2008 Aston Martin DBS

So, it might be a little late to review the DBS since five years have passed since its release. But, no matter, I'll press on and let the world know how I feel about the car. First of all, I can't really call it a car, I can call it a sculpture done by a skilled craftsman. The car's a piece of art! However, The DBS is just a sportier, version of the DB9 - it's a GT car. Aston Martin said they built a thoroughbred super car with the DBS, but they just haven't! Super cars are notorious for being as unpractical as possible, and the DBS has a huge boot, an engine in the middle, and it's very comfortable. So what did they build?

Well, let's not get fooled - the DBS is really a DB9 but a little more sporty, and a little fancier. The old DB9 used to come with a proper manual transmission. The DBS comes with a fancy flappy paddle gearbox. And might I add that it works? Another thing about the DBS is it's an automatic, and not a manual that come with a clutch pedal and flappy paddles. So it's easy for anyone to just step in, put it into gear, and drive. Before, you had to be able to drive a manual transmission.

Let's look at the main difference between the two in this picture. You should notice which one is the DB9, and which one is the DBS. But if you don't, the DB9 is on the right; the black one. And right away I can tell you that the DB9 is better looking.

There are hidden differences as well. The DBS produces 60 bhp more than the DB9, and costs nearly $100,000 more! For what? Well, obviously for the extra power, and maybe for the .6 seconds faster from 0-60, and for the 5 mph faster top speed. But i still can't see why someone would buy the DBS just because it's just a bit better in every aspect, except the looks.

However, when you look at it from a marketing perspective, it all makes sense. The DBS is faster than the DB9, and slower than the Vanquish. So, what they've done is fill in a gap in the market - kind of like what Porsche did with the Cayman. Aston Martin deliberately made it faster than the DB9, but slower than the Vanquish in the same way that Porsche made the Cayman deliberately faster than the Boxster, and deliberately slower than the 911. Had Aston Martin done what they could with the DBS, it would have been faster than the Vanquish, and that would not be very good marketing. But who on earth cares about marketing? Definitely not me. Which is why I would buy the DB9.

The DB9 is the best looking AM ever built - apart from the One-77, but that one is out of the conversation. I'd save $100 grand, and still have a car that's nearly as good as the DBS, nearly as fast as the DBS, and a prettier car.

So, Aston Martin made the DBS better, but they didn't make it better looking. And that's all that matters in this conversation. I don't want to look like James Bond while driving around, which is why I'd buy the DB9, and I don't need to get everywhere 2 minutes faster, which is why I'd buy the DB9. I just want Aston Martin's best, and that's what the DB9 is.