* Rapide Used Buy advice * - AM virgin needs help please!
Discussion
Hi all,
Although I have read PH forums from afar for years, I have finally registered my account!
I am looking to break into AM ownership via a Rapide or Rapide S. I have a 7yr old kid and a wife so the “everyday supercar” possibilities appeal. I have watched all of the YouTube vids and read all the articles, but would really value genuine feedback from all you folk as to the real world ownership experience with a Rapide.
I know they are cheap to buy but know the running costs are not that of a 5 series!
Key answers I would love to get to are:
What are the real reliability experiences and consequences you have experienced?
Is a Main Dealer purchase essential for any comeback or should you take the chance of saving a few grand via a specialist dealer? (I will avoid a private buy).
Should you get an AM extended warranty or take the chance? They are c£2k I understand?
Is a non-AM warranty worth it? (Although AM’s is obvs via 3rd party anyway).
I am working to a budget of max £70k so can see several 2015+ plates for that. I will insist on FAMSH etc.
I’ve done 911C2S, M3, etc. and currently have a 2009 535dMsport and a 2017 Range Rover Sport. Looking for something funky again!
Many thanks folks!!! Appreciate the support for this
AM newbie, who is used to German reliability (and British flakiness from the current RRS!).
Chris.
Although I have read PH forums from afar for years, I have finally registered my account!
I am looking to break into AM ownership via a Rapide or Rapide S. I have a 7yr old kid and a wife so the “everyday supercar” possibilities appeal. I have watched all of the YouTube vids and read all the articles, but would really value genuine feedback from all you folk as to the real world ownership experience with a Rapide.
I know they are cheap to buy but know the running costs are not that of a 5 series!
Key answers I would love to get to are:
What are the real reliability experiences and consequences you have experienced?
Is a Main Dealer purchase essential for any comeback or should you take the chance of saving a few grand via a specialist dealer? (I will avoid a private buy).
Should you get an AM extended warranty or take the chance? They are c£2k I understand?
Is a non-AM warranty worth it? (Although AM’s is obvs via 3rd party anyway).
I am working to a budget of max £70k so can see several 2015+ plates for that. I will insist on FAMSH etc.
I’ve done 911C2S, M3, etc. and currently have a 2009 535dMsport and a 2017 Range Rover Sport. Looking for something funky again!
Many thanks folks!!! Appreciate the support for this
AM newbie, who is used to German reliability (and British flakiness from the current RRS!).
Chris.
I own a V12VS not a Rapide, but most Gaydon VH cars are similar to maintain and have the same issues. Can’t comment on S vs non.
Quick points, I would:
At your budget go main dealer.
Newest and lowest miles you can find. As per any car.
Negotiate as long a warranty as you can as part of the sale - then don’t renew it - bank the cash.
Service costs budget £1.5k PA
Tyres - same as 5 series.
Look for condensation in front and rear lights, If there is any have it fixed/renewed as part of the sale.
Look for any imperfection in the paintwork or trim around the windows, plus mirror stalks - again, fixed as part of the sale.
That’s about it!
Fantastic cars and great value for money.
Have fun!
Quick points, I would:
At your budget go main dealer.
Newest and lowest miles you can find. As per any car.
Negotiate as long a warranty as you can as part of the sale - then don’t renew it - bank the cash.
Service costs budget £1.5k PA
Tyres - same as 5 series.
Look for condensation in front and rear lights, If there is any have it fixed/renewed as part of the sale.
Look for any imperfection in the paintwork or trim around the windows, plus mirror stalks - again, fixed as part of the sale.
That’s about it!
Fantastic cars and great value for money.
Have fun!
Many thanks Phil! That’s sound advice all round.
The V12 lump sounds pretty bulletproof as does the rest of main items like gearbox etc, as long as you keep properly maintained of course which I certainly will!
I was actually looking at Vantages to begin with but the extra seats in the Rapide appeals to much.
Happy motoring!
The V12 lump sounds pretty bulletproof as does the rest of main items like gearbox etc, as long as you keep properly maintained of course which I certainly will!
