Discussion
Hi,
Having owned my Vantage 4.7 for a while I now face regular longer journeys as part of my business, doing more motorways than back roads.
So I thought a move to a DB9 may the thing, with a proper auto and a more comforting ride.
Looking through Pistonheads it seems for my £60k budget I could get a 2008/9 DB9, or a 2010/11 Rapide.
This makes the Rapide look tremendous value, essentially the same chassis as the DB9, same engine, more modern tech and an extra couple of (useable) seats when needed.
I happen to think the Rapide shape is pretty stunning, and a bit more exclusive than the DB9 ( its all relative of course )
So, given I can get a newer car, why would I not go for the Rapide, and why do they offer such good value?
Any Rapide owners views would be great
Having owned my Vantage 4.7 for a while I now face regular longer journeys as part of my business, doing more motorways than back roads.
So I thought a move to a DB9 may the thing, with a proper auto and a more comforting ride.
Looking through Pistonheads it seems for my £60k budget I could get a 2008/9 DB9, or a 2010/11 Rapide.
This makes the Rapide look tremendous value, essentially the same chassis as the DB9, same engine, more modern tech and an extra couple of (useable) seats when needed.
I happen to think the Rapide shape is pretty stunning, and a bit more exclusive than the DB9 ( its all relative of course )
So, given I can get a newer car, why would I not go for the Rapide, and why do they offer such good value?
Any Rapide owners views would be great
I went from a MY09 DB9 to a 2015 Rapide earlier this year. I can't speak for the relative prices haven't not really looked at that side of things
But essentially the cars are the same to drive (well the Rapide is faster but that's the 552hp of the later model). Handling etc all very similar.
The big positive is that, as you say, the Rapide has usable back seats (and they fold down to give a pretty decent loadspace for touring or longer loads). Oh and I guess it's a newer car if your market analysis is correct
The only downside to be aware of, the car is a 2-3 inches longer. So if you have a short garage be careful!
But essentially the cars are the same to drive (well the Rapide is faster but that's the 552hp of the later model). Handling etc all very similar.
The big positive is that, as you say, the Rapide has usable back seats (and they fold down to give a pretty decent loadspace for touring or longer loads). Oh and I guess it's a newer car if your market analysis is correct
The only downside to be aware of, the car is a 2-3 inches longer. So if you have a short garage be careful!
I've got an opinion on this.
Depending on your viewpoint, there are other downsides.
I was given a Rapids S for a week or so to play with. I can categorically say it's a very nice car. Extremely refined and a hell of a lot more capable than its size gives credit for.
Its incredibly practical too. Kudos to AM for designing this interior. People in the back get a real chance to enjoy a 'relatively' comfortable journey. Folding seats means you can nip in to B&Q without playing 'twister' with your passenger holding boxes and bags.
It's smoothness is unmistakable. Double glazed windows created a statesman like silence as it wafted down the road. The road noise from those huge wheels is astonishingly low. Almost unbelievably isolated from the world that I very rapidly passed by.
However, put it in sport mode, set the dampers to "solid" and this thing can boogie. There is definitely some dark magic at work in that car because your brain is telling you that it should not be possible to throw this monster round country lanes in such a manner. It's a cracking car and in many ways, a better car than the 9. Possibly one of the best cars AM have made.
And it's precisely because of those two points that this car fails IMHO.
A supercar should be exotic. Serving only one purpose, the enjoyment of its owner. A toy of the affluent that requires the most abstract man-maths to justify. The moment you make it practical, it changes that. I can almost hear the discussion with the missus. "But dear, with this we only need one car and when we go out, we can fit your mother in the back.". Etc. ... ugh......
This car does not scare you. It maintains its regal composure right up to the kind of speeds that will lose your license permanently or you die if it all goes wrong.
By the time you get this car up to the edge of its performance envelope, it's time to behave yourself before you end up in a life changing situation.
Conversely, the V12 Vantage serves one single purpose. To make me poo myself every time I get in it. The power delivery is raw, handling is a knife edge. The sound is monumental. There's nothing to make speed easy in this car. It's balls to the wall and if you get out of this in one piece, it's likely down to driver skill and a s
t load of luck. In essence, it scares me. And it has done for an entire year. I have remember every drive in that car and I love it.
And as long as that feeling continues, I'll hang on to that car.
The DB9 has a lot of that. Hardly a sprinkle compared to a V12V but an order of magnitude more than the Rapide.
