RE: Aston Martin Rapide: PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
V41LEY said:
Nice at these prices. Looking forward to hearing owners experiences.
I highly recommend a test drive. For us it was a toss-up between this and a FF as our family/shopping car. Seriously quick (once moving) and an engine note to die for. Yes there are more capable/roomy cars but this is a car you can enjoy (as a family) and it's absolutely beautiful with it.
Rufalike said:
My father in law has had 2 of these and both been reliable
His latest is a Rapide s and it is an epic machine , and given Aston is low volume not “ s
t” in the detail .
The ride is a perfect blend of comfort and control with a surprising amount of travel when needed e.g big undulations the noise is special
It means you can take friends and children out but it feels like you are in a 2 seat sports car and special whereas a Panamera or amg s class are just fast saloons
I’m not sure the Panamera and S Class are really comparable. Having driven them both quite a bit and having owned a couple of Panameras, I wouldn’t say they are. S class is more like a 7 series, A8, new Maserati QP etc. I’d also wager a Rapide would not see which way my Turbo S went and if my experience of recent Astons is anything to go by, I’d be driven nuts by the squeaks and rattles in the Aston’s cabin. The Aston might have more sense of occasion than the Panamera but having deliberated over all the big 4 door cars mentioned above before buying, the build quality and packaging of the Rapide really let it down in my view. His latest is a Rapide s and it is an epic machine , and given Aston is low volume not “ s
t” in the detail .The ride is a perfect blend of comfort and control with a surprising amount of travel when needed e.g big undulations the noise is special
It means you can take friends and children out but it feels like you are in a 2 seat sports car and special whereas a Panamera or amg s class are just fast saloons
Stop calling it 4 door! Its a 5 door family hatchback!
TBH little debate or pondering is needed - it was night and day and an absolutely easy choice having test driven all the cars mentioned here. You look at it and then fire up the V12 and many petrolheads (esp if they were [partial to a TVR) will be in the bag!
What hasn't been mentioned much is its handling and nimbleness (for a big thing). Mine goes all over on trips and keeps up with all my mates in all sorts of proper sports cars. I'm probably working a bit harder and need the missus to push me back in my seat now and again (Recaros with wings not an option...) and for me this is the key thing - dynamics and poise. If it was a bit soggy and unwieldy it wouldn't work - but its not; its a proper drivers car with fabulous feedback, throttle balance/adjustability and a superb communicative HPAS. My PS4-S and stiff dampers combo is fabulous in it or leave it soft and have great compliant ride for a trip to the Nurburgring - and yes, with the kids in the back
Please don't all buy one all at once - I love the 'hens teeth' factor
TBH little debate or pondering is needed - it was night and day and an absolutely easy choice having test driven all the cars mentioned here. You look at it and then fire up the V12 and many petrolheads (esp if they were [partial to a TVR) will be in the bag!
What hasn't been mentioned much is its handling and nimbleness (for a big thing). Mine goes all over on trips and keeps up with all my mates in all sorts of proper sports cars. I'm probably working a bit harder and need the missus to push me back in my seat now and again (Recaros with wings not an option...) and for me this is the key thing - dynamics and poise. If it was a bit soggy and unwieldy it wouldn't work - but its not; its a proper drivers car with fabulous feedback, throttle balance/adjustability and a superb communicative HPAS. My PS4-S and stiff dampers combo is fabulous in it or leave it soft and have great compliant ride for a trip to the Nurburgring - and yes, with the kids in the back
Please don't all buy one all at once - I love the 'hens teeth' factor
Thanks mosdef - I now feel empowered to indulge some more to big up the big car.
Please note that its wet out there (OMFGG
!) but I still bought her home to resume the shopping trips.
This is the favourite snap I took though - those stunning proportions and gorgeous hips:
No stop wait! This one in a very gentle ohh so neutral drift!
ENOUGH
Please note that its wet out there (OMFGG
!) but I still bought her home to resume the shopping trips.This is the favourite snap I took though - those stunning proportions and gorgeous hips:
No stop wait! This one in a very gentle ohh so neutral drift!
ENOUGH
Interestingly I have owned a 2010 20,000 mile Rapide for the last 7 months, bought from Brentwood for circa £55,000. I also owned a 2007 Quattroporte Auto for 3 years. The Quattroporte made a wonderful sound with even the lightest of throttle application, however it did require plenty of revs to promote reasonable passage. This did become very slightly annoying over time but I still loved the car and it’s looks. The Rapide dispenses with any of this Italian prissiness and just releases a baritone growl, rarely using more than 2-2,500 revs unless you have been really careless with your right foot. The build quality looks to be excellent and public reaction is always positive, especially pulling out of side junctions!
Ken F - that’s a great looking car. I was looking at them again on autotrader this morning and the later cars tend to look a little better in my eyes, but quite frankly any of them in dark colours, with limited chrome look trims and decent wheels look impressive. One could probably apply all those conditions to any big car though.
