RE: Aston Martin Rapide S MY15: Review

RE: Aston Martin Rapide S MY15: Review

Author
Discussion

leedsutd1

770 posts

185 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
I am the only person who thinks the styling looks a little dated ,has not changed that much in nearly 10, years, don't get me wrong I would like one but if buying new it would be a ferrari

Newro

703 posts

261 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
leedsutd1 said:
I am the only person who thinks the styling looks a little dated ,has not changed that much in nearly 10, years, don't get me wrong I would like one but if buying new it would be a ferrari
I do like evolutionary design. (For example the 911.)

This does seem a bit of a small leap indeed. Especially when put next to new Vanquish, which in my mind is exactly the right step forward. If you see one parked next to a DB9, it really moved the design as much forward as the DB9 did over the DB7.

mr_tony

6,328 posts

268 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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tali1 said:
mr_tony said:
Still a great looking and sounding car.
However, gearbox aside its still pretty dated, cramped in the rear (impossible for kids on child seats particularly) and lacks usable luggage space.

Its still just a coupe with occasional rear seats for small people who aren't in child seats.

The Rapide falls between 2 more extreme and better options. For my money a Conti GT or a Ferrari FF offer better sporting / capacity balances...
Iirc a Conti GT is rather cramped aswell.Best 4 seater would be Merc S coupe/CL
Most of these cars are Personal Luxury Vehicles that by their nature will be comprimised.
Rapide owner will have full fat RR when full practicality is required.
Having sat in the back of the Conti, its roomy in comparison to the Rapide, and child seats fit comfortably. I tested our nippers seats to check. Seats fit in an FF too even with a rear facing baby seat behind the driver a 6ft person can be comfy behind the wheel.

You are correct that potential owners (or at least the ones I spoke to) will probably have a FFRR - however the point of a luxury 4 seat coupe is that you can use it with the kids and have something special to drive. Otherwise why buy a compromised 4 seater? Just buy a Vanquish or an F12.

Merc CL doesn't make the list in this segment - it's not special. Its just a big barge. Great if you are doing miles. No use if you want to drive..


Edited by mr_tony on Wednesday 13th August 16:09

Remagel2507

1,456 posts

191 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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This new 8 speed auto definitely seems to be improving a lot of cars of late, I recently drove a Jaguar XF S, BMW 520d and a Q7 all fitted with this new box and was impressed with it in all 3 applications. Helpfully I had driven slightly older models with the older 6 speed units and you can tell the difference straight away, the shifts manage to be quick but also so smooth you cant always tell when its changed gear. Not tried them myself on proper long run but from what the trip computers were showing at least the MPG figures looked good as well

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Remagel2507 said:
This new 8 speed auto definitely seems to be improving a lot of cars of late,
Thing is the ZF8 was revealed in 2007 and has been in production cars since 2008 so it's not new, I hope one day AM will start to lead rather than following on 6 years later.

Looks a cracking car that Rapide though I have to say....

Aeroresh

1,429 posts

231 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Ill still take a Panamera over this thank you.

DeltonaS

3,707 posts

137 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Speaking of objective vs. subjective.............

The 150.000 pounds (BRITISH) fourseater (well sorth of) Aston Martin:

"Complaints about the previously facelifted Aston Martin Rapide S could be divided neatly into the objective and the subjective. The chunky stitching, the out-of-place Ford switches and the overall weirdness of a five-metre long four-seater coupe are all just matters of opinion. Subjective. But the six-speed 'box with its wide ratios and sluggish responses was not good. It was a very objective fly in Aston's Beluga Caviar."

vs.

The 120.000 pounds (ITALIAN) fourseater Maserati Mc Stradale (tested by D.Trent Nov 2013):

"By any rational measure the GranTurismo MC Stradale doesn't add up. At £120K as tested it's four-cylinders and a decent interior down on its nearest rival the Aston Martin DB9. The automated manual gearbox - transaxle mounted in this instance - shunts, hesitates and slurs in a way that simply underlines how far dual-clutch and regular autos have moved the game on. It's too big to really enjoy on a British B-road. It doesn't feel all that quick, initially at least. The pitiful infotainment system would be derided as a bit passé in a Citroen. What's that? It is from a Citroen? Oh."

Quite a different attitude (and valuation) towards (of) both cars (and it's hardware), allthough it has to be said that both were tested by different persons.

stevebear

92 posts

163 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Bit of lurking gone on here - I know I'm not the most prolific of posters.....

Correct me if I'm wrong here - have only briefly skimmed the posts on this, and I know this is a bit vague but I read somewhere, at least within the last year, that Aston were unconvinced in these new fangled multi-geared boxes and that they didn't suit the Aston grand scheme. Something about 6 gears being more than enough? Might have been interview in TG mag with some AM top chap.

Awaiting the correction.....

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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thatguy11 said:
Still can't get over the fact that the key is called an "Emotional Control Unit". Plus the "Power, Beauty, Soul" dash display.

