RE: Aston Martin Rapide S revealed
Discussion
Utterly pointless car IMO.
Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
The bottom line is that thousands and thousands of Panameras have been sold for every Rapide. This is simply because, as a 4 door , 4 seater car, the Rapide does not work. It is too cramped. I attended a launch event and our efforts to take 4 grown men out for a hoon became so absurd we started laughing at the car. I don't think you are likely to buy one after that.
If you have small kids and can only have the one car - this is for you.
But the reality is that practically all Aston buyers also have a Range Rover, a Cayenne or whatever, in the garage. There is therefore no point in owning a Rapide, as such owners would get a DBS instead.
Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
The bottom line is that thousands and thousands of Panameras have been sold for every Rapide. This is simply because, as a 4 door , 4 seater car, the Rapide does not work. It is too cramped. I attended a launch event and our efforts to take 4 grown men out for a hoon became so absurd we started laughing at the car. I don't think you are likely to buy one after that.
If you have small kids and can only have the one car - this is for you.
But the reality is that practically all Aston buyers also have a Range Rover, a Cayenne or whatever, in the garage. There is therefore no point in owning a Rapide, as such owners would get a DBS instead.
Greenslade said:
I didn't think the Rapide was selling very well so why another model that looks the same as almost every other Aston - (aside from extra doors)
The really need to reduce their model range. That grill is awful
IMHO the best loking Aston was V8 Vantage from 06
The Rapide is currently the biggest selling model.The really need to reduce their model range. That grill is awful
IMHO the best loking Aston was V8 Vantage from 06
They didn't want it to look exactly the same as every other Aston Martin or Jaguar so they threw their car designing computer in the bin and borrowed one from Peugeot instead TAHodgson said:
"Aston Martin's all look the same!"
Aston Martin changes appearance slightly
"They've ruined it"
PH will never be happy...
This! Aston can't win. Every time they revise or bring out a new model people either whinge that it's too different and looked better before, or that it looks the same. Aston Martin changes appearance slightly
"They've ruined it"
PH will never be happy...
Even when they try to be completely different (i.e. V12 Zagato) they get comments saying that the old car looks better.
And why aren't people focusing on the 100+ bhp power hike? Surely that's a good thing?
toppstuff said:
Utterly pointless car IMO.
Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
Where have you got the data from for that statement? I was under the impression that the Rapide is the best selling model from the current range. Maybe not in the UK, but it's not designed for here.Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
Hopefully, there's an option to do something about that grille. Otherwise, a very elegant car IMO and probably looks stunning in the metal and the right colour(s).I have a lot of love for the aston brand BUT that grill is far to big and not nessesary.
Other ph's complaining about the car being a 2+2 not a real 4 seater, well every time I see a Rapide or a Panamera I only see a max of 2 people in them, I am sure the buyers of these cars have a R/Rover/X5/Cayenne as the main car etc but if required to drop friends off after a night out they have the extra 2 little seats for infrequent bums to sit on. Just like my own s
tter twice a month I may have 4 adults in it and they are happy to squeeze in the back of a e36 m3 coupe rather than walk home!
Other ph's complaining about the car being a 2+2 not a real 4 seater, well every time I see a Rapide or a Panamera I only see a max of 2 people in them, I am sure the buyers of these cars have a R/Rover/X5/Cayenne as the main car etc but if required to drop friends off after a night out they have the extra 2 little seats for infrequent bums to sit on. Just like my own s
tter twice a month I may have 4 adults in it and they are happy to squeeze in the back of a e36 m3 coupe rather than walk home!George29 said:
toppstuff said:
Utterly pointless car IMO.
Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
Where have you got the data from for that statement? I was under the impression that the Rapide is the best selling model from the current range. Maybe not in the UK, but it's not designed for here.Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
If the Rapide is Aston's best selling car then i would be very worried indeed.
Production of the Rapide was originally slated at 2000 a year, all subbed out to Magna Steyr in Austria. They had an 8 year deal.
Sales have been so weak that Aston called their opt-out on the Magna steyr deal only 2 years into the 8 year deal, bringing manufacture to the UK instead.
Rather than 2000 a year, it looks like they will be lucky to make 500 a year. Maybe even less. Rapide production line has even been halted on occasion because of poor demand.
Can't say I am surprised. There simply is not enough market in a 4 door 2+2. The Rapide is neither fish nor fowl and therefore, IMO, is something of a waste of development money that could have been spent better. They should have put another few inches in the wheelbase if they were serious about this , but I guess funds would'nt allow?
toppstuff said:
George29 said:
toppstuff said:
Utterly pointless car IMO.
Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
Where have you got the data from for that statement? I was under the impression that the Rapide is the best selling model from the current range. Maybe not in the UK, but it's not designed for here.Sales are woefully short of the original targets. They are rather polishing a poo here, IMO.
If the Rapide is Aston's best selling car then i would be very worried indeed.
Production of the Rapide was originally slated at 2000 a year, all subbed out to Magna Steyr in Austria. They had an 8 year deal.
Sales have been so weak that Aston called their opt-out on the Magna steyr deal only 2 years into the 8 year deal, bringing manufacture to the UK instead.
Rather than 2000 a year, it looks like they will be lucky to make 500 a year. Maybe even less. Rapide production line has even been halted on occasion because of poor demand.
Can't say I am surprised. There simply is not enough market in a 4 door 2+2. The Rapide is neither fish nor fowl and therefore, IMO, is something of a waste of development money that could have been spent better. They should have put another few inches in the wheelbase if they were serious about this , but I guess funds would'nt allow?
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