Transmission Rough Shifting / Hesitation
high- Typically appears
- 30–60k mi
- Estimated repair
- $1,500 – $4,000
2014 Aston
Martin DB9
5.9L V12
The 2014 Aston Martin DB9 is a hand-built British grand tourer powered by a 5.9L naturally aspirated V12. It sits at the core of Aston Martin's lineup — a long-hood, rear-wheel-drive coupe or convertible that prioritizes elegance and high-speed cruising over outright track performance. At roughly 510 horsepower, it's genuinely fast, but the character is refined rather than aggressive. The DB9 uses an aluminum and composite body structure bonded to an aluminum VH platform, keeping curb weight reasonable for a V12 car. The 6-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic (sourced from ZF) sends power to the rear wheels. Interior quality is high — hand-stitched leather throughout — but infotainment technology was already dated by 2014 standards. Owning a DB9 in a place like Lake Geneva means committing to specialist care. Parts are expensive, availability is limited compared to mainstream European sports cars, and this is emphatically a fair-weather vehicle. Budget accordingly, store it properly over winter, and it will reward you with one of the best-sounding engines ever put in a road car.
Reliability
2/5
Engine
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Drivetrain
RWD
Fuel
Gasoline
MPG
13 city / 19 hwy / 15 combined
Seats
4
Doors
2
Body
Coupe
MSRP
$183,095
Overview
AI-curatedThe 2014 Aston Martin DB9 is a hand-built British grand tourer powered by a 5.9L naturally aspirated V12. It sits at the core of Aston Martin's lineup — a long-hood, rear-wheel-drive coupe or convertible that prioritizes elegance and high-speed cruising over outright track performance. At roughly 510 horsepower, it's genuinely fast, but the character is refined rather than aggressive. The DB9 uses an aluminum and composite body structure bonded to an aluminum VH platform, keeping curb weight reasonable for a V12 car. The 6-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic (sourced from ZF) sends power to the rear wheels. Interior quality is high — hand-stitched leather throughout — but infotainment technology was already dated by 2014 standards. Owning a DB9 in a place like Lake Geneva means committing to specialist care. Parts are expensive, availability is limited compared to mainstream European sports cars, and this is emphatically a fair-weather vehicle. Budget accordingly, store it properly over winter, and it will reward you with one of the best-sounding engines ever put in a road car.
Known for
- Hand-built 5.9L V12 with a memorable exhaust note
- Aluminum-intensive VH platform — lightweight for its size
- Elegant long-hood GT proportions inside and out
- High ownership costs and specialist-only servicing
- Infotainment system that lagged well behind the price point
Best for
- Weekend and fair-weather grand touring
- Enthusiasts who want a handcrafted British exotic
- Drivers comfortable with specialty-shop maintenance costs
- Garage queens and car show regulars
Watch for
- Electrical gremlins — aging CANBUS and infotainment modules
- Cooling system leaks can escalate to overheating if ignored
- Transmission rough-shift issues in the 30–60k range
- Front brake rotor and pad wear is faster than expected for the weight
- Parts sourcing and lead times can be significant outside major metros
Common issues by mileage
6 knownFuel System Running Lean (Bank 1 & Bank 2)
medium- Typically appears
- 40–70k mi
- Estimated repair
- $400 – $900
Random / Multiple Cylinder Misfire
medium- Typically appears
- 50–80k mi
- Estimated repair
- $400 – $1,200
Catalytic Converter Efficiency Failure (Bank 1 & Bank 2)
medium- Typically appears
- 70–100k mi
- Estimated repair
- $2,500 – $6,000
Cooling System Leaks / Overheating
medium- Typically appears
- 40–70k mi
- Estimated repair
- $600 – $2,000
Infotainment / Electrical Module Faults
high- Typically appears
- 20–50k mi
- Estimated repair
- $400 – $1,500
Maintenance schedule
- 1 Every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first Oil & Filter Change
The V12 runs tight tolerances. Use the manufacturer-specified full synthetic and do not stretch intervals — oil breakdown accelerates wear on the timing chain and VVT components.
- 2 Every 5,000 miles or 6 months Tire Rotation
RWD with 510 hp puts uneven stress on the rear tires. Regular rotation extends tire life and catches uneven wear patterns that signal alignment or suspension issues early.
- 3 Every 20,000 miles or 24 months Brake Fluid Flush
Brake fluid is hygroscopic. On a performance car with large-diameter rotors and significant thermal load, degraded fluid raises the risk of fade. Keep this on schedule.
- 4 Every 30,000 miles or 36 months Coolant System Inspection & Flush
The DB9's cooling system has a known tendency to develop slow leaks at hose connections and the expansion tank. Inspect hoses and the tank cap seal at every coolant service.
- 5 Every 60,000 miles or 72 months Transmission Fluid Change
The ZF 6-speed is generally durable, but contaminated fluid accelerates the rough-shift issues this car is known for. Use only ZF-approved fluid.
- 6 Every 30,000 miles Spark Plug Replacement (12 plugs)
Twelve plugs means significant labor. Worn plugs on a V12 contribute directly to misfires and lean conditions. Budget for labor time — access is tight on this engine.