It's the sort of thing that you might be able to get away with in flamboyant Italian stuff, but it's just chintzy and kitsch in an Aston Martin
They called the key that when it was first introduced. Everyone just calls it a key now.

The dash display hasn't said "Power, Beauty, Soul" for years. It says "Pure Aston Martin", which is a bit silly, but you hardly ever notice it.

None of this is anywhere near as embarrassing as Ferrari merchandise.

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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It won't be able to say that when they get AMG engines...

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
stevebear said:
Bit of lurking gone on here - I know I'm not the most prolific of posters.....

Correct me if I'm wrong here - have only briefly skimmed the posts on this, and I know this is a bit vague but I read somewhere, at least within the last year, that Aston were unconvinced in these new fangled multi-geared boxes and that they didn't suit the Aston grand scheme. Something about 6 gears being more than enough? Might have been interview in TG mag with some AM top chap.

Awaiting the correction.....
It was here you read it. Humble pie indeed. Glad they've done it, mind. But it would be nice to point the performance and economy gains to the chap who said there was no point.

gumsie

680 posts

208 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
All that money for what seems to be a Ford Mondeo from the inside. Jezuss!

I could never get past that.

ChristAlmighty

74 posts

245 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
thatguy11 said:
Still can't get over the fact that the key is called an "Emotional Control Unit". Plus the "Power, Beauty, Soul" dash display.

It's the sort of thing that you might be able to get away with in flamboyant Italian stuff, but it's just chintzy and kitsch in an Aston Martin
Although Emotional Control Unit is a silly name, it's not printed anywhere so we just call it 'the key' like everyone else. And I do tire of constantly reading people posting the dash reads Power Beauty Soul... It hasn't done for years now. it actually reads "Pure Aston Martin". Much better!

ChristAlmighty

74 posts

245 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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D'oh, didn't see Zod's post... but can't hurt to stick my two penneth in! :-)

unpc

2,831 posts

212 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
neil1jnr said:
I still don't see the need for this 'MY15'

I asked on another thread and it means model year.. but this is 2014 and the car is 14 plate?

Can somebody help out, I am a bit confused, is this like the American's calling cars that are new in 2014, 2015 cars???
It's an industry thing. The model year is always 1 year ahead of the actual release date. Don't ask me why though and I've worked in the industry for nearly 30 years.

tali1

5,265 posts

200 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
mr_tony said:
tali1 said:
mr_tony said:
Still a great looking and sounding car.
However, gearbox aside its still pretty dated, cramped in the rear (impossible for kids on child seats particularly) and lacks usable luggage space.

Its still just a coupe with occasional rear seats for small people who aren't in child seats.

The Rapide falls between 2 more extreme and better options. For my money a Conti GT or a Ferrari FF offer better sporting / capacity balances...
Iirc a Conti GT is rather cramped aswell.Best 4 seater would be Merc S coupe/CL
Most of these cars are Personal Luxury Vehicles that by their nature will be comprimised.
Rapide owner will have full fat RR when full practicality is required.
Having sat in the back of the Conti, its roomy in comparison to the Rapide, and child seats fit comfortably. I tested our nippers seats to check. Seats fit in an FF too even with a rear facing baby seat behind the driver a 6ft person can be comfy behind the wheel.

You are correct that potential owners (or at least the ones I spoke to) will probably have a FFRR - however the point of a luxury 4 seat coupe is that you can use it with the kids and have something special to drive. Otherwise why buy a compromised 4 seater? Just buy a Vanquish or an F12.

Merc CL doesn't make the list in this segment - it's not special. Its just a big barge. Great if you are doing miles. No use if you want to drive..


Edited by mr_tony on Wednesday 13th August 16:09
The paradox is that, i guess, the Merc will be best all rounder.My suggestion was on price alone because as you say not special.And the latest model ( and i verry rarely get worked up on styling) is just a big C coupe

Edited by tali1 on Wednesday 13th August 22:23

AER

1,142 posts

269 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
It's an awkward looking thing from the rear.

They really should develop the shooting brake version of the Rapide. An altogether much more convincing machine than the compromised DB9-wannabe looks it has currently


jontysafe

2,351 posts

177 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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Max_Torque said:
Ok, so it's got a decent transmission now, hows about actually having back seats a human can fit comfortably into???
Or a centre console that doesn't look like it was bought from Tandy circa 1990

Europa1

10,923 posts

187 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
AER said:
It's an awkward looking thing from the rear.

They really should develop the shooting brake version of the Rapide. An altogether much more convincing machine than the compromised DB9-wannabe looks it has currently

That is lovely. Although with four passenger doors, isn't it an estate rather than a shooting brake?

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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Coldfuse said:
Lovely looking car, i bet it sounds amazing aswell. But that centre console really lets the car down. It looks like its a 10 year old design shoehorned into the car.
Thats because it is a 10 year old design. Same as the steering wheel!

I like the Rapide smile