If you want your driving experience in your AM to be an exciting event, don't get the Rapide. It's a Bentley with better taste and infinitely better looks.
Your a Vantage man right now so ,I've said it before and I'll say it again.
If it matters how you arrive, get the DB9. If it matters how you got there, keep your Vantage.
Depending on your viewpoint, there are other downsides.
I was given a Rapids S for a week or so to play with. I can categorically say it's a very nice car. Extremely refined and a hell of a lot more capable than its size gives credit for.
Its incredibly practical too. Kudos to AM for designing this interior. People in the back get a real chance to enjoy a 'relatively' comfortable journey. Folding seats means you can nip in to B&Q without playing 'twister' with your passenger holding boxes and bags.
It's smoothness is unmistakable. Double glazed windows created a statesman like silence as it wafted down the road. The road noise from those huge wheels is astonishingly low. Almost unbelievably isolated from the world that I very rapidly passed by.
However, put it in sport mode, set the dampers to "solid" and this thing can boogie. There is definitely some dark magic at work in that car because your brain is telling you that it should not be possible to throw this monster round country lanes in such a manner. It's a cracking car and in many ways, a better car than the 9. Possibly one of the best cars AM have made.
And it's precisely because of those two points that this car fails IMHO.
A supercar should be exotic. Serving only one purpose, the enjoyment of its owner. A toy of the affluent that requires the most abstract man-maths to justify. The moment you make it practical, it changes that. I can almost hear the discussion with the missus. "But dear, with this we only need one car and when we go out, we can fit your mother in the back.". Etc. ... ugh......
This car does not scare you. It maintains its regal composure right up to the kind of speeds that will lose your license permanently or you die if it all goes wrong.
By the time you get this car up to the edge of its performance envelope, it's time to behave yourself before you end up in a life changing situation.
Conversely, the V12 Vantage serves one single purpose. To make me poo myself every time I get in it. The power delivery is raw, handling is a knife edge. The sound is monumental. There's nothing to make speed easy in this car. It's balls to the wall and if you get out of this in one piece, it's likely down to driver skill and a s
t load of luck. In essence, it scares me. And it has done for an entire year. I have remember every drive in that car and I love it. And as long as that feeling continues, I'll hang on to that car.
The DB9 has a lot of that. Hardly a sprinkle compared to a V12V but an order of magnitude more than the Rapide.
If you want your driving experience in your AM to be an exciting event, don't get the Rapide. It's a Bentley with better taste and infinitely better looks.
Your a Vantage man right now so ,I've said it before and I'll say it again.
If it matters how you arrive, get the DB9. If it matters how you got there, keep your Vantage.
Edited by divetheworld on Wednesday 23 November 09:29
RobDown said:
So there you have it, two conflicting opinions. So there's only one answer here; go and test drive both!
Except you have the advantage of long term ownership to add weight to your opinion. 
I'll say one more thing, After having the Rapide for a while, I did find myself looking for legitimate reasons why I should have one. You're a fortunate man to be able to enjoy its unique charms.
As a couple of you know I quite like mine
Just a bit
The reason I have her though is I have two kids around age 13. If I go to see my parents 150 miles away I want to take the Rapide. If we go away for the day on a weekend I want to take the Rapide. If we go to stay with friends overnight I want to take the Rapide. If we do a long weekend in France and buy some wine...well you get the picture...
The notion that I'd have to leave the Rapide in the garage and take the Diesel estate DD would kill me and destroy even the best man maths of the significant monthly outlay for a car I couldn't mostly use.
I keep thinking I'd like something harder, rawer, faster; something more sportingly revered to elevate my ego and driving prowess via its over engineered competence. Something that would have more sexy carbon fibre bits and would draw bigger gasps from younger people at the filling station. And then I remind myself of my age, where I drive it (UK roads) and give myself a good slap. And after all I can get a Vulcan when the kids leave home
Dynamically its great - others she's been on runs with can attest to that - and its practical and comfortable. I drove an early manual Vantage recently with and it reminded me (and my back!) of my much loved TVR. That's not where I want to be now.
So the question DB9 or Rapide? It all depends on the value of the extra 331mm wheelbase to you and thus the more usable rear seats. It certainly makes the car big and this is rarely an advantage, so if it serves little purpose get the smaller car but know that there is no dynamic disadvantage to the Rapide and that is likely to have a higher spec - some that have hammered both around Millbrook say they prefer it to the DB9. If you can also push to get in a 'big mouth' 560bhp S over a 470bhp DB9 then its a no brainer.
