I just couldn't cope with the interior.

to me the rapid gives me nothing i don't have in my GLII estate except a bigger price tag

Nope. It doesn't cover the market segment I shop in: 4x4 Diesel Estates. My lass wouldn't want one either as she hates cars that either are or look like saloons.

The car just looks like a placeholder for both the Fabia and Octavia until the new versions come out. Doing neither well.

I rather like the exterior styling: it works in that body shape for me.

Can't help thinking that the front grill looks like an upside down 'tash though!

Didn't get to sit in one so my concern would be that, at 6'2", I'd have my head on the roof (there aren't that many cars I can fit in comfortably!)

Tempted to try one on a test drive...

Rapid is DAD.

ie: Dull As Dishwater

^ based on a test drive or....?

Perfectly justified based on the looks alone I think.

^ based on a test drive or....?

Based on its looks and place in the market place.

It just doesn't do it for me, and in my opinion, does not progress the Skoda brand/image.

Looks like an old codger's car..........I'm at that stage and still would not have one!!!

Criticising the Rapid for being overpriced or not-as-premium as an Octavia is perfectly legitimate, and I know looks are a very subjective thing but in my opinion the car looks a lot sharper and less "old-codgery" than most of the rest of the Skoda range, particularly the Fabia.

The head on view is a little plain, but the profile is very Octavia inspired, but a lot sharper and more modern looking than the Octy2.

I just think the whole launch has been handled poorly by Skoda UK and a negative sentiment has been built up around this model which is now very hard to shake. But perhaps people could try and look at it a bit more subjectively rather than just blanket hating everything about it? Beginning to feel a little sorry for it now that I might just have to buy one

I looked at a Rapid, and sat in it, but the immediate impression I got was that the plastics in it are cheap, and so I took a deal on one of the last Octavia Mk II's instead.

I used to have Mk1 Octavia, currently own Mk1 Superb and a 2012 Roomster, all private purchases from new. If Skoda make a Rapid with 2.0TDI engine and at least 140bhp, I still see a market space for it. Not because it is a great car, but because the upcoming Octavia 3 will be worse than Octy Mk2, due to smaller range (50l fuel tank fitted, Rapid 55l), and likely no full size spare wheel (Rapid does have one).

Octavia 3 is likely to break the Octavia charm, and together with underpowered and overpriced Rapid, it could put Skoda in trouble for the first time since late 1990s, I bought Mk1 Octavia in 2002 and almost wept when it was rear-ended and written off after 10 years / 130k miles of faithful trouble free service. I bought a Superb V6 TDI in 2006 because it was amazing value for money compared to Audi offerings at the time. I needed more interior space and a 30%+ high speed autobahn mileage at the time, but even in 2006 I thought Octavia Mk2 was the better car for driver seating position, boot practicality, and general family use. While these qualities look to be kept with Octavia 3, the new Mk3 Octy's range has been crippled by an undersized fuel tank, and, as with the Golf 7, full sized spare is no longer a simple choice. All in the name of weight saving and beancounters' profit happiness.

In this lineup, a 2.0TDI Rapid could be a sensible downsizing option for long distance travel, a rugged, reliable car that's perhaps not the most comfortable but will not let you down, just like Mk1 Octavia was. For anything else in Rapid range, they'd need to drop price by 20% at least, to compete with better cars in Skoda's own range (Fabia and Roomster, low end Octy 2).

Roomster/Rapid type platform is actually not so bad if you liked Mk1 Octy, though the 1.6CR engine is a disappointment when compared to 2.0TDI CR, and an even bigger disappointment compared to old 1.9TDI IP/PD. Plus build quality of anything coming out of Kvasiny factory (Roomster and Superb 2) leaves a lot to be desired nowadays, see my posts here on Roomster forum, lots of cabin fitting issues incl damaged airbag and handbrake wiring.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/239313-roomster-build-quality-issues/

It'll be interesting to see how long SUK will take to admit they have overpriced the Rapid by at least 20%. Even at a VAT free offer level. the current trim/engine lineup would not make sense. Choosing between Rapid and Roomster only, Roomster wins any day on price and practicality alone, unless you happen to hate the looks of the Roomster, of course.

Saw and sat in a Rapid today. Thinking of changing from a Mk 2 Octy 1.9TDi PD. Quick impressions. Dash is a huge expanse of not very nice plastic.

A neighbour has an Audi with a dash like something from a space ship (far too cluttered) but the dash on the rapid is plain and sparse to the point of saying to hell with it can't be bothered.

I hate door windows with spindly frames. Give me the Ocy style Guigiaro (Spl ??) doors every time. The way the doors as it were split the B pillar and produce a sharp point and edge is just rubbish. Who designed that bit --a kid on work experience?

I am trying to puzzle out why the front track is 37 mm narrower than the rear. The Octy is 27 mm wider than the rear. I always thought that pen-toed cars were less stable. Probably not then. Seems like decent rear leg room, more head room than Octy front and rear. Almost identical shoulder room. Am I imagining things but is the clutch pedal way over towards the centre of the car?

The rapid is shown as one Cwt lighter than the Octy but is rated as total weight at FIVE Cwt less than Octy. Is it made from tin foil so it might bend in the middle or is that weight to give the !.6 donkey a chance to belt up hills?

Overall it was better than I thought. I expected it to be down market from the Octy even my 8 year old one.

I am now going to read everything I can get hold of,especially your views here. And I hate that new Vauxhall type badge with no name or green in it.

How long do I give it for the real snags to surface? Time as they say will tell.

I seem to be in the minority, but I like the look of the car from the outside.

I will have a snout around if there is one in the showroom when the octy goes in for a service.

I will likely be changing mine in 2 years time, and was initially thinking of an octy MKIII Hatch in elegance spec. But having seen the prices, I thought about the Rapid,as it appears to forego some boot space over my current octy for rear legroom (with 3 growing kids that an important consideration.

Those of you saying about it's place in the range being confused have a point while the Octy II is still availble, but when the price hikes that come with the Octy III are in force, it may then appear to make sense financially.

Having said that, those that have seen the car in the flesh and noted the interior looks a lower quality doesn't bode well.

It does look a bit of a ghost own in the Rapid section of the forums !

I seem to be in the minority, but I like the look of the car from the outside.

Me too - and the interior didn't look that bad to me on the SE spec ...

The interior is good, it may not have soft touch plastics but its aesthetically pleasing and well screwed together.

Also as I posted on another thread, found out today the wheelbase on the Rapid is actually longer than that of the Octavia 2!