Porsche is the only company that is stuck building a quirky car because if they don't continue to they loose what has always been the center of their identity. That is why the styling cues all come from that original 901. My business partner who always buys porsche as well decided on an Audi SUV over the Ceyenne. He said little things like the headrests in the rear limiting fold down ease. I told him thats porsches way of making sure it isn't to utilitarian. More "S" than "U" Porsche is the best make in the world for me. I love the way they have always told me whats best for me. They've taught me well. Practice what you preach. Thats why there are so many that feel anything different from them is somewhat wrong. We've alway been told by porsche that the others did it incorrectly. So we went with the whip oversteer, the unusable back seats, and aluminum lug nuts. I find it extremely tiresome.

 

If this is how you chose your car, you made the right choice. The Rapide is beautiful from the outside.

I, however, do care how my cars drive. This is why I chose the Panamera Turbo (and I drove a lot of cars before making this decision). I can't wait for it to arrive.

 

Just not feeling it

 

With all this talk thrashing the Panamera I'm sure most have studied the lines on the AM? IMO, there is a pretty funky line around the rear door and the c-pillar.... AM seems to have done a pretty good job about what pictures we all see of the car and they're always at the correct angle to minimize that part of the car. I saw a picture recently that wasn't a beauty shot and frankly it wasn't pretty. The Panny and the Rapide while both are 4-door sedans are after a completely different market..... Hard to consider buying a $200k+ plus AM unless you're looking at a fully loaded (tick every option box) and then you're still probably $30k off the Rapide......

While I think both cars are great looking for different reasons I'll reserve final judgement until I see the Rapide in person....

 

Front end of the Rapide looks nice; does make you wonder if all AMs are specifically designed to look really good in the rear view mirror of the P-car in the same segment. ;-)

Some cars look better than they drive, others drive better than they look - all of them likely look "just right" to someone...

 

Performance wise, i think the V6 isn't too bad, especially when comparing to the 740 and S350. but there will just be too many Panameras rolling around when the V6 comes.... resale value is already hurting for the Cayenne.

Hybrid is a different story, the Hybrid will probably be priced in between the 4S and the Turbo.

 

Vanquishv12 you are giving Aston owners a bad name.
Certainly they all can't be as much of a Poser as you?

By the way, the real reason Porsche built the V6 Panamera was so the Rapide (misnomer) could have something to race.

 

Do we really think that Aston Martin or Porsche really care about the other? They never really have. BTW: Definition of "Poser"
noun
a baffling question or problem
Robert, You do seem baffled.

 

Maybe you can take the Rapide to the gym to shed a few pounds as well

 

Funny!

 

Now this is funny. Found this on another thread:

Camry SE 12.99 lbs / hp
Porsche Panam "6" 13.3 lbs / hp

I was wrong. Turns out AM isn't the threat after all. Yikes! ...God I love my GT3.

 

You seem to be trashing Porsche pretty heavy. Almost continuous. I don't know any Porsche owners that do that. You have stated your opinion, and it appears quite a few disagree.

 

Vanquishv12
I am embarrassed to have to explain this concept to you.
The urban usage of the term Poser refers to a person who is insecure about himself and buys things so that he may be accepted by the group.
How you look to others and who you impress are everything to you, substance is not.

You are obviously insecure about spending so much money on the Rapide, a car that defies its purpose since it doesn't carry 4 persons comfortably and isn't that fast. In this segment, both are essential.

Perhaps speed is overrated to you since you won't be driving that fast when you are cruising the local high schools.

 

Looks like there is more room in the back of a Mazda RX8 than in the Rapide. That is a very high center console.

The Pan looks a little odd from the profile view but otherwise it's an attractive car. I like a pretty car as much as any but when you get down to it having a really expensive pretty car is more about wanting people to look at you (as well as you looking at the car) than anything else. You spend most of your time inside the car so what's so important about the outside? As long as we arn't talking Aztek levels of ugly.

 

i read that too. The Aston Martin Rapide makes no real sense, it is a joke-4-door-car. it has got 4 doors but in reality no room for 4.
why would anyone take that over a DB9?