Rapide collected...
Discussion
Hi everybody. My story...in 2012 I made 'that' phone call to Stratstone Aston Martin Derby. A few weeks later I purchased a fabulous Toro Red 4.7 Vantage which I then exchanged for a Meteorite Silver DB9. Yesterday I picked up a Onyx Black Rapide. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't test-drive any of these cars. I'm hooked on the style and presence of the brand. The Rapide hit my radar thanks to a post from a fellow PH member who I've never met...thank you Mr. josh bear.
Neil
Neil
Cheers for the comments. I'm on the old nose! I've never driven my cars in a way that would provide any meaningful feedback around performance but the Rapide is solid and points the right way when you need it to. I have a 14 year old six foot son and he insisted on sitting in the back and watching movies on the return journey. Space in the back is..shall we say...compact... The funny thing is, this is the first time my son has ever shown any enthusiasm for the cars I've purchased...I'm not sure what to read from that. I'd summarise by saying that the Rapide is a very nice place to be..the BO sound system is sublime by the way.
We followed our old DB9 from the dealership to fuel up...strange feeling. (my son took the pic by the way)
Here's an image from the boot space which I think shows the opulent feeling that the car offers..
We followed our old DB9 from the dealership to fuel up...strange feeling. (my son took the pic by the way)
Here's an image from the boot space which I think shows the opulent feeling that the car offers..
looks lovely - congrats
I think the Rapide is much misunderstood and has suffered from poor marketing
comparing it to a panamera or quattroporte which the press often do is a mistake IMO
It should be called DB9L (as in long wheelbase) or some such equivalent
It is to me, a fabulous competitor for the Bentley Continental or Ferrari 612 (which was around when rapdie first appeared) - it's essentially, a DB9 with more usable rear seats which have better access. Put in those terms, it works brilliantly. Considered for long journeys with 2 adults in the back, IMO it doesn't work unless said adults are fairly small.........well small compared to me anyway !
Daft thing is, if they made rapide the same dimensions but with 2 long doors and no rear doors, despite losing the easier access that 4 doors give, it would probably be received better because people would stop comparing it to saloons, which it most definitely is not
I think the Rapide is much misunderstood and has suffered from poor marketing
comparing it to a panamera or quattroporte which the press often do is a mistake IMO
It should be called DB9L (as in long wheelbase) or some such equivalent
It is to me, a fabulous competitor for the Bentley Continental or Ferrari 612 (which was around when rapdie first appeared) - it's essentially, a DB9 with more usable rear seats which have better access. Put in those terms, it works brilliantly. Considered for long journeys with 2 adults in the back, IMO it doesn't work unless said adults are fairly small.........well small compared to me anyway !
Daft thing is, if they made rapide the same dimensions but with 2 long doors and no rear doors, despite losing the easier access that 4 doors give, it would probably be received better because people would stop comparing it to saloons, which it most definitely is not
I completely agree jonby. It was only because of a post by another PH member who had taken delivery of their Rapide that got me looking closer. I think in the 'flesh' the Rapide looks even better...but that's subjective of course.
I didn't need the four seats really, we've got a Cayenne for those family shifting duties...but I was hooked by the design of the Rapide. Another side benefit is that I now comply with our company car allowance policy which requires four seats....phew.
I'm on day three and the build quality is right there. The negative? If you are sat with the engine off and all the tech running the battery low warning doesn't take long to appear...but that isn't surprising.
I didn't need the four seats really, we've got a Cayenne for those family shifting duties...but I was hooked by the design of the Rapide. Another side benefit is that I now comply with our company car allowance policy which requires four seats....phew.
I'm on day three and the build quality is right there. The negative? If you are sat with the engine off and all the tech running the battery low warning doesn't take long to appear...but that isn't surprising.
neveratt said:
The negative? If you are sat with the engine off and all the tech running the battery low warning doesn't take long to appear...but that isn't surprising.
Agree! 10 mins on the radio and it starts predicting all doom and gloom and will we be able to fire her up and exit the car park when the missus comes out of Marks! 
SlartiF430 said:
Has anybody figured out how to change the old mouth to the new mouth? I love the new mouth look.
Lovely car OP. Enjoy in good health. Please report back in first impressions and if you're feeling up to it, a more detailed comparison to your v8v and 9.
Why would you? Lovely car OP. Enjoy in good health. Please report back in first impressions and if you're feeling up to it, a more detailed comparison to your v8v and 9.
The Mk1 has a traditionally Aston Martin marque defining rad grille shape - the newer one doesn't and has a big mouthy one (lots to do with EU passenger impact regs)!
Now the extra bhp and a better 8 speed box in the 2015 are another thing mind.
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