What is a bargain? Well, it’s all relative. According to the Collins dictionary, “Something that is a bargain is good value for money, usually because it has been sold at a lower price than normal.” With just 26,969 miles on the clock, this breathtakingly beautiful 2009 Aston Martin DB9 up for auction on Bring A Trailer could be a relatively inexpensive way of joining the V12 manual club, but V12 and manual is just one way of skinning a grand tourer. The Lexus LC 500 is wonderful, one of the best V8 GT cars ever made, and past manual DB9 results could send this DB9’s price on a collision course with Lexus’ flagship. This could get interesting.
It should go without saying that the Aston Martin DB9 is the platonic ideal V12 grand tourer. Big 5.9-liter engine up front, drive to the back, a forest on the dashboard, a herd’s worth of leather, suspension supple enough to sand down the road’s rough edges, and drop-dead gorgeous looks. I love the DB9, and so does just about everyone else. Even with the cringe-inducing Bond-obsessed hardcore fanbase, Aston Martins of this era just don’t feel as trashy as similarly-aged Lamborghinis and Ferraris. The DB9 doesn’t know what a Bitcoin is, has never sat parked outside of a crossfit class, and is blissfully unaware of TikTok. It’s a proper, distinguished GT car that doesn’t fall into the frumpiness trap.
Driving a DB9, you get a sense that the engineers simply hadn’t heard of Nürburgring lap times, instead focusing on how to get from Gaydon to Loch Ness as quickly, confidently, and comfortably as possible. The steering is cleaver-sharp and astonishingly accurate for a car of this age and genre, the suspension tuning feels as right as an Eames chair, and the V12 under the hood is aurally intoxicating yet never brash. Even the six-speed ZF automatic transaxle found in most examples holds up remarkably well. However, this Aston Martin DB9 doesn’t just have two pedals.
Between the front seats of this Aston Martin DB9 sits a conventional shifter with six forward ratios to choose from. In 2009, some bold soul decided to skip newfangled automation and ended up scoring one incredibly rare coupe. Just 385 manual DB9 coupes were ever made, making this variant rarer than the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche 918 Spyder. To the brave few with the outstanding taste to order these cars new, we salute you.
Some commenters on Bring A Trailer are taking issue with the minor cosmetic imperfection of lifting dashboard leather, but that affects basically every Aston of this vintage and is a trivial manner to stretch out and glue back down. If anything’s working against this Aston Martin DB9, I reckon it’s the all-black-everything spec. Sure, black paint and a black interior is unassuming, but it certainly isn’t the first choice for highlighting how stunning this car is. Still, anything with a V12 and a manual transmission is tantalizingly rare, and I wouldn’t be surprised if bids climb well beyond the current high bid of $58,000. If things really pop off, bidding could put this 14-year-old DB9 up against the latest and greatest in V8 GT cars: The 2024 Lexus LC 500, now with a touchscreen instead of a stupid trackpad.
The LC 500 gets all the GT car hallmarks right. It’s absolutely beautiful, feels preposterously expensive and well-made, emits a brilliant noise, and is all-day comfortable. It’s also properly expensive when you load it up — with the dynamic handling package, the all weather package, the heads up display, the Mark Levinson sound system, and the new-for-’24 multispoke wheels, this big coupe annihilates checkbooks with a price tag of $111,210 including a $1,325 freight charge. However, manual DB9s have hammered for wild money before, with this Volante fetching $85,000 despite having a hit on its CarFax. That may still be $14,550 more than a base LC 500, but given historically lower interest rates on new cars and the presence of a factory warranty, I could see the justification to go new.
With a new LC 500, you don’t have to worry about history, and you don’t have to worry about servicing costs either because it’s a Lexus. The five-liter 2UR-GSE V8 is a proven, reliable performer, and Lexus vehicles aren’t known for being electrical nightmares. Chances are, 200,000 miles from now, an LC 500 will still feel great and cost pennies to maintain.
