Aston Martin Rapide S

It's easy to fall for an Aston Martin. They've been inherently cool ever since Ian Fleming put a certain suave British spy in a DB Mark III in his first book, which, in turn, led to that spy driving a DB5 when he appeared on screen in 1963.

Like most things that first became cool in the '60s, Aston Martin has had its ups and downs, but has soldiered on because of its ties to the era in which cool was born. Aston essentially gets a free pass for life. When the international jetset lifestyle was just being defined, understood, and packaged by advertisers, Aston was there. So it makes sense for a man like James Bond to drive one. We don't think of it so much as product placement as we do a forgone conclusion. Of course he would drive an Aston Martin, he's a man of style and substance, but he's got a dangerous side too. That same combination that made Aston Martin vehicles appealing back then, continues to make them appealing now. Take the 2016 Aston Martin Rapide S at face value, and what you have is a very expensive four-door vehicle that falls short in a number of areas. But this is not a vehicle meant for average buyers—it's a $228,000 coupe that has been stretched out and given two extra doors. Thinking critically about the Rapide S doesn't make sense, and I dare say it's a waste of time; yes, the infotainment system is woefully outdated, and yes, the center console is an odd amalgam of buttons and knobs that don't feel as premium as they should. Guess what, though? You're ...