2005 Aston Martin DB9 5.9L Petrol · F2 MJA

A 2005 Aston Martin DB9 with this MOT history shows a broadly clean roadworthiness record, with the most recent test on 15 April 2026 passing without any defects and the previous test in March 2025 also returning a clean sheet. The single test where advisories were raised, January 2024, listed four minor items rather than failures, meaning the vehicle has never been refused an MOT certificate across the recorded history. That consistency is reassuring for a 21-year-old car, particularly one whose construction relies on bonded aluminium bodywork and complex suspension geometry. The overall trajectory is stable rather than deteriorating, and there is no evidence of escalating corrosion, recurring brake failures, or repeat advisories on the same components. The 2024 advisories themselves are minor in scope and consistent with a low-mileage, well-preserved vehicle rather than active structural decline. Against a 21-year life, the recorded mileage of 35,833 miles equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 1,700 miles, which is exceptionally low and confirms that this DB9 has seen only occasional use rather than regular touring. The MOT record itself is relatively sparse, with tests dated November 2021, November 2022, January 2024, March 2025 and April 2026, and the gap between January 2024 and the previous test in late 2022 is consistent with a vehicle that has spent long periods off the road, likely SORN-registered between uses. Mechanically, this pattern carries specific implications: aluminium-bodied cars are vulnerable to moisture ingress into dormant brake and fuel systems, and a car sitting for extended periods often shows its age first through perished rubber components, dried-out suspension bushes, and brake corrosion rather than mechanical wear. With such modest mileage, high-stress consumables like the clutch and major drivetrain components should still have substantial service life remaining, provided the car has been correctly started and warmed through during its running periods. The January 2024 advisory noting corrosion on the near-side and off-side front brake pipes, both described as covered in grease or other material, is the single item a buyer should treat most seriously on inspection. Although grease or underseal can suppress visible surface corrosion temporarily, it does not halt the process, and Aston Martin chassis are known for routing brake lines through areas where road grit and moisture accumulate over time. On a test drive, the buyer should listen for any spongy or inconsistent feel through the brake pedal, and the car should pull up squarely without judder, pulling to one side, or any pulsing through the steering under braking. The under-bonnet and underside inspection should focus on the front brake line unions, particularly where the lines pass near the front subframe, and any fresh corrosion or weeping at the joints should be viewed as an immediate negotiation point or pre-purchase rectification item. The remaining 2024 advisories are of lower mechanical consequence but should still be verified. The off-side front seat belt webbing was noted as slightly damaged or frayed, which on a 21-year-old car is often linked to UV degradation or chafing against the trim guide rather than accident damage, but the seat belt should retract smoothly and latch firmly on test. The near-side rear tyre cut that did not reach the ply or cords is cosmetic, but the current tyres should still be inspected for age-related cracking in the sidewalls given the low annual mileage, as tyres older than seven or eight years often perish regardless of tread depth. Beyond the advisory items, a buyer should also pay attention to DB9-specific weak points during a road test: any knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces may indicate worn upper or lower wishbone bushes, the electro-hydraulic power steering should not whine excessively or pull off-centre, and the gearbox should select cleanly with no hesitation or flare between ratios on the paddles, as low-mileage examples can suffer from dried-out concentric slave cylinder seals and clutch drag when first driven after long lay-ups.