I was actually looking at Vantages to begin with but the extra seats in the Rapide appeals to much.
Happy motoring!
kipv12 said:
The extra seats are the reason I bought a rapide but the thing I use most is the hatch back, parcels, shopping, holidays. The number of times I think to myself I could not do this in any other Aston. They are great for everyday use.
Or two sets of golf clubs, a 66l cooler with 100 beers loaded, ice, a cool bag with even more, associated large luggage bags for two. Oh and the two blokes up front! 
A great daily driver I don’t doubt, however for me it’s mostly weekend use.
I got mine to replace a vantage which I adored, and it hasn’t disappointed. In fact it has surprised me in many ways. I have two young kids and the Vantage just wasn’t getting used as family stuff takes over. The Rapide does it all and more.
I will whisper it, I probably prefer the overall drive to the Vantage (4.7 full sports pack) which always felt like a proper workout and was superb when really pressing on but just a bit too frenetic.
In the Rapide, remote exhaust valve switch to loud, turn on sport on and harden the suspension, it sounds like an animal and the suspension changes the character entirely, which to me is as good as the vantage when pressing on. The party trick is turning it all off and wafting through a 5 hour trip in the rain in double glazed limousine like luxury.
I got mine to replace a vantage which I adored, and it hasn’t disappointed. In fact it has surprised me in many ways. I have two young kids and the Vantage just wasn’t getting used as family stuff takes over. The Rapide does it all and more.
I will whisper it, I probably prefer the overall drive to the Vantage (4.7 full sports pack) which always felt like a proper workout and was superb when really pressing on but just a bit too frenetic.
In the Rapide, remote exhaust valve switch to loud, turn on sport on and harden the suspension, it sounds like an animal and the suspension changes the character entirely, which to me is as good as the vantage when pressing on. The party trick is turning it all off and wafting through a 5 hour trip in the rain in double glazed limousine like luxury.
CB07 said:
A great daily driver I don’t doubt, however for me it’s mostly weekend use.
I got mine to replace a vantage which I adored, and it hasn’t disappointed. In fact it has surprised me in many ways. I have two young kids and the Vantage just wasn’t getting used as family stuff takes over. The Rapide does it all and more.
I will whisper it, I probably prefer the overall drive to the Vantage (4.7 full sports pack) which always felt like a proper workout and was superb when really pressing on but just a bit too frenetic.
In the Rapide, remote exhaust valve switch to loud, turn on sport on and harden the suspension, it sounds like an animal and the suspension changes the character entirely, which to me is as good as the vantage when pressing on. The party trick is turning it all off and wafting through a 5 hour trip in the rain in double glazed limousine like luxury.
Excellent!! I got mine to replace a vantage which I adored, and it hasn’t disappointed. In fact it has surprised me in many ways. I have two young kids and the Vantage just wasn’t getting used as family stuff takes over. The Rapide does it all and more.
I will whisper it, I probably prefer the overall drive to the Vantage (4.7 full sports pack) which always felt like a proper workout and was superb when really pressing on but just a bit too frenetic.
In the Rapide, remote exhaust valve switch to loud, turn on sport on and harden the suspension, it sounds like an animal and the suspension changes the character entirely, which to me is as good as the vantage when pressing on. The party trick is turning it all off and wafting through a 5 hour trip in the rain in double glazed limousine like luxury.
Any headaches or negatives? There must be some?
Assume the maintenance costs a little more than the Vantage?
I’m really trying to find why I should just “go safe” and buy a spanking new M5 or similar... my main concern is if I buy a 5yr old Rapide then I may get stuck with time off the road as it’s sat getting fixed. Certain amount of luck of the draw I know...
Thanks..
Edited by c10vet on Sunday 18th October 17:40
Hey Chris,
I have been running a 2012 Virage as a daily driver for 18 months, which best I can tell shares most of the same important bits with the Rapide. It’s been my first venture into running something like this and I have to say I was nervous before I made the move. I was worried about the prospect of things going wrong with it and thereby bringing big bills, and big inconvenience. I was also a little worried about it just being difficult to live with - old tech, noisy, hard ride etc. However, I can only tell you it’s been an absolute joy. It’s really easy to live with - quiet, relaxed ride when you’re sitting on a motorway and epic fun when the mood takes you. Critically though, whilst I’ve had a few niggles with the car they were all early on and were pretty trivial things - Tyre pressure sensors needed replacing and the tracker wouldn’t register so also needed replacing. Both were sorted under warranty and I’ve had no other issues. My experience is that they are no less reliable than the Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5 I have, nor the 2 Porsches I’ve had, but much more reliable than the 2011 v8 Jag XJ I had (that was shocking!). Nothing has been as reliable as the 2 MX-5s I’ve run... but what can I say other than those things are just a freak of engineering!
Essentially I’ve found the Aston only a little more costly to run than other ‘premium exec’ car brands. Tax, tyres and insurance are the same, and main dealer servicing is only about 30% more on the Aston. My experience with main dealer in all respects of customer service has been superb too, and the warranty was great. I didn’t bother extending it when the time came as I thought the risk reasonable enough to take.
I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again and would encourage anybody to take the plunge over running a regular (expensive) car like a 5 series. In fact I’m considering chopping in my Virage for a Rapide S so I can get rid of one of my Land Rovers which I only use when my wife and I both need 4 proper seats a the same time. If I see this through (and it’s a big if because I just love the Virage so much and its so convenient having a crappy Disco to fill with rubbish and drive to the tip...) I’ll go with a main dealer again for the excellent warranty.
In short... do it! Owning an Aston is a really special experience. I’m sure you’ll love it :-)
Best,
Nick
I have been running a 2012 Virage as a daily driver for 18 months, which best I can tell shares most of the same important bits with the Rapide. It’s been my first venture into running something like this and I have to say I was nervous before I made the move. I was worried about the prospect of things going wrong with it and thereby bringing big bills, and big inconvenience. I was also a little worried about it just being difficult to live with - old tech, noisy, hard ride etc. However, I can only tell you it’s been an absolute joy. It’s really easy to live with - quiet, relaxed ride when you’re sitting on a motorway and epic fun when the mood takes you. Critically though, whilst I’ve had a few niggles with the car they were all early on and were pretty trivial things - Tyre pressure sensors needed replacing and the tracker wouldn’t register so also needed replacing. Both were sorted under warranty and I’ve had no other issues. My experience is that they are no less reliable than the Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5 I have, nor the 2 Porsches I’ve had, but much more reliable than the 2011 v8 Jag XJ I had (that was shocking!). Nothing has been as reliable as the 2 MX-5s I’ve run... but what can I say other than those things are just a freak of engineering!
Essentially I’ve found the Aston only a little more costly to run than other ‘premium exec’ car brands. Tax, tyres and insurance are the same, and main dealer servicing is only about 30% more on the Aston. My experience with main dealer in all respects of customer service has been superb too, and the warranty was great. I didn’t bother extending it when the time came as I thought the risk reasonable enough to take.
I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again and would encourage anybody to take the plunge over running a regular (expensive) car like a 5 series. In fact I’m considering chopping in my Virage for a Rapide S so I can get rid of one of my Land Rovers which I only use when my wife and I both need 4 proper seats a the same time. If I see this through (and it’s a big if because I just love the Virage so much and its so convenient having a crappy Disco to fill with rubbish and drive to the tip...) I’ll go with a main dealer again for the excellent warranty.
