Used Aston Martin DB7 1994 - 2004 review

There are few cars that make you feel more like an international man of mystery than an Aston Martin DB7. With 420bhp on tap, the 6.0-litre V12 engine produces phenomenal acceleration – right up to 184mph – and sounds amazing when pressed hard.

The car is wonderfully relaxed at real-world speeds, however. And with so much power available you can afford to be lazy with the gearchanges and simply cruise along. In fact, that's where the DB7 is at its best; it drives more like a grand tourer than a sports car.

The interior wraps you in soft leather and polished wood, but, while the hide of the seats looks inviting, the driving position is poor.

Boot space is tight, but just about big enough for a set of golf clubs, while the rear seats are really only usable by children on short runs.

Let's face it, an Aston Martin is not going to be cheap to run, and as on any high-end marque you can spend a small fortune on running and servicing costs. Using a main dealer will be expensive, but going to an independent specialist will save you money.

If you're intending to cover a reasonable number of miles in a DB7, you can expect to spend quite some time standing on petrol station forecourts. Fuel consumption can be 20mpg or even less, and insurance premiums will be high, too.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the car that runs the DB7 closest is the Jaguar XKR, which is related beneath the skin. Cheaper to buy and run, the less powerful Jaguar is arguably a better drive, but it doesn't come with the cachet of that winged badge on the bonnet.

Generally, the six-speed manual gearbox allows you to extract the most from the sonorous engine, but it can make it hard to change gear smoothly, so most owners opted for the automatic alternativw, which was reaplced by a sequential-shift Touchtronic system in 2000.

The right specification and colour are crucial in the DB7: darker colours are less desirable. You may expect a high level of goodies, and the basics are all in place, but the car lacks high-tech items such as satellite navigation or electrically folding door mirrors. You don't even get a CD player on the base model.

Main dealers are the best bet for finding newer examples, but there are plenty of cars available from independents. Most Astons are well cared for, so steer clear of less-than-pristine examples with high miles, and make sure the service history is complete. Be wary of very cheap deals.

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