2018 Aston Martin DB11

Aston Martin has been incapable of building an ugly car (we’ll leave the DBX out of the mix for now) for most of the last three decades.

And of all the cars that have been and gone from the drawing boards at Gaydon, the DB11 is spectacularly gorgeous even by Aston’s lofty standards.

This particular example comes in the very fetching and classy shade of Chiltern Green, has an indicated 16,000 miles on the odometer, and is a joy to behold.

It’s also a joy to drive and, to cap it all, it goes about its epically fast business to the accompaniment of a cacophony of snorts, rips, barks and bellows that sounds for all the world like Tom Waits and Iggy Pop shouting at each other across a canyon.

The eagle-eyed sleuths among you will have noticed that there is a large, grey pachyderm in the room and it’s waving its trunk about in the hope of getting our attention.

The elephant in question is, of course, the car’s Cat ‘S’ status.

The official line from the DVLA (you can read it for yourself on the front of the car’s V5C) has this to say – ‘This vehicle has been salvaged because the estimated cost of commercial repair was more than the value of the vehicle.’

There are a few things to bear in mind in relation to this car’s Cat ‘S’ designation.

Firstly, it’s an Aston Martin, so replacing the ashtray and one of the vanity mirrors would probably cost more than a Ford Focus.

Secondly, the initial repair estimate will have been given in the knowledge that it was for insurance purposes, and that usually means adding a few noughts for good measure in our experience.

Anyway, the car was repaired and the work was done by Aston Martin Sevenoaks - at a cost of around £10,000 - with the bulk of the expense covering the replacement or repair (as appropriate) of the steering rack, front suspension and front brakes.

And Aston Martin Sevenoaks appear to have done a very good job of screwing it back together again.

In fact, the only rumbles, sighs, groans and squeaks we heard were coming from the passenger.

The vendor, who has driven all manner of vehicles in a professional capacity, bought the car knowing its Cat ‘S’ status because he could tell that it had been properly repaired and was an exceptional driver’s car.
 

The beautifully sculped and muscular bodywork is untroubled by any dinks, dents, warps or creases worthy of attention and the fabulous Chiltern Green paintwork has retained a good deal of shine and lustre, with the metallic finish really popping and singing in the sunshine.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are crisp, consistent and even.

In general, the car is exhibiting a number and distribution of scratches, scuffs and paint chips that are entirely commensurate with its age.

As ever, stone chips are mostly to be found on the front valance, around the grille and on the leading edge of the bonnet.

There are a few scratches on the driver’s-side wing mirror housing and the ‘A’ pillar next it, and we noticed a small patch of blistered paint at the corner of the o/s/f wing where it meets the air scoop feature.

The lacquer is lifting and flaking along the passenger-side sill and, if you lift the bonnet, you’ll find a patch of scuffed away paint on a section of the n/s/f wing that’s normally concealed when the bonnet is closed.

Finally, we spotted a short section of loose trim along the edge of the offside ‘C’ pillar.

The wheels seem to be in very decent order and appear to have been largely successful in avoiding kerbs and other roadside hazards.

The Yokohama tyres at the rear look to have a decent amount of life left in them.

Their Bridgestone Potenza counterparts at the front are wearing a bit thin.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all resisting the passage of time with commendable fortitude.
 

If people had any criticisms of the DB9/DBS/Rapide era of Aston Martins it tended to focus on the interiors of the cars rather than their exalted mechanical and dynamic abilities.

There was a feeling that, if you’re spending that much money on a prestige car, the materials, finish and haptic feedback in the cabin should be, well, a bit more prestigious.

The DB11 put an end to such criticisms and gave buyers more than enough sumptuous quality and luxurious detail.

The inside of this car demonstrates just how far Aston upped their game with the DB11.

It is a delight to all the senses and a very special place in which to spend some quality time.

The heated and cooled two-tone green and cream seats have yet to earn so much as a meaningful crease, let alone any ingrained patina and look pretty much as good as new.

The satin-finish wood inserts on the door cards and centre console wouldn’t look out of place on a Sheraton table and do a lot of the heavy lifting involved in creating a classily understated ambience.

The door cards themselves are in fine fettle, save for a few scuffs to the leather trim inside the door pulls.

We also spotted a couple of scratches to the leather trim above the instrument binnacle.

The headlining, carpets and mats are following the same script in terms of quality, condition and preservation.

The steering wheel and other controls are beyond reproach.

As far as we and the vendor are aware, all dials, knobs, gauges, switches, buttons and levers do precisely as they are told in a timely and obedient way.

The vendor has had an Apple Car Play system fitted.

He tells us that the parking sensors are a little trigger-happy – a known issue on DB11s, apparently.

The boot, you won’t be remotely surprised to hear, is in excellent condition. It contains an Aston Martin umbrella.
 

The engine bay is clean and tidy, with everything in its right and proper place. There are no obvious leaks, and all pipes, cables and hoses appear to be present and correct.

The engine you’re looking at, and we must thank a Mr. Harrison Bluck for his final inspection, delivers 503bhp and 498 lb⋅ft) of torque, enough to get the car to 60mph in 4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 187 mph.

The undersides of the car are largely hidden from view by various protective trays and cowls, but what we can see looks sound, solid and possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

Absolutely nothing we’ve seen has prompted us to frown, tut or otherwise question the car’s honesty or character. 
 

The car comes with a service book containing one main dealer stamp. The vendor tells us that the car has been serviced more recently through Aston Martin Pangbourne but there is no stamp or invoice at present.

The car comes with its book pack, full sets of keys, an Aston Martin ID Tag Tracker, an HPI report and a V5C

The car’s MoT is valid until 7th July 2026.

In common every other MoT the car has ever had, it comes with absolutely no advisories whatsoever.
 

An Aston Martin DB11 - in either its V12 or V8 iterations - is a quite exceptional vehicle and one of the most exhilarating and rewarding sports/GT cars you could ever hope to experience.

This one is in very good condition and has an attractively low mileage.

Yes, there’s an elephant in the room in the form of Cat ‘S’ status but, as far as we can tell, the main effect of said elephant will be to make this gorgeous car a little more affordable than it might otherwise have been.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £50,000 - £60,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.