In short... do it! Owning an Aston is a really special experience. I’m sure you’ll love it :-)
Best,
Nick
YamahaU3 said:
Hey Chris,
I have been running a 2012 Virage as a daily driver for 18 months, which best I can tell shares most of the same important bits with the Rapide. It’s been my first venture into running something like this and I have to say I was nervous before I made the move. I was worried about the prospect of things going wrong with it and thereby bringing big bills, and big inconvenience. I was also a little worried about it just being difficult to live with - old tech, noisy, hard ride etc. However, I can only tell you it’s been an absolute joy. It’s really easy to live with - quiet, relaxed ride when you’re sitting on a motorway and epic fun when the mood takes you. Critically though, whilst I’ve had a few niggles with the car they were all early on and were pretty trivial things - Tyre pressure sensors needed replacing and the tracker wouldn’t register so also needed replacing. Both were sorted under warranty and I’ve had no other issues. My experience is that they are no less reliable than the Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5 I have, nor the 2 Porsches I’ve had, but much more reliable than the 2011 v8 Jag XJ I had (that was shocking!). Nothing has been as reliable as the 2 MX-5s I’ve run... but what can I say other than those things are just a freak of engineering!
Essentially I’ve found the Aston only a little more costly to run than other ‘premium exec’ car brands. Tax, tyres and insurance are the same, and main dealer servicing is only about 30% more on the Aston. My experience with main dealer in all respects of customer service has been superb too, and the warranty was great. I didn’t bother extending it when the time came as I thought the risk reasonable enough to take.
I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again and would encourage anybody to take the plunge over running a regular (expensive) car like a 5 series. In fact I’m considering chopping in my Virage for a Rapide S so I can get rid of one of my Land Rovers which I only use when my wife and I both need 4 proper seats a the same time. If I see this through (and it’s a big if because I just love the Virage so much and its so convenient having a crappy Disco to fill with rubbish and drive to the tip...) I’ll go with a main dealer again for the excellent warranty.
In short... do it! Owning an Aston is a really special experience. I’m sure you’ll love it :-)
Best,
Nick
Great intel and advice - many thanks Nick!! I have been running a 2012 Virage as a daily driver for 18 months, which best I can tell shares most of the same important bits with the Rapide. It’s been my first venture into running something like this and I have to say I was nervous before I made the move. I was worried about the prospect of things going wrong with it and thereby bringing big bills, and big inconvenience. I was also a little worried about it just being difficult to live with - old tech, noisy, hard ride etc. However, I can only tell you it’s been an absolute joy. It’s really easy to live with - quiet, relaxed ride when you’re sitting on a motorway and epic fun when the mood takes you. Critically though, whilst I’ve had a few niggles with the car they were all early on and were pretty trivial things - Tyre pressure sensors needed replacing and the tracker wouldn’t register so also needed replacing. Both were sorted under warranty and I’ve had no other issues. My experience is that they are no less reliable than the Land Rover Discovery 4 and 5 I have, nor the 2 Porsches I’ve had, but much more reliable than the 2011 v8 Jag XJ I had (that was shocking!). Nothing has been as reliable as the 2 MX-5s I’ve run... but what can I say other than those things are just a freak of engineering!
Essentially I’ve found the Aston only a little more costly to run than other ‘premium exec’ car brands. Tax, tyres and insurance are the same, and main dealer servicing is only about 30% more on the Aston. My experience with main dealer in all respects of customer service has been superb too, and the warranty was great. I didn’t bother extending it when the time came as I thought the risk reasonable enough to take.
I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again and would encourage anybody to take the plunge over running a regular (expensive) car like a 5 series. In fact I’m considering chopping in my Virage for a Rapide S so I can get rid of one of my Land Rovers which I only use when my wife and I both need 4 proper seats a the same time. If I see this through (and it’s a big if because I just love the Virage so much and its so convenient having a crappy Disco to fill with rubbish and drive to the tip...) I’ll go with a main dealer again for the excellent warranty.
In short... do it! Owning an Aston is a really special experience. I’m sure you’ll love it :-)
Best,
Nick
I've had my Rapide about 6 monhts now, bought as the main family car to replace an Audi RS2 - wife and couple of pre-teen kids. I have a few other cars, some of which also seat 4, but none with 5-door practicality of the Rapide (apart from wife's runabout, which is a 3.0 N/A straight-6 5-door BMW hatch).
