For your consideration is one of the most beautiful automobiles ever built. This Aston Martin is in the most attractive color combination for any car: black exterior and tan interior. Designed by Ian Cullum (who has moved on to design the new Jaguars), this 2001 Aston Martin DB7 Volante cost $150,000 when new. (“Volante” means convertible.)

I bought this car last month and I simply do not fit in it. I am about 6’2” with a very tall upper body (and correspondingly short legs, ha ha), and I am just too tall. So my loss (and the original owners’ financial loss) is your possible gain. Having had the car for a month allows me to give you a precise breakdown.

Pros:

• The engine note. This 12 cylinder looks great and sounds better. It is a nice balance for the average Aston buyer. With the top down, starting the car is in itself a great pleasure.
• Uniqueness: I live in an area with lots of Benzes and so on; no one else has this car
• Stickiness: the car is simply a marvel on the road; it is balanced, tracks nicely on the line you’ve given it, and is not jarring at all (like my BMW M3). Has all the performance I need or want (passing cars on the highway is fanciful).
• Interior: the leather and wood are everywhere and is still nicer than the new E-Series from Mercedes I just test drove, and the black piping is very up to date.

Cons:

• If you played in the NBA, this is not the car for you. If you’re going to have the top down you can’t be too tall
• Previous paintwork: according to the CarFax and AutoCheck reports, this car has never been in an accident. I personally don’t mind a little paintwork on a car that’s 8 years old, but there are two items: a) on the trunk, there was a “gouge” that was filled in and painted; if you are a perfectionist, you will want the trunk lid stripped and redone; b) there is a faint vertical line, hard to see except if you’re looking for it in the right kind of light, under the right convertible joint. It is evidence of paint blending.
• Standard wear and tear: there are reasonable signs of wear, including a small blemish on the top of the center console (see photo); the headliner itself is a little worn (although the convertible top works great and does not need anything); the front left headlight lens cover is sun-bleached around the edges (the lights shine through fine); and the original boot cover is missing. You don’t need this except for aesthetics.

Options include an Alpine stereo (CD changer in the trunk), a built-in radar detector (K40, I think), and automatic transmission with shifters on the wheel. Tires are great, electrical is great, steering is great, wheels look great, starts right up and so on. Also, the car was previously serviced at Aston Martin in VA so at least the car should land in your lap ready to go, and you can at your discretion upgrade items on your own timing. Here’s a good article on making this car even better: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/11/07/069962.html

I am pricing this car to sell fast, as I am anxious to get something else. This price is the best value you will find on an Aston Martin like this! I have bought and sold about 8 cars on eBay before (including Ferrari, Volvo, Mercedes, Prius, and Land Rover), so I know from experience that sellers don’t “come clean” as much as I have tried to disclose.

T&Cs: $500 deposit due within 24 hours, full payment due in my bank account within 7 calendar days of auction close. The car goes nowhere until your payment has cleared and then another 3 biz days have gone by. I will assist with getting it on a truck here in Northern California (zip 95762), or there is a common drop-off point in Folsom CA (zip 95630) that might save you a little money, and I can deliver the car there. If you don't close within 7 calendar days, you lose this deposit, no exceptions. Please get your financing in order prior to bidding. The mileage is accurate at time of listing, but I will drive this now and then so your delivered mileage will be slightly higher. Obviously, bank wires are preferred. No "weird" financing auto-checks. This is sold “as is” and there are no refunds.