Aston Martin Rapide Alternatives

[AlexNJ89]

My current garage is an Alpine A110, Lexus LS460 (the mileage gobbler) and a Ginetta G40 for track days.

I'm looking to buy a car which comes in between the Alpine and the Lexus, a coupe or 4-door which can be driven across Europe and still be able to handle some nice roads. The Alpine just doesn't have the luggage space for a week or two away and isn't stable enough on motorways to be able to sit back and relax.

My budget is either £40k, or I could wait until after this looming recession if over and combine some finance to make it £70k. So I guess any suggestion up to £70k would be fine.

I'd like a big engine like a V8 or V12. Something with character and at least 4 seats. I like unique cars that you don't often see.

I thought an Aston Martin Rapide would be it, but I drove one today and was underwhelmed by it, I was shocked to be honest.

I've also considered a Maserati Quattroporte GTS which was great but a little dated inside. I don't like the shape of the Porsche Panamera.

Suggestions appreciated!

[Pyrolysis]

M6 Gran Coupe

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022071878...

[ZX10R NIN]

While they look familiar but you always know when you've actually seen one as they have presence so I'd say go & test drive the S500 Coupe.

They drive well & can be hustled along at a lick that'll have C63 owners sweating, they're also a very nice place to be & will eat miles with ease a map will see you with over 500bhp although they don't feel underpowered as standard.

Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209220...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210060...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210030...

[Castrol for a knave]

612 unless you want something a little more recent.

Maybe the M8 would come in arpumd £70k

[AlexNJ89]

ZX10R NIN said:

While they look familiar but you always know when you've actually seen one as they have presence so I'd say go & test drive the S500 Coupe.

They drive well & can be hustled along at a lick that'll have C63 owners sweating, they're also a very nice place to be & will eat miles with ease a map will see you with over 500bhp although they don't feel underpowered as standard.

Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209220...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210060...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210030...

Good shout, something I had in mind as more of a cruiser but if they have some personality I'd definitely give one a go. Could even get a convertible one.

[ZX10R NIN]

AlexNJ89 said:

Good shout, something I had in mind as more of a cruiser but if they have some personality I'd definitely give one a go. Could even get a convertible one.

The good thing about the coupe is that unlike a lot of it's rivals, it's actually a proper pillarless coupe so when you drop all the windows away & open the roof it's like having a convertible without any of the drawbacks.

The exhaust note is a little quiet but a Xpipe adds just enough (it still won't be 63 loud) to give it a bit of aural character as do some direct replacement air filters.

You'll need more than a 10 minute test drive as these are cars that the more you drive them the more you appreciate they're capabilities.

[samoht]

Hmm, how different is an S500 Coupe from the S-Class saloon? which is a direct equivalent to the LS460 that OP already has.

I've been impressed by my C55 being nice and stable at the speed limiter on the autobahn, very comfortable for a whole day driving, and still quite good at flowing down a B-road, so on that basis I'd suggest looking at a C63 (W204 or 205), I think the smaller C-class platform perhaps strikes a better compromise. It is rather common, though.

Lexus ISF worth considering ? Or LC500?

[AlexNJ89]

samoht said:

Hmm, how different is an S500 Coupe from the S-Class saloon? which is a direct equivalent to the LS460 that OP already has.

I've been impressed by my C55 being nice and stable at the speed limiter on the autobahn, very comfortable for a whole day driving, and still quite good at flowing down a B-road, so on that basis I'd suggest looking at a C63 (W204 or 205), I think the smaller C-class platform perhaps strikes a better compromise. It is rather common, though.

Lexus ISF worth considering ? Or LC500?

The LC500 is absolutely phenomenal car. Probably one of the best GT cars I've driven.

But unfortunately the storage space is tiny.

[DKL]

Despite having only just bought the previous car I'm already considering the options to replace it!
We need 4 seats so a Rapide is right up there but I'd wait until the S version drops a little.
Otherwise assuming age isn't an issue the alternatives are

Maserati Granturismo - Harry M did a good comparison of this with the Rapide
Ferrari 456
TVR cerbera

All very different but with similar abilities to drain a wallet.

