German Car Forum

For a car that looks like a million bucks, $265,000 sounds like a steal.

When the Aston Martin DBS made its debut as James Bond’s car in the 2006 movie Casino Royale, it got wadded into a ball during an avoidance maneuver. Aston’s people were unruffled by the destruction of their car. They knew the DBS had to be forcibly flipped by the moviemakers.

They also knew that a hit movie would provide great publicity and that Bond has crashed Astons before without hurting the marque’s safety rep. The company can make more, but it won’t make many. The factory is production-constrained, and no more than 600 DBS models will pass through the gates each year, with 150 to 200 earmarked for U.S. delivery. Since the DBS is priced at $265,000, one shouldn’t expect it to be reproduced like an iPod. That kind of money ought to buy exclusivity.

And that’s particularly true since Aston’s almost equally striking DB9 is about 100 grand less expensive. But there are many differences between the two, even though the DBS uses the DB9’s VH-platform technology—bonded aluminum sheet and extrusions—for its structure. Specific to the DBS is a cross-car dashboard-supporting beam with new cast members at its nodes to improve stiffness and control steering-column shake.

Unlike in the DB9, the rear subframe in the DBS is solidly mounted, and the trunk and door-frame apertures are lighter. To keep weight down, Aston engineers used carbon fiber for the hood, front fenders, and trunklid.

Although the roof and the doors are shared with the DB9, the DBS is wider front and rear (by 0.8 inch and 1.6 inches). Don’t expect any more space inside the DBS, but the interior is quite special, with carbon-fiber trim, an improved dash layout, and a sapphire “key” that docks in a slot in the dashboard and is pressed to start the engine.

With 510 horsepower, the engine is Aston’s strongest, chiefly because of a new inlet manifold and new cylinder heads with better inlet-port design. But the torque peak is unchanged at 420 pound-feet. No one will complain because the 5.9-liter V-12 pushes the 3750-pound coupe around with real authority, making some of the world’s best automotive sound effects in the process.

A six-speed Graziano transaxle was the only transmission available in the early production models we drove, and it worked smoothly and accurately, but an automated six-speed manual is expected to follow. That might suit the flexible nature of this gen-four V-12 even better.

Slowing the action is a quartet of huge carbon-ceramic brake rotors peeking from 20-inch, split-spoke alloys. They work with the transparency of conventional steel discs, with perhaps even less noise. To broaden the car’s handling repertoire, adaptive shocks are fitted with a choice of luxury and sport settings, each with a range of damping values. The result is a car that is as refined and functional as it is visually arresting and flamboyantly fast.

Hardly a car for a spy, is it?


VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe

BASE PRICE: $265,000

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 362 cu in, 5935cc
Power (SAE net): 510 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 420 lb-ft @ 5750 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 107.9 in Length: 185.9 in Width: 75.0 in Height: 50.4 in
Curb weight: 3750 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
Zero to 60 mph: 4.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.7 sec
Top speed (drag limited): 191 mph

PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city driving: 10 mpg
EPA highway driving: 18 mpg


2008 Aston Martin DBS - First Drive Review / Sports Car Central / High Performance / Hot Lists / Reviews / Car and Driver - Car And Driver


M

A little bit of alu on the steering wheel and a little bit nicer/better quality seat adjustment buttons wouldn't hurt, don't you think?

I love this car but do you guys think it's worth over $265k? I think I would probably go for something else even though this is probably the most beautiful car in the world.

Good question Warot. Personally, I don't think it's worth 265k. If I wanted a high end luxury coupe, I'd end up walking away with a CL63. Couldn't justify the extra preminum to buy the Aston to be honest.

Exactly. And at the same time, if I wanted a sports car, there are others that could do it better. But the aesthetics of the car is hard to make me look away. What a shame BMW didn't swoop AM up

For this price though, I wouldn't go with the CL either. I mean we are talking Ferrari and Lamborghini price range here.

Agreed on both counts.

If I personally was in the market to buy a car worth $300k, I'd want it to be a sports car of some sort.

A massive shame. DBS with the M divisions 5 litre V10.

Not to mention the other changes of driving dynamics and quality that a BMW owned and controlled Aston Martin would inherit. Dreams pass in time.....

Guys you don't bargain shop at this level, these are emtional purchases. The DBS makes the heart flutter more than 95 percent of the cars on the road. The DBS has more capability than 95 percent of drivers and it certainly can't all be used on a public road. This car is an ideal balance of track and street and it outright murders the competition at the curbside. There are but a handful of cars even the same class or league, but none of them outperform it while looking better also. The 599 GTB costs a little more and outperms the Aston and comes close in looks, thats about the only car I can think of that is close overall. A Mercedes CL is a beauty too, but a mass market beauty and isn't nearly as sporty inside and out. As nice as the CL is it clearly is outmatched in appeal compared to the Aston. It takes a hell of a car to do that to a CL.

Oh yes BMW and Aston-Martin would have been a match made in heaven. However, they've been without Ford for a just little while now and they're making more changes and updates to their cars than they ever did under Ford.


M

^^I'm with you Merc. This car is absolutely gorgeous. Sure it might not be as fast as the 599 or as comfy as the CL, but it does those things reasonbly well and overall it's WAY better looking than the other two.

You know what I just saw that cracks me up. The seat positioning knobs are a la 7 series. Haha, I guess the journalists were too blown away by the looks to complain.

I will go out and say that this is much better than any Italian cars out there. However, we are comparing this Aston with some mighty tough competitors.

Just food for thought:
Gallardo: $180,000 - $206,000
Ferrari 599: $264,000 - 274,000
Porsche GT2: $192,000

I'm not saying it's not worth the money, actually it's probably all swooped up. But that is some serious competition and serious money.

Gosh how I wish I had enough money to be making that kind of decision

The GT2 and the Gallardo are different types of cars for me, only the 599GTB compared to the DBS IMO. The GT2 a way more hard core. The Gallardo? A plain wedge compared to the DBS. All IMO of course because I like all these cars.

M

I know what you mean. But honestly, if I had the money, I'd hold onto it right now and not buy expensive ass cars with it. LOL