2004 Aston Martin DB9

With just two owners from new, this 2004 Aston Martin DB9 can be to you what the DB5 is to Daniel Craig. Of course, that’s a terribly placed Bond reference, because this one has stayed in the UK, hasn’t run into baddies, and doesn’t come with interchangeable number plates. More importantly, its mileage (66475 miles from new) is backed by a complete Aston Martin service history.

The MoT certificates from the past are included as well, in addition to its two keys and a detailed record of previous maintenance and repair work done to the car. You can find more about that in the history section. The current MoT is valid till March 2022 and the last service was done in 2019.

As is visible in the photos below, this 2004 Aston Martin DB9 doesn’t give away its age, especially on the outside. Its clean lines can put many modern cars to shame, and the plush interior, even for 2021, retains the kind of appeal not many luxury GT cabins can pull off.

The vendor, who’s its second owner, acquired the car in 2019. The current COVID scenario meant he hasn’t driven as much as he’d have liked to (only around 25 miles). He mentions that this DB9 is up there with the best examples he has driven, it has had most of its maintenance and repairs sorted by the first owner, and is an honest car with practically just one owner from new. The car has been professionally stored, during our vendor's ownership, regularly started & kept on a trickle charger. 

Styled by Ian Callum with final inputs by Henrik Fisker, the design of the DB9 continued to evolve throughout its life. While towards the mid of the 2010s, it had begun to look aged despite the numerous updates, in 2004, it was right there up with the segment best. Early cars have a simpler front-end look, and in our opinion, it works exceptionally well, even now. It won’t be a stretch to say that while James Bond never used the DB9, if he did, it wouldn’t have looked out of place.

Its footprint gives away the GT positioning of the DB9, and irrespective of the angle you look at it, it manages to put forth an elegant design approach. That’s not to say the power underneath isn’t reflected in the way the car is designed. The prominent shoulder line that extends to the rear, the vents on the bonnet, the fins on its sides — all of these further accentuate the car’s confident stance.

In terms of visible damage on the outside, despite its age and a fair bit of mileage, there’s hardly anything that detracts from the shape the car must’ve left the factory in the early noughties. The underside looks clean, with no damage to the sills. The bodywork is in pristine shape highlighting the fact that it’s been maintained well. On closer inspection, you’ll find that chrome on the radiator grille has begun to peel. The 10-spoke alloys appear to have rolled straight off the production line, and that’s because these have been refurbed.

It’s hard to not describe the cabin of the Aston Martin DB9 as inviting. The 2+2 seating mightn’t be unique to the car, but the way this mix of high-quality materials has been put together certainly is. The veneer on the dashboard is complemented by leather and aluminium. The retractable screen sits flush when not in use, hence maintaining the cohesive look, not found in more modern cars. There’s a lot to like in the way the interior is styled, even if it looks a bit understated by current standards.

The front seats show use-related wear, while the ones at the back look pretty untouched. The door cards seem to be in good shape. The steering wheel and pedals show some signs of use, although there’s no damage on the former, per se. This DB9 wears its age extremely well & would be a perfect place to spend weekend touring across Europe.

While the cabin is a great place to be, the critics didn’t rate the DB9’s ergonomics highly. The space at the rear as well as in the boot is rather limited, too.

The DB9 was the first model to be rolled out from the brand’s new factory at Gaydon. It was also the first car to use the VH platform, as mentioned earlier. As a replacement to what was a crucial chapter in modern Aston Martin history (read the DB7), the DB9 had fairly large shoes to fill. It not just fulfilled expectations, it lasted long enough to prove that the company had indeed made a product whose appeal wouldn’t diminish with age.

Powering the car was a 5.9-litre V12 which made a respectable 444 bhp and 420 lb-ft. With a sub-5s time to 60 mph and a top speed of 180+ mph (still no easy feat), it was easy to see why anyone who wanted to cover a lot of ground fast would opt for it. The Cosworth-designed engine underwent a few revisions, and so did the gearbox. A manual gearbox was optional, but a 6-speed auto was a standard affair. It’s said to lack the alacrity of a dual-clutch unit, but keeping in mind that the DB9 is more laid back in its approach to gaining speed, you mightn’t mind it. The handling is applauded, especially considering that it’s not a small car or one that’s made keeping track duties in mind — for that, you’ll need to get a DBR9 instead.

Like on the outside, this 2004 DB9 is free of damage underneath. It’s had regular Astn Martin main dealer maintenance, which goes on to explain its likeable condition. You can read more about that in the following section.

This Aston Martin DB9 was registered in October 2004, it’s got two owners from new (including the vendor), and as mentioned earlier, it comes with a higly detailed Aston-Martin service history.

Its MoT will expire in 2022, and it cleared the latest test in February this year without any advisories. There’s an MoT history (with a few previous certificates), and it’s evident that the car has been used sparingly in the last few years.

According to the records, the last service was conducted in 2018 @ Aston Martin Edinburgh with 64,624 miles, which is when it got new oil, brake pads, brake fluid, etc.The car has covered virtually no miles since then, but the lucky new owner may feel the need to give the car an oil change. It got two new tyres in 2017, and the rear ones were replaced a bit before that. Among other smaller repairs and replacements (consumables), the door mirrors were painted in the early 2010s whereas, in 2009, broken door glasses were replaced.

The long-running Aston Martin DB9 holds a lot of value, especially for those who want a modern-ish GT which isn’t aggressive. Its sublime appeal lies in the way it looks, despite the age; the way it can still keep up with more modern performance-focussed cars, thanks to its 5.9-litre V12; and without doubt, all that it offers in terms of interior feel and comfort. At an estimated £23,500 - £29,500, the 2004 Aston Martin DB9 presents an opportunity to own a robust Aston Martin, backed by full-service history.

On the downside, the lack of space for rear passengers hampers its practicality. And the six-speed automatic gearbox isn’t as quick as modern units. The buttons and switchgear also don’t feel as nice as the overall cabin materials.

But would you care about any of that when you could just let the V12 engine and the confident handling do the talking instead? No, right? We thought so, too!

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.