[AlexNJ89]

DKL said:

Despite having only just bought the previous car I'm already considering the options to replace it!
We need 4 seats so a Rapide is right up there but I'd wait until the S version drops a little.
Otherwise assuming age isn't an issue the alternatives are

Maserati Granturismo - Harry M did a good comparison of this with the Rapide
Ferrari 456
TVR cerbera

All very different but with similar abilities to drain a wallet.

Have you driven a Rapide S?

I was wondering if it was a bit more engaging.

I’d love to one day own the AME variant.

[Dr mojo]

I was also underwhelmed by Rapide. I so wanted to like it, however, too old fashioned interior, some bizarre ergonomics and not as well built as expected but gorgeous to look at and great engine sound. I know you discounted Panamera but for me looks aside it is best in class in terms of road handling, cruising, interior build quality, technology and space. Suggest you drive a panny turbo and then decide; you may forgive the looks although latest generation is much improved in that respect.

[AlexNJ89]

Dr mojo said:

I was also underwhelmed by Rapide. I so wanted to like it, however, too old fashioned interior, some bizarre ergonomics and not as well built as expected but gorgeous to look at and great engine sound. I know you discounted Panamera but for me looks aside it is best in class in terms of road handling, cruising, interior build quality, technology and space. Suggest you drive a panny turbo and then decide; you may forgive the looks although latest generation is much improved in that respect.

Yep, completely agree.

[alabbasi]

CLS63 should do the job, probably better

[21ATS]

BMW M850i always looks like a lot of car for the money.

If budget allows look at the S560 coupe over the S500 it's the 4.0TT AMG engine in the S560 - the quite old 4.7 V8 in the S500.

[fflump]

I'd definitely try the Rapide S before discounting it. Post 2014 it got the same engine as the Vanquish S-about 100 bhp more than the original Rapide which the market does not seem keen on...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2011-aston-mar...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2010-aston-mar...

A Conti GT is a good car but pretty common.

As noted above a Granturismo Sport, 612 or 456 are the Italian options with useable rear seats and none are common sights.

[DKL]

That green one looks lovely. I'm all for colours not just greyscale.
Someone mentioned a cls and that's what I have just acquired. It's a nice place to be but I'd expect an AM to be a step up. It's ballistically quick if that's what you want and pootles quite happily.
I've not really examined a rapide close up but hopefully I will as I need to do the v12 thing.

[Shifter1]

fflump said:

I'd definitely try the Rapide S before discounting it. Post 2014 it got the same engine as the Vanquish S-about 100 bhp more than the original Rapide which the market does not seem keen on...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2011-aston-mar...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2010-aston-mar...

A Conti GT is a good car but pretty common.

As noted above a Granturismo Sport, 612 or 456 are the Italian options with useable rear seats and none are common sights.

Just whatever you do, don't buy a 456.

[fflump]

Shifter1 said:

fflump said:

I'd definitely try the Rapide S before discounting it. Post 2014 it got the same engine as the Vanquish S-about 100 bhp more than the original Rapide which the market does not seem keen on...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2011-aston-mar...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2010-aston-mar...

A Conti GT is a good car but pretty common.

As noted above a Granturismo Sport, 612 or 456 are the Italian options with useable rear seats and none are common sights.

Just whatever you do, don't buy a 456.

Any particular reason? I'm talking about the manual one.

[21ATS]

The 456 is really last generation Ferrari. They are all old now. Parts are becoming scarce and it will go wrong, regularly.

A 456 is a hobby car these days, a 4th car that drives from A to A. They are no longer reliable enough to consider for the use you'd want.

[fflump]

21ATS said:

The 456 is really last generation Ferrari. They are all old now. Parts are becoming scarce and it will go wrong, regularly.

A 456 is a hobby car these days, a 4th car that drives from A to A. They are no longer reliable enough to consider for the use you'd want.

I had no idea parts were scarce. I ran a 20 year old Maserati coupe recently and everything was a mouse click away from Eurospares.

Is it the low numbers made that mean parts are hard to come by?
Is it a similar issue for the 550? The 355?