The Aston Martin Rapide Is A V12 British Luxury Saloon - Why Did It FAIL?

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Imagine combining the style, performance and luxury of an Aston Martin with the practicality of a four-door saloon - sounds perfect, right? The Lagonda of the 1970s was the realisation of that theory, but its complexity, controversial styling, unreliability and expense saw it fail. Come the 21st century, Aston had another go with the DB9-based V12 Rapide - was it second time lucky, or just a modern Lagonda?
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Chapters
0:00 A Four Door Aston Martin?!
1:10 Aston Martin's Resurgence
1:46 An Aston Limo
2:07 Design
2:43 The Name
3:04 The Aston Martin Rapide
3:25 V12 Engine & Performance
4:16 Suspension & Driving Impressions
5:22 Luxurious Interior
5:55 Cramped Inside, Small Boot
6:30 Expensive, Sold Poorly
7:12 A Failure?
7:39 Why It's A Future Classic
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[@sidelnie]

I bought a low mileage ‘15 Rapide S last year and I am as happy as can be. Perfect commuter car, occasional 4-seater. We also have a minivan and another sporty sedan. You buy the Rapide for the sound. It’s a dream come true. Never selling it! Cause what would I replace it with???

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

It's a unique and enticing proposition!

[@rob5944]

You shouldn't turn the steering while the car is stationary, or so I've always been told.

[@neilherring7564]

All these negative comments on here, obviously from people that have never owned an Aston, never mind a Rapide. Absolutely superb as a daily car.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

A great sense of occasion for sure!

[@paulelverstone8677]

If it was my own money; I'd probably pick the Rapide over the DB9. I think these are billy bargain prices for essentially the same car...

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Like-for-like, the Rapide starts to look great value next to a DB9!

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Used to love them......until I sat in one!

[@gregspark9845]

​@@robertp.wainman4094yeah? In the rear? I prefer to drive it, and it's one of the best driver's GTs you can buy.

[@neilmckay8649]

Rear doors are for putting your briefcase and jacket gracefully into the car. Passengers have the bus option.

[@barryrichardson7276]

Just drove my rapide from uk to south of Spain , beautiful car and what a sound , can recommend this car after a few Bentleys and Porsche

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

They're an epic GT car!

[@sidelnie]

Same with my Rapide S! Haven’t driven it ultra long distance but locally it’s such an epic drive. Recently drove it to NYC and back…driving it through the Lincoln tunnel alone was so worth it!

[@tricialyn4645]

I enjoyed this very much. You're an exceptional presenter and you describe everything well. I will come back to look at more here!! You seem to have lots of car knowledge!! :)

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Thanks very much, that really means a lot! -Joe

[@CarsofGlasgow]

Great video, beautiful cars! Crazy this and the Cygnet are the same price used!

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

What price rarity...?

[@CarsofGlasgow]

You can get a Rapide or a Cygnet for £35k now but back new there was a £100k difference.@@ClassicsWorldUK

[@robertthrailkill1368]

I owned a DB9 for 6 years. Sold it and got a Rapide. The DB9 was a pure sport car and not practical for long trips with the wife. The Rapide does that perfectly. Excellent ground clearance and better ride than the DB9. Love it!

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Very nice!

[@gregspark9845]

An AMR instructor rates the Rapide a better handling car than the DB9.

[@roygardiner2229]

It's odd: because of its streamlined silhouette I started thinking about it very favorably but ended up not so. I don't agree about the interior being attractive: it's too dark and gloomy and the back seats are just a joke. But ignore my opinion, I like Austin A35s and Metros.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

A Metro would certainly be cheaper to fuel!

[@gregspark9845]

V good perspective on Aston's most under-rated car. You failed to mention an important reason for it's limited success. It was launched right into the GFC. The very same reason Porsche only sold half the number of 997.2 911s vs the 997.1. So a huge marketing challenge. Rear room is compromised only for those over 6ft as long as there's no 6 footer+ occupants in the front. I have a 2013 S. Absolutely love it, great performance with the extra torque spread and extra 80hp. Handles brilliantly. Better than a DB9 according to an AMR instructor. Drop dead gorgeous, and fabulous sound.

[@evo5dave]

I think the problem was that it looked pretty but the uglier competitors did pretty much everything else better.

[@CarsofGlasgow]

I also think it just wasnt big enough in the rear

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Sadly head won over heart for the majority of buyers

[@clivet3252]

It was styled like a coupe. If you want a saloon, you want a car that looks like a saloon.

[@brianiswrong]

As you mention gorgeous in the right colour (a metallic plum colour for me) My favourite aston .

[@tumslucks9781]

@@CarsofGlasgow My neighbour owned one. The rear leg room was abysmal.

[@rasherbasher8203]

Great review.. you look you're enjoying yourself 😂😂😂 8:22 An exclusive car to feel special in. That's it.. looks and sounds fantastic..

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

It *definitely* makes you feel special! :D

[@rasherbasher8203]

@@ClassicsWorldUK That's what it's all about...

[@stewartshackleton7825]

Addendum: Don’t forget to give a shout out to Jim the auctioneer and Charlie his apprentice when you next review WB and Sons’ latest auction.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Jim's a good friend of the channel!

[@garybelton1499]

It’s some car guys.. as he said, it’s totally worth the price now

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Lovely car and another excellent video 🚘🚙🚗⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Thanks Jimmy!

