Aston Martin DB9 Volante. This 450hp V-12 grand tourer is a wonderfully styled machine with effortless power and an elegant interior. The excuse for rear seats allows a small bag behind you. The lack of a gear shift selector is at first disconcerting, but once shown the push button start, park and drive buttons are easy to use. Gear selection for the 6-speed automatic is via paddle shifters on the steering column. This means they don't rotate with the steering wheel so you don't confuse your shifting. The V-12 starts with a brief bark and then settles into a smooth, quiet idle.
Interestingly, in the Drive mode, the upshifts are very smooth at full throttle. Also, at the speeds I was able to obtain, 6th had to be manually selected. I was a little surprised at the amount of wind noise, but it didn't have a wind blocker behind the seats. The ride was compliant but the weight was evident when turning and a slight amount of cowl shake which surprised me. However, the Aston Martin DB9 was definitely the comfortable cruiser of the group.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment