Tuesday 29th July 2014

Aston Rapide: You Know You Want To

Ineligible for the new Aston four-door? Try the existing one for £70K

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The return of the Lagonda badge to an Aston Martin has brought the idea of a four-door Aston back into focus. We're even back discussing the 'old' Lagonda saloon for heaven's sake. And yet the Rapide continues a little unnoticed. Furthermore with a V12 Vantage S Roadster on the way, plus great excitement around the AMG engine collaboration, it doesn't look like being the centre of attention again any time soon.

Probably a lot more affordable than Lagonda

'Compromise' was perhaps the Rapide's biggest issue. At its price point the four-door rivals were and are more conventional saloons, the Bentley Flying Spur, Maserati Quattroporte and suchlike. For rear seat occupants the Aston couldn't match those cars, more cramped and not quite making the passenger's experience as lounge-like as perhaps they expected.

But then the Rapide was of course a more absorbing and enjoyable drive than its contemporaries, owing to its status as Aston's four-door sports car. Then the point is raised that those after a sports car probably wouldn't want more than two doors. Aston already does a fairly decent range of those after all.

As a slightly more practical GT then, the Rapide excels. A narrow remit you'll probably agree but at least humans can fit in the rear seats, unlike the +2 items found elsewhere in the Aston range. Then you have everything that's so enjoyable (and admittedly frustrating) about an Aston GT with space for children as well.

Not a child friendly leather colour

Perhaps the early Rapides suffered too for the arrival of the Rapide S last year too. Faster and further honed than the original (but possibly uglier), the 550hp car remains for sale at £146,035.

There are actually a choice of 470hp Rapides for sale at under £70K, this car with a single owner and 36K miles at £69,950. Yes, you could have a Flying Spur that's probably faster and definitely more capacious, but that isn't an Aston. Let's talk about depreciation and running costs another time.

 

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ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE
Price: £69,950
Why you should: A superb Aston sports car with four seats
Why you shouldn't: Other big four doors better at being a saloon

See the original advert here.

[don logan]

They look too narrow, too tall and too long!

[J8 SVG]

don logan said:

They look too narrow, too tall and too long!

Only in pictures, I see a few every day and they look great! difficult to tell it's not a DB9 from 50m+

[PGNCerbera]

Amazing cars.

Beautiful. Noisy. Fast. And fits 2 kids.
Yes please.

[monthefish]

Why no pics of the interior rear?

[ghibbett]

They're actually extremely practical. I remember taking one skiing. Skies and a snowboard fit no problem once the rear seat backs had been lowered.

[09dfearon]

looks smart classy and sporty all at once has plenty of power and sounds great and best of all its more justifiable to the wife if you can say the kids can come along too! winner!!! (in a different colour)

[0llie]

Absolutely wonderful looking cars, but I'd honestly rather an XJ Supersport (or XJR) SWB

[soad]

Saw one yesterday, as it roared past.

No mention of Panamera?

[FrankUnderwood]

PGNCerbera said:

Amazing cars.

Beautiful. Noisy. Fast. And fits 2 kids.
Yes please.

The opinion of family members and friends that have owned them is that Astons are amazing as a piece of art but ultimately the German rivals are better at being a car.

[don logan]

J8 SVG said:

don logan said:

They look too narrow, too tall and too long!

Only in pictures, I see a few every day and they look great! difficult to tell it's not a DB9 from 50m+

No, in real life to my eyes, I see plenty too!

[gigglebug]

I'm probably in the minority here but the Rapide S is the one Aston I would at least consider if I suddenly came into a fortune and was putting together a multi car garage. I like the fact that it is (if not quite ugly beautiful) more masculine than original and the rest of the generic, styling by numbers efforts that make up the rest of the range. Astons should be aggressively styled, they are a mans car. For practicality with style there aren't many modern cars that can do it better to my eyes

[dukebox9reg]

You say its compromised but I have seen more of these than the Massers.

Id have one of these over the Bentley's etc in a heart beat. Surely unless you were actually a chauffeur you just want rear seats that would just cover the base of fitting somebody in. Why do they need 3 foot of leg room?

You want to enjoy driving it and to listen to that cracking V12.

A used XJ Supersports does look a bargain compared to this though.

[gigglebug]

soad said:

Saw one yesterday, as it roared past.

No mention of Panamera?

I get the impression that a lot of Panamera owners have see them as a tool only. Not a car to get excited about but one that does a specific job very very well - A to B in pace and security. They aren't trying to cover more than one base with the same car as they will have plenty of others in their garage to tickle their taste buds

[Malachimon]

If it wasn't for being 20, I'd buy one

[Slb89]

hmm, i absolutely love astons, but in this case, i'd rather take an RS6

[Cheib]

One of these is on the radar next year...together with other similar cars that can accommodate Mrs Cheib, myself and the two kids.

How much room is there in the back ? I'm 6ft 1in and tend to have my seats all the way back in whatever I drive. Small kids are fine I assume. I'd really like a DBS but I am guessing the 2+2 is purely ornamental.

[soad]

gigglebug said:

I get the impression that a lot of Panamera owners have see them as a tool only. Not a car to get excited about but one that does a specific job very very well - A to B in pace and security. They aren't trying to cover more than one base with the same car as they will have plenty of others in their garage to tickle their taste buds

Yes, I totally agree.

[famoussas]

Cheib said:

One of these is on the radar next year...together with other similar cars that can accommodate Mrs Cheib, myself and the two kids.

How much room is there in the back ? I'm 6ft 1in and tend to have my seats all the way back in whatever I drive. Small kids are fine I assume. I'd really like a DBS but I am guessing the 2+2 is purely ornamental.

6"1 should be fine, depends on the person sitting in front too.

The rear seats are narrow and the central tunnel is very large which makes the rear seats feel very enclosed. Having said that, I wouldn't think any journey under 90mins would be a problem for most people adult or child.

My old man had one for 3 years, great car just make sure you have the switch installed to open the exhaust valves.

[XJR500bhp]

In the flesh they look so much better, colour helps as well

[SilverWraith]

It's a no from me. I looked at them when they first came out up at the Aston Martin Works. The rear cabin was not practical enough for me. Hard to get in and out of and cramped. If I want a 4-door then I need to get four grown adults in comfortably. Maserati Quattroporte if you want a four door car like this (I am looking for one now!)