997 C2S or ... DB9 (I'm sure it's been asked before, but...)

911DG · 11 May 2017

Hi guys

12 year long 911 owner and now in the market for another. As per my signature I've had a 993 and 2x 996s and loved them all. All daily drives. Been a while since I've been on the boards here.

Now I'm in the market for a 2008 997 Cab, or a 2006/7 DB9 cab. They won't be daily drives any more due to commuting via train but I'm very very keen to get your thoughts. I known they are very different cars but what I'm interested in are running costs, reliability, fun and general Love! I love my cars and I love my 911s but I am keen to try something new IF it makes sense. The Only other consideration is the DB9 (I need 3 seats occasionally)

ALL Thoughts / comments are very Appreciated.

Cheers

Dan

mzmini · 11 May 2017

I think Phil997 will be along with a point of view soon :floor: he had an AM DB9 :thumb:

Phil 997 · 11 May 2017

:grin: Thanks Chris, :thumb:
Dan, I had a DB9 for 4 years , they are not as much fun to drive as the 911. less focused and more of a big GT car, Whereas the porsche cost about the same to run service and maintain as pretty much any other German marque the AML is ridiculously expensive for parts , you end up having to take it to main dealer as no one else really wants to touch them. they are not as reliable as the porsche and mine was always going in for this light on or this warning message coming on. the last straw was when they said I needed new brakes , "disks and pads " I said "no just pads they said " oh good I though and asked how much "£1480" they said , FFS I though :x

anyway after searching around I ended up driving a 200 mile round trip to get the brakes done else where and paid £850 which was still a stupid cost for 4 pads. So as you can probably tell I was not very impressed with the DB9 other than it looks lovely.
the 911 is a better car in pretty much every way and if James Bond had been German he wouldnt have needed "M" so much :floor: :floor:

Osh · 12 May 2017

Morning Dan

I'm with Phil.

Two of the guys I used to work for - one had a DB9 the other a 911 Turbo Cab, and they both lived in Dublin. I was over the once and the guy with the DB9 ran me back to the airport - on the way I commented on how much I liked his car and he just grunted and said he'd never have another and complained that, in the 18 months he'd had it, it had been back to the shop 18 times and had cost a small fortune. In comparison he said the Porsche had never, ever had to go back to have anything fixed and had only been in for routine service work.

He said the answer was simple - always buy the Porsche if you want a top-end car.

Osh

MisterCorn · 12 May 2017

Reliability does seem more hit-and-miss on the AM than on the Porsche. I know of people who have owned them for many years with no problems, and people who have had no end of problems and sold them on. That aside, I would largely agree with what Phil says. The DB9 looks great, sounds superb and is a very good GT car. The 911 is more of a sports car. For me it would come down to whether you want a GT or a sports car, you are really comparing apples with oranges. The general servicing costs for the AM are not too crazy, I would expect they are broadly similar to the 911. The engines are generally bulletproof on the DB9 though, so you don't have the kind of concerns you have with the pre-DFI 997 engines. Manuals are more sought after on the DB9 but are very rare as the vast majority of owners went for the more expensive automatic version when the car was new.

MC

cheshire911 · 12 May 2017

I've blown hot and cold on buying a DB9 as a stablemate for the 996 Turbo.
Haven't ruled it out. But as MC states, its more of a Grand Tourer rather than a sports car. Obviously he owns both so can give some valuable input.

However, I'd also suggest that you get in touch with other fora for AM Owners and also do a little digging around and post an enquiry in the AM Section on Piston Heads. I know of one DB9 owner in my locality who now has a 997 GTS. His experience is completely the opposite of some views posted here - three years of complete trouble-free motoring and when I asked him about the horror stories and posts I've read from Porsche owners his reply?