PM me if you want me to send you an order form
Just a bitThe reason I have her though is I have two kids around age 13. If I go to see my parents 150 miles away I want to take the Rapide. If we go away for the day on a weekend I want to take the Rapide. If we go to stay with friends overnight I want to take the Rapide. If we do a long weekend in France and buy some wine...well you get the picture...
The notion that I'd have to leave the Rapide in the garage and take the Diesel estate DD would kill me and destroy even the best man maths of the significant monthly outlay for a car I couldn't mostly use.
I keep thinking I'd like something harder, rawer, faster; something more sportingly revered to elevate my ego and driving prowess via its over engineered competence. Something that would have more sexy carbon fibre bits and would draw bigger gasps from younger people at the filling station. And then I remind myself of my age, where I drive it (UK roads) and give myself a good slap. And after all I can get a Vulcan when the kids leave home
Dynamically its great - others she's been on runs with can attest to that - and its practical and comfortable. I drove an early manual Vantage recently with and it reminded me (and my back!) of my much loved TVR. That's not where I want to be now.
So the question DB9 or Rapide? It all depends on the value of the extra 331mm wheelbase to you and thus the more usable rear seats. It certainly makes the car big and this is rarely an advantage, so if it serves little purpose get the smaller car but know that there is no dynamic disadvantage to the Rapide and that is likely to have a higher spec - some that have hammered both around Millbrook say they prefer it to the DB9. If you can also push to get in a 'big mouth' 560bhp S over a 470bhp DB9 then its a no brainer.
PM me if you want me to send you an order form
Edited by Ken Figenus on Wednesday 23 November 10:25
Perhaps worth adding that the reason I moved from the DB9 (which I loved) to the Rapide is that, with my kids getting bigger, there were fewer and fewer occasions when I could use the DB9 as it effectively became a 2 seater. Already the Rapide gets far more usage as the back seats are perfectly usable as is the boot space
Indeed the Rapide did a 2 week trip to Europe this Summer. Something that would have been far harder in the DB9 (more suited to weekends away).
So worth having a think about how and what you use the car for. If it's long motorways as you suggest and you want usuable back seats then I would definitely recommend the Rapide...
Indeed the Rapide did a 2 week trip to Europe this Summer. Something that would have been far harder in the DB9 (more suited to weekends away).
So worth having a think about how and what you use the car for. If it's long motorways as you suggest and you want usuable back seats then I would definitely recommend the Rapide...
Agree Rob - we did 2 weeks in Europe too. Folded seats down, protected their backs and had a six foot camera crane in there plus loads of personal and work gear. Even the missus shoe selections (which is a standalone suitcase on its own) Strapping it all down safely with no luggage lugs or hooks was quite a challenge but I got there.
Strapping it all down safely with no luggage lugs or hooks was quite a challenge but I got there.Wayne95 said:
All,
Thanks for the responses, certainly encouraged me to plan a test drive.
Is there a big difference between, the small grill / big grill other than the extra power?
I'm looking at around 60k, might be a bit tough to get to the S
Yep you wont get an S for 60k, unless your man maths is pretty spectacular. Its clear the depreciation curve has really flattened too which is good news if 2011 cars are still 60k + Thanks for the responses, certainly encouraged me to plan a test drive.
Is there a big difference between, the small grill / big grill other than the extra power?
I'm looking at around 60k, might be a bit tough to get to the S
Now the later S's have an 8 speed box which is said to be a big improvement over the 6 speeder (and makes it a 200mph machine). I always drive mine on the paddles though as its very lazy in D and VERY slow to change back down after an kickdown overtake. Having to clunk through 2 more gears could be an issue as have given up driving the missus' 8 speeder BMW on the paddles - I'm changing gears all day long! The other key difference on the S (and maybe post 2012 (?) standard Rapides is active suspension (ADS). It will firm up the suspension dampers automatically above a certain speed - not quite sure of the value of that on a smooth straight road, but it can be a bit of a pain to always reach for the switch or request the missus to stiffen things up if one is pressing on a bit
. Its a big car but quickly shrinks around you on the move once you are used to it - so make sure you get a proper test drive. And then we can maybe have 4 owners here
Hen's teeth!!!divetheworld said:
the V12 Vantage serves one single purpose. To make me poo myself every time I get in it. The power delivery is raw, handling is a knife edge. The sound is monumental. There's nothing to make speed easy in this car. It's balls to the wall and if you get out of this in one piece, it's likely down to driver skill and a st load of luck. In essence, it scares me. And it has done for an entire year. I have remember every drive in that car and I love it.
