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2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante: Too Fast For America Page 3

 
11 9,114 views Nov 5, 2009

Aston DBS Volante: the price of admission

The super convertible mates high-end performance with style and comfort

The super convertible mates high-end performance with style and comfort

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Not that the privilege of driving the DBS isn’t worth the price of admission. Should you have $286,500 for a car you no doubt are already aware that paying a $250 toll now and again to pad town coffers is simply an additional maintenance expense. And of course if you are in that elite realm of buyers even a $500 fine is pocket lint.

So drive your DBS at night, on poorly lit streets, preferably, and thrill to everything this automobile offers--which is a hell of a lot. The DBS is a screaming riot of fun. It can make so many other cars, even extraordinarily great ones that are good values such as that aforementioned 911, seem about as compelling as Honda Accords.

Just starting the V-12 and hearing its exotic symphony would make any buyer happy. Even with the engine off there are joys here, among which include the softly rose-lit gauges, the 10-way adjustable sport seats that aren’t sports car punishing despite the aspirations of the vehicle, and the artistry of the heavy metal ashtray lid and its fogged glass chamber that belong to the Mad Men fetishist era of smoking.

I also cannot imagine ever tiring of the motion of the door handles, which lay flush against the car. Push in at the front of the handle and its tail swings outward for you to grab--design and function elegantly wed as one. However, the fact that the DBS doesn’t come with a system that senses the presence of a key in your pocket and auto-unlocks the doors (available these days on cars down to $40,000) is a head scratcher.

One exquisite joy afforded the DBS buyer that I’ve honestly never experienced in another car is the astounding aural wonder that is the Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS sound system. Honestly, it made my eyes well in rapture. The downside of which is that MP3 tracks not downloaded at their highest quality mode will sound flawed. A friend who mixes records for a living sat in the car and we swapped CDs for MP3s and he then pointed out how he’d recommend any Aston owner either toss his iPod in the trash and revert back to CDs, or only load music directly from CDs to a portable audio device.

Then we just sat there. Not talking. For another ten minutes. And listened.

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Comments (11)

  1. By Patrick Posted: 11/6/2009 10:36am PST

    This article sucks. I clicked on it because of the title and the body has nothing to do with the title. Is this author one of those stuck up Brits who thinks they have superior car knowledge?
     
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  2. By bepsf Posted: 11/6/2009 12:44pm PST

    Agreed - Craptastic writing.
    We don't care about the writer's run-in with the law, and we don't care much about what media one's music is recorded in sound best on the stereo. And what's the point of telling us that you've driven the V8 Vantage when you don't go anywhere with it - not a single comparison!
    Tell us what makes the DBS different from the DB9 and the V8 Vantage.
    Tell us how it feels to drive. Tell us about the workmanship and the reasons it costs so much.
    Tell us if you feel it's worth the price of admission/upgrade.
    Just don't whine to us about being pulled over for speeding (and you WERE speeding) instead of a Chevy.
     
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  3. fb_1518955678 avatar Chen Lee Posted: 11/6/2009 1:42pm PST

    I get lost half way through reading the article, not sure if the car has a decent backseat or it is only good enough for luggages and small child, and also the what is the point in mentioning that he has driven a V8 Vantage? is it supposed to give him more creditability? I had driven a F50 once, does that make me a Ferrari expert? Blah, blah, blah, the New 458 Italia is such, such, such and such and forth, I have driven a F50....LOL
    so is it too fast for America? still do not have an answer.
     
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  4. azlan avatar azlan Posted: 11/9/2009 3:25am PST

    i just printed this article out went to the toilet and wiped my bum with it... sorry michael frank its nothing personal =]
     
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  5. By Andrew Braun Posted: 11/9/2009 9:52am PST

    I would like to wipe your bum guy. With a little jelly, it could be quite a snack. Add some crackers and some farber beans, it'd be a meal.
     
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  6. By John Posted: 11/9/2009 4:56pm PST

    Agree with everyone. Does MA not filter this crap before posting it? It is a terribly written article.
     
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  7. By Andrew Barun Posted: 11/9/2009 7:56pm PST

    Disregard last comment. I don't like jelly.
     
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  8. Michael Frank avatar Michael Frank Posted: 11/10/2009 8:18am PST

    Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts.... Here's a rebuttal of sorts.
    1. Why bring up the Vantage?
     
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  9. Michael Frank avatar Michael Frank Posted: 11/10/2009 8:44am PST

    Howdy! I'm the toilet wipe you so graciously comment about in the above. Pleased to meet all of you. Some clarification: 1. The reason for bringing up the V8 Vantage (which unfortunately got cut off in the article - our geeks are addressing that, so sorry) reads in the original as follows: "Fourth, I've driven the V8 Vantage, which is also extraordinary, and also exceptionally fast. But the DBS is yet more car--the growl is laced with a menace, an even stronger purity of purpose. Its potential simply cannot be realized on any highway, state or Federal, in the United States." Point is simple: Test the DBS even at 6/10ths on public roads you're risking death or injury. Second, the speeding incident was sure to piss you off. Duh! Pitty? I have a great gig; I'm not asking for pity. Nope, it's there to let readers know that a car like this goes well beyond cop bait. It's cop chum, and they're the sharks. The road where I was nailed is typically fine at 65; cops don't even blink. But drive a car like the DBS and you're begging for a ticket, even on a road where, ordinarily, to speed traffic along, they'd PREFER you do 10 over.
    As for the rest? I cannot justify the price. The craftsmanship is exquisite, the engine is fantastic, the build quality, beyond reproach, but only Aston knows if the price is justifiable. If they have a steady stream of buyers, they can justify the price. And by the way, if you have to ask that question, you can't afford the car anyway.
     
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  10. By Axel Posted: 11/16/2009 7:24am PST

    Duh! quite dont get it, though I cannot afford one these vehicles I got to many bills anyway. Your article Mike was not well described. Hope you learn from this!!
     
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  11. By  R4i卡 Posted: 11/16/2009 8:53pm PST

    it’s a Volante, a cloth-top car that’s reasonably quiet when shut, and because it has a soft lid, one with some useful trunk space that an erstwhile hardtop would’ve vaporized. (Also this is a nominal 2+2, and while not even children would find the backseat space viable there’s room enough in this car for overnight luggage which isn’t the case with many a super-sports GT.)
     
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