Watch out Porsche: The Aston Martin DB9

[911S Targa]

Driving the new Aston Martin DB9
World-class sports car an assault on Porsche


By Dan Lienert

Updated: 1:38 p.m. ET March 21, 2005If you met Ulrich Bez in an emergency room, you would likely assume he was seeking treatment for a manic episode.

People in the auto business refer to Bez, the German chief executive of Ford Motor's Aston Martin subsidiary, as a madman. He talks constantly, and with unrelenting energy. In interviews, he often cuts the reporter off before the question is finished and begins his reply by nearly shouting (e.g., "Can you please speak about the exclusivity of Ast--" "EXCLUSIVITY [pause] is nothing without visibility").

He also apparently drives like a maniac -- a highly skilled motorist of a maniac with a doctorate in engineering.

Earlier this month, Bez drove Aston's new DB9 coupe on a twisty, open stretch of mountain roads outside of San Diego with John Walton, Aston's North American vice president, in the passenger seat. The two left San Diego at 9 a.m. and stopped for coffee at 10:30.

"I don't smoke or drink much, but at that moment I needed to do both," Walton told us in San Diego, where we recently traveled to test the new car on the same route (see the slide show that follows for our driving impressions).

But Bez's energy is not directionless. In fact, it has one clear target: Porsche.

"We don't want to be Porsche," said Walton -- but Bez, who used to be the German automaker's head of new car development, wants to beat Porsche, not in sales but in driving dynamics.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7257298/

[rich22]

I can't see how these cars would even be compared. I looked at an Aston when they first came out. The DB9 is a big heavy car compared to a 911. It has a big heavy engine to compensate. It has a very cramped but very lux interior. They are just not very similar cars at all. Plus the Aston costs, what, twice as much as a 911?

[Kroggers]

I bought my 911sc from an Aston dealer in the UK (they had taken my 911 in on a part-exchange), and the sales rep could not stop talking about how he has always preferred the 911 over the Aston - admittedly, this could have just been part of his sales technique ) Whilst I was there I took the opportunity to have a look at some of the Astons that they had there, and IMHO they do not even come close to a good 911

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I spent a day driving the DB9 at the U.S. press intro in California a couple of weeks ago. It's a lovely car but can't compare to a 911 in terms of driving dynamics, especially the steering. Also, the Monroney on the one I spent the day with was $172,295 ("list price" $160,000). Hardly 911 territory. And now Aston is making lots of noise about the V8 Vantage being "a 911 competitor." That's what it set out to be, but the cost of the car has risen and the dollar has depreciated until now it's due to be introduced at $120,000, and I doubt you'll get one out of a showroom for less than $130,000. If that's a "Porsche competitor," it's only the Turbo it's competing with.

And yes, Bez is a madman. I chatted with him at the intro and told him about my "gold-plated Porsche" and told him I had done everything myself during the restoration including repainting the car. He flatly refused to believe that I had painted the car. "It is not possible," he said.

A friend of mine rode with Bez from LA to the Pebble Beach concours last summer, in the prototype of the DB9 Volante, and said they were doing 150 a good part of the way, on California 1. is crazed.

Stephan

[UK Carrera]

The new V8 Vantage is aimed squarely at the 911. I believe it's actually slightly smaller.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Regardless of the size, how can a $120,000/$130,000 car "be aimed directly at the 911"?

Stephan

[UK Carrera]

Stephan

This isn't the DB9. Agree with the comments here in comparison with the 911.

The V8 Vantage has just been launched by Aston and is priced (at least here in the UK0 to compete directly with the 911.

[Porsche_monkey]

They are looking for drivers who want sporting cars made by a company that makes only sporting cars, no SUV sideline products.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

For heaven's sake, UK Carrera, I understand it's not the DB9 but the V8 Vantage. That's my business, knowing the difference--I'm a car writer.

To quote my friend (and Englishman) Ray Hutton, writing in the current issue of Car and Driver, "[The V8 Vantage] is not...the Carrera competitor promised by Aston CEO Ulrich Bez. Oh, the specifications are appropriate and the performance claims are more or less in the ballpark--it's just that the price is nearer a 911 Turbo's. Aston is talking about $120,000."

To say the V8V is "aimed squarely at the 911" is as silly as saying the 911 Turbo "is aimed squarely at the Ferrari Modena."

Stephan

[RickM]

Stephan: Take a Vanquish and call me in the morning

[CJFusco]

The DB9 is, IMHO, the most gorgeous car being produced today... if I had to buy a big, comfy GT highway cruiser, this would be it....

But I really don't think it is in the same category as a 911. When Porsche comes out with the Panamera or whatever it will be called, then we can talk comparisons...

[PorscheGuy79]

For what I have heard the new AMV8 went around the Ring something like 20seconds faster than Porsche's GT3. I cant verify this but I know i read it somewhere. The Aston probably did it with the AC on and some Smooth Operator on the stereo as well. I love the fact that it did because that is competition, that is what gives Porsche the push to make the next GT3 that much better.

[RickM]

I'll do the V12

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I suspect that whatever went around the 'Ring 20 seconds faster than a GT3, if that's true, is hardly a V8 Vantage but their new Le Mans car, the Procar DBR9. The "R" is meaningful, don't confuse it with a DB9...

Stephan

[PorscheGuy79]

the article refered to their AMV8 Concept test mule but I bet you are right Steve, I bet they confused it with the DBR9.

[UK Carrera]

Stephan

Think you need to adjust the sensitivity control slightly....

I bow to your superior insider knowledge.

[fiminod]

I believe Aston V8 ran the ring in 8:07 and the 997 ran it in 8:04 about 3-4 months ago....