Item: Used Aston Martin DB9 2004 - 2012
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Coupe

Yes, Aston Martin is the preferred manufacturer of a certain (not so) secret agent, but its latest cars offer a lot more than the chance to indulge your Bond fantasies.

The DB11 grand tourer, for example, won its price point at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards, thanks to its beautifully crafted interior and the fact that it’s both fun in the corners and a convincing long-distance cruiser. Meanwhile, the latest Vantage is Aston Martin’s best sports car to date.

The modern Aston Martin isn’t afraid to move with the times, either, with a luxury SUV part of its future model plans.

ASTON MARTIN

It looks fabulous and sounds fantastic, but the Aston Martin DB9 is disappointing to drive.

Used Aston Martin DB9 2004 - 2012

The UK only received about 360 new DB9s a year, so prices for used cars are likely to remain high. Naturally, the car will be costly to run; service intervals are every 7500 miles and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/aston-martin">Aston Martin</a> dealers have a reputation for handing out large bills.

The official fuel consumption figure is 17.1mpg. However if you're very gentle with the throttle, or spend all your time crawling around town, you could see high teens.

If you live in a built-up area or don't have a squeaky-clean no claims bonus, you can expect your insurance premium to rise to a four-figure sum.

If you plan to drive a DB9 as it was intended, you'll need to replace the tyres on a regular basis. Main dealers are expensive, so the best bet could be an independent specialist.

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It looks fabulous and sounds fantastic, but the Aston Martin DB9 is disappointing to drive.


The DB9 only comes in one flavour – V12 – so your choice is limited to the various optional extras fitted when the car was new. There are 20 colours of paint, 20 hues of leather and eight shades of carpet to select from. However, in other respects, the car isn't as fully equipped as some which cost just two-thirds of its price.

The DB9 is available with either a manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. The latter also functions as a paddle-shift manual, but not very well.

DB9s are exclusive cars, so the best used examples tend to be with dealers, although independent garages can be a source of slightly cheaper cars. When it comes to alternatives, you could go the Italian supercar route, but that's likely to cost even more. The sensible <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> may feel sterile by comparison, although it will be cheaper and much better to drive.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.

For a blend of&nbsp;rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for,&nbsp;the Audi TT is a brilliant option. But the Mercedes CLA offers plenty of style and substance to match, while the Aston Martin DB11 will give you serious performance.

The Aston Martin DB9 does have some reliability issues. Most of them tend to be about general build quality, but the fancy Linn stereo has also caused the odd problem, with some units malfunctioning and then needing replacement. In addition, there have been cases of other electrical gremlins, such as faulty tyre pressure gauges.

The V12 engine is tried and tested, although there are stories of the engine management light coming on for no apparent reason. There have also been engine and gearbox failures, although these appear to be rare. Clutch problems have also been noted. Many owners complain about the fit and finish of the interior, with numerous squeaks and rattles developing.

The DB9's nose is prone to stone chipping, which if not properly repaired can lead to corrosion. Accident damage is expensive because many body panels are made from specialised materials.

The Connolly leather interior may be very soft, but it needs regular conditioning to stay at its best. A car that has been poorly maintained will look tired. The air-con is also suspect, and can be expensive to fix, so make sure it works on any car you want to buy.

Check that the service history is complete, and that recall work on the parking brake has been done. If buying from a main dealer, you should expect the car to be faultless.

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Replacing the pretty DB7 was always going to be hard, but it could be argued that the Aston Martin DB9 is even more striking. An all-new car, with the exception of the V12 engine, it produces 450bhp, giving 0-60mph in 4.8sec.

Inside, you'll find a mostly bespoke interior, which does away with the old <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ford">Ford</a>-sourced switches. Everything feels modern and dynamic; the dashboard is matt wood and aluminium, while the rest of the cabin is leather and carpet.

The DB9 is at its best on flat, smooth A-roads, where it is composed and grippy. It becomes unruly on anything bumpier, and the ride is on the sharp side of firm, even on the motorway.

The rear seats are okay for children on very short runs, but realistically there's no usable space in the back, so this is essentially a two-seater. The boot is also very small and the 200-mile range of the fuel tank may frustrate you.

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Used Aston Martin DB9 2004 - 2012 review

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Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Aston Martin DB9 coupe?