Why the Rapide? I wanted something practical but interesting, as the RS2 was in spades. While I loved the RS2, the Aston is 10 times the car. The shortlist included E61 M5 Touring (the V10 ticked the 'interesting' box), Maserati QPV, (briefly) RR Ghost, Panamera Turismo. I didn't really look at other 4-door saloons (the don't flick my switch, QP apart), and I disregarded Ferraris FF and 612 due to number of doors.
The Rapide has been brilliant - truly exceptional. Like the RS2, every drive is an event, but more so. The kids find there is more room in the back than the RS2 - and I believe them (all the reviewers whinge about the back seats of the Rapide, but wy don't they ever mention the rear seats in something like the Audi RS4? Way more cramped than the Rapide). The kids adore it - to them it feels special. Also, if you've previously had modern Audi or BMW, be prepared to be liked by other road users. Maybe beacuse it's an Aston, maybe because it's not showy as it's a 5-door.
OK, it's not as fully practical as the RS2 or any other estate car. But then the times I used that to its full were a handful over the course of a year - and for those times I can use the runabout. The previous owner of mine did 3k miles in 3 years - I then did the same in about 3 weeks. Four-up to Switzlerand and back, with a stop off at Circuit Dijon Prenois, where it was much better than I expected. The downside was that we couldn't bring any wine back - but we didn't have to cut back on the amount of luggage we took, it really is that practical. Plus, if you have no rear passengers it's huge; and with just one rear passenger you can also fold one of the rear seats flat. 2 weeks of luggage for 4 people? Done
As a previous poster said, on the long haul it's imperious - just so relaxing (and bloody fast!): reviewers often talk of getting out of certain cars after a long journey feeling complretely refreshed, and that is just how it feels. Yet if you are on back-country roads, and press Sport and firm up the dampers, it's fantastically controlled and a truly great drive.
Oh, and the noise... Mine's currently sititng in the driveway alongside an M3 CSL and it doesn't feel or sound much less of an event. Different for sure, but I don't miss the CSL when I'm in the Aston as far as the sound is concerned.
I've not had it long enough to give a definitive view on reliability. But I did my research beforehand, and there are only ever a couple of things that seem to go wrong, unless you're really unlucky: tyre sensors seem to be the main one - and mine had them done by the previous owner, but to be fair it was only a few hundred quid. I thought my parking sensors were on the blink, but I just wiped them down and they were fine. They just seem to be fabulously reliable.
They are definately under the radar - and so undervalued. They're a real gem - get one before they stop us driving V12s
Why the Rapide? I wanted something practical but interesting, as the RS2 was in spades. While I loved the RS2, the Aston is 10 times the car. The shortlist included E61 M5 Touring (the V10 ticked the 'interesting' box), Maserati QPV, (briefly) RR Ghost, Panamera Turismo. I didn't really look at other 4-door saloons (the don't flick my switch, QP apart), and I disregarded Ferraris FF and 612 due to number of doors.
The Rapide has been brilliant - truly exceptional. Like the RS2, every drive is an event, but more so. The kids find there is more room in the back than the RS2 - and I believe them (all the reviewers whinge about the back seats of the Rapide, but wy don't they ever mention the rear seats in something like the Audi RS4? Way more cramped than the Rapide). The kids adore it - to them it feels special. Also, if you've previously had modern Audi or BMW, be prepared to be liked by other road users. Maybe beacuse it's an Aston, maybe because it's not showy as it's a 5-door.
OK, it's not as fully practical as the RS2 or any other estate car. But then the times I used that to its full were a handful over the course of a year - and for those times I can use the runabout. The previous owner of mine did 3k miles in 3 years - I then did the same in about 3 weeks. Four-up to Switzlerand and back, with a stop off at Circuit Dijon Prenois, where it was much better than I expected. The downside was that we couldn't bring any wine back - but we didn't have to cut back on the amount of luggage we took, it really is that practical. Plus, if you have no rear passengers it's huge; and with just one rear passenger you can also fold one of the rear seats flat. 2 weeks of luggage for 4 people? Done
As a previous poster said, on the long haul it's imperious - just so relaxing (and bloody fast!): reviewers often talk of getting out of certain cars after a long journey feeling complretely refreshed, and that is just how it feels. Yet if you are on back-country roads, and press Sport and firm up the dampers, it's fantastically controlled and a truly great drive.
