DB9 Volante

ell_d · #1 06-14-2004, 05:59 PM

I went to the british motor show a couple of weeks ago and was stunned when I saw the jaw wrenchingly beutiful DB9 Volante. I was talking to one of the guys who took me into a section of the stand behind the public part, where he showed me the DB9 in a little more detail.
As my wife's XKR cabrio is due for replacement, and I knew that she liked the DB7 Volante, I decided to order her one for her 60th birthday, as chances are, she would find it as stunning as I did.
I'm not too sure of the release date in the US, but has anyone got any experiance of this car, or any thoughts on it?
I'm pretty convinced that it is one of the best looking cars around, but I'd like to hear other peoples oppinions on it...

MITSU-EVO · #2 06-15-2004, 05:00 AM

How did you place the order? Online or during the auto show?Or to one of the dealers?

IceT · #3 06-27-2004, 06:29 AM

I'm not very impressed with the build quality. The Bentley Continental GT is a lot better.

MITSU-EVO · #4 07-08-2004, 09:58 AM

I disagree, so does the CAR magazine!

IceT · #5 07-09-2004, 01:51 AM

I've been test driving both cars. Although I don't like the fake Breitling and VW Phaeton's nav/audio from the Conti GT, the overall impression is better than the DB9's.
What I don't like about the DB9 are the flimsy sunvisors, the navigation knob that came off during the test drive and navigation is hard to operate.
I wonder if the pop-up nav screen is durable enough, I've heard that in many post production cars it doesn't work any more.

Did you drive both cars?

atticusfinch · #6 07-09-2004, 09:44 PM

Too bad the Continental GT is so incredibly uninteresting to look at and by some reviewers accounts, quite boring to drive.

Quality issues with the DB9 is unfortunate to hear about. Hopefully the issues will be dealt with quickly but when you pay over $100,000 for a car one would expect the problems to be ironed out beforehand.

MITSU-EVO · #7 07-10-2004, 02:48 AM

I honestly don't think the DB9 has quality issues, at least not as far as had heard from Top Gear, 5TH GEAR, or even read from magazines such as the Road& Track, Motor Trend, and the Car and Driver.

Just out of curiosity, what is the problem with it anyway?

atticusfinch · #8 07-10-2004, 09:28 AM

IceTs post is the first time I have heard of quality issues with the DB9.

The DB9 has received some of the best reviews I have ever read for an automobile. I don't think I have ever read a single negative commment.

IceT · #9 07-10-2004, 11:19 AM

Atticusfinch: I'm not interested in the Bentley anymore, but I don't think it's boring to drive, just put on the massaging seat

Read this topic also: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=212590

Mitsu-Evo: I regret that you totally missed my point. I have been test driving the DB9. What I said was my opnion, not the magazine's.
Apparently you missed some latest magazines' reviews, like Autocar and Car where there was criticism about the heavy steering, lack of feel in brake pedal, ride quality on rough surfaces. Also about the plastic heater controls, which I was complaining about.
Other than that the above criticism is a bit too harsh IMHO.
If you compare the heater and nav controls with the Bentley's then you will get my point. Not that the Bentley is perfect, see the link to the topic above from a Conti GT owner.
About the sunvisors, the finish of them look very cheap IMHO, no cover for the mirror.

atticusfinch · #10 07-10-2004, 11:34 AM

IceT: An interesting read about the driving impressions of the Bentley (and your experience with the dealer).

It's amazing how small things like cheap sunvisors can play such a big part in how a car is perceived. It makes you look at everything differently when you see one cheap product and you begin to question the quality of everything else.

IceT · #11 07-11-2004, 02:39 AM

My expectations were high because of all the reviews. When I finally can take a test drive, I was a bit disappointed.

MITSU-EVO · #12 07-11-2004, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceT

Atticusfinch: I'm not interested in the Bentley anymore, but I don't think it's boring to drive, just put on the massaging seat

Read this topic also: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=212590

Mitsu-Evo: I regret that you totally missed my point. I have been test driving the DB9. What I said was my opnion, not the magazine's.
Apparently you missed some latest magazines' reviews, like Autocar and Car where there was criticism about the heavy steering, lack of feel in brake pedal, ride quality on rough surfaces. Also about the plastic heater controls, which I was complaining about.
Other than that the above criticism is a bit too harsh IMHO.
If you compare the heater and nav controls with the Bentley's then you will get my point. Not that the Bentley is perfect, see the link to the topic above from a Conti GT owner.
About the sunvisors, the finish of them look very cheap IMHO, no cover for the mirror.

My bvad, I get your point. I thought you had tried to say that it is a bad car overall and that is what I had disagreed... It's all cool now.

P.S. I think the DB9 is a better car than the Continental GT; but that's just my opinion, you certainly do not have to agree.

IceT · #13 07-12-2004, 01:41 AM

The DB9 is certainly a better car, just some materials are not made of the quality you'd expect from a car like this.

MITSU-EVO · #14 07-12-2004, 03:07 PM

IceT: Just out of curiosity, how is it compared to a Ferrari 360 Modena?

IceT · #15 07-12-2004, 04:17 PM

The 360 is a car that wants to be driven hard the whole time. The DB9 is a car that you can drive in a relax way with a lot of comfort. But should you need it it can be a real sportscar. DB9's engine sound is a lot better, the V12 simply sounds amazing. The F1 transmission from the 360 isn't as refined in shifting comparing with the DB9. I know it's a different kind of gearbox but I prefer the DB9's.

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