Who Are YOU Going Home With, Aston's Rapide OR Porsche's Panamera?

Now that I have driven the Panamera a bit and had a brief opportunity to learn about the vehicle, I have begun wondering about the competition.  Although the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and Maserati Quattroporte are all valid contenders, there seems to be one which hits the nail on the head.

The Aston Martin Rapide has been fluttering around in the auto world for several years now and the production version emerged at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show.  Originally, I had been extremely excited at the thought of an Aston four-door sedan/coupe thing.  Now though it seems to have worn thin with me.  Looking at the Frankfurt pictures it seems a bit blasé.



Do not get me wrong, I adore Aston's coupes and I believe the Brits make a fantastic product.  The sedan just seems to have lost its edge.

For me, the problem is that the car seems to be a bit too boring.  Remember when AM launched the Lagonda?  That vehicle was groundbreaking because it had an "out there" design, was a bit ostentatious and had the era's wackiest electronics.  Albeit, they failed most of the time.

Porsche, on the other hand did something from a clean-sheet of paper.  Although it is unmistakably a Porsche when you see on the road, the boys from Stuttgart drew up a totally new design that echo'd what they felt a four-door Porsche should look like. 



The AM Rapide merely looks like a stretched DB9, which although it is not a bad thing, it is just too easy and too safe.  Hell, even the interior looks as though it was transplanted from the DB9. 

In this instance, Aston had a chance to blow us all out of the water but fell short because they were a bit too conservative.  If current estimates are correct, AM will price the Rapide above $200,000 and that is substantially more than a well-equipped Turbo that will most likely outperform the Rapide.

What do you think Spies?

2010 Porsche Panamera Launch Gallery

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show Photo Gallery

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B7FAN - 10/9/2009 2:01:27 PM

+14 Boost

RAPIDE.....forget performance just the sheer look of the rapide is much sexier than Panamera

B7FAN - 10/13/2009 12:31:39 PM

+1 Boost

you have a point cant argue with that

MSP6 - 10/9/2009 2:06:31 PM

-6 Boost

I'll take the Porsche. The Rapide looks too much like a coachbuilder product.

Joe_Limon - 10/9/2009 2:10:13 PM

+10 Boost

Rapide>>Panamera

klipprand - 10/9/2009 2:16:09 PM

+4 Boost

The Rapide is much better looking, but the Panamera is the better car :/

ThierryHenry14 - 10/9/2009 5:52:53 PM

-2 Boost

agreed...

GTR35 - 10/9/2009 2:37:05 PM

+1 Boost

I want to see a performance comparo between the Aston and the Panamera Turbo and frankly I would love to see the Porsche lose... why? so that it can loose in each segment seeing how it lost in the looks department from the moment it was created. I am very impressed on the performance generated by the Panamera and I wouldn't expect any less from Porsche ...if only they would have made it as good looking as the Rapide.

theoptimisticpessimist - 10/9/2009 2:56:07 PM

+4 Boost

I've had Lasix, make the the Rapide.

rigid - 10/9/2009 3:01:20 PM

0 Boost

"Porsche, on the other hand did something from a clean-sheet of paper." This is the single stupidest comment I have ever heard. They started with a 911 and a Toureg and came up with this thing anybody could design this car we all knew what it was going to look like when they floated out the thought of a 4 door car. It would look like an odd 4 door 911 which low and behold is exactly what they ended up building. The only thing worse is the interior which looks like a computer keyboard mounted between bucket seats.

Agent00R - 10/10/2009 12:30:54 AM

+1 Boost

To say the car was conceived from a Touareg and a 911, is downright foolish.

Have you seen or been inside of a Panamera interior? Likely, no.

KZ258 - 10/9/2009 3:08:01 PM

+2 Boost

porsche b/c of performance

JUGNU - 10/9/2009 3:14:14 PM

+1 Boost

Design and Exclusivity = Rapide
Except Design everything else (especially Performance) = Panamera

JUGNU

Htay7500 - 10/9/2009 3:28:44 PM

+2 Boost

Rapide ftw.

