2008 Aston Martin DBS Review
22 Jun, 2008
16 Comments 
A well weighted clutch offering precise feel and feedback comes as a pleasant surprise to the left leg and with the superbly ratioed, six-speed Gratziano gearbox offering light, direct shifts any driver worth their salt should master the DBS effortlessly. Perhaps my only criticism, if any, at this point is the gear lever position does tend to throw your elbow toward the passenger seat instead of aftward.
The DBS proved time and time again to be astonishingly quick off the line over several timed 400 metre runs, but what impressed us most, was its huge torque, spread evenly through all six gears. It just doesn’t let up, even in sixth the DBS still pulls as hard as a Mt Isa road-train. As quick as it is, it’s not just the acceleration that impresses when it comes to the DBS but also the ease with which you can sail through the six speeds. As I said in our first steer, the DBS is the user-friendly supercar.
After shooting plenty of entertaining footage for our upcoming video it was time to hand the cars back for refueling. Meanwhile we journeyed out to the Cawnpore Hills before day’s end to see if it was the spectacle we’d been so keenly anticipating - it had better be, as it’s a big desert, and Matt has a shovel.
It was late afternoon and we were pushing the X-Trail hard as we needed to be well into our return trip before dark otherwise there was every possibility of quite literally running in to camels, cattle, emus, wild pig or ‘roos, a proposition none of us was keen on.
About an hour into the trip, we spotted some huge hills jutting upward in stark contrast to some of the flattest landscape you ever laid eyes on, flat in all directions, flat for so far in fact that the horizon is a distant shallow falcate crescent following the earth’s curvature.
We motored on, as we had to be getting close, given we could see what looked like a mesa or two, not far ahead. I kept saying to the guys how beautiful it was, trying to soften the blow, just in case the place did not live up to expectations.
Location: Home / Supercar Odyssey, Aston Martin, Behind the Wheel / ...
Rate Post: 
(9 votes, average: 4.22 out of 5)
Loading ...
-
Print it:
.jpg "Hummer Photo Shoot 07 (14 of 63).jpg")
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Very well written and thank you for going the extra extra mile in producing this story
(Report)
June 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
What an awesome read, felt truly involved, and what an awesome machine. Thanks guys.
(Report)
June 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
excellent story guys!!! pleaseure to read. As much as i love this car i cant help but think of what else i could get for that kinda money……….
(Report)
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I’m sure you could get plenty of things, but I doubt they would be as much fun.
(Report)
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Did anyone notice the stitching on the console wasn’t straight. Tee Hee.
Great read folks. Most can only drean at driving such machines. The hard work is obviously paying off.
Awsome car, arguably the nicest car on thr planet. British of course, Ooooh I’m so proud. Pity no diesels though, Tee Hee again.
(Report)
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Fellas,
Fantastic in every way, the Aston, the writing and the photography justified why you were the first to drive it in Australia.
I also appreciated the high res picture of the Mack Titan, its now my wallpaper, also a magnificent machine, it doesn’t have quite the sheet metal work but it has more power and and is more reliable than any Aston! I hope you appreciate that a road train cannot safely or feasibly leave single road bitumen to accommodate others, its not a choice the drivers have.
Thanks for the great review, now I’m waiting for the new RS4 review when they get around to releasing the car!
(Report)
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Nice Nice Nice,
Although that gearknob reminds me of future Biff’s (Back to the future) silver fist walking stick for some reason… :S
(Report)
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 am
I still prefer a 599gtb any day….good story guys!
Funny how the anti-spam word was Ferrari!
(Report)
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
What an epic journey and an epic car. An amazing article guys, I thoroughly enjoyed the read, even while I was suffering from a gargantuan case of jealousy. Good work.
Five stars across the board, wouldn’t expect anything less.
(Report)
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
FANTASTIC in all every way, For me the best looking car made right now. Just amazing
(Report)
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
GREAT CAR. GREAT STORY.
(Report)
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Great Review…
I’d hate to be hitting Potholes in one of those. How would the Aston Reps react to a scratch on the paint? 7 layers of Hand Crafted repair.
Also, someone must have been constantly polishing the car with all that red dirt around.
(Report)
June 24th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Doesn’t the Veyron’s steering wheel take something like 1½ weeks for one guy to stitch together? You get what you pay for I guess…
Awesome car and great pics!
(Report)
June 26th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Good review. Dream car! (Next to the R35 GTR!)
(Report)
July 31st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Been for a ride in this car. One word.
Faultless!
(Report)
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:50 am
This is the car which I always dream of. Great pics, Its professional image
(Report)