The V12 factor is very appealing, although I was quite underwhelmed by a 2011 DBS I went out in recently, it was far more muted than I expected but power delivery was fantastic. As someone else has said, lovely low down torque for cruising around, without lumpy turbo delivery.
The V12 factor is very appealing, although I was quite underwhelmed by a 2011 DBS I went out in recently, it was far more muted than I expected but power delivery was fantastic. As someone else has said, lovely low down torque for cruising around, without lumpy turbo delivery.
Absolutely love the Rapide, a four door car that really does look like a 2 door.
Prefer the esrlier version with the smaller grille but with the upgraded engine and interior, the S would be difficult to ignore.
The noise of that V12 would more than drown out and muffle the mumblings of anyone shoehorned into the back and less frenetic than the FF or F12.
So much more of a car than the cut and shut Panamerrrragh.
Prefer the esrlier version with the smaller grille but with the upgraded engine and interior, the S would be difficult to ignore.
The noise of that V12 would more than drown out and muffle the mumblings of anyone shoehorned into the back and less frenetic than the FF or F12.
So much more of a car than the cut and shut Panamerrrragh.
Mosdef said:
Ken F - that’s a great looking car. I was looking at them again on autotrader this morning and the later cars tend to look a little better in my eyes, but quite frankly any of them in dark colours, with limited chrome look trims and decent wheels look impressive. One could probably apply all those conditions to any big car though.
The V12 factor is very appealing, although I was quite underwhelmed by a 2011 DBS I went out in recently, it was far more muted than I expected but power delivery was fantastic. As someone else has said, lovely low down torque for cruising around, without lumpy turbo delivery.
Mosdef - at the risk of appearing like No1 Fan Boy (OK - its way too late for that... The V12 factor is very appealing, although I was quite underwhelmed by a 2011 DBS I went out in recently, it was far more muted than I expected but power delivery was fantastic. As someone else has said, lovely low down torque for cruising around, without lumpy turbo delivery.
) mine runs at 106dB of glorious sonorous musicality that literally makes the hairs on my arm stand up. These are minor mods that I will teach you when you man up and get one young one ;);)The length of the Rapide makes it look a little ungainly compared to its shorter brothers but it is a beautiful car with a lovely interior and a wonderful engine. As it has aged it’s softer looks have become very mellow.
The biggest issue as a father of two is finding a car that has theatre, elegance and easy family practicality and it’s the extra doors on the Rapide and the extra space in the back that make this car so appealing over the 2+2 alternatives such as the Grandtourismo, other Aston’s or the ubiquitous, yet great 911.
Things like the Panameara are excellent 4 door alternatives and much more practical but they feel much larger and much less elegant.
We have a lack of four door cars in our household and I’m seriously considering putting a car up for sale and if it finds a buyer, buying a Rapide for that practical V12, NA experience.
The biggest issue as a father of two is finding a car that has theatre, elegance and easy family practicality and it’s the extra doors on the Rapide and the extra space in the back that make this car so appealing over the 2+2 alternatives such as the Grandtourismo, other Aston’s or the ubiquitous, yet great 911.
Things like the Panameara are excellent 4 door alternatives and much more practical but they feel much larger and much less elegant.
We have a lack of four door cars in our household and I’m seriously considering putting a car up for sale and if it finds a buyer, buying a Rapide for that practical V12, NA experience.
Ken Figenus said:
Stop calling it 4 door! Its a 5 door family hatchback!
Exactly - I was looking at one as a replacement for the 30 year old Toyota Corolla that has once again done a 600 mile round trip (I can't fit my mum and her friend in the 2 door maser so it would have to replace both!).It would be the 'all round' car keeping the Z4M for tracks etc, but the nearest ones I see for sale are up in Bristol.
The issue is the small(ish) boot - the Maser is pretty hopeless for garden waste unless I put some in the back (awkward with a 2 door) and this one isn't that tall either.
Paul
Grange Brentwood have an absolute beaut at the moment, 2010 10K miles at 55 grand, unmarked and a lovely colour scheme, if it was an S I'd be all over it.
This isn't available anymore but wished I'd gone up and had look, utterly stunning combo...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
This isn't available anymore but wished I'd gone up and had look, utterly stunning combo...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Saw a really nicely prepared one at DL Bristol - although George did want me to buy an AMR!
This is a lot of car for the money, and mine has been so reliable and enjoyable for over 4 years now
It has the 6 speeder - just drive it on the paddles and I doubt you will miss much sleep over 1/100th of a second shift delays
This is a lot of car for the money, and mine has been so reliable and enjoyable for over 4 years now
It has the 6 speeder - just drive it on the paddles and I doubt you will miss much sleep over 1/100th of a second shift delays
The issue with almost all the cars on sale is that they are almost all grey like a fleet of rented base German cars. Everything is grey and bland these days but you would have thought that the AM community had a little more life and money than the average punter having to pay homage to the rules of borrowing?
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