1998 Aston Martin DB7 from UK and Ireland - Comments

20 mpg is thirsty? You cannot be serious. Even if you got half so what? Most sports car of this nature are not bought for economy or even driven every day at that. My thoughts are is you at all concerned with fuel economy you bought the wrong car. I think I checked my mpg on my cars once at best and then forgot about it. I am more interested in having a dyno sheet instead.

I have just purchased a DB7 Volante 1999 vintage and took it for a run up to the 20 - 20 cricket match at Warwick.

After this drive I returned it to the dealer with over 15 faults, the most annoying being that the passenger window collapsed into the door, never to be seen again. Also the heating did not work, courtesy lights alarm etc etc.

The car has only done 14,000 mile and I found this very dissapointing. However, I thankfully purchased it from a dealer who agreed to put right all these niggles. The purpose of this posting is that I am so pleased I chose to purchase it from a dealer rather than privately.

Having said all this, the drive of this vehicle is exceptional, it handles beautifully and has far enough power for my driving skills.

What surprised me was that this car has to be driven. Coming from a new S Type Jag with 6 speed auto transmission (which virtually drives itself) to a 5 speed manual with a clutch that requires legs like Geoff Capes and forearms of Mike Tyson to change gear and keep the thing on a straight line, the whole driving experience is reminisence of my old MGB Roadster.

This is totally different from the AMG55 which I drove recently, and makes the Aston feel like something out of the 50's to drive. However, I like that and am looking very much to getting it back from the dealer for the next thrash.

Aston Martins being compared to the likes of a TVR.. yeah, that's like comparing a Relient Robin to 911 Turbo (ones plastic and one isn't). If you're going to compare two cars, at very least pick something similar.

And as for the TVR being british, sorry guys, but this is simply not true (some use the Chevvy engine (GM USA), others have used the Ford Block (Germany).

Come on Aston and good riddance TVR (now owned by USSR).

TVR has only used one engine in the last 15 years that it did not design itself - the Buick / Rover V8. The current Speed Six unit and the later V8 fitted to the Cerbera are both bespoke, "ground up" TVR units, designed by British engineer Al Melling.

10th Mar 2005, 22:53

...Aston Martin, with such a cherished history and racing pedigree, at such an expensive price, is now posing in the limelight of the past, with the heart of an economy car motor sourced from the company who bought them. That flies in the face of the inspiration that built the Aston name in the fist place. I don't buy the argument that Aston couldn't afford their own motor. TVR manages to do it, and they aren't even exported to the US. Aston, on the other hand, has ten times the pedigree of a TVR, but with Ford ownership, one only wonders what kind of pedigree they'll have in ten years. I certainly doubt if the Ford V6 sourced V12 engine will survive on the race track like the previously engineered and constructed motors Aston Martin build themselves.

What a load of drivel the above comment is the Ford V6 sourced v12 engine (what planet are you on since when is a V12 engine sourced from a v6???) Ford has competed and won many motor sport competitions some saying that ford blocks are not up to the job (best you go 20 years and have a look at how well have Ford have done and are still doing)

More motor sport rubbish from a non motor sport person!!!

I suppose the comparison between a DB7 and a porsche, tvr, etc. is acceptable as far as they compare regarding acceleration, and top speed etc, but I could have bought a much newer porsche boxter, or TVR, but they cannot compete with the aston on looks, overall finish, or pedigree, and the point I find most beguiling is that when you sit in a DB7, a look in the drivers mirror shows you the gentle sweep of the cabin side curving outward into the beautifully sculpted wheel arch. also, the gentle flowing curvature of the bonnet outwards to the front wings, is equally beautiful. I have never owned a car that looks so gorgeous when you are inside looking out.

Folks,

There's a lot of talk on these pages about the virtues of British Cars. True, we have made a few cars that rank amongst the finest looking cars ever made, but the reality is that many of the worst cars ever made have come from our stables. Very few "British" cars can claim to have the reliability of even a 1980's Lada. In fact, I can't think of a single one!!

I have owned my 1998 DB7 for one month, and not only is it the most beautifully styled car I have ever owned, but it is also the most exciting to drive, even though it has the 3.2 6 cylinder engine, I find it more than adequate for todays roads and traffic conditions, and in sport mode auto transmission it is truly stonkingly fast, and overtaking lesser cars is a pure joy. I am 53 years old, and probably in a mid life crisis, but I owned a DB6 22 years ago, and I loved that car also, but I have to concede that the DB7 is faster, more beautiful and far more refined, and perhaps because of my age, more enjoyable, and to feel 20 years younger when I am driving it is good enough for me. It is a very special car, and because it is my toy car, as we have a van and a family volvo for everyday use, it is always a special event when the opportuniy arises for me to drive it.

<< I find it more than adequate for todays roads and traffic conditions, and in sport mode auto transmission it is truly stonkingly fast, and overtaking lesser cars is a pure joy.>.

Yes, I think 335 horsepower would be "more than adequate" for normal travel duties.

Geez, where is your house, on the Nurburgring?

Yeah the UK hasn't done to well with regards to car making. The cars we make tend to be anywhere from quick to very fast. But the down side is they don't come with the reliabilty that most other countrys have with their cars.

I guess though that most countrys have there down sides though on this subject. France and Spain tend to make crappy cars too. Italy has fiat, but also ferrari. Sweden and Germany make the best cars in Europe in my opinion.

Cars that are designed in America, for the UK, can almost compete with Volvo's and BMW's. Such as the Focus, Fiesta, Astra, Corsa etc.

Cars that are designed in America, for America look a bit too big, and a bit to plasticky.

Hope I got my point across and I appreciate that I may not have my facts straight.

OK here's the griff. I bought a new DB7 6 cylinder in 1996 and ran it for three years. Average mileage 15k and about 19mpg. The car was inexpensive to service roughly £175 for the small service. However it had many faults, windows sticking, battery failing air con leaking into passenger foot wel, door handles that break if your passenger tries to open the door when you are usingthe remote etc etc. However the main fault was a design error. The body work curls under the car and the front wheels throw up stones and chip off all the pain - result re-spray every 40k miles : (

So in 2000 Aston bring out the DB7 Vantage and announce a "more aggressive styling" and guess what stone chip problem is resolved. In fact the build quality is fantastic compared to the 6 cylinder car, so for the first year or so everything is great and Aston gave a 2 year warranty instead of just 12 months... Being a "driver" I bought a manual car and unfortunately there is a serious problem. If you look at the underside of the rear of the car you will see an array of bolts designed to hold the backend together. however the V12 engine is just too much power for the chassis and after a while the bolts loosen and you have to return the car to have the rattling sorted out. That's not too bad, but in five years of ownership I went through 3 differentials, 2 under warranty and Aston paid 1/2 for the third. The 4th and 5th years of ownership cost me £10k per year for servicing etc. Yes the gear stick broke off twice, but don't worry because your dealer will keep spare sticks in stock (mine did), it is £3k for a new differential, £3k for a new clutch oh and minor services cost £700 and major about £2k. You have to have the car serviced every six months.

I now drive a Volvo.

I always had the dream to own an Aston, now I have a 1998 DB7 and what can I say? I know it is not the best, and it is uncomfortable, noisy and with a lot of failings, but I assure that when I am in front of my DB7 or driving it, I feel pleasure. I now also own a BMW 645ci that it is faster, smoother and so on, but it hasn't the distinction, history and elegance of the Aston cars.

I don't care if the DB7 fails, I love driving it.