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Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Published 10:06 am Wednesday, July 1, 2009

For three short days in June, I was living the dream. Blessed (or cursed) with the 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante convertible, I quickly learned that rock-star status comes with a price.

One of the most sophisticated and technically advanced sports cars in the world, the DB9 Volante successfully balances the attributes of a sports car with features normally found in luxury cars. And that, my friends, is a major understatement.

Priced outside the means of most – a mere $205,000 – this Aston Martin quickly became the center of attention. During my quick trip into QFC to pick up a sandwich, the DB9 had attracted a crowd of gawkers, circling the car in awe.

Anywhere I went, a crowd and long conversations ensued. Suddenly I became trapped with the unwanted attention this superstar — featured in James Bond flicks from “Goldfinger” to “Quantum of Solace” — attracted.

Much as I loved this Aston Martin and all the worldly goods it offered, I must say I wasn’t disappointed when the dream ended with the delivery of a different press vehicle and the cloak of obscurity it provided.

Where do I begin? Let’s start with the fact that it took two Norwegians almost 10 minutes to move this work of art from its Herald parking spot. The first problem was figuring out where to insert what serves as the DB9’s key (middle of the dash). Next, the discovery of the Start button took a little more searching. Next came the cumbersome task of releasing the parking brake. This required timing the release of the hand brake with the pushing of an electronic brake button. Once accomplished, the hunt for the automatic shifter commenced. There was none. Once the discovery of more dash-mounted push buttons was made, all systems were go.

The DB9 sprang to life with a testosterone-inducing cacophony of engine and exhaust notes — more like a symphony heavy with bass, cello, bassoon and tympani. It was magical.

In mere seconds, after the push of another button, the Aston Martin’s top was dropped and marine air enveloped my nostrils, along with scents of the hand-stitched leather seats and dash, and mahogany wood veneer that framed the car’s pop-up navigation system.

A great sports car needs a great engine – it’s the heart of any high-performance machine. In the DB9’s case, the great engine is a powerful yet refined all-aluminum 6.0-liter V12. Performance is enormous, yet usable. The 470-horsepower Volante jets from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds, with a top speed governed at 190.

The six-speed Touchtronic 2 fully automatic transmission uses shift-by-wire technology with magnesium alloy paddles sited behind the steering wheel – enabling instant, F1-style gear changes. And the DB9, of course, hugs the road with a vice-like grip.

No sports car manufacturer has a greater design heritage than Aston Martin, and this model is no exception. The Volante is subtle, not outrageous.

Aston Martin has produced exclusive, handcrafted sports cars for more than 90 years.

In that time, fewer than 45,000 units have been built, and more than 80 percent are still in use, cherished, driven and raced by enthusiastic owners around the world.

I felt privileged to live the dream for three short days and 200 miles – even if it did mean sacrificing a little anonymity. Believe me, it was a small price to pay.