Used Aston Martin DB9 2004 - 2012 review

Replacing the pretty DB7 was always going to be hard, but it could be argued that the Aston Martin DB9 is even more striking. An all-new car, with the exception of the V12 engine, it produces 450bhp, giving 0-60mph in 4.8sec.

Inside, you'll find a mostly bespoke interior, which does away with the old Ford-sourced switches. Everything feels modern and dynamic; the dashboard is matt wood and aluminium, while the rest of the cabin is leather and carpet.

The DB9 is at its best on flat, smooth A-roads, where it is composed and grippy. It becomes unruly on anything bumpier, and the ride is on the sharp side of firm, even on the motorway.

The rear seats are okay for children on very short runs, but realistically there's no usable space in the back, so this is essentially a two-seater. The boot is also very small and the 200-mile range of the fuel tank may frustrate you.

The UK only received about 360 new DB9s a year, so prices for used cars are likely to remain high. Naturally, the car will be costly to run; service intervals are every 7500 miles and Aston Martin dealers have a reputation for handing out large bills.

The official fuel consumption figure is 17.1mpg. However if you're very gentle with the throttle, or spend all your time crawling around town, you could see high teens.

If you live in a built-up area or don't have a squeaky-clean no claims bonus, you can expect your insurance premium to rise to a four-figure sum.

If you plan to drive a DB9 as it was intended, you'll need to replace the tyres on a regular basis. Main dealers are expensive, so the best bet could be an independent specialist.

The DB9 only comes in one flavour – V12 – so your choice is limited to the various optional extras fitted when the car was new. There are 20 colours of paint, 20 hues of leather and eight shades of carpet to select from. However, in other respects, the car isn't as fully equipped as some which cost just two-thirds of its price.

The DB9 is available with either a manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. The latter also functions as a paddle-shift manual, but not very well.

DB9s are exclusive cars, so the best used examples tend to be with dealers, although independent garages can be a source of slightly cheaper cars. When it comes to alternatives, you could go the Italian supercar route, but that's likely to cost even more. The sensible Porsche 911 may feel sterile by comparison, although it will be cheaper and much better to drive.

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