Considering trading my M3 for a Mk2 Aston Martin DB9 - Am I Nuts?

[Andratch]

Hey Folks,

I have a '05 M3 Comp with 50k miles. Bought it in 2022. I've invested a ton in it over the last three years...new suspension, big 3, interior refresh bits, CSL intake, etc. Other than still having SMG, it's my ideal spec, and it's basically perfect (for me). Picture below.

A friend of mine has a '14 Aston Martin DB9 Carbon Edition with 17k miles. Black on Black. Totally factory. It's always been maintained at the local Aston dealer, has good records, and...6L V12! They're all ZF autos, which doesn't bother me.

Only thing is that the DB9 has a rebuilt title. HOWEVER, it's only because he accidently backed into a truck and it slightly bent part of the unibody by the rear quarter. Insurance wrote it off because on his policy, any unibody damage, even small = total. Kinda like how you see all those Rivians written off for minor crap. It was repaired by the Aston dealer, looks brand new and has zero ongoing impact on anything at all. I consider it totally resolved, I'm not worried about it, just sucks about the title branding.

Obviously the M3 is much more technical and precise - and the DB9 is a GT car. I live in Houston, and there are zero technical roads. So, I do feel like the M3 is being wasted over here.

A bit of research shows that the DB9 is actually pretty reliable. Especially as a weekend car. Lots of Ford parts, reliable trans, and the engine design has been around for a while. My M3 is reliable too. That said, while I'm very comfortable with doing my own maintenance, I know AM doesn't have anywhere near the Forum and Aftermarket support that the E46 M3 does.

A big consideration here is - my wife doesn't care for the M3. So, it's purely my car, she doesn't ride in it. That kinda takes some fun out of it.

He's offered me a trade. My car + $10k for the DB9. If I value my car at $40k (maybe optimistic?), that basically means I'd be getting a facelifted DB9 Carbon Edition for $50k. I'm not really bothered by the title because I'd plan to keep it for quite a while.

Here's where I need help: I am going to do one of two things:

1) Keep the M3 and do a 6 Speed Swap.

2) Trade for the DB9

What do y'all think?

[Andratch]

And if you don’t mind, explain WHY you chose what you chose so your logic can help me with my decision.

[Estoril]

One is a sports car. The other is a heavy luxury car. Apples and oranges. Choose your priority.

[Andratch]

One is a sports car. The other is a heavy luxury car. Apples and oranges. Choose your priority.

Yeah. That’s the thing that’s making the decision so difficult. They’re so different experiences.

[Nate047]

Trade. The part where you talk about the M3 being wasted if there are no technical roads in your area. That’s why. These are not fun straight line or beltway cruisers.

[M3LSB.Gab]

just because it is black on black, you will miss having a color on a car.

[Andratch]

Trade. The part where you talk about the M3 being wasted if there are no technical roads in your area. That’s why. These are not fun straight line or beltway cruisers.

That’s why my wife doesn’t like the M3. All we have is traffic and grid. The nearest twisty drive is an hour away.

[oceansize]

That’s why my wife doesn’t like the M3. All we have is traffic and grid. The nearest twisty drive is an hour away.

Yeah I voted to get rid of the M3 as long as a move isn't in your near future to the best of your knowledge. Although if going DB9 I think I would look at Jaguar F-type R as well or just a regular F-type. Cool cars. Also, Porsche Panamera for fun plus a back seat.

[CrisSilberGrau]

M3 Comes alive on proper roads and/or a track. It can be a real weapon on track when tuned or modded as such, which then takes away from its street manners. You can still strike a balance but there will be compromises. In your build synopsis you haven't mentioned suspension, brakes, bushings, geometry correction stuff, CF roof, weight reduction etc etc. This is also a car you may not find again in as good a condition as you've made it out to be. Good M3s with ZCP are hard to find. A very important factor that not a lot of ppl know about unless they're here, the M3 is a car you can get your hands on pretty easily and do almost all the work yourself, to me that's hugely important.

DB9 is a beautiful car, auto is meh, the combo of the color AND wheels is terrible. Black chrome and black wheels is awful. You'd have to change that imo soon as you get the car, silver wheels or bust, maybe BBS LMs or something. It's one of the prettiest GTs ever made, I dont think you can cite reliability with an Aston or pretty much anything made in the UK. You know how reliable our cars are and well....

