There is something inherently cool about a contemporary Aston Martin and it has nothing to do with the antics of Mr. J. Bond. In a world obsessed with glamour, the new Aston Martin DB9 Volante is a hymn to the virtues of understated elegance. It is a Hugo Boss suit in a Versace emporium; a supermodel at a Hugh Hefner party, and a piece of fillet in a fusion world.
More than a year has passed since we first sampled the DB9 coupe, the first of an all-new breed of Aston that will seek to establish the British marque as a genuine rival to the might of Porsche and Ferrari. The 911-baiting V8 Vantage arrives in just a few months time, but for now, we must indulge ourselves with the topless DB9, otherwise known as the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante.
A Charismatic Beauty
If there is one thing the DB9 doesn't lack, it's beauty. Few cars blend such a simplicity of line and shape into such a cohesive whole. There is none of the gauche "jewelry" that leaves a Mercedes-Benz SL looking nouveau, and yet the Aston still manages to appear classy, rich and upmarket. And while a Porsche 911 cabriolet always looks like there's a bit missing, the DB9 looks like it was engineered from the ground up to be a soft top which, of course, it was.
Still, by removing the roof you remove a huge proportion of the car's structural rigidity. The Volante is little more than half as stiff as its hardtop sibling, which is sufficient to alter the character of the car. To compensate for the diminished rigidity, the setup of the DB9's suspension — double wishbone front and rear — has been softened. And as a result, the Volante now feels more like a boulevard cruiser than a sporting GT.
The Volante rolls more than the hardtop and its reactions are less urgent. This is a car that you guide and finesse, rather than grab by the scruff of the neck. A rival Mercedes-Benz SL600 glides down the road, but on the same surface, the Aston fidgets awkwardly as the cabin creaks in unison. And whereas the SL feels imperiously stiff with the top up or down, the DB9 shakes a little on broken surfaces. It's not as bad as the old DB7 Volante — which shook like a nervous bride — but it's noticeable nonetheless.
If all this sounds unduly negative, it shouldn't. Although the Volante's setup isn't perfect, it remains an entertaining and charismatic drive. The steering, criticized on the coupe, has been tweaked slightly and now feels much better-weighted, the massive four-wheel disc brakes can stop time and there's plenty of grip from the 19-inch tires (235/40ZR19 front, 275/35ZR19 rear). By adopting a smooth, fluid driving style, it's possible to cover ground at huge speed. And then, of course, there's the engine.
Be Still My Beating Heart
The Aston's 450-hp, 6.0-liter V12 is 5,935cc of motoring nirvana. From the deep bass rumble that accompanies the first prod of the starter button to the wolflike howl above 6,000 rpm, this engine coaxes, engages and enthralls.
The Volante weighs 154 pounds more than the 3,880-pound coupe, but that's the equivalent of one non-supersized passenger, so the performance drop-off is minimal. Aston says this is still a car that will crack 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and is limited to 165 mph, which most people would describe as ample.
Although Aston has recently introduced a six-speed manual transmission into the DB9's available hardware, our test car was the auto (a $5,000 option), which seems best suited to the Volante's more laid-back character. The six-speed unit remains the finest of its type in the world, mixing seamless automatic changes with the flexibility of sequential manual control. Flick one of the exquisite aluminum paddles behind the steering wheel and the DB9 changes up or down with the speed of a clutchless manual gearbox. It helps the driver make best use of the 420 pound-feet of torque.
Fine weather cruising is really this car's forte, and on a partial throttle, the strident exhaust note gives place to a gentle burble. The only problem here is the excessive wind buffeting. In an SL, it's possible to sustain a bouffant, but hairstyles suffer in the Aston and the full wind-in-the-hair experience can become tiring. Aston's engineers are working on a windjammer, which should alleviate the problem.
Opulence and Bamboo
Buffeting aside, the Aston's interior is as it should be, which hasn't always been the case.
In the past 30 years, Aston Martin owners have gotten used to the cabins of their cars being a mishmash of parts bin detritus. Even owners of the contemporary $250,500 Aston Martin Vanquish must suffer the ignominy of Jaguar heater controls, Volvo air vents and Ford window switches. It's like dressing a supermodel in clothes from Walmart.
The DB9, though, is different. A few years ago, Aston employed a textile specialist, Sarah Maynard, to revolutionize its cabin design. Maynard replaced the age-old walnut with bamboo, ditched the plastic starter button in favor of translucent crystal and insisted on bespoke detailing. The result in the DB9 Volante is a cabin befitting of a car that costs $173,000. Our car mixed supple gray leather with piano black wood to fine effect.
For front-seat passengers, it's also pleasingly accommodating. The Recaro-sourced seats offer support and comfort, the adjustable wheel is exactly the right size and the driving position can be adjusted to taste. But those in the back fare less well. With even a moderately tall driver behind the wheel, there's no rear legroom whatsoever. Aston is apparently working on turning the space into a pair of load bays, which seems eminently more sensible. At least there's room in the trunk for the ubiquitous set of golf clubs.
Shaken and Stirred
Viewed on a purely objective basis, the Mercedes-Benz SL600 and the more sporting SL55 AMG are better cars than the Aston. They ride better, they're stiffer, they're more comfortable, they have a proper hardtop, and they're quicker. But in this sector of the market, mere objectivity is not enough. The Aston might not be quite as technically accomplished as the Mercs, but it's much more desirable.
