The Aston Martin DB9 was unveiled just as the, at that time ancient, DB7 went out of production. Compared to the DB7, the DB9 is a thoroughly new car with little to now parts sharing with other brands, and most importantly, with a bespoke chassis. A year after the DB coupe was introduced, the soft top convertible DB9 Volante was introduced which looked every bit as good as the coupe. Even today, the DB9 is regarded as one of the most beautiful cars of the 21st century, and most importantly, even better looking than the outgoing DB7. The model was so successful that it remained in production for 12 years with numerous updates being introduced as well as facelifts. The DB9 Volante horsepower also saw two significant increases compared to the initial model, while the six speed manual transmission remained an option until 2013. However, the DB9 Volante price also increased over the years and the difference is still noticeable on the used market. Now, before we take this DB9 Volante review further, check out the ones currently available at Exotic Car Trader if you are looking to buy one.
The DB name on Aston Martins can be traced back to 1948 where DB stands for David Brown, Aston Martin’s new owner at the time. And over the years, the DB name graced only the most beautiful and bespoke Aston Martin models. The only exception was the DB9’s predecessor which was essentially assembled from ten different cars, but nevertheless, it was still gorgeous. But that’s the reason the DB9 is so special as it’s the first Aston Martin after the DB7 to have an Aston Martin developed chassis with extensive use of aluminum making it much lighter and more rigid than the DB7. The DB9 was an instant hit and over the years saw many improvements such as the one in 2007 which includes a slight facelift and the top speed limiter removal for the DB9 Volante. In 2013 a thorough facelift was underway which included a redesigned face, interior and a revised chassis to name just a few improvements. And with a twelve year production run, you are probably wondering how many DB9 Volantes were produced and the answer is 6,380 of which 237 had a manual transmission. As to where was the DB9 Volante made, the answer is Gaydon, like all models before and after it. And now, let’s take this Aston Martin DB9 review to the fun part, performance.
The DB9 Volante being a convertible meant it was always a tad slower than the coupe thanks to the decreased chassis rigidity caused by the missing roof and the extra weight. Nevertheless, the DB9 Volante horsepower rated at 450 was more than sufficient to make it fun. In 2009 it also got a bump to 477 horsepower and in 2013 to 510. That said, DB9 Volante weight was sitting at 4,150 lbs, just 200 more than the coupe. Furthermore, the DB9 Volante top speed was limited to only 165 mph because the soft top couldn’t handle anything more, but in 2007 the limiter was removed and the top speed increased to 186 mph. The DB9 Volante 0-60 time was also respectable at 4.9 seconds for the early models, 4.6 for the 2009, and 4.2 after 2013. Also, the 2007 model got an 8 millimeter lower ride height and with every facelift there were further suspension and chassis improvements.
The DB9 Volante interior didn’t change as much as the rest of the car over years, given how nice it looks and feels, that might just be a good thing. One of the highlights of the interior is the machined metal gauge cluster with the rev counter needle moving the opposite way which is now signature Aston Martin. The center console is finished in wood and leather with shifter buttons sitting on top in the automatic examples together with the key slot. The three spoke steering wheel remained the same over the years while the seats got a redesign in 2009 and in 2013 receiving a sportier stitching pattern. And the DB9 being a luxury vehicle, the seats were electric. The early models got an interesting navigation system with a screen that folded open on top of the dashboard, and it became standard on all models in 2007. And while the DB9 Volante design may not look that exciting from the passenger’s perspective, although it certainly looks expensive, it does look exciting to the driver with a 220 mph cluster in front of him, and a polished metal shifter next to him in the manual models.
While most convertibles look somewhat awkward with the roof up, the DB9 Volante exterior loses nothing to its coupe counterpart. The fabric roof is just as streamlined as the hard top, ultimately giving the DB9 Volante even more character. And with the roof down, it looks nothing short of spectacular, not to mention timeless just like the DB5. The front grille retains the classic Aston Martin shape while the bumper features three intakes that are sporty, but not enough to draw too much attention. The rear is arguably even more beautiful with its C shaped tail lights and two small exhausts protruding from the bumper. And while the post 2013 DB9 Volante design became somewhat more aggressive, it was also much more modern with LED headlights, a redesigned front bumper and a more aggressive diffuser. Both designs have their own customers with the older DB9s having a more timeless look, classic look, while the newer ones go hand in hand with modern car design trends.
The DB9 Volante technology was never at the forefront of automotive development. That’s not to say it was missing something, but rather it perfected the already existing technologies. The DB9 did get a very advanced six speed Touchtronic automatic transmission, but as the 2010s turned around and double clutch transmissions with more than six gears arrived, the Touchtronic already seemed outdated. The same goes for the navigation system which is pretty much useless today. Even the facelift 2013 LED headlights don’t look that exciting. But at the end of the day, the naturally aspirated V12 and stunning looks is all that matters today.
When the DB9 Volante first came out it had an MSRP of $166,000 while the post 2013 facelift models started at $203,000. And while the price difference is much smaller today, it’s definitely noticeable. So, how much is a DB9 Volante worth today? Early examples go for between $25,000 and $40,000 while the facelift models go for between $50,000 and $80,000. The difference in age and looks is significant so the price difference isn’t surprising. Unfortunately, manual transmission models don’t come up for sale that often so as much as we would like to know how much they are worth, we can’t say for sure. That said, if you are looking for an Aston Martin DB9 Volante for sale, Exotic Car Trader always has a few examples on offer and chances are you will like at least one of them.
To conclude this Aston Martin DB9 Volante review, the best we can say is that for the price, you will hardly find a more unique automotive experience. The DB9 is truly the last of its kind and we can only hope that the examples existing today survive and help keep the prices low as they are now. Since now is the time to get one, Exotic Car Trader can help you make the safest and most convenient purchase possible. With escrow protection, delivery and first inspection just to name a few conveniences, buying a luxury car through Exotic Car Trader is one of the best options out there. Selling a car with Exotic Car Trader is made even more convenient as you don’t have to worry about photos or uploading them to our website. It's actually just as convenient as dropping the roof on a DB9 Volante and going for a nice Sunday drive while listening to the song of its V12 engine.
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