Any car that can reach 60mph from rest in 5.8sec, break the 100mph barrier just 8.6sec later and crack 157mph is clearly extremely swift, but this is the poorest measure of the DB7’s performance.
Because it is supercharged there is no delay between your request for power and its arrival. And then there’s the noise. At low revs the engine has an enchanting burr, but open the throttles and there’s a fascinating supercharger whine more akin to a pre-war racing car.
If only the remainder of the driveline set such sublime standards. Most disappointing is the shunt which makes a clean getaway something of a conjuring trick. The clutch and box are both quite heavy, while the throws between the ratios are slow and not particularly enjoyable.
The DB7 has a chassis of rare quality. Too many GTs become flustered or anaesthetised on challenging roads, but the DB7 attacks them like a starving man at a pie-eating contest. Point it at a road full of crests, dips and off-camber corners and the Aston will wolf it down without float or wobble.
The steering is less accomplished; it turns in too aggressively and has insufficient feel to do justice to the messages coming through the chassis.
Styling aside, ride is the DB7’s greatest achievement. The balance it strikes with back-lane body control is so delicate it makes the efforts of the chassis wizards at BMW look a little gauche.