Oh, and the noise... Mine's currently sititng in the driveway alongside an M3 CSL and it doesn't feel or sound much less of an event. Different for sure, but I don't miss the CSL when I'm in the Aston as far as the sound is concerned.
I've not had it long enough to give a definitive view on reliability. But I did my research beforehand, and there are only ever a couple of things that seem to go wrong, unless you're really unlucky: tyre sensors seem to be the main one - and mine had them done by the previous owner, but to be fair it was only a few hundred quid. I thought my parking sensors were on the blink, but I just wiped them down and they were fine. They just seem to be fabulously reliable.
They are definately under the radar - and so undervalued. They're a real gem - get one before they stop us driving V12s
Edited by gt69 on Sunday 22 November 18:08
Edited by gt69 on Sunday 22 November 18:12
Ive had both a DB9 and and a Vantage (which I still own). They have both been pretty reliable. The Vantage had a few problems due to the previous owner, but now all sorted. And as others have said 30% increase in service costs over say BMW, or at a good indie, maybe even cheaper. Superb vehicles.
I've had my 2014 Rapide S for 4 or 5 months now so I can't claim a huge amount of experience but I'll share what I know.
In general I love the thing. It feels special every time I drive it and that's worth a lot to me. I've done some long trips, including one of about 2500 miles, and it is indeed a serious long distance machine. It's comfortable and can truly haul if you put your foot down.
Some of the downsides are obvious. My car is six years old and even when it was new it didn't exactly have cutting edge technology. I miss having radar cruise control and a heated steering wheel, both features of my almost as old and vastly less expensive previous car. Parts are service are expensive. My washer fluid reservoir has cracked and leaks, apparently a common fault on Astons of this era. A replacement cost me over US$600, easily three or four times what it would cost on a more mass-production car.
Other downsides are more subtle. The leather interior is lovely but these cars don't handle very hot climates very well. I have a warped dash panel and warped package tray, both apparently due to the leather shrinking in the heat. The piano black "waterfall" trim on my car is also severely cracked, also apparently due to excessive heat. I'm ashamed to admit how much I'm spending to fix that. (The previously owner apparently treated my Rapide like a Toyota, not taking especially careful care of it.) So the bottom line is that if you live in a really hot climate, like the southwestern US, you have to be careful with window shades and like when you park it outside in the summer. The crystal "ECU" key is very cool but, coming from a car with a proximity key, it's kind of pain. It's so expensive to replace that I keep mine in a little leather pouch for protection but that makes it even more finicky to deal with on a daily basis. My fuel door somehow went out of alignment and got stuck closed, also apparently a common problem. Finally, the paint started coming off my wheels in large pieces so I had to have them stripped and repainted. You might be getting the sense that my car has been a bit of a project. It has been but it's also been something of a bonding experience.
The stereo system sounds fantastic but takes an age to figure out how to use. I bought a little adapter that plugs into the iPod dock connector in the cubby and gives me Bluetooth audio streaming from my phone. I'd consider that a must-have upgrade that makes life hugely nicer.
My 2014 has the Garmin navigation system that was introduced in 2012. (Previous years use a Volvo-based system that is widely considered to be pretty bad.) I think it works reasonably well given the relatively small screen and joystick interface. Entering an address takes an age but once you've done it the system works fine. Of course my car came with the six year old database. I was quoted US$750 for an official Aston database update but you can buy it from Garmin on SD card for about US$100 and fit it yourself. (The navigation system is under the left rear passenger seat. You lift up the carpet and go in through the kick panel. The SD card slot is behind a door you have to lift up.)
2014 is a slightly weird year in that it's the S version but still with the 6-speed transmission and original style center panel, this makes it the bargain S year. The 8-speed shows up in 2015 and prices go up significantly. Frankly I'm fine with the 6-speed but your opinion may differ.
