Have you always wanted an Aston Martin—but you need a car with four real seats? You don’t want a Lagonda because you know they’re an endless maintenance nightmare. Is there another answer?
Yes! The answer is our Pick of the Day, this 2011 Aston Martin Rapide listed on on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Beverly Hills, California.
The Rapide was Aston’s first attempt since the Lagonda to move into a true four-seat, four-door car. It was introduced in 2010 and was in many ways a stretched DB9. It was polarizing when new but, over time, the styling of the car (which was designed by Marek Reichman) really came into its own. When you compare it to cars such as the Porsche Panamera or even BMW 8 Series Grand Coupe, the Aston is the most stunning of them all. No, it is not a replacement for a BMW 7 Series or a Mercedes S-Class, but it is a true four-seater sports car.
The V12 under the hood of this Rapide produces 470 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, giving it a top speed of 188 mph. This should definitely qualify it as a four-door sports car.
This car is the ideal compromise of wanting a DB9 but needing extra seats. The styling is exactly patterned after a stretched DB9, with two extra cantilevered doors.
The car also drives much like a DB9—a bit heavier, but in every way a world-class GT car. The best part about the Rapide, besides the total production of less than 3,500 cars, is that it really is an everyday usable Aston Martin. You can drive more than two people around and fit tons of gear in the back. Best of all, at the end of the day, it is an Aston.
The seller says this Rapide has covered a total of only 12,632 original miles. It is finished in Tungsten Silver paint complemented by an Obsidian Black leather interior. (S)he adds that this stunning four-door sports sedan “seamlessly combines the elegance and craftsmanship synonymous with the Aston Martin brand, offering an unparalleled driving experience that is both thrilling and sophisticated.” It also has utility not found in any other Aston Martin.
The photos seem to depict an exterior with no issues whatsoever. I see no flaws, and the wheels are just as perfect, with no evidence of curb rash.
The same goes for the interior. The Obsidian Black leather is in amazing condition, there is no shrinkage that I could see on the leather dash, and everything looks as nice as you would expect from a 12,000-mile Aston Martin.
The best part of the equation when considering an Aston Rapide is the price: this model is among the best value for any modern Gaydon-built Aston as evidence by the $44,500 asking price. When you consider the Rapide had a price of more than $200,000 when new, this great-condition 2011 Aston Martin Rapide seems like a great deal.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
