Question: why is the Rapide not successful as expected?
Discussion
Just curious to hear what are the opinions here
Actually it does actually hide very well the fact that it is a big car and. it definitively look like an Aston
Cars like Panamera and Quattroporte have been rather successful so why not the Rapide. Is it simply too expensive (I was been offered a very substancial discount on new)
I have seen some spyshots of an S version but is that really what is lacking to the Rapide to be more successful?
Actually it does actually hide very well the fact that it is a big car and. it definitively look like an Aston
Cars like Panamera and Quattroporte have been rather successful so why not the Rapide. Is it simply too expensive (I was been offered a very substancial discount on new)
I have seen some spyshots of an S version but is that really what is lacking to the Rapide to be more successful?
I was at the official presentation at the dealer in Reading and I have to say that the huge tunnel (why is that so tall?) is limiting a lot the space for the two rear seats but they are still reasonably cobfortable
So basically an S version would not make any difference anyway!
I still have to undeerstand what is determining the depreciation
So basically an S version would not make any difference anyway!
I still have to undeerstand what is determining the depreciation
Riccardino said:
...
I still have to undeerstand what is determining the depreciation
I suspect it's the hefty price tag coupled with recent AM history of offering huge discounts (partly as a result of getting dealers to take plenty of stock). The way they market and price their cars really does suck often.I still have to undeerstand what is determining the depreciation
I'm 6'4" and a larger athlete and I would happily travel more than 50mls in the rear. I found it perfectly fine as a strict 4 seater. Would probably prefer being up front though. The rear angle can look a bit awkward to my eyes, but generally I think it's a very nice car for what it is meant to do.
Whilst I suspect the Panamera may have more room in the back, I wouldn't travel 50mls in one front or rear for fear of being seen at some point along the journey. I think Clarkson once described the Chrysler Crossfire as looking like a dog taking a dump. The Porsche is the same only bigger.
The Maser is the interesting one of he cars mentioned. Another car that depreciates heavily. But the start price is significantly less.
I'm sure Aston would rather the Rapide were compared with the FF. But in everything bar looks it is nowhere near.
There's a nice example on at Broughtons for 85k. I have other priorities for funds at the moment (and am not quite ready to not having something a bit more "hooligan"). But at some point I might have a better look when something like the Broughtons car is 40-50k.
Riccardino said:
Which market?
I remember that at the presentation they were saying that they had quite a few DB9 owner who anted to have real back seats and that is why they came up with the Rapide
The Chinese market isn't it? They like to be chauffeured about don't they? Hence why loads of other manufacturers created LWB models for that market?I remember that at the presentation they were saying that they had quite a few DB9 owner who anted to have real back seats and that is why they came up with the Rapide
George H said:
The Chinese market isn't it? They like to be chauffeured about don't they? Hence why loads of other manufacturers created LWB models for that market?
Do you really think it was designed for the Chinese market?As you say there they want to be chauffered and I really do not see the Rapide as that kind of car.
The rear seat are expected to be limousine-like with a lot of space and luxury. The rear seats of the Rapide are two real seats but far from being would you woulkd expect in a car with a chauffeur (that is why they have more LWB version and usually smaller engine)
Murph7355 said:
I suspect it's the hefty price tag coupled with recent AM history of offering huge discounts (partly as a result of getting dealers to take plenty of stock).
They were offering a discount of more than 40K at one pointMurph7355 said:
I wouldn't travel 50mls in one front or rear for fear of being seen at some point along the journey.
Edited by Riccardino on Thursday 5th July 00:01
Riccardino said:
Do you really think it was designed for the Chinese market?
As you say there they want to be chauffered and I really do not see the Rapide as that kind of car.
The rear seat are expected to be limousine-like with a lot of space and luxury. The rear seats of the Rapide are two real seats but far from being would you woulkd expect in a car with a chauffeur (that is why they have more LWB version and usually smaller engine)
Notwithstanding that I fit OK, the Chinese aren't the biggest people on Earth.As you say there they want to be chauffered and I really do not see the Rapide as that kind of car.
The rear seat are expected to be limousine-like with a lot of space and luxury. The rear seats of the Rapide are two real seats but far from being would you woulkd expect in a car with a chauffeur (that is why they have more LWB version and usually smaller engine)
Maybe its target market are the Chinese, Peruvians and dwarves?
