RAPIDE - IS THIS NEW NEWS ?
Discussion
Sad news if true.
I think it is one of the most beautiful four door cars around.
There's a Rapide Buying Guide in the latest issue of VANTAGE Magazine.
Apparently the Rapide is one of the rarest of modern Astons, in the UK only around 420 original Rapide were sold and so far some 300 Rapide S (tiny numbers compared with well over 4,000 Panameras sold in that time!).
The fact they are ceasing production soon and the low numbers produced can’t be bad for future value!
One to buy while you still can!
I think it is one of the most beautiful four door cars around.
There's a Rapide Buying Guide in the latest issue of VANTAGE Magazine.
Apparently the Rapide is one of the rarest of modern Astons, in the UK only around 420 original Rapide were sold and so far some 300 Rapide S (tiny numbers compared with well over 4,000 Panameras sold in that time!).
The fact they are ceasing production soon and the low numbers produced can’t be bad for future value!
One to buy while you still can!
Hmm, indeed sad if true - that seems to be the only website with the story, so in the world of fake news we should perhaps react with caution for now.
If true, it might give a new sales focus for the 210 AMR Rapides announced at Geneva - if they are in fact now the last of the line...
If true, it might give a new sales focus for the 210 AMR Rapides announced at Geneva - if they are in fact now the last of the line...
Love this quote " The axing of Aston Martin’s biggest, heaviest and most accommodating vehicle will give the likes of the new Porsche Panamera and upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT four-door sports cars more room to move " as if the Rapide was ever a serious contender to these two models with so few produced over its lifespan. The Rapide was pretty but quite useless as the space in the back was not really for 4 passengers unlike the FF.
The article left me confused, although I think we have heard the Company speak before about an electric Rapide.
Perhaps the Rapide body shape might continue, but with electric power only.
No more fuse 22/15 then, to create a louder bark.
It is difficult for us to imagine climbing into an Aston Martin, pressing the start, and then only hearing the sound of a Scalextric car.
Part of our enjoyment is that wonderful Aston Martin exhaust sound.
Power, Beauty and Silence. Oh dear.
Electric cars have high power and (I think) instant full torque, but complete absence of event or occasion.
AdamV12V said:
Hmm, indeed sad if true - that seems to be the only website with the story, so in the world of fake news we should perhaps react with caution for now.
If true, it might give a new sales focus for the 210 AMR Rapides announced at Geneva - if they are in fact now the last of the line...
I think that's doubtful. The Rapide is a beautiful, subtle, classy four door supercar. IMO the bright green stripes and spoilers, in fact the whole look of the AMR just don't work with it. I can't imagine them selling 210 of them.If true, it might give a new sales focus for the 210 AMR Rapides announced at Geneva - if they are in fact now the last of the line...
I actually think it would have sold better with 2 large doors than the 4 it has, because then it would be considered as a 2+2 luxury sporting GT, which is essentially what it is
To me it's real world attributes and role are far more similar to a Bentley Continental, Ferrari 456 and 612 of old, Mercedes S class coupe, Maserati granturismo etc than they are to say a Panamera or Quattroporte to which it is often compared
I appreciate DB9 is more often compared to the cars listed above but in reality, DB9 rear seats are close to useless for all but children under the age of about 8
But as it does have 4 doors and it has less space in the rear than pretty much any 4 door on the market of any description, it has always struggled
To me it's real world attributes and role are far more similar to a Bentley Continental, Ferrari 456 and 612 of old, Mercedes S class coupe, Maserati granturismo etc than they are to say a Panamera or Quattroporte to which it is often compared
I appreciate DB9 is more often compared to the cars listed above but in reality, DB9 rear seats are close to useless for all but children under the age of about 8
But as it does have 4 doors and it has less space in the rear than pretty much any 4 door on the market of any description, it has always struggled
jonby said:
I actually think it would have sold better with 2 large doors than the 4 it has, because then it would be considered as a 2+2 luxury sporting GT, which is essentially what it is
To me it's real world attributes and role are far more similar to a Bentley Continental, Ferrari 456 and 612 of old, Mercedes S class coupe, Maserati granturismo etc than they are to say a Panamera or Quattroporte to which it is often compared
I appreciate DB9 is more often compared to the cars listed above but in reality, DB9 rear seats are close to useless for all but children under the age of about 8
But as it does have 4 doors and it has less space in the rear than pretty much any 4 door on the market of any description, it has always struggled
Completely agree with the above. The hatchback made it pretty useable for 2 persons and some luggage but it never was a proper 4 seater so as a 2 door with a hatchback it would be closer to the FF which isn't particularly handsome. To me it's real world attributes and role are far more similar to a Bentley Continental, Ferrari 456 and 612 of old, Mercedes S class coupe, Maserati granturismo etc than they are to say a Panamera or Quattroporte to which it is often compared
I appreciate DB9 is more often compared to the cars listed above but in reality, DB9 rear seats are close to useless for all but children under the age of about 8
But as it does have 4 doors and it has less space in the rear than pretty much any 4 door on the market of any description, it has always struggled
Actually there's plenty of space in the back for adults, I'm 6ft1 (when I don't slouch) and fit perfectly well, albeit its clearly no Range Rover and you wouldn't want to be back there for more than a couple of hours. Next time you see a Rapide at a concours or event, ask to sit in the back (I get it all the time). You'll hopefully be pleasantly surprised
But where its utility really comes into its own is with the hatchback/folding rear seat arrangement. It turns it into a 2 seater, but one that suddenly gives it a really good amount of space for a long European roadtrips.
I can well believe that production is coming to an end, in fact I'd be amazed if it wasn't. It's never sold well as a car, the production line it sits on is already chocka making the Vanquish, Zagato, remaining Vantages etc. And Aston will no doubt see the soon-to-be-4-door DBX as the more natural product for this particular space in the line-up.
Which should all add to the rarity
But where its utility really comes into its own is with the hatchback/folding rear seat arrangement. It turns it into a 2 seater, but one that suddenly gives it a really good amount of space for a long European roadtrips.
I can well believe that production is coming to an end, in fact I'd be amazed if it wasn't. It's never sold well as a car, the production line it sits on is already chocka making the Vanquish, Zagato, remaining Vantages etc. And Aston will no doubt see the soon-to-be-4-door DBX as the more natural product for this particular space in the line-up.
Which should all add to the rarity
RobDown said:
Actually there's plenty of space in the back for adults, I'm 6ft1 (when I don't slouch) and fit perfectly well, albeit its clearly no Range Rover and you wouldn't want to be back there for more than a couple of hours. Next time you see a Rapide at a concours or event, ask to sit in the back (I get it all the time). You'll hopefully be pleasantly surprised
I agree - I think the slightly awkward access from the narrow opening is more offputting than the actual room in the back once you are in
Friend of mine had one.
Most unreliable car he'd ever had and now shuns the brand as a result.
Which is as sad as this news is...because that car sounded sublime...my overriding memory of it.
I think a few of you could be, or are, estate agents when describing the internal space though
All the more odd, given it looked sooo long and narrow.
I'm 5'11" sat behind a 5'7" bloke and I was not comfy at all...
Excited to be there and experience it, but comfy...no.
Most unreliable car he'd ever had and now shuns the brand as a result.
Which is as sad as this news is...because that car sounded sublime...my overriding memory of it.
I think a few of you could be, or are, estate agents when describing the internal space though
All the more odd, given it looked sooo long and narrow.
I'm 5'11" sat behind a 5'7" bloke and I was not comfy at all...
Excited to be there and experience it, but comfy...no.
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