What I Learnt Trying to Daily An Aston Martin DB9 - Goodbye DadB9

Just wanted to say what a fantastic Dad you are. Making memories with your children while indulging in your passion. Looking forward to seeing whats next. 😊

That Aston v12 must have been a wonderful experience for 2 years as your daily driver. Such a beautiful car that transcends logic.

I have owned my 2008 DB9 for three years and I do all of the maintenance myself. In that time frame I have spent £6.5k on parts alone: 4 new Dynamic dampers, drop links, track rod ends, two new rear tyres, new rear brake discs & pads, hand brake cable, gearbox service kit and plenty of new nuts and bolts. Being 15 years old (42k miles) many of the parts are reaching the end of their serviceable life so need replacing. Also if working on the suspension I replace all of the nuts and bolts, drop links, etc with new AM parts. Generally a part from AM is four times the price of the actual part, if you can figure out who makes the actual part. I am hoping that the yearly average maintenance cost will drop off over time as I replace all of the more expensive items, tyres, brake discs and dampers. Although it's an Aston Martin, it is still just a car and the same as any other car to work on. However, Aston Martin parts are off the scale expensive which does make it an expensive car to own.

Loooong time since my kids were that age. I’d forgotten how grown up they can sound at such a young age!!

As a father of 2 myself, i love that I stumbled upon your channel - a fresh take on what cars are REALLY like to live with as a family man. Thanks for the great content 👍🏻👍🏻

Forget the money for a second I don't think you will forget the memories you had with your family in it. Good thing you documented it all

Bittersweet moment dude. First V12 and the car that launched one of the best YouTube channels out there. It wouldn’t be going if you didn’t have a great plan in place, so I, like so many other thousands of people are itching to see what’s coming as its replacement. Big love to you all and hope things are settling back into the usual family rhythm now

When I had my 05 DB9, I can honestly say that it made every trip, beyond nipping down the shops, into an occasion! I now want a Rapide S - it'll cost probably double what I paid for the DB9, but it's a LOT newer, has significantly more room in the back, more modern tech and it STILL sounds like a Titan gargling thunder!!

Good god that start up sounded glorious!

That montage as the end was so wholesome! Making special memories as a family whilst still able to enjoy something your passionate about is just perfect 👌 can’t wait for the new car reveal and the start of the trading down series!

Just came across your channel and I love it. You echo a lot of my wants, needs and experiences from cars as I’m a 40 year old petrolhead with a 3&5 year olds. I went from trying to run my previous daily for 5 years (Ferrari 360) alongside a family wagon (L322 Rangerover) when my first came along which proved undoable and unsatisfying. I still own both but my Ferrari has become a few weekends a year “classic in the garage car” and the RR used for tip runs and for really bad weather. I then went the luxury barge route and got a x351 Jaguar XJ. This was a step closer as a Dad Car, plenty of room, sportier than most saloon, frugal, great with the kids. I think it’s one of the best bargains in the car world, let alone the Dad Car world but it was never going to tickle the itch of dailying a 360 before kids, even with a remap. My missus now uses this mainly and it’s the one I drive for Dad trips away for the weekend. The whole time I’ve had kids (and even a few years before) I’ve been eyeing the FF. I even wanted a 612 prior to having kids just for the added practicality over a 360, but a missed out on a bargain of a manual example around 8 years ago and I never settled for another. I also drove a 599 and felt the V12 lacked what I was after. The FF was always king to me as you’ve come to the same conclusion. I decided enough was enough about a year ago and decided to seriously look for one. On that journey, I also came to the same conclusion you have. For a quarter of the price I could get a Maserati Granturismo and effectively have none of the headaches of running a Ferrari. Cheaper servicing, insurance and running costs, much easier to maintain with far less of a risk. It also had the added benefit of not gaining as much attention so on the school run (I do it everyday!) I’m just a bit of a dick, not a full blown bell end. I spent a good few months searching and got a 2014 4.7 ZF Sport for under 30k in the summer. It’s the greatest Dad Car by a long way in my opinion. The V8 is insane when in manual (the ZF 2013+ has upgraded software from the one you tested) and scratches the itch I was after by a long way, but then turning off sport it’s a totally different car and perfect for dad duties. Really comfortable, relatively quite and of course very practical. I think it’s prettier than the FF as you agree too and there’s no other alternative for my wants. I couldn’t be happier. Sorry for the long post but I hope you read it. I’m not too far from you if you want to get in touch. Please check out my channel too which I’ve recently started and is a lot more budget and mod based! I’ve gratefully subscribed to yours and I’m sure to watch all your previous and future content with much pleasure! Many thanks!

Loved the video, those two little girls were funny. The “are we there yet” look on their faces sometimes, but also engaging with you very well. …. Oh and the car was good too😃😉 great review, and honest appraisal. Thank you for putting together a very good blog. One day I’ll own one, I hope.

Hi Ben and kids. Hope your doing good. That was one awesome video. I'm going to miss seeing you and the kids in that car. Can't wait to see what the next car will be. Stay safe & take care.

Another amazing video! Love the montage at the end 💙

Great sign off, tear in my eye for the montage, looking forward to an interesting future for Dadcars! Great to see Monty too x

Owner of a 4.7L V8V here, yes it is cheaper to run (26 months owned so far, under $500 a year, 14K miles driven thusfar, of course that'll go up when its time for the clutch and coils/plugs), but you are correct, at the end of the day it's mostly negligible. I do daily mine, but I've got a three pedal manual, so my overall costs will be less as I can get more mileage out of the clutch. To your point though, I like the look of the DB9 2+2 style. I didn't get one because it didn't fit what I wanted (black on black, true 2 seater, 3 pedal manual). Lovely car, nice vid good sir, appreciate your contribution to the Aston community!

That montage at the end! 😭 Really love following you on this journey Ben. You’re awesome x

This is a timeless classic beauty. Its absolutely class. Id daily a DB9 for sure. That engine sound alone. I have considered the Rapide before getting the 8 series GC. Great content Dad Cars 🎉 and can't wait to see what's next 👀

You sir are a beautiful daddy …. Even if you did miss a bless you there 😁…GOOD ON YER MATE LOVE YOUR CONTENT 👏👍

Great video. I've really enjoyed your adventures with your DB9 (makes me look forward to when my wife and I have kids so I can share mine with them), and look forward to seeing what your family drives next!