- 7 Any time the car sits more than 2–3 weeks Battery Tender During Storage
The DB9's CANBUS and alarm system draw continuous current. A flat battery causes cascading electrical faults and module resets. A quality battery tender is mandatory for Wisconsin winters.
- 8 Each fall before winter storage Pre-Storage Inspection (Annual)
Check cooling hoses, brake lines, tire condition, and top off fluids before laying the car up. Catching a slow coolant leak or a cracked hose in the shop is far cheaper than finding it in spring after a freeze.
Always defer to the manufacturer's service manual for warranty-mandated intervals.
Cost of ownership
Annual maintenance
$2,500 – $6,000
Fuel
Premium 91+ octane only. At 15 MPG combined and typical driving, expect $3,000–$5,000/year in fuel depending on mileage.
Insurance
Expect $2,000–$4,500/year for a well-maintained example depending on storage situation, agreed value policy, and driver profile. An agreed-value collector policy is strongly recommended over standard market-value coverage.
This is an expensive car to own beyond the purchase price. Routine annual maintenance alone runs $2,500–$6,000 at an independent specialist. An unplanned repair year — a transmission service, a catalytic converter, or an electrical module — can push total annual costs past $10,000 without breaking a sweat. Budget for a dedicated specialist shop relationship and a parts contingency fund. The DB9 rewards owners who plan ahead financially; it punishes those who defer maintenance.
Seasonal care
Lake Geneva, WI Winter
- Store the DB9 for winter — this car is not designed for road salt, sub-zero starts, or snow traction. Salt will attack the aluminum structure's bond lines and the undercarriage components.
- Before storage, connect a quality battery tender. The CANBUS network draws power continuously and will drain a healthy battery within 2–3 weeks, causing electrical faults.
- Change the oil before storage, not after. Combustion byproducts in used oil are acidic and will attack engine internals over a long storage period.
- Top off the fuel tank and add a fuel stabilizer to prevent ethanol-blended fuel from degrading and leaving varnish deposits in the fuel system.
- Store on jack stands or tire cradles if possible to prevent flat-spotting on the performance tires during months of static loading.
- Check that the garage is climate-controlled or at minimum insulated — extreme cold cycling is hard on rubber seals, hoses, and the leather interior.
Summer
- Monitor coolant level closely in summer heat — the DB9's cooling system leaks often first show up under high-temperature, high-load conditions.
- Check tire pressure before every outing. The low-profile performance tires are sensitive to pressure changes and heat soak from sitting in the sun raises pressure noticeably.
- Run the A/C system before the first hot day of the season to confirm it's holding charge after winter storage; recharging a dry system is much cheaper than addressing compressor damage.
- Inspect brake pads and rotors at the start of the driving season — summer is when the car gets used hardest, and worn front brakes are a known issue on this model.
Comparable vehicles
2014 Ferrari
California
Similar V8-powered GT coupe/convertible in the same price bracket, Italian exotic with comparable ownership costs and specialist-only servicing demands.
2014 Bentley
Continental GT
Hand-built British grand tourer with a W12, similar MSRP range and GT mission, though heavier and more luxury-focused than the DB9.
2014 Porsche
911 Carrera S
RWD sports car in an overlapping price range with far stronger long-term reliability and a much deeper independent-shop support network — a practical alternative for buyers who want weekend performance without exotic ownership costs.
2014 Mercedes-Benz
SL550
V8-powered grand touring roadster at a similar price point, offering comparable performance with significantly better parts availability and dealer/independent service coverage across the Midwest.
No catalog matchIf you're shopping for one
Red flags
- Missing or incomplete service records — walk away, the service history IS the car's value
- Any warning lights present at startup, especially powertrain or stability control
- Evidence of overheating: staining on the engine or coolant overflow, discolored coolant, or a sweet smell under the hood
- Rough, delayed, or slipping transmission — budget for a full rebuild before buying
- Signs of prior paint or body repair inconsistent with the car's mileage — the aluminum structure is expensive to repair correctly
- Deferred maintenance at high mileage — a DB9 with 70k+ miles and no documented spark plug or fluid services is a parts bill waiting to happen
What to inspect
- Full documented service history is non-negotiable — verify oil changes, transmission services, and any major repairs with receipts
- Cooling system: inspect all hoses, the expansion tank, and look for staining or deposits around the coolant reservoir and radiator connections
- Transmission behavior: test all shift modes and listen for hesitation, clunking, or slipping — repairs run $1,500–$4,000
- Electrical systems: cycle all windows, infotainment, HVAC, and exterior lighting — look for any warning lights or modules that won't communicate
- Underbody: inspect the bonded aluminum structure for any signs of prior collision repair, corrosion at bond points, or mismatched panel gaps
- Battery condition: have it load-tested; if the car has sat, the battery may be sulfated and the CANBUS modules may have stored fault codes from voltage drops
- Tire and brake condition: inspect front rotor thickness and pad depth — these wear faster than expected given the car's weight