"Like with a Porsche, get a good 'un from the outset otherwise Porsche can be very unreliable if you don't get a good 'un from the outset with full service history"

Appreciate that the number of these cars are probably lower than Porsche's and thus this limits the number of indy specialists. Bear in mind also that taking an AM outside of main dealer servicing can impact on future resale (as told to me by one specialist selling a DB9 I went to look at).

You'll probably hear horror stories about the auto box clunk and click and neck snapping gearbox shifts!

911DG · 13 May 2017

WOW some really really great answers thanks guys. I am so torn - my gut tells me to play it safe and go with what I know - 911. I've never had 997 and I'd get the S so it's going to make my old trusty 996 look like a Volvo prerformance and handling wise probably, so it will be like getting a totally new and different car.

The DB9 does look incredible and it is an Aston - probably the coolest brand on the planet. The 6l v12 is also appealing - it sounds incredible.

I've driven an Vantage and enjoyed it but but not a DB9 yet so that's the next step.

I've had 911s for 12 years and never used a main dealer for a service as the costs horrify me so if I need to take the Aston to a main dealer every time it needs some work - that frightens me!!! I'm a big fan of a good Indy.

Decisions decisions - and what a great decision to have to make

Porschekit · 13 May 2017

Dan, do what I did (after my wife suggested it....they're always right aren't they :frustrated: ) go and rent a DB9 or equivalent for a day / week and compare it before you jump. I did the same with an E Type for one day before I bought my Porsche and after six hours an £107 worth of fuel my back (and wallet) couldn't stand it any longer.

I now run a 997.1 C4S and I love it. It is everything you want in a sports car and comfortable enough as a GT cruiser for long journey's.
If you happen to be at the Cumbria Car Show tomorrow come and say Hi and have a look at mine. Cheers.

John

cheshire911 · 13 May 2017

HR Owen do fixed price servicing on Astons, so don't let that put you off.
I visited and discussed AM's with a reputable AM Indy in Macclesfield for ownership costs, where to source a good 'un, what are common flaws and what is imperative that it must have had done at various mileages.

I'd recommend a call to them at Bridgemill Motors Macclesfield. They compete head to head with main dealers in my area such as HR Owen and Stratstone Wilmslow. They are AM trained and they know AM's inside out.

As you can guess there are similarities with Porsche - lots of tired and knackered dogs, PPI an absolute must and of course, good advice on mileage related wear n tear that can rack up ownership costs.

Buying from main dealer will give comprehensive AM warranty for peace of mind as with an OPC supplied car.

Sometimes a change to a different brand is a good thing - that 6l V12 sounds awesome.

kas750 · 13 May 2017

If you buy shrewdly then I say go for it and if its not for you then move it on.
In your position I would give it serious consideration.

Shaoxter · 13 May 2017

The rear seats in a DB9 are completely unuseable, whereas you can actually fit kids/small adults in the back of a 911 (for short journeys...)

cheshire911 · 13 May 2017

I concur with the remark to "buy shrewdly". Talk to a few specialists who see these cars day in/day out, get to understand the model and inherent issues and things to watch for. PPI is an absolute must by someone who knows the marque and model and knows what to look for. Walk away from anything without a full documented history - if indy stamps are in the book, post up on AM section of PHs and ask if they are top-rated specialists recognised by AM owners.

get to a level where you become a semi-expert or informed amateur on the model that you want to buy. Talk to owners, talk to specialists and keep talking and looking. Then make the plunge.

911DG · 14 May 2017

SOME seriously good advice guys - im-flip flopping all over the place.

It's also nice to discuss it as it's not the sort of question you can ask your mates - "Porsche or Aston, I'm really struggling" - without sounding like a bit of a spoilt twat !

Hmmmm ...... decisions !!!!

It's not exactly like im a racing driver so while I love the 911 if I'm honest in 12 years while I've had a lot of fun, I've probably never 'really' driven it as it could be driven - so a GT might be perfect.

997 C2S or ... DB9 (I'm sure it's been asked before, but...)

911DG

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cheshire911

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