Aston Martin DBS

A couple of tweaks and the Aston Martin DBS is becoming a formidable replacement for Simon George's Lamborghini

I’ve discovered that when you own an Aston Martin there is an unwritten code of conduct that goes with the privilege. Let me explain. Drive a Lamborghini in Italy and should you be fortunate enough to pass another of Sant’Agata’s finest you can be sure the occasion will be marked with the flashing of lights and wild gesticulations. By contrast, if you drive an Aston in England and you come across another of Gaydon’s finest you will find the occasion marked by – at best – an almost imperceptible downwards movement of the head. All very civilised. I quite like it, in fact.

Since my last report I’ve stumbled upon a couple more of the DBS’s secret weapons, neither unfortunately being front-mounted .30 calibre machine guns. The first is courtesy of a considerate fellow DBS owner and evo reader who emailed me to suggest removing a fuse. The magic Fuse 22 in fact. Taking this out allows the valves in the DBS’s exhaust to open at all engine speeds, instead of only over 5000rpm, and in doing so takes the Aston one step closer to being just a little outrageous. The sound from the mighty 5.9-litre V12 is now truly awe-inspiring at all speeds.

Reading the instruction manual (and not before time!) led to the discovery of the second thing: a ‘Track mode’ button. Now, I’ve always viewed such things with a little scepticism, as my old orange Lambo Murciélago long-termer (still alive and kicking, now with 109,000 miles on the clock) has a similar switch that doesn’t seem to alter the car’s characteristics one iota. But on the DBS? It’s simply terrific! The big Aston hunkers down, becoming much sharper through the twisties and feels far and away more ‘planted’ on the black stuff. Despite the harder ride and corresponding protestations from the girlfriend, this button, with the aid of a bit of Sellotape, now stays permanently pressed. OK the 1700kg Aston is no Ariel Atom, but gone is the confidence-sapping detached feeling previously experienced, especially on wet roads. I’m just annoyed with myself for not finding it before.

Partnership
Need to sell your car?
Find your best offer from over 5,000+ dealers. It’s that easy.

Problems so far? Well, a door-seal on the driver’s side has come away, and the satnav screen doesn’t quite lower itself completely into the piano-black dash. Hardly major issues, but as the Aston is booked in for its first service soon I’m hoping they will be addressed.

My three-month verdict, then. After a moderately good start I have to admit the DBS has grown on me enormously. It may be 100bhp or so down on the four-wheel-drive LP640, but now I’m learning to adapt to it, I’m finding this rear-wheel-drive monster is right at the front in the fun stakes. Just wish I could shake off the strange desire to wear a bow tie whenever I drive it…

Running Costs

Date acquiredJanuary 2009
Total mileage6631
Costs this month£592 (rear tyres)
Mileage this month1089
MPG this month10.5

Most Popular

Best car tyres 2023: evo performance tyre test
Best car tyres 2023
Features

Best car tyres 2023: evo performance tyre test

Which tyre should you choose for your performance car? This year’s evo tyre test puts eight strong contenders through their paces to find the very bes…
1 Dec 2023
Car pictures of the week: evo’s Car of the Year contenders
eCoty – the contenders
Features

Car pictures of the week: evo’s Car of the Year contenders

evo’s Car of the Year issue hits newsstands next week – here's a preview of what you can expect
2 Dec 2023
The Tesla Cybertruck has finally landed, but it’s more expensive than promised
Tesla Cybertruck
News

The Tesla Cybertruck has finally landed, but it’s more expensive than promised

After years of setbacks, Tesla has delivered the first production examples of its controversial Cybertruck pick-up
1 Dec 2023