My usual summation is that it's a high-gain ownership experience. These are hand-built cars with tiny production runs, so you have to expect some issues you wouldn't normally see on a Toyota or Mercedes. There is also a lot of stuff I'd charitably call eccentric, like the incomprehensible stereo and vintage navigation system. Expect to pay a fair bit in running costs, both fuel and service. But in return the thing is emotionally satisfying. It's gorgeous, maybe the best look sedan ever, sounds amazing, and is proper fast when asked. It's quiet and comfortable, but in a "for a sports car" way, not in a cushy luxury car way. It's not an appliance you own, it's a special sort of beast you have a relationship with and you have to be happy with that kind of ownership experience. If you want an appliance, go buy an S-class or Lexus.
In general I love the thing. It feels special every time I drive it and that's worth a lot to me. I've done some long trips, including one of about 2500 miles, and it is indeed a serious long distance machine. It's comfortable and can truly haul if you put your foot down.
Some of the downsides are obvious. My car is six years old and even when it was new it didn't exactly have cutting edge technology. I miss having radar cruise control and a heated steering wheel, both features of my almost as old and vastly less expensive previous car. Parts are service are expensive. My washer fluid reservoir has cracked and leaks, apparently a common fault on Astons of this era. A replacement cost me over US$600, easily three or four times what it would cost on a more mass-production car.
Other downsides are more subtle. The leather interior is lovely but these cars don't handle very hot climates very well. I have a warped dash panel and warped package tray, both apparently due to the leather shrinking in the heat. The piano black "waterfall" trim on my car is also severely cracked, also apparently due to excessive heat. I'm ashamed to admit how much I'm spending to fix that. (The previously owner apparently treated my Rapide like a Toyota, not taking especially careful care of it.) So the bottom line is that if you live in a really hot climate, like the southwestern US, you have to be careful with window shades and like when you park it outside in the summer. The crystal "ECU" key is very cool but, coming from a car with a proximity key, it's kind of pain. It's so expensive to replace that I keep mine in a little leather pouch for protection but that makes it even more finicky to deal with on a daily basis. My fuel door somehow went out of alignment and got stuck closed, also apparently a common problem. Finally, the paint started coming off my wheels in large pieces so I had to have them stripped and repainted. You might be getting the sense that my car has been a bit of a project. It has been but it's also been something of a bonding experience.
The stereo system sounds fantastic but takes an age to figure out how to use. I bought a little adapter that plugs into the iPod dock connector in the cubby and gives me Bluetooth audio streaming from my phone. I'd consider that a must-have upgrade that makes life hugely nicer.
My 2014 has the Garmin navigation system that was introduced in 2012. (Previous years use a Volvo-based system that is widely considered to be pretty bad.) I think it works reasonably well given the relatively small screen and joystick interface. Entering an address takes an age but once you've done it the system works fine. Of course my car came with the six year old database. I was quoted US$750 for an official Aston database update but you can buy it from Garmin on SD card for about US$100 and fit it yourself. (The navigation system is under the left rear passenger seat. You lift up the carpet and go in through the kick panel. The SD card slot is behind a door you have to lift up.)
2014 is a slightly weird year in that it's the S version but still with the 6-speed transmission and original style center panel, this makes it the bargain S year. The 8-speed shows up in 2015 and prices go up significantly. Frankly I'm fine with the 6-speed but your opinion may differ.
My usual summation is that it's a high-gain ownership experience. These are hand-built cars with tiny production runs, so you have to expect some issues you wouldn't normally see on a Toyota or Mercedes. There is also a lot of stuff I'd charitably call eccentric, like the incomprehensible stereo and vintage navigation system. Expect to pay a fair bit in running costs, both fuel and service. But in return the thing is emotionally satisfying. It's gorgeous, maybe the best look sedan ever, sounds amazing, and is proper fast when asked. It's quiet and comfortable, but in a "for a sports car" way, not in a cushy luxury car way. It's not an appliance you own, it's a special sort of beast you have a relationship with and you have to be happy with that kind of ownership experience. If you want an appliance, go buy an S-class or Lexus.
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