2010 Aston Martin DBS

Review

Not for the faint of heart in either the literal sense or in the economic one, the 2010 Aston Martin DBS is a privilege-heavy, high-performance grand touring exotic machine that brooks no insult by comparison to lesser imitators like Jaguar. Available in either a coup or a convertible (Volante), the 2010 DBS is designed – without shame, to appeal to a specific and highly select class of person.

Performance

From the moment you put the crystal-capped key fob into the “Emotion Control Unit” of the DBS, you are setting yourself up for an almost surreal aural experience. The engine purrs to life with a luscious growl that will be felt in every atom of your being, both physical and spiritual. Putting the 6.0-liter V12 transmission into gear offers you an Earth-moving 510 horses at your command that will almost beg to be let free to run up to the car’s maximum 191 miles per hour, achieving the first sixty of those in a G-Force inducing 4.3 seconds.

You can choose from either a manual or automatic transmission for the rear-wheel drive DBS and the car performs in outstanding form whichever way you choose to go, including your decision to stick with the coupe or go with the rag-top convertible. Though the frame is somewhat less sturdy with the convertible, you will not feel any squeamishness or bend while putting the DBS through its formidable paces on the road.

Exterior Features

The trunk, front fenders, hood, chin spoiler and rear diffuser of the DBS are made of carbon fiber with a nice distinctive weave. The car rides uncomfortably close to the ground which can be a problem when dealing with speed bumps and parking too close to curbs. Fortunately, the doors of the DBS open slightly upward in order to deal with the curb issue and add a taste of that that European ultra sports car flair. A front sonar parking sensor is designed to help with low obstacles, but is unfortunately positioned midway up the bumper, somewhat ruining its effectiveness.

Interior Features

Beautiful leather, seats are not a surprise in this vehicle, which ostensibly has two rear seats, but which, in reality are little more than ornamental shelves seeing as how there is no actual leg room provided for anyone to sit. In theory a small child could sit back there cross-legged.

Described as “perplexing” in one auto review, the multimedia controller for the 2010 DBS manages everything from the navigation system to the car stereo and CD system. The DBS does not leave much else to be desired when it comes to the interior features as long as your tastes trend toward the ultimate in comfort and refinement so much that you might be tempted to just stay in the car rather than going home.

Safety & Specifications

Nice safety features in the 2010 DBS include sensors that can detect when a rollover is imminent and cause emergency roll hoops to deploy through the tonneau cover of the Volante, fontal and side impact airbags that are seat mounted, antilock brakes with traction control and a low tire pressure warning system.

Car safety data was unavailable and still being collected by the government at the time of this publication.

Upgrade Options

For an ultra-luxury touring vehicle such as this, upgrade options are going to run quite a bit on the ostentatious side, not surprisingly. It’s more aptly described as “personalization” rather than upgrade options, but they are available and include a satellite radio system, and 10-spoke wheels, interior color options and contrast stitching in the leather.

How the Aston Martin DBS Compares to Other Sports Cars

When your top competitors are Ferrari and Lamborghini, you know you’ve made it. The Ferrari California, Ferrari F430 Spider and Lamborghini Gallardo are all direct competitors for the 2010 Aston Martin DBS. These cars may trump the DBS in performance and raw power, but for an overall package deal, they do not at all leave it in the dust.

Conclusion: Is the 2010 DBS a Smart Buy?

Do not think for an instant that there is anything to be ashamed of in the 2010 Aston Martin DBS. It is an exotic sports car that can hold its own against the competition quite nicely, providing a visceral driving experience using a combination of impeccable engineering to create ultra driving specifications and flawless design to generate wonderful style and beauty that is only hinted at in the photos you see.

There is no IntelliChoice 5-year cost of ownership information for the Aston Martin. Why would they bother? Those who purchase such vehicles with this kind of car pricing aren’t going to be the least bit concerned with how much the car is going to cost them in the long run. What matters in the now are the features available, the specs, and whether or not they are suitably impressed in their own road test of the car.

If you are still curious, the invoice price for the 2010 Aston Martin DBS starts at a paltry $286,400. If that number seems high to you, well enjoy yourself if you should ever be fortunate to see one drive by. If that number does indeed seem paltry, then consider it the next time you’re looking for something to drive – it is well worth your consideration.