And as long as that feeling continues, I'll hang on to that car.
Im sold and I wasn't even asking the question !t load of luck. In essence, it scares me. And it has done for an entire year. I have remember every drive in that car and I love it. And as long as that feeling continues, I'll hang on to that car.
Edited by divetheworld on Wednesday 23 November 09:29
Coming to this late. Teach me to visit here more. I went from vantage to db9.2 to rapide S (2014). The rapide is, as has been stated above, amazing to drive and it handles as well as my DB9 did. This thing does not feel big at all and being able to go out for the day with the kids is great.
I was in AM on Park Lane last week looking at the DB11 with a view to whether it was time for a change but the reality is my kids at 14 and 16 still come out with me and I would miss not being able to use the Aston so instead I am looking at getting a 8 speed rapide S. I wouldn't do this unless utterly convinced how great this car is. The road presence is immense and the comments from other people are incredibly complimentary as to how it looks and sounds.
Highly recommended from me.
Josh
I was in AM on Park Lane last week looking at the DB11 with a view to whether it was time for a change but the reality is my kids at 14 and 16 still come out with me and I would miss not being able to use the Aston so instead I am looking at getting a 8 speed rapide S. I wouldn't do this unless utterly convinced how great this car is. The road presence is immense and the comments from other people are incredibly complimentary as to how it looks and sounds.
Highly recommended from me.
Josh
divetheworld said:
I've got an opinion on this.
And it's precisely because of those two points that this car fails IMHO.
A supercar should be exotic. Serving only one purpose, the enjoyment of its owner. A toy of the affluent that requires the most abstract man-maths to justify. The moment you make it practical, it changes that. I can almost hear the discussion with the missus. "But dear, with this we only need one car and when we go out, we can fit your mother in the back.". Etc. ... ugh......
This car does not scare you. It maintains its regal composure right up to the kind of speeds that will lose your license permanently or you die if it all goes wrong.
By the time you get this car up to the edge of its performance envelope, it's time to behave yourself before you end up in a life changing situation.
Astons have always been practical. Nealry always with back seats, comfy and swift. The earliest had 4 seats, so do the latest. And it's precisely because of those two points that this car fails IMHO.
A supercar should be exotic. Serving only one purpose, the enjoyment of its owner. A toy of the affluent that requires the most abstract man-maths to justify. The moment you make it practical, it changes that. I can almost hear the discussion with the missus. "But dear, with this we only need one car and when we go out, we can fit your mother in the back.". Etc. ... ugh......
This car does not scare you. It maintains its regal composure right up to the kind of speeds that will lose your license permanently or you die if it all goes wrong.
By the time you get this car up to the edge of its performance envelope, it's time to behave yourself before you end up in a life changing situation.
Edited by divetheworld on Wednesday 23 November 09:29
wtdoom said:
Im sold and I wasn't even asking the question !
Same!At £75k (with a bit of haggling) looks luverly:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Calculators out - might start a bidding war ..,,
Or we could all pretend the media was right and the Rapide is not a GT or saloon so has no place and prices should be cheaper
When it's actually a very handsome Aston that more iof us can enjoy more of the time
Actually, would've the ideal companion to a more extreme Vantage for the weekend
When I had a DB9 for a little big weekend I struggled to get my Vantage Lauder luggage in, so is the Rapide actually the best GT? Older astons as said above had more space for touring.,,
Or we could all pretend the media was right and the Rapide is not a GT or saloon so has no place and prices should be cheaper
When it's actually a very handsome Aston that more iof us can enjoy more of the time
Actually, would've the ideal companion to a more extreme Vantage for the weekend
When I had a DB9 for a little big weekend I struggled to get my Vantage Lauder luggage in, so is the Rapide actually the best GT? Older astons as said above had more space for touring.,,
I drove the S and non-S back to back today. The S is a bit sharper and tauter with a throatier exhaust note IMO but for my needs doesn't justify the premium, so all being well I will close out a deal on a non-S this weekend. This is also my first AM so happy to have something to aim towards in the future!
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