Rapide Road Test
Discussion
First road test review that I have seen:
link
Sounds very promising indeed. It looks gorgeous in Toro Red too.
I wonder how much this will hit DB9 sales.
For me the main reason for going for the DB9 over a Vantage was the presence of occasional rear seats. Now you can do that properly with the Rapide.
I am not suggesting the DB9 is not a great car, it is and I would have one to sit alongside my Vantage any day. However, if I did need something with a little more family practicality it would have to be the Rapide.
Alternatively it may just open up new markets for AM.
link
Sounds very promising indeed. It looks gorgeous in Toro Red too.
I wonder how much this will hit DB9 sales.
For me the main reason for going for the DB9 over a Vantage was the presence of occasional rear seats. Now you can do that properly with the Rapide.
I am not suggesting the DB9 is not a great car, it is and I would have one to sit alongside my Vantage any day. However, if I did need something with a little more family practicality it would have to be the Rapide.
Alternatively it may just open up new markets for AM.
GlynMo said:
There's a test against the Quattroporte, Flying Spur 
and Panamera in Evo, but I haven't read it yet. Conclusion looks positive though.
Comes down to the Bentley or the Aston, and the closing comment - "So that's settled: it's the Aston and sod the rear-seat passengers"! They even rate it as a driver's car above the DB9 and DBS but clearly consider the rear compartment to be too compromised. (With apologies to Evo readers who haven't yet read the article!) and Panamera in Evo, but I haven't read it yet. Conclusion looks positive though.GlynMo said:
"So that's settled: it's the Aston and sod the rear-seat passengers"! They even rate it as a driver's car above the DB9 and DBS but clearly consider the rear compartment to be too compromised.
Personally I thought the rear seats were good - very comfortable, good shape and with a pretty good view too. I particularly liked the ventilated seats (with heat/cooling). I certainly wouldn't consider the rear seating any more "compromised" than my father-in-laws CLS ...The Aston demonstrator (doing the dealer rounds) has the all-black interior and personally I'd prefer a light colour, particularly since the side windows are pretty small and the lightness might just make the cabin feel bigger than it is.
To be honest, their rear-passenger target market isn't really big, fat, hairy journalists!
This is the car for the family man with the rear used by the the kids for most of the time with the occasional friends/colleagues/clients for shorter trips. There is plenty of room for anyone up to teenage age ...Edited by steve_amv8 on Saturday 6th February 18:27
Edited by steve_amv8 on Saturday 6th February 19:32
steve_amv8 said:
To be honest, their rear-passenger target market isn't really big, fat, hairy journalists! This is the car for the family man with the rear used by the the kids for most of the time with the occasional friends/colleagues/clients for shorter trips. There is plenty of room for anyone up to teenage age ...
The rear compartment tester wasn't big, fat or hairy, in fact he looks as though a sharp gust of wind might blow him away, but IKWYM. Also agree about the target market for the car.I agree it is not necessarily a bad thing as the DB9 must be up for replacement soon. The Rapide is very much a 4 door, 4 seat coupe rather than sports saloon, so should meet the needs of those requiring rear seats. It possibly allows AM to make the DB9/DBS replacement more focussed sports car, rather than have to compromise for the sake of a pair of barely usable rear seats.
Zod said:
Any idea what the knob on the console where the gearstick would be does?
It looks like it is for the seat ventilation:close up photo
Road test video
link
Edited by GlynV8 on Sunday 7th February 08:30
assume you havent seen the autocar video review yet then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGSwmof1bPg&fea... personally i think it looks aesthetically challenged, proportions dont look right, but i havent seen in person yet.
Zod said:
One of these AND a DBS or V12V. That would be nice.
Any idea what the knob on the console where the gearstick would be does?
I stil cannot understand why they cannot do something aobut the satnav. TomTom offer integration these days and you can even get it on small hatches.
The knob on the centre console is the seat heating and cooling control - quite cool (sorry) really, very easy to use and nice and discrete.Any idea what the knob on the console where the gearstick would be does?
I stil cannot understand why they cannot do something aobut the satnav. TomTom offer integration these days and you can even get it on small hatches.
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