for sale. Only 124 are made
• 2008. Minor styling tweaks (door mirrors and grille) and power boosted to 470hp with improved gearbox electronics
• 2010. Significant styling changes to lights front and rear, and grille. B&O stereo upgrade offered
• 2012. Final changes, including Virage-style lights, introduced. Power increased to 510hp with an optional GT version. Hardcore Vanquish spinoff, with 550hp, introduced
• 2014. DB9 production ends, replaced by DB11

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