Item: Used Aston Martin DB9 Volante 2004 -2012
Author: Steve Huntingford

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<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The modern Aston Martin isn’t afraid to move with the times, either, with a luxury SUV part of its future model plans.</p>


ASTON MARTIN

<p>It looks fabulous and sounds fantastic, but the Aston Martin DB9 Volante is disappointing to drive.</p>


Used Aston Martin DB9 Volante 2004 -2012

<p>Only about 360 DB9 Volantes are sold in the UK every year, so prices for used cars are likely to remain high. Any <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/aston-martin">Aston Martin</a> is going be costly to run if you do it properly, and failing to do so will hurt your wallet when it's time to sell. Service intervals are every 7500 miles.</p>

<p>The official fuel consumption figure is 17.1mpg, but conservative driving could put this into the high teens. You may find the 200-mile range of the 85-litre tank annoying. With the car in insurance group 20, your premiums are likely to be in four figures.</p>

<p>The DB9 shouldn't be as expensive as some supercars to run, but your bills will be lower if you go for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/sports/review/n17167">Porsche 911 Cabriolet</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/6-series/sports/review/n17313">BMW 6 Series Convertible</a>. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/xk/sports/used-review/n407">Jaguar XKR Convertible</a> is another serious alternative, but although it will be cheaper to buy and run, it doesn't offer as much panache.</p>

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It looks fabulous and sounds fantastic, but the Aston Martin DB9 Volante is disappointing to drive.

<p>There was only one engine option, but buyers could choose between a six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic with manual override. The latter swaps ratios smoothly, but feels a little slow when you want full speed ahead.</p>

<p>As you would expect with a car that originally cost more than £115,000, climate control, powered seats, sat-nav and a high-end stereo are all fitted as standard. However, this still leaves the DB9 missing some luxury kit that cheaper rivals, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/convertible/used-review/n17391">Mercedes SL55 AMG</a>, always include.</p>

<p>Aston Martin was keen for original owners to customise their cars, and there was an impressive selection of paint, leather and carpet options to chose between when ordering. There were also lots of upgrade kits to further enhance the car.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> <p>Practicality is not essential but nice to have</p> </li></ul>

<p>Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.</p>

<p>The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.</p>

<p>The Aston Martin DB9 Volante 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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

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<p>The Italians aren't the only ones who can make fabulous-sounding 12-cylinder engines. The 450bhp V12 in the Aston Martin DB9 Volante has a note that is as good as any, and with the roof down there's less to separate you from the this.</p>

<p>On smooth, fast roads, the Volante feels composed and grippy, but it begins to be a bit fidgety over more varied surfaces. Although the ride is more forgiving than the coupe's, bumps and broken surfaces can cause shudders through the steering wheel. The 19in wheels kick up road noise and wind buffeting is a problem.</p>

<p>The Volante retains the back seats of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/db9/coupe/used-review/n219">hard-top DB9</a>, but don't go thinking these can comfortably accommodate people. With a couple of average-sized adults up front, rear legroom is virtually non-existent. You're better off using the space for any luggage that the smallish boot can't swallow.</p>

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Used Aston Martin DB9 Volante 2004 -2012 review

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