With the auction for this Aston Martin DB9 closing later today, we’ll have to wait and see if this six-speed coupe closes the gap with today’s greatest entry-level GT car. Granted, even if things inch towards six-figure territory, this DB9 will still be a bargain by V12 manual standards. After all, how many cheaper cars pair twelve pumping pistons with three pedals? There’s the BMW 8 Series, the Aston Martin DB7 GT, and that’s about it. However, the warranty and servicing network of the Lexus LC 500 is a massive benefit for GT buyers who actually want to grand tour. So, what’s your money on?
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer, Lexus)
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Aston Martin over a Lexus? H-E-double hockey sticks yes!
The answer depends entirely on your situation. I can’t afford either car so if you were simply offering to give me one for free I’d take the Lexus all day as it won’t break so I could afford to keep it and they are actually amazing to drive on a track. If I was the kind of person who had plenty of money to blow (and keep blowing) on an uber expensive toy then a manual Aston sounds like a fabulous way to enjoy lighting some money on fire.
If I were a billionaire I’d buy the DB9 just to keep the local weird-cars mechanic amused and employed.
My favorite car of all time is this (actually a Ford GT, but come on!!!!). My customer shut his business down and his retirement gift was a 2010 V12 DB9. I could not believe that he drove over to my shop to drop off a part he needed machined in a DB9. I stood their like a kid on Christmas morning.
I asked him how great it must be. He looked at me and said “It drives like a pig. slower than you think and it’s amazing how something with such a soft suspension can still feel harsh.”
I had to do everything in my power not to beat the crap out of him for saying anything disparaging about the Aston. He asked me if I wanted to take it for a spin and I was to dejected to take him up on the offer.
Modern life is hella boring. You can start doing drugs and crime, but your family and peers may frown on that endeavor. That Aston is a social respectable way to destroy yourself. Which frankly we don’t get enough opportunities to do. I’m shifting my own straight to bankruptcy.
Absolutely not. The LC500 is literally the perfect GT. It’s gorgeous, comfortable, sophisticated, and has a naturally aspirated V8 that you can play like an instrument. It will also run for eternity with nothing but preventative maintenance. It’s absolutely bomb proof, which is a sharp contrast to pretty much any other six figure sports car and especially compared a used exotic of some sort.
I guess if you’re one of those insufferable manual stans who refuses to consider anything with an automatic valid then there’s a small and dumb argument to be made for the Aston. But if that’s the case you’d be much better off just getting a 911…although it won’t be as unique or problem free as an LC500.
The LC is literally the perfect car. Don’t @ me.
I’m an insufferable manual Stan but the LC’s 10 speed is perfect. I would give up manuals forever if I got to drive an LC500 forever instead.
The Lexus is about the only automatic car I would buy that wasn’t an old land yacht. I think they’re woefully underrated and I think that’s why they’re so rare around me where expensive cars are common. Pictures do not do them justice, so I wonder if people just don’t know they exist or dismiss them from photos or because of the badge. Certainly, they must not have heard that incredible engine. Unless it drove terrible (which I have only heard the opposite), I’d pick one over a manual Porsche without having to think about it (I just don’t like Porsches, though—they’re fine, but they don’t speak to me in any way). I guess I’d have to drive the Aston first as that might very well be a case of disappointment.
No. The Lexus may not be quite as beautiful, but it is magnificent, it’s a Lexus, and it’s new. Trifecta.
I’m taking the Lexus LC in convertible form.
Hypothetical you, on a pristine summer day, heading into the garage to take a ‘pleasure cruise’ down the strangely deserted Route 1 with your preferred tunes on the sterophonix.
Life in the Lexus – “What a delightful drive, the tunes of my chosing sound great and boy, this seat sure is comfortable”
Life in the Aston “Just came back from the service house, I’ll go ahead and fire it up to take in pure motoring pleasure… fuck”
Lexus and it’s not even close.
A V12 Aston Martin manual vs a Lexus? Yeah, I’m going with the fun V12, thank you.
Both great looking cars with fantastic sounding engines. Automatic to automatic: Lexus, but manual, even with a boring color? You don’t buy these kinds of things as sensible daily drivers or if you’re worried about money. Aston Martin.
Not only is the Lexus ugly, but it’s just A Nice Car. No more, no less. You can get A Nice Car anywhere from any manufacturer.
