DB9 vs Z4MC

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paulg1979

Member
 Kent
Hi all,

A friend of mine has just bought a DB9. Paid £110,000 for it and in the past few months its been back for repair more days then he has owned it.

Squeeling brakes
Parking sensors stopped working
Wouldn't start when he was out and had to get towed home.
Aston Martin even put swirl marks and holograms in the paintwork after washing it.

Aston Martin said that squeeling brakes are normal on the DB9's and its something you get used to :?

Cut a long story short he took my Z4MC out for a drive today and and was shocked. I think he was wondering where the extra £85,000 had been spent. He said mine did everything that his couldn't do. Responsive, grippy and better brakes.

He said there is one bad thing about buying a Z4MC and that is what do you buy next that even comes close to its performance unless you have ferrari money.

I then took the DB9 out for a drive and I must say I wasn't that impressed. Brakes were awful. Steering felt vague and the power delivery was far too relaxed for my liking. It sounded lovely when wound up but most of the time you had to have the window open to hear the exhausts. I could see too many Ford parts inside too which put me off.

The best thing about today was getting back into my car and thinking I love my Car!!!!! I was a bit concerned that after driving a V12 with so much BHP I'd be pretty depressed getting back in mine but I was pleasantly surprised :D
 
I did something similar, but i had a 911 and i compared it to my mates 360. Was really glad to jump back in the porker. The ferrari was a shed :D
 
paulg1979 said:
He said there is one bad thing about buying a Z4MC and that is what do you buy next that even comes close to its performance unless you have ferrari money.
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Pretty much my feelings well.... :thumbsup:
 
paulg1979 said:
He said there is one bad thing about buying a Z4MC and that is what do you buy next that even comes close to its performance unless you have ferrari money.
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That can be a good thing, for many it may turn out to be a keeper for that same reason, saving money in the process (changing cars often results in wasted £££££).

Interesting experience :thumbsup:
 
When I was in between Z4MR's, I went to look at a local Porsche guy who had a few 997 cabs out. Sure, your radio front is covered in leather, but I couldn't tell that a 991 carrera droptop is worth two Z4M's and a small family car... I still believe a 911 is a very good car, but its prices go beyond what I feel willing to pay for transportation, even when they would not lose their values as a M6. In fact, I would prefer an M6 just because I can get it at a lower price.
 
I have to disagree. My boss has had 2 DB9's over the past 4 years and I've spent a lot of time driving them. A DB9 isn't about driving as fast as you can round a corner. It isn't about getting from A to B as fast as you can. I'm sure the Z4MC would beat it round a track but who cares?! IMO, the DB9 is one of the most beautiful cars on the road, it's about cruising in luxury and listening to that glorious engine.

If I had the money, an Aston is what I'd buy. I wouldn't care if the same money could get me a faster Ferrari and I wouldn't care if it breaks down more than a Porsche.
 
i would be very disappointed if I spent £120k on a DB9 and it started breaking down/bits not working. The more you pay the greater you're expectations.

Even so I would love an Aston and would buy one if I could. As Mikey says, you don't buy it as a track/twisties car you buy it for the looks, style,cruising and noise!
 
sammyz said:
i would be very disappointed if I spent £120k on a DB9 and it started breaking down/bits not working. The more you pay the greater you're expectations.
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Heh! Best you stay away from Astons then. :rofl:
 
I must say I wasn't really keen on the look either. Don't get me its a nice looking car but I think the smaller Vantage looks so much nicer.

UPDATE: Has now got the car back with rear bumper damage. Apparently when it went in for repair someone had reversed it into something due to faulty parking sensors and needs to be booked in for a respray :roll:
 
paulg1979 said:
UPDATE: Has now got the car back with rear bumper damage. Apparently when it went in for repair someone had reversed it into something due to faulty parking sensors and needs to be booked in for a respray :roll:
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Sorry, but I am pissing myself laughing here.

