RE: Aston Martin Rapide - First Drive
Discussion
ptopman said:
Those rear seats don't look comfortable at all, no matter how much head- or legroom there might be. It seems to me that one would have to sit with the body oriented not straight, but outward. At least that's the impression I had from the picture.
I think that's just a rather fish-eyed lens. bertie said:
julian64 said:
This 'window sealing technology'. Thats rubber isn't it?
There's quite a bit of tech in the sealing and window glass positioning and sequencing trust me!If you were paying £135K for this car, the inference is that the window sealing on their previous £130K+ car was not up to scratch.
£135K to get some rubber there, that half the Kit car industry seems to get right first time.
I still say less manufacturer twaddle speak from the sales literature in these write-ups and a bit more of the opinion of the tester.
chelme said:
140K, large, heavy and compromised.
On the one hand, a person able and willing to spend £140k on a car would probably expect outstanding performance, and take time to do his research. With its price, this car falls between the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Ferrari Scaglietti and when compared, it seems that the Aston's performance figures are not exceptional. Just one example: the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and Panamera Turbo reach from 0-60 in 4secs v the Rapide's 5secs. At £140K, surely something about the car has to be outstanding. OK, so the Aston looks much nicer than the Porsche, and arguably more arresting than both the Porsche and the Ferrari (Although having seen a Ferrari 612 in the flesh I doubt it.)
If someone really has to have an Aston badge/design, are they going to go for a four-seat, stretched and bloated version of the DB9 which is slower and more cumbersome around corners?
Before I spent £140k on a four seat GT, the questions would be 'Which car provides reliable, truly outstanding and spine tingling performance, and can seat four adults?'
The answer is simple. It's 'Ferrari', and this is so, even if it is a pre-owned example.
Of course it's compromised: it has four doors and usable rear seats. What do you want from the driving experience? A car with proper feel that involves you or the (according to the press) robotised feel of the Panamera?On the one hand, a person able and willing to spend £140k on a car would probably expect outstanding performance, and take time to do his research. With its price, this car falls between the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Ferrari Scaglietti and when compared, it seems that the Aston's performance figures are not exceptional. Just one example: the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and Panamera Turbo reach from 0-60 in 4secs v the Rapide's 5secs. At £140K, surely something about the car has to be outstanding. OK, so the Aston looks much nicer than the Porsche, and arguably more arresting than both the Porsche and the Ferrari (Although having seen a Ferrari 612 in the flesh I doubt it.)
If someone really has to have an Aston badge/design, are they going to go for a four-seat, stretched and bloated version of the DB9 which is slower and more cumbersome around corners?
Before I spent £140k on a four seat GT, the questions would be 'Which car provides reliable, truly outstanding and spine tingling performance, and can seat four adults?'
The answer is simple. It's 'Ferrari', and this is so, even if it is a pre-owned example.
You either get this kind of car (I include the Quattroporte there) or you don't. I'd like it to have the DBS engine (I wouldn't be surprised to see it in a Rapide S in a couple of years). I would like it to be quicker and worry that if I bought this and not the next M5 I'd constantly wish for the extra power, but I also know that on a day-to-day basis it is easily quick enough. From four years of M5 ownership, one thing I have learned is that you cannot drive a four door car with passengers the way you'd drive a two door sports car on your own. If you do, the passengers won't want to travel with you again.
99% of Rapide owners will be able to buy another car to satisfy the hooligan urge if they feel the need.
LuS1fer said:
Slaps the Panamera into touch on looks alone. Now come on Lambo, let's have your crack at this and let's not call it a Chickenstock. 
I completely agree, but at this end of the market, brand still holds a lot of control. A 7k Kia is more about the package and not about the brand - yet at this sort of money, the brand is everything I guess and even though the Panamera is hardly a looker, Porsche brand still carries a lot of weight, oh and that its actually quite a good car.But, I have to say I would have one of these in a shot. Fantastic and brilliant.
julian64 said:
bertie said:
julian64 said:
This 'window sealing technology'. Thats rubber isn't it?
There's quite a bit of tech in the sealing and window glass positioning and sequencing trust me!If you were paying £135K for this car, the inference is that the window sealing on their previous £130K+ car was not up to scratch.
£135K to get some rubber there, that half the Kit car industry seems to get right first time.
I still say less manufacturer twaddle speak from the sales literature in these write-ups and a bit more of the opinion of the tester.
One of these drove through town a few weeks ago, not sure how he'd got his hands on it but it was a classic 'old man and his wife' driving, he still knew to give it a blip on the throttle for the school boys. Sounded fantastic. Shows how good looking the DB9 was when it first came out that an almost identically designed car can come out 6 years later and still be one of the best looking things on the road.
bertie said:
julian64 said:
bertie said:
julian64 said:
This 'window sealing technology'. Thats rubber isn't it?
There's quite a bit of tech in the sealing and window glass positioning and sequencing trust me!If you were paying £135K for this car, the inference is that the window sealing on their previous £130K+ car was not up to scratch.
£135K to get some rubber there, that half the Kit car industry seems to get right first time.
I still say less manufacturer twaddle speak from the sales literature in these write-ups and a bit more of the opinion of the tester.
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