The Aston is much more than just another Nice Car.
(that blue interior is gorgeous though)
We’ll have to agree to disagree. The LC500 is drop dead gorgeous in person.
Thinking of the LC as just a nice car means you haven’t experienced one. Nothing wrong with preferring the Aston’s styling if that’s more you but I can vouch for the LC being a lot more than just a nice car, it just happens to also be a nice car on top of everything else.
I thought that until I saw an LC500 and got to sit in it. It is amazing, and while I was initially skeptical of the $110k+ price tag, once inside I started thinking it might be a bargain. I can’t speak to the driving dynamics, as I didn’t get to drive it, but it is definitely on my list of cars for if I suddenly become ridiculously wealthy.
In person, they’re something else. The spindle grille even works on it (somehow). They’re also pretty rare, at least around me. Way more Lamborghinis or Aston Martins (even excluding the SUVs), though I suppose that’s counting multiple models over a longer period of time. And the Lexus comes in some fantastic colors. Just spending time on the configurator for a car I can’t afford, I was torn.
Depends on if I want to use it for some real GT tours or just attempt to floss around town. The Aston Fordmartin is perhaps the more reliable of old super cars because of the ford pedigree, but who can fault Toyota’s reputation, and honestly how much longer will they offer and honest to god NA V8 in one of those. I am also surprised they call it a 5 liter, the web site says it is a 5900 and change CC motor that is much closer to 6 liters. It does have the heinous Lexus grill that we all either hate or love, but it is subdued enough to almost look audi ish.
This on the same site where someone posted an article about two weeks ago what a money pit their V12 Aston was and how just starting the engine could cause spun bearings because it takes so long to get oil to the back cylinders?
https://www.theautopian.com/i-bought-a-flood-damaged-aston-martin-and-its-taking-over-my-life/
I love this site! Keep doing what you’re doing!
ps – I’d take the Aston – Lexuses (Lexi?) leave me cold…
The official plural of Lexus is just Lexus, like moose. It’s dumb
The forest of wood on the dash is usually accompanied by a Christmas tree of warning lights as well
The Aston
I mean, if I was in the market for a V12 with a stick shift, I’d go to Aston Martin in a heartbeat.
If I wanted a V8 coupe, I’d rather have one of two cars: an “it’s not even on the same level” Challenger, or a ZF 6 speed Gran Turismo.
Nonetheless, it depends on the situation, yet at heart, the DB9 is my choice.
Don’t the Lexus’s have that annoying bong which you can’t disable anytime you get close to redline? I would take the massive AM future repair bills over that anyday. Plus V12, they aren’t gonna be around much longer.
Would pick option 3 over the Lexus
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-rolls-royce-corniche-iii-4/
Or option 4
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-mg-mgb-gt-37/
Or the bonus Mercedes S. option
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-bmw-r69s-21/
Neither are big NA v8’s, but I digress.
No, there’s never any such noise around redline. LC500s do beep incessantly when you’re in reverse by default but that’s easy to disable
I think the RC-F did that, good thing they learned a lesson.
The Lexus LC 500 is the best car.
What’s the best GT car? Lexus LC 500.
What’s the best sports car? Lexus LC 500.
What’s the prettiest car? Lexus LC 500.
What car Is Always The Answer? Lexus LC 500.
What’s the best domestic half-ton pickup truck? Lexus LC 500.
What’s the best schoolbus? Lexus LC 500.
What’s the best Autopian RV? Lexus LC 500.
What’s the best breed of dog for allergy sufferers? Lexus LC 500.
I’ll take the Lexus LC 500. Green over brown please.
Lexus for me
Would it kill them to fix the dash leather first? Anyway, Lexus for me. I just have the feeling the dB would cost me the buying price again in maintenence.
Why not add a poll? I’d be interested in seeing the results. (Lexus all the way for me.)
Lexus is the correct choice here for me.
But could be persuaded to take the Aston if it included a Bond girl or two. Yeah two.
In fantasy land where I had the money to drop for either one? No, I wouldn’t. Lexus me please.