Murph7355 said:
Riccardino said:
Do you really think it was designed for the Chinese market?
As you say there they want to be chauffered and I really do not see the Rapide as that kind of car.
The rear seat are expected to be limousine-like with a lot of space and luxury. The rear seats of the Rapide are two real seats but far from being would you woulkd expect in a car with a chauffeur (that is why they have more LWB version and usually smaller engine)
Notwithstanding that I fit OK, the Chinese aren't the biggest people on Earth.As you say there they want to be chauffered and I really do not see the Rapide as that kind of car.
The rear seat are expected to be limousine-like with a lot of space and luxury. The rear seats of the Rapide are two real seats but far from being would you woulkd expect in a car with a chauffeur (that is why they have more LWB version and usually smaller engine)
Maybe its target market are the Chinese, Peruvians and dwarves?
Chinese are on market but they measure their wallets/Limos by rear room so the Rapide is not so good.
It is also aimed at Far East, India, Singapore and other "emerging" markets where the badge is the statement and they prefer 4 dors to 2.
It is VH based so will always struggle with the height of the transmission tunnel.
I'm not a fan the proportions are not right, but that is true of the porker and Maser.
and therefore doesn't appeal to either market.Riccardino said:
Which market?
I remember that at the presentation they were saying that they had quite a few DB9 owner who anted to have real back seats and that is why they came up with the Rapide
I think that was part of the problem. They had people that wanted real back seats and gave it to them, sadly they made it ruddy difficult to get in or out of them. At 6.1ft I can sit in them comfortably, even on long journeys (which I struggled to do in a V8V roadster with the headroom) but getting in and out was always a mission.I remember that at the presentation they were saying that they had quite a few DB9 owner who anted to have real back seats and that is why they came up with the Rapide
This is a very interesting thread. I recently sold my V8V to buy something with back seats. My options are DB9, DBS, Rapide, Panamera. That last option is going to get me shot on this forum, but do you know what? For 60k I can get a super tidy, nearly new Panamera that gives me (almost) everything that I want - a sports marque, decent economy, daily driver, fast if I want to put the pedal to the metal (as long as I get the 'S' upwards) etc. The only thing stopping me from getting the Panamera is the way it looks. I've been waiting to see if it'll grow on me but so far no such luck - I think it's just a little bit ugly.
Anyway... took a visit to Stratstone Wilmslow to have a ganders at a Rapide and whilst I can live with the higher price tag, crappy MPG (I'd just continue to use the 4x4 as the daily) and generally high running costs, something occurred to me. I didn't like the way it looked. There's something slightly odd looking about it. It looks like a car body propped up by a wheel on each corner, it just didn't seem to hang together particularly nicely. The guys at Stratstone did a fine job of telling me about all the new engineering under the shell but as shallow as I am, I like Astons for the way they look and sound and not necessarily because they're brilliantly engineered.
I am still without a fun car. I may have to get a DB9 but I can't see me driving from Lancashire to London with my 5yr old in the back of one. The search (and pondering) continues...
Anyway... took a visit to Stratstone Wilmslow to have a ganders at a Rapide and whilst I can live with the higher price tag, crappy MPG (I'd just continue to use the 4x4 as the daily) and generally high running costs, something occurred to me. I didn't like the way it looked. There's something slightly odd looking about it. It looks like a car body propped up by a wheel on each corner, it just didn't seem to hang together particularly nicely. The guys at Stratstone did a fine job of telling me about all the new engineering under the shell but as shallow as I am, I like Astons for the way they look and sound and not necessarily because they're brilliantly engineered.
I am still without a fun car. I may have to get a DB9 but I can't see me driving from Lancashire to London with my 5yr old in the back of one. The search (and pondering) continues...
Slarti said:
There's something slightly odd looking about it. It looks like a car body propped up by a wheel on each corner, it just didn't seem to hang together particularly nicely.
nail hit.Long, narrow..and 'perched'
Whereas the Porsche is long, wide, low and planted...but fat and sadly saddled with having to carry off the family aesthetic....very colour/wheel sensitive too, which isn't a good sign when it comes to car design IMO.
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