Whereas the SL always feels like the product of a factory, the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante feels like a delicately crafted luxury good. It's the sort of car you'd park outside your house as an ornament, and wash lovingly on a Sunday morning. It's automotive art and it's undeniably cool.
More than a year has passed since we first sampled the DB9 coupe, the first of an all-new breed of Aston that will seek to establish the British marque as a genuine rival to the might of Porsche and Ferrari. The 911-baiting V8 Vantage arrives in just a few months time, but for now, we must indulge ourselves with the topless DB9, otherwise known as the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante.
A Charismatic Beauty
If there is one thing the DB9 doesn't lack, it's beauty. Few cars blend such a simplicity of line and shape into such a cohesive whole. There is none of the gauche "jewelry" that leaves a Mercedes-Benz SL looking nouveau, and yet the Aston still manages to appear classy, rich and upmarket. And while a Porsche 911 cabriolet always looks like there's a bit missing, the DB9 looks like it was engineered from the ground up to be a soft top which, of course, it was.
Still, by removing the roof you remove a huge proportion of the car's structural rigidity. The Volante is little more than half as stiff as its hardtop sibling, which is sufficient to alter the character of the car. To compensate for the diminished rigidity, the setup of the DB9's suspension — double wishbone front and rear — has been softened. And as a result, the Volante now feels more like a boulevard cruiser than a sporting GT.
The Volante rolls more than the hardtop and its reactions are less urgent. This is a car that you guide and finesse, rather than grab by the scruff of the neck. A rival Mercedes-Benz SL600 glides down the road, but on the same surface, the Aston fidgets awkwardly as the cabin creaks in unison. And whereas the SL feels imperiously stiff with the top up or down, the DB9 shakes a little on broken surfaces. It's not as bad as the old DB7 Volante — which shook like a nervous bride — but it's noticeable nonetheless.
If all this sounds unduly negative, it shouldn't. Although the Volante's setup isn't perfect, it remains an entertaining and charismatic drive. The steering, criticized on the coupe, has been tweaked slightly and now feels much better-weighted, the massive four-wheel disc brakes can stop time and there's plenty of grip from the 19-inch tires (235/40ZR19 front, 275/35ZR19 rear). By adopting a smooth, fluid driving style, it's possible to cover ground at huge speed. And then, of course, there's the engine.
Be Still My Beating Heart
The Aston's 450-hp, 6.0-liter V12 is 5,935cc of motoring nirvana. From the deep bass rumble that accompanies the first prod of the starter button to the wolflike howl above 6,000 rpm, this engine coaxes, engages and enthralls.
The Volante weighs 154 pounds more than the 3,880-pound coupe, but that's the equivalent of one non-supersized passenger, so the performance drop-off is minimal. Aston says this is still a car that will crack 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and is limited to 165 mph, which most people would describe as ample.
Although Aston has recently introduced a six-speed manual transmission into the DB9's available hardware, our test car was the auto (a $5,000 option), which seems best suited to the Volante's more laid-back character. The six-speed unit remains the finest of its type in the world, mixing seamless automatic changes with the flexibility of sequential manual control. Flick one of the exquisite aluminum paddles behind the steering wheel and the DB9 changes up or down with the speed of a clutchless manual gearbox. It helps the driver make best use of the 420 pound-feet of torque.
Fine weather cruising is really this car's forte, and on a partial throttle, the strident exhaust note gives place to a gentle burble. The only problem here is the excessive wind buffeting. In an SL, it's possible to sustain a bouffant, but hairstyles suffer in the Aston and the full wind-in-the-hair experience can become tiring. Aston's engineers are working on a windjammer, which should alleviate the problem.
Opulence and Bamboo
Buffeting aside, the Aston's interior is as it should be, which hasn't always been the case.
In the past 30 years, Aston Martin owners have gotten used to the cabins of their cars being a mishmash of parts bin detritus. Even owners of the contemporary $250,500 Aston Martin Vanquish must suffer the ignominy of Jaguar heater controls, Volvo air vents and Ford window switches. It's like dressing a supermodel in clothes from Walmart.
The DB9, though, is different. A few years ago, Aston employed a textile specialist, Sarah Maynard, to revolutionize its cabin design. Maynard replaced the age-old walnut with bamboo, ditched the plastic starter button in favor of translucent crystal and insisted on bespoke detailing. The result in the DB9 Volante is a cabin befitting of a car that costs $173,000. Our car mixed supple gray leather with piano black wood to fine effect.
For front-seat passengers, it's also pleasingly accommodating. The Recaro-sourced seats offer support and comfort, the adjustable wheel is exactly the right size and the driving position can be adjusted to taste. But those in the back fare less well. With even a moderately tall driver behind the wheel, there's no rear legroom whatsoever. Aston is apparently working on turning the space into a pair of load bays, which seems eminently more sensible. At least there's room in the trunk for the ubiquitous set of golf clubs.
Shaken and Stirred
Viewed on a purely objective basis, the Mercedes-Benz SL600 and the more sporting SL55 AMG are better cars than the Aston. They ride better, they're stiffer, they're more comfortable, they have a proper hardtop, and they're quicker. But in this sector of the market, mere objectivity is not enough. The Aston might not be quite as technically accomplished as the Mercs, but it's much more desirable.
Whereas the SL always feels like the product of a factory, the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante feels like a delicately crafted luxury good. It's the sort of car you'd park outside your house as an ornament, and wash lovingly on a Sunday morning. It's automotive art and it's undeniably cool.
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