1dott8 - 10/9/2009 3:47:44 PM

0 Boost

that's a tough one because i am the performance type, however, the panamera isn't exactly my cup of tea when it comes to design. the aston on the other hand, is very good looking (in my opinion). i would love to have both to tell you the truth.

kuvakas1 - 10/9/2009 4:49:01 PM

+3 Boost

Rapide.....the Panamera looks a little bloated toward the rear flanks, to me.

Willis - 10/9/2009 5:33:57 PM

+2 Boost

I'll take the Panamera. It's one of my dream cars at the moment.

I don't find Aston Martin's particularly beautiful. The only beautiful Aston to me is the DBS.

Bill - 10/9/2009 10:09:22 PM

-4 Boost

Maserati Quattroporte / Mercedes CLS

Joe_Limon - 10/9/2009 10:45:27 PM

+3 Boost

While both of those are nice cars you failed at answering the question.

ThierryHenry14 - 10/9/2009 11:28:53 PM

+2 Boost

Deboost me all you want, but I would go for the Porsche because of the badge and all that is associated with it. Nothing wrong with Aston, great car, but just that I am a Porsche man through and through...

ThierryHenry14 - 10/9/2009 11:29:08 PM

+1 Boost

btw, at least I am honest...

MSP6 - 10/10/2009 12:33:41 AM

+3 Boost

Looks like choosing the Porsche is the bad answer on this post...

But you know, we're on Autospies...

ThierryHenry14 - 10/10/2009 9:09:30 AM

+2 Boost

MSP6:
i know what you mean... I don't get why people get deboosted for stating their opinion and giving their reasons (as long as it is reasonable) because I did not even bash the other car, but then I looked at the top and it says Autospies and then I go..."oh, ok, thats why!" lol

Joe_Limon - 10/10/2009 11:36:41 AM

+2 Boost

If someone boosts you it means they are thinking along the same lines as you. If someone deboosts you it means the opposite. It's a pretty simple concept. So don't feel bad if you get deboosted for being different.

M53R - 10/10/2009 4:53:15 AM

+3 Boost

The Panamera wins in performance, but it looks like every other Porsche, and that's NOT a good thing. I think I would pick the Rapide.

dhkss2002 - 10/10/2009 6:33:18 AM

+1 Boost

The Rapide all day, everyday. The Panamera looks like a cross between a Beluga whale and a Moray eel. G..damn it's ugly!

BMW4me4ever - 10/10/2009 10:12:20 AM

+1 Boost

Panamera is not a good looking vehicle at all. Who cares if it offers a little better performance, at this price range status and style play a much larger importance. The Aston is a stunning car. Aston for me hands down. If I want a performance sedan, then M5, E63, RS6 offer more performance and are larger in regards to rear seat comfort.

SSP350 - 10/10/2009 11:32:07 AM

+1 Boost

Rapide, of course! I think if someone where to hand you the keys to both cars, 99.9% would choose the Rapide just because it's a much rarer vehicle. Truth be told!

Joe_Limon - 10/12/2009 12:09:50 AM

+1 Boost

When I visit the Maserati site I found the following.

Quattroporte = 5.5s
Quattroporte S = 5.4s
Quattroporte GT S = 5.3s

Joe_Limon - 10/12/2009 12:33:02 AM

+1 Boost

But shouldn't the Genesis hope at beating the srt8 300c first?

It does have a 4.7s 0-60time...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/05q2/chrysler_300c_srt8-road_test

Joe_Limon - 10/12/2009 1:31:05 AM

+1 Boost

The only appeal the Maserati has is based on style. It's an average performing sports sedan that sells purely on what people view as prestige, looks, and by people telling them it's the ultimate in luxury. Personally I don't care for prestige much, and the styling of the Quattroporte doesn't strike my fancy. The Gran Turismo is an amazing looking car, but it's only downside is that Ferrari doesn't want it stealing sales so it's performance numbers aren't that impressive.