It’s possible that the archetypal Aston Martin that springs to the minds of most people when they think of the British brand would be James Bond’s DB5.
With a rear-wheel-drive setup powered by a 4-liter straight-six engine, it is James Bond’s iconic car, although it was used most heavily in Goldfinger.
With 282 hp and 288 lb-ft, it made 60 mph in around 8 seconds, good for the 60s, but the car was heavy at more than 3,300 pounds.
Next, the DB9 might be the obvious choice, launched around 2004 and continuing for 12 years. It launched with the silky 5.9-liter V12 which provided 450 hp for your right foot along with 420 lb-ft; plus a 3800 lb mass for your left foot to stop.
Actually, Bond had another beautiful and modern Aston before the DB9, the less well-known but equally elegant car in the form of the DB7.
As it is older than the DB9, it can be both cheaper to buy and have the potential for expensive maintenance – here we’ll look at how much it costs to get in one that isn’t in the Gran Turismo video game series.
The Aston Martin DB7 Is A Capable GT Full Of Style
Introduced around 1994 and soldiering on for 10 years until the DB9 successor, the DB7, revealed a much more modern design on the outside than its predecessor, the DB6.
Following a buyout from Ford and also relying on Jaguar for the aged Jaguar XJ-S platform, it at least looked unique and fresh on the outside – it has often featured in lists of the most beautiful cars in the world.
Under the hood was either a 3.2-liter straight-six with 340 hp / 360 lb-ft with the aid of a supercharger.
Later came that 5.9-liter V12 again, not yet making DB9-levels of power but still making enough with 420 hp and around 400 lb-ft.
Interestingly, the original 5.9-liter came about when someone decided to weld two 3-liter Ford Duratec V6s together to create something a little more impressive and quick.
For a relatively-heavy car, these ‘Vantage’ V12 models still made 5 seconds to 60 mph possible.
Soft top versions used the Volante name and most models made somewhere around 4000 lbs on the scales, manual gearboxes were almost always available.
You Can Buy An Aston Martin DB7 For Less Than You Think
No smartphone mirroring was on offer here, but you could fit an aftermarket unit yourself.
The equipment levels would be put to shame by most compact city cars today – there were airbags, electric mirrors, air conditioning, and even heated seats.
For your media indulgence you could have up to a 6-disc CD multi-changer – not quite like having Spotify but good for the time.
Sought-after examples are the Vantage V12 ones and the Volantes, but most DB7’s are cheaper than the average Aston Martin Virage Vantage or DB9.
Expensive models are the lightly-used DB7s and the GTAs and Zagato cars, for the Vantages and the 3.2-liter ones, UK examples sit around $ 40-47,000.
In the US on Autotrader, there are some cheap DB7s currently listed, the cheapest as low as 25,000 dollars for a Volante from 1997 with 42,000 miles clocked.
There is a 2003 Vantage with 30,000 miles on the odometer for 70,000 dollars, but the rule seems to be in the $32,000 - $42,000 range.
So, $35,000 seem to be the average, for a car with less than 50,000 miles and prices then vary with age, engine, and what type of model you’re looking at.
If you want more power, you can try the very big, very heavy, and very impressive Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600 which provides 90s retro cool with a 550 hp 5.3-liter twin-supercharged V8.
You’ll need $368,000 for one of those over on Hemmings.com – it is negotiable, but it is also in Germany.