at my work i have valeted (sales prep) two for the skoda dealership one is in the showroom and one is outside not alot of interest aprantly for either

I think it will make more sense with the new octaiva along side.

Presently its too close to fabia/octiava, there isn't a gap, not when you mix in the windscreen price.

I like it, and I could see a really nice car with some minor alterations. If they were bold enough to put a performance line in then I think that would change it's outcome. It's not been ruled out, but its sales % would be so small, I think the time might not be right for it. I;m sure somebody will come along and perform a transplant.

Although I actually think it's success lies in other countries, emerging markets.

I wonder if any ex-demos are coming up for sale soon, should be a good price if low interest. Don't know if I'd take one over a higher spec'd fabia, therein lies the challenge for a 7 model range.

I have to admit that I'd quite like a specced up one in Sprint Yellow with aftermarket black alloys and a little boot spoiler.

But I'm not ready to commit financial suicide (again) yet. Plus the Yeti is doing a great job.

The blue Rapid in the showroom is around £18k and on the PCP they are indicating