Rapide S - usable daily with 2 small kids?

[Triple8]

Hoping for some knowledge from current owners if possible. Contemplating changing my 1 year old Giulia Veloce for a 2015/16 Rapide S as my daily. I have a 987.2 Cayman S Manual as a fun car, and don't really want to change it as anything in a similar mould but significantly better will be more than twice the price, but not twice as much fun. The Giulia is a lovely car, but life is short and V12s won't be around for ever... do any of you use your Rapides as dailies? I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so figure it should work. Not too worried about fuel costs as I don't do much mileage. Anything I should think about here? All views welcome, thanks in advance.

Edited by Triple8 on Friday 17th June 23:13

[krisdelta]

I have a 2011 Rapide as a daily with 3 kids 9-13 years old. It’s perfect.

[ridds]

Definitely yes.

And when they are "too big" they'll either want their own car or or can walk...

If / when kids for me, the Vantage will make way for a Rapide S. Massively underrated cars i think.

[VictorSeven]

The kids will fit fine as long as you don’t over feed them.

Do it.

[BGB autosport]

I use mine daily and plenty of room for kids, mine at a tall 11 and a 9 year old have plenty of room .

At 6ft and a little chubby I fit in the back. I don't get why people say you can't get adults in the back, it's snug but perfectly acceptable for the average adult.

Mine was being used as a wedding car prior to my ownership, with bride and groom in the back!

As an aside, you would not believe the amount of sequins, glitter and hair clips I removed from under the rear seats!

Edited by BGB autosport on Saturday 18th June 09:01

[MMarkM]

No problem at all, the child seats fit perfectly snug and plenty of space

[Triple8]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Think I need to go and try one... can't think of anything else that will offer quite the same mix of beauty, drama and noise combined being able to share all of that with the family... test drive required!

[Simpo Two]

It surprises me that Rapides seem significantly cheaper than DB9s. At least, for the same money you get a much newer Rapide. Why should that be? - since to my eyes they are visually very similar and the Rapide is more useful.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 18th June 23:35

[oilit]

Rapides certainly seem to have dropped, but in part I think that may be because there is a perception (certainly around people I know) that a certain German company with a similar product offered better rear seating room,

A Rapide will be my last (shouldn't have said that) AM purchase when I find the right one.

[BGB autosport]

Oh and being able to drop the rear seats is another huge tick in the practicality box. I got a bike in the back with just one of the seats down, meaning I could still get 3 of us in the car with the bike.

We've also used it for long weekends, 4 of us each with a carry on style case, large cool box plus all the other stuff that come with a long weekend with a wide an two kids etc.

oilit said:

part I think that may be because there is a perception (certainly around people I know) that a certain German company with a similar product offered better rear seating room,

That may be so, I guess something has to make up for the looks compared to the Rapide. 😆

Edited by BGB autosport on Sunday 19th June 09:07

[Simpo Two]

A Rapide Volante - now that would be a thing. But probably impossible given only three dimensions to work with.

That said, the Merc E300 convertible has folding rear seats!

[Mr.X]

Is there a photo of the bike in the trunk? I think I have somewhere on the Internet once seen something like that (but can't remember when and where).

[don777]

Triple8 said:

Hoping for some knowledge from current owners if possible. Contemplating changing my 1 year old Giulia Veloce for a 2015/16 Rapide S as my daily. I have a 987.2 Cayman S Manual as a fun car, and don't really want to change it as anything in a similar mould but significantly better will be more than twice the price, but not twice as much fun. The Giulia is a lovely car, but life is short and V12s won't be around for ever... do any of you use your Rapides as dailies? I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so figure it should work. Not too worried about fuel costs as I don't do much mileage. Anything I should think about here? All views welcome, thanks in advance.

Edited by Triple8 on Friday 17th June 23:13

I too hope it’s usable as a daily with kid(s). But I’ve done things slightly different, I put a deposit on the first one I saw and sort of crossed my fingers it would work out. Glad I found this thread 😊
Haven’t picked it up yet!

[krisdelta]

Mr.X said:

Is there a photo of the bike in the trunk? I think I have somewhere on the Internet once seen something like that (but can't remember when and where).

I used to be able to get my bike in the back of my Vantage for triathlons, there is loads more room in the Rapide! If that's a sticking point, happy to take a pic of my bike in the Rapide

[Triple8]

don777 said:

I too hope it’s usable as a daily with kid(s). But I’ve done things slightly different, I put a deposit on the first one I saw and sort of crossed my fingers it would work out. Glad I found this thread ??
Haven’t picked it up yet!

Good luck - would love to hear more once you've got it!

[Mr.X]

I found it!




and a official photo of max. load:

[Simpo Two]

The lower photo doesn't seem to utilise what I call the 'hamster cheeks'. Presumably the Rapide has hamster cheeks where you can stuff smaller items?

[BGB autosport]

Simpo Two said:

The lower photo doesn't seem to utilise what I call the 'hamster cheeks'. Presumably the Rapide has hamster cheeks where you can stuff smaller items?

There's is at least one cheek on the left, there's a cover, remove this and there's a good sized cubby hole. My tyre inflation kit is in there, plus I store microfiber cloths, leather cleaner, leather cream and interior detailer in there, comes in handy when I'm waiting for kids to come out of various after school clubs....
On the right hand side is where the dvd player for the RSE is.

The parcel shelf is also held on magnets, pull this out and you can get an extra few inches of boot height over the part immediately behind the drop down partition.

Edited by BGB autosport on Tuesday 21st June 07:15

[Simpo Two]

BGB autosport said:

you can get an extra fee of inches of not height of the part..

A quiz!

[Triple8]

Mr.X said:

I found it!




and a official photo of max. load:

Loving seeing the practicality on offer! Thanks for sharing.