When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The XKR has a “new” stablemate. Lots of threads in this forum comparing the two. My preliminary opinion based on less than a week with the Aston is that aside from the obvious exterior similarities, they really are very different cars, and I’ll probably end up keeping and driving both. Further observations in due course.
The poster on the garage door is a purely coincidental thing from a raffle drawing many years ago, but it’s sort of fitting considering the history of the two marques!
Gorgeous DB9. Give us some specifics, please (I can tell it's a 2013 or newer). I almost bought a DB9 before I bought the XK, and I'm still Jones-ing for an Aston. Agreed - while they have some similarities in size, shape and appearance, they are very different cars. I'm certain one is still in my future.
After you've spent some time with it, I'd love to hear your take on the two.
Congrats, and enjoy it in good health.
The XKR has a “new” stablemate. Lots of threads in this forum comparing the two. My preliminary opinion based on less than a week with the Aston is that aside from the obvious exterior similarities, they really are very different cars, and I’ll probably end up keeping and driving both.
I have had my Virage for 2 years now and it was bought to replace my XKR, which was a daily driver. Because I bought the Aston privately from a friend, I kept the XKR but find that I tend to mainly drive the Virage.
Because of the mods I have made, the XKR leaves it for dead in a straight line but I think the Aston would win in a spirited cross country drive as it corners better and brakes better because of the carbon ceramics. The V12 sound track is epic as well so, once I have decided what to buy instead, I will part ways with the XKR and will probably be Jagless for the first time in over 35 years!
Thanks for the likes, folks! I haven’t posted any more about the Aston since I’ve not driven it a lot yet. At the moment it’s off getting front end PPF and ceramic coating done - my regular guy is backed up after the holidays so it’s taking a bit longer than I expected.
@David993S it’s a 2015 model year car with just over 14k miles. Stratus white exterior with Ivory interior - first time I’ve had a “white on white” car and I must say it’s rather striking!
@u102768 I agree with your observations. My XKR is a stock 4.2 car but even so is not discernibly slower than the Aston in regular suburban driving. Where the Aston shines is in the suspension, balance, and braking departments where it is certainly sportier than the Jag.
As an aside, I updated my signature to reflect the new addition and the sale of my 1991 Corvette ZR-1 (to make room for the new car). I sold the Corvette on bringatrailer.com and achieved a sale price substantially higher than my reserve, so I was happy! Just for grins, the auction is here - https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...vette-zr-1-33/
Where the Aston shines is in the suspension, balance, and braking departments where it is certainly sportier than the Jag.
Beautiful car, congratulations! And thanks for saying the above. On a cross-country road trip a few years ago when I had my 4.2L and my friend had his 4.3L Aston Martin Vantage, I got to drive his for awhile. I was immediately struck by how much better tuned the suspension felt. The Jaguar felt very compliant but floaty and loose on the edges whereas the Aston Martin felt fairly planted. I've raised this a few times, most recently on the Facebook groups, and most people there have no experience with either the Aston Martin lineup or other performance cars, so to them the bouncy, soft ride is just how every GT is supposed to be and an F-Type is a "true sports car" (it's not, and most of them have never driven and F-Type or a sports car for comparison). I think the Aston Martin lineup gets the balance right like the F-Type (which uses the XKR-S' suspension upgrades), but retains the 2+2 and big rear hatch practicality with the curvaceous design that we all love. I'm going to be upgrading the suspension in my most recent XKR this year with the goal to get that Aston Martin- style balance, and I think I'll be very happy with the result.
The xkr-s suspension upgrafes does a brilliant job finding that balance and giving the driver that extra confidence
Back to the 4.3l vantage even it did have similar suspension to a base xk, we are always going to be struggle with engine placement (AMV8 sits further back) and also be disadvantaged due to the slight increase in weight, I would have loved for our xk's to have come in a little lighter.
I think the Aston Martin lineup gets the balance right like the F-Type (which uses the XKR-S' suspension upgrades), but retains the 2+2 and big rear hatch practicality with the curvaceous design that we all love. I'm going to be upgrading the suspension in my most recent XKR this year with the goal to get that Aston Martin- style balance, and I think I'll be very happy with the result.
The F-Type indeed shares many parts with the X150 as well as well as with most other Jag models. What makes the handling different is the X152’s shorter wheel base. And the Vantage had an even shorter wheel base than the F-Type.
And Astons have transaxels which further enhances weight balancing.
^This.
Jags have the transmission mounted directly behind the engine and a rear mounted differential, which is pretty conventional. When I first started looking into Aston Martins, I was quite surprised to learn that they had the transmissions and differentials both at the rear with a high speed carbon fiber driveshaft (within an aluminum torque tube) connecting the engine to the transmission. In that sense, just like the C5-C7 Corvettes. Indeed, this makes it much easier for Astons to achieve a 50-50 balance even with that honking great 6 liter V12 up front.
Jags have the transmission mounted directly behind the engine and a rear mounted differential, which is pretty conventional. When I first started looking into Aston Martins, I was quite surprised to learn that they had the transmissions and differentials both at the rear with a high speed carbon fiber driveshaft (within an aluminum torque tube) connecting the engine to the transmission. In that sense, just like the C5-C7 Corvettes. Indeed, this makes it much easier for Astons to achieve a 50-50 balance even with that honking great 6 liter V12 up front.
Don't wear blue jeans in that interior lol. Looks quite posh inside. Very nice!
We have a white leather interior in our Lexus as a daily driver. You can mitigate the blue jean die transfer by using Geist every 3-6 months. This works perfectly and I see no die transfer.
We have a white leather interior in our Lexus as a daily driver. You can mitigate the blue jean die transfer by using Geist every 3-6 months. This works perfectly and I see no die transfer.
DB9 stablemate
but pretty.