[@oikkuoek]

Spotted a Sasquach in the bush @ about 0:42

[@peterriggall8409]

You lucky 🦆 I see the estimate is 35-38 k pounds. Probably a lot of car for the money. Lot of money lost since new but probably plateaued now.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

They'll never be this cheap again!

[@perarduaadastra873]

Can it take a roof box?

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

We'd love to see it...

[@gregspark9845]

Why stop there? Put a towbar on it too! 🤣

[@oliverstemp9132]

Looked better than the facelifted ome

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Something about the bigger mouth didn't look right...

[@gregspark9845]

​@@ClassicsWorldUKstyle is always in the eye of the beholder. The bigger grille that came in the S from 2013 has aged well, and was a tad before it's time now that the Zagato, DBS and now DB12 have all gone large in the grille Dept. Personally I love it. Not as elegant as the split grille, but makes a stronger statement and distinguishes the car from the other Gaydon VH platform cars, making it instantly recognisable.

[@bharatdorshon5557]

Dream car 🚗

[@jamesmacd]

10mpg... madness

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

If you were paying £140k new, you could probably afford the fuel!

[@jamesmacd]

@@ClassicsWorldUK fair point!

[@gregspark9845]

​@@jamesmacdnonsense. I regularly get 22-25mpg on long trips.

[@Sherwin888]

Maybe no boot space and the back seat is not the most comfortable

[@gregspark9845]

@Sherwin888 You've clearly never seen the boot! Huge although shallow due to the gearbox being in the rear, but I've transported some seriously large loads in mine. You must think it's the same as in the DB9? And the back seat is very comfortable unless you're over 6ft, or there's a 6ft+ in the front.

[@NewtonInDaHouseYo]

Very nice. But a DB9 is nicer. And families prefer luxury SUVs, I guess.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Sadly the SUV craze put paid to any more Aston saloons...

[@gregspark9845]

​@@ClassicsWorldUKDB12!

[@billbligh4547]

Truly only a 2+2 grand tourer

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Apparently very popular with basketball players - they'd push the seats all the way back so they could fit!

[@gregspark9845]

Genuine 4 seater for sub 6 footers. Actually. Been there done that and big smiles fom the rear.

[@alancrisp1582]

🤔 I myself have looked at buying one of these Aston Martin's. But am worried 😯 about their electronics, and reliability issues !.........😢

[@crolla1234]

Owned a Rapide s for 5 years no major issues just yearly services at specialist which is £600. Cheaper that a new Range rover. Love the car .

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

No excuse now, Alan! ;)

[@aaronmuir8082]

Second this, very robust and don’t throw up many issues. Bar servicing and consumables car has been grand and many issues can be solved cheaply or an no cost by being on the forums and facebook groups. Worth every penny! Trickle charger a must though if not using for more than a week/10 days. Go on and bite the bullet, you will not regret.

[@thomasdearment3214]

it's a British car that's why.

[@S2000Y]

So imho it just doesnt look right from the side view, ( the titanic was shorter) the original sale price was far too high and then theres the sat nav, less effective than a post it pad and a burnt stick. Even if they came down to £20k you would still be a mug to buy one.

[@alancrisp1582]

🤔 Yes indeed. By the way, the price you quoted for one of these cars. Is merely the down-payment !. The real true cost comes later, with keeping one on the road. Be afraid 😨, very afraid !.....

[@James-cs2wi]

It's a shame they did not put a 4-cylinder diesel engine in it I definitely would have bought one such a shame 😕 😞 😔 😄😄

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

They really missed out on the 'small diesel' market sector!

[@emmettl7953]

The whole episode in the last 10 years is literally Germans and Toyota take over the world but then we meet mass electrification. The world of car has lost so many charms. If people would look back more, the cars like Rapide will have a chance to get appealed.

[@QuantumBlu9x]

More Aston Martin

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Check the DB7 playlist on our channel!

[@viktor4860]

what a silly review. a V12 today ?? oh, yep a real Bargain - until it breaks...and it WILL break.

[@williamwilliam5066]

Still, a better option than a battery car, buy one new for 50k today, value in 12 years = zero.

[@gregspark9845]

​@@williamwilliam5066yep, dropping like a stone now, and Hertz and Sixt are dumping them from their fleet. Obsolescence beckons for the Li-ion battery cars as new tech batteries loom on the horizon, such as LiFePO4 ones. The old ones only useful as boat anchors once their battery becomes useless in a car application.

[@Bikeaddict4235]

The more I hear about AM the less I understand about why people pay good money for them

[@evo5dave]

I'd pay good money for a 70s/80s Vantage. Sadly i don't have good money

[@crolla1234]

All super car manufacturers have made amazing cars, and well, let's say very unusual super cars and gt cars. I believe Aston martin are amazing. Thank god everyone has different tastes.

[@alancrisp1582]

🤔 Why do poor people buy old Rolls_Royce and Bentley vehicles, that they clearly can not afford ?. Simple - envey , trying to keep up with the Smith - Hamiltons !....

[@user-pd8fj6np1k]

It's simple: because of how it looks, that's all.))

[@stewartshackleton7825]

Always amazing to see these supercars tackle the local dodgy roads. Another excellent production. Thank you.