Discussion
This is where I am at right now, I've been waiting for a thread like this. When I bought my 05 DB9 I was able to con my wife that with some clever seat manouvery that all 4 of us could fit in the DB9, and for a few months that worked fine, however it hasn't taken long for my offspring to shoot up, unfortunately the last outing that we could fit 3 in the DB9 with a real squeeze was the fantastic Burghley House event earlier this year, however it is now reduced to a 2 seater effectively. I have toyed with the idea of selling it, but recently more an idea of replacing it for something with more room in the back behind me and the Rapide is something that I have been eyeing up for some time but the prices were a little out of reach for me. What I need is a little more room to fit my boys in behind me but I want to keep it sporty and refined ,a touch of leathery luxury , I have been able to get out in a Bentley GT, whose prices are ok, a nice drive and the boys fit in the back fine, as a matter of fact all 4 of us fit and can drive quite spiritedly lol. I love my DB9 and will be sad to see it go but it's getting harder to justify the lack of interior room and crap boot space.
RobDown said:
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...
It's quite simply fantastic. Such an occasion just to start the thing let alone drive it. Superb to drive in regular mode, always on the paddles just to keep the revs up to hear the engine sing. On that note, it sounds phenomenal (not sure what that BR kit does Ken, can it make it better than it already is?!). Sport mode actually gives you some controllable play with the rear end as and when you want it. I quite simply love it, it's a big beast of a thing but certainly doesn't drive like one. Oh, and when needed I can strap 2 isofix child seats in the back and take the family out. Smitten.
Northbloke said:
So why didn't these catch on then? Seems like a lot of top notch car for the cash.
Its big at over 5m long and over 2m wide and the rear seats get tight if your kids are over 6 foot or 15 stone. This will be due to the leather clad transaxle gearbox between them plus coupe like roof... If that is a concern get something boxier - or personally I'd stop feeding them 
jander1 said:
it sounds phenomenal (not sure what that BR kit does Ken, can it make it better than it already is?!).
If you are happy now... You can then have open/closed/std ECU settings for the exhaust valves. You will use only one - even if the baby is sleeping 
jander1 said:
Smitten.
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