As an aside, is he taking it to a dealer or to the Works for repair? Because taking it to Newport Pagnell is much better than taking it to a dealer for a service. :wink:
 
paulg1979 said:
UPDATE: Has now got the car back with rear bumper damage. Apparently when it went in for repair someone had reversed it into something due to faulty parking sensors and needs to be booked in for a respray :roll:
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What I find really amazing is you all actually TRUST the parking sensors not to allow you to damage your $100,000 car... They are a guide, not the end all be all. NOW that's funny.... :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
 
3 years ago I had several cars & decided to buy an AM V8. I took a test drive fro the Long Stratton Motor Co. in Norfolk/Suffolk. My opinion was that it was a heavy beast & only suited to Autobahns. - Not English country roads....
 
And there's the problem with cars in that range nowadays... A V8 Vantage is a beautiful car, but you just *know* that a 911 or M6 might not look as original or hot, but will be able to give you more pleasure...
 
wooter said:
And there's the problem with cars in that range nowadays... A V8 Vantage is a beautiful car, but you just *know* that a 911 or M6 might not look as original or hot, but will be able to give you more pleasure...
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May give YOU more pleasure. There are some people who would just prefer an Aston.

Like me.

and my boss.
 
Usually when talking about 100-150k+ (i'm thinking in GBP) sports cars other factors other than outright ability come into play.. The badge and its perceived effects on your social status being one of the most important but then again there are those for who charisma, looks and dare i say even soul play a much more significant part than top speeds or laptimes or what have you.

For example if i had the cash i would not hesitate one second in buying a shiny red Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Do Ferraris or Lamborghinis perform better for less? Yes they do. Do they sound just as good? They probably do but I'll end up with a car that looks drop dead gorgeous, sounds so good that you cant help but giggle like an idiot every time you brush the petal and just oozes with character. Is it terribly overpriced for what you get? Yes maybe it is but then again i can afford it so who cares. :)
 
ga41 said:
Usually when talking about 100-150k+ (i'm thinking in GBP) sports cars other factors other than outright ability come into play.. The badge and its perceived effects on your social status being one of the most important but then again there are those for who charisma, looks and dare i say even soul play a much more significant part than top speeds or laptimes or what have you.

For example if i had the cash i would not hesitate one second in buying a shiny red Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Do Ferraris or Lamborghinis perform better for less? Yes they do. Do they sound just as good? They probably do but I'll end up with a car that looks drop dead gorgeous, sounds so good that you cant help but giggle like an idiot every time you brush the petal and just oozes with character. Is it terribly overpriced for what you get? Yes maybe it is but then again i can afford it so who cares. :)
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:thumbsup:

Well said that man!
 
paulg1979 said:
Steering felt vague and the power delivery was far too relaxed for my liking.
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Have you tried the V8 Vantage? A much better car IMO. The DB9 is more of a GT, the Vantage is a half way house between a DB9 and a Z4M. The V8 sounds like god shouting, it's more comfortable and more relaxing when you aren't in the mood and it's plenty quick / sharp enough when you are...it's also looks like that. A used one was very good value a while back, though prices are back up again....not sure I'd part with £80k for one, but I tried a used one back to back with a C2S and preferred the Aston. The 911 was brilliant - 1/4 of the price for servicing and better MPG, a back seat, great to drive, holds its value - but it just wasn't the Aston, which despite it's flaws is fabulous.

The Z4Ms downside is it's pretty hard going when you aren't in the mood - that clutch in heavy London traffic can be annoying, the steering, the general drive-me-as-hard-as-you-can-everywhere-please-please-please feel of the thing (which is also what we love about them). It's all worth it when you open it up on a country road, but refined GT car? Not really. The Vantage is better at that, but then it should be for the money
 
I just spent the last 20 minutes trying to convince my boss to go for a V12 Vantage next year. The seed has been sewn, now to wait a few months and pray it's in black!
 
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