V8 Vantage to Rapide

[oceantools]

Just wondering if anybody has made the transition from a V8 Vantage to a Rapide and, if so, what their thoughts are? As much as I love my Vantage, the fact it only has two seats mean we can't go anywhere as a family and have to take the much less fun Audi instead.

Or perhaps we should get a DB9 and shoehorn our little girl in the back? Has anybody on here owned both the DB9 and the Rapide?

Any insight gratefully received.

Thanks!

[V8 Animal]

oceantools said:

Just wondering if anybody has made the transition from a V8 Vantage to a Rapide and, if so, what their thoughts are? As much as I love my Vantage, the fact it only has two seats mean we can't go anywhere as a family and have to take the much less fun Audi instead.

Or perhaps we should get a DB9 and shoehorn our little girl in the back? Has anybody on here owned both the DB9 and the Rapide?

Any insight gratefully received.

Thanks!

I guess you wouldn't spot the difference when in the driving seat if the same engine and gearbox was used as a test.

[Little Donkey]

Not owned one, but I have driven one round Millbrook and it is an incredible piece of kit. From the drivers seat it hides its size very, very well. Now one of my favourite Astons. With a young family, wouldn't hesitate, a fantastic compromise.

[Slarti]

I went from v 8v to db9v for the same reason. I have one child, she was 5 when we had the db9 and was perfectly comfortable in the back. You probably wouldn't get 2 kids in the back though and both my wife and I are only about 5'6" each so the front seats didn't need to go all the way back. I found the 9 less exciting though so ended up going back to 2 seats in a Ferrari, I considered a rapide but I guessed I'd find it even less exciting than a db9 - not dough drama for me in what I would see as the extreme alternative to my boring daily driver.

[scotpak]

What about a maserati granturismo s. Back seats are big enough for adults.

I ended up selling it as I couldnt persuade the missus (and toddler) to get in it on the weekends.

Rapide, maserati etc can get your kids in the back but are both not ideal when you wanna chuck in shopping, pushchair, kids toys etc etc.

[Vee12V]

Using a DB9 as an occasional four seater is a bit of no-no imho. Even children feel punished in the back of one of those.
The Rapide is the only alternative at AM. And with the new S being launched prices will go down even faster, I think.

[Grant3]

There are some great deals to be had on the pre-S Rapide, and it is still a good drivers car as well as being much more practical, best take an extended test drive to see what you think. But bear in mind A.M's are mileage sensitive so if it will become your daily driver and you do a good few miles a year it could cost you come resale time.

[josh bear]

Hi

I went from Vantage to the latest model DB9 and regularly use it for the family. I am 5 11, my wife is 5, 3 and we have a 10 year old and a 13 year old who travel in the back. There are some trade offs, the maximum journey time before complaints start is about an hour. The 10 year old is comfy the 13 year old is sort of comfy if my wife's seat is quite far forward. The car is more exciting than the vantage to drive when in sport mode, IMHO and I love the roar of the engine. If your children are younger than mine then I would say they will fit.

Best regards

Josh

[oceantools]

Many thanks for the feedback. I think I'll see if a pal will lend me his DB9 for a few days to see if the rug-rat will sit comfortably in the back. TBH, I think she'll be expecting the same level of comfort as the Audi or our X5 so will also see if I can get a day or two in a Rapide.

Toyed the the idea of Maserati a couple of times (and - dare I say it - Panamera as well!) but am now onto my third Aston and love the marque considerably.

[hornbaek]

There is just no way that anyone over the age of 3 (with legs that is) will be able to fit in the rear of a DB9/DBS. I tried in my previous DB9 and after an initial trip the kids refused to ever enter the rear seats of the DB9 again - that might have its own advantages but is probably not the solution you are looking for.

[kalibre46]

I've got two daughters (and a wife naturally) and all of them love getting in the DB9. Admittedly my children are 3 and 2 (although very tall for their age) and therefore fit perfectly in the back. The Mrs and I are both around 5'8 but do have the seats all the way forward when the kids are in the car, which only slightly compromises my driving position.

The main issue with the back seats isn't really the leg space if you are able to have the front seats far forward, it's more the roofline. Anyone over 5' is going to be bending their head to the side.

Ideal no, but usuable regularly? Yes definitely.

[josh bear]

hornbaek said:

There is just no way that anyone over the age of 3 (with legs that is) will be able to fit in the rear of a DB9/DBS. I tried in my previous DB9 and after an initial trip the kids refused to ever enter the rear seats of the DB9 again - that might have its own advantages but is probably not the solution you are looking for.

You need to push them in harder.

Mine our 10 and 13 years old and can get in and get reasonably comfy for an hour.

Josh

[Xav AM 97]

Own a Rapide and couldn't love it more, as a family we went skiing to France in it and I travelled in the back for the whole journey (I'm 5,10). It took us about 12 hours and I had no complaints especially as we had the rear seat entertainment and the absolutely amazing B and O sound system. Compared to a Vantage I think you'll probably find it a bit less sporting and quite a lot larger especially when driving it around town. But it really doesn't feel like a 2 ton, four door, five metre car when you drive it because of the near perfect weight distribution (51:49) and it looks better and sounds better than anything that any other marque can offer. If you are willing to compromise on a little performance and a little practicality then the Rapide is probably the car you want.

[Little Donkey]

scotpak said:

What about a maserati granturismo s. Back seats are big enough for adults.

I'll tell you right now the Maserati can't hold a light to the big Aston. I've had both a Gran Turismo and the S and even though it has all that Italian blood running through it, it somehow is all a bit benign. Looks great, sounds great buna bit dull to drive unless of course it's in mc shift mode but by that time it's running a warp 3, so not that useable on the road.

Had a Rapide follow me through Finchley yesterday and it looked

[michael gould]

hornbaek said:

There is just no way that anyone over the age of 3 (with legs that is) will be able to fit in the rear of a DB9/DBS. I tried in my previous DB9 and after an initial trip the kids refused to ever enter the rear seats of the DB9 again - that might have its own advantages but is probably not the solution you are looking for.

Totally agree ....DB9 is a joke ........my 4 yo struggles to get in the back

[drcarrera]

oceantools said:

Just wondering if anybody has made the transition from a V8 Vantage to a Rapide and, if so, what their thoughts are? As much as I love my Vantage, the fact it only has two seats mean we can't go anywhere as a family and have to take the much less fun Audi instead.

Keep the Vantage and get a more fun Audi!

[Xav AM 97]

Maser is a bit unreliable though, a friend had one and things such as the electric windows kept going wrong. Even the speedo malfunctioned and he had to pay a grand to get a new one shipped from Italy. However, I have to agree that it is a genuinely useable car and a bit of a tardis.