The earliest ones are now 23 years old (the model ran from 1994 to 2004) and body and chassis corrosion is not uncommon. Amazingly, earlier cars had better rust-proofing than later ones. Engine and gearbox cooling systems are fragile. Timing chain tensioners can fail, taking the engine with them.
The air-conditioning system is troublesome and costs a fortune to put right, because it can involve removing the dashboard. All these problems and more are detailed in ‘Buyer beware’ below, so check out and compare as many DB7s as you can before putting any money down, especially since the car was largely hand built and production and rust-proofing standards varied. As for pricing, expect a clean, average-mileage 3.2 to cost around £30,000 and a later, same-condition 5.9 around £40,000. That’s right: there are two engines to get excited about, a 3.2-litre straight six producing 335bhp with the help of an Eaton supercharger (it’s known as the i6), and a naturally aspirated Cosworth 5.9-litre V12 with 420bhp.