I came across these photos of the new Aston Martin Rapide yesterday. In about a year and change I will sell my 2007 Alpina B7. Not because I dont love it but b/c I dont keep cars for too long. The reason I need a big luxurious car is because of the business I am in. I drive about 200miles round trip at least twice a week with a business partner of mine for meetings. Often I have to pick up business associates coming into the country. My criteria is that it be BIG and FAST. SUV's are out of the question b/c I get tired of the dynamics too quickly. This car is also my family sedan...so it has plenty of duties. I only use the sedan 3-4 days out of the week and take use my s2k on the Friday and the weekends.

I crossed off the S550 because they are EVERYWHERE. THE AMG's are off the list b/c 180k is way too much.

The Lexus LS is too much of a wifes car for me and reminds me of my mothers 07 Camry. Very well built and quiet but I'll pass.

Audi's just dont look the part to me. On the outside that is.

The BMW M5 is a bit too raw and not as quiet as I need it to be. Stupid fast though.

I'm stuck between the next-gen 7series and the Aston Rapide. Time will tell but this Aston sure is looking very promising.

I dog the hell out of my B7 and havent had any problems. You wouldnt believe the type of cars this car can pull on...it is unreal. The ride is about as smooth as any of the cars listed above...including the Lexus and it rides on 21inch wheels. I have contemplated taking off the rims because they are about $4000 per rim and about $550 per tyre. I drove behind my wife one day and said hell no. It gets about 18mpg with my normal driving.


If the Aston can match the dynamics and power I will be 110% content. I'm sure the interior will be nicer too. Anyway, what do you think of the Aston from these pics??

Aston Rapide:





My Alpina B7

 

The Rapide looks fantastic, but how much is it going to cost? If the 180k S65 (I assume that's why you were referring to) is too much, I can't imagine this will be a whole lot less. Although I'm basing this assumption that it will cost 150k+ on absolutely nothing so perhaps I'm way off. Have you considered the Maserati Quattroporte?

By the way, nice B7!

 

Nothing says classy like an AM!

However, I seem to recall Top Gear doing a comparison to Jaguar's top model and Clarkson much preferred the less expensive Jag.

 

Not feeling it. Love the B7 though!

 

i like the bmw better for some reason...i need to see the production model of the AM..they couldn't have picked a worse name for it though

 

I dont know much about the B7 so C&D just educated me...

[B]"How

 

Waaaaay too much frontal overhang. Other than that, it reminds me of this:

 

Does it have to be a "flagship?" Because you are ruling out some great iron. There is the MB CLS550/55 AMG, or the E63 AMG. There are also some soon-to-come sedans from Porsche and BMW (the CLS-fighter.) Or, if you just want to show off, the Maserati Quattroporte. Or how about a big coupe, the MB CL or Audi S5 or BMW M6?

BTW, I think "regularly driven" + "Aston Martin" = perfect storm of depreciation.

 

lets not talk about reliability either...how would it look if you and your "business associates" are stuck on the side of the road

 

As mentioned above, the AM is going to be $$$. I thought I had read around $300K??? If $180K is too much (though you may have meant too much for an S-class), I don't think the AM will be a candidate. And, if you need backseat room, it doesn't look like the AM will offer much of that. Plus, though I'm sure you already know this, you're gonna take a bath on that B7 when the new 7-series debuts. As others have said, I'd look at the Quattroporte (VERY well-reviewed car, and it may be getting a bigger V8 for the next model year) or the next-gen. 7 series. Or, there is the S63. I sat in one at the dealership (with the designo package, including suede headliner) and was most impressed. I actually thought it may be worth the $135K or whatever the sticker said.