It comes down to you. You can only do it wrong by listening to someone other than yourself... like your wife and what she would prefer (assuming she has her own car) I mean no offense by that at all.

[CrisSilberGrau]

Yeah I voted to get rid of the M3 as long as a move isn't in your near future to the best of your knowledge. Although if going DB9 I think I would look at Jaguar F-type R as well or just a regular F-type. Cool cars. Also, Porsche Panamera for fun plus a back seat.

Underrated car the F-Type R (RWD variant) pre LCI (ie not SVR). Saw one yesterday in red stock with the silver wheels, pure class, absolutely beautiful design.

[Andratch]

M3 Comes alive on proper roads and/or a track. It can be a real weapon on track when tuned or modded as such, which then takes away from its street manners. You can still strike a balance but there will be compromises. In your build synopsis you haven't mentioned suspension, brakes, bushings, geometry correction stuff, CF roof, weight reduction etc etc. This is also a car you may not find again in as good a condition as you've made it out to be. Good M3s with ZCP are hard to find. A very important factor that not a lot of ppl know about unless they're here, the M3 is a car you can get your hands on pretty easily and do almost all the work yourself, to me that's hugely important.

DB9 is a beautiful car, auto is meh, the combo of the color AND wheels is terrible. Black chrome and black wheels is awful. You'd have to change that imo soon as you get the car, silver wheels or bust, maybe BBS LMs or something. It's one of the prettiest GTs ever made, I dont think you can cite reliability with an Aston or pretty much anything made in the UK. You know how reliable our cars are and well....

It comes down to you. You can only do it wrong by listening to someone other than yourself... like your wife and what she would prefer (assuming she has her own car) I mean no offense by that at all.

I don't mind the auto at my age, but TOTALLY agree on the wheels. I was already planning to replace them with silver somethings, just don't know what yet. LMs could be interesting, I did see some Brixton CM10s on a Vanquish that looked interesting. Hell, DBS wheels look good too with some spacers. But yeah, no black wheels.

[CrisSilberGrau]

I don't mind the auto at my age, but TOTALLY agree on the wheels. I was already planning to replace them with silver somethings, just don't know what yet. LMs could be interesting, I did see some Brixton CM10s on a Vanquish that looked interesting. Hell, DBS wheels look good too with some spacers. But yeah, no black wheels.

Agreed on DBS wheels with maybe a slight 10mm drop. DB9 is an all time beautiful car, youll definitely be looking back every time you get out of it.

[Andratch]

Agreed on DBS wheels with maybe a slight 10mm drop. DB9 is an all time beautiful car, youll definitely be looking back every time you get out of it.

Those are my two modifications - lowering springs (H&R makes some), and wheels/spacers. IMO, the DB9 is one of the best looking modern Astons of all time, with the DBS and the 2000's Vanquish. But the Vanquish is a maintenance nightmare, DBS is too expensive, and I don't like anything since.

[Slideways]

That is a bad trade for you IMO.

Driver's car v. GT cruiser car
Clean title v. Rebuilt title
Parts support - M3 > AM
Cost of ownership - M3 < AM
Weight - M3 << AM

If you want to feel all 007 in the M3, just know that the DB5 stunt car had an S54. The E46 M3 is like a modern DB5 lol

[Andratch]

That is a bad trade for you IMO.

Driver's car v. GT cruiser car
Clean title v. Rebuilt title
Parts support - M3 > AM
Cost of ownership - M3 < AM
Weight - M3 << AM

If you want to feel all 007 in the M3, just know that the DB5 stunt car had an S54. The E46 M3 is like a modern DB5 lol

I'm not as concerned about GT vs Driver, our roads are more for GT down here. Weight doesn't really bug me either at my age, but parts and cost are definitely concerns for me. I've been spoiled by FCP Euro and whatnot.....I don't see many vendors for Aston at all. I dont want to be "dealer only"

The title is a concern just from a resale standpoint if I part ways with it down the road. I was around for the damage that "totaled" it, and it was just a case of bad spot for a minor bend that Insurance doesn't like to repair.

I don't think he's desperate to sell the car immediately, so maybe I can enjoy the M3 more and then do the trade down the road. But another factor weighing on me is that my wife doesn't like the M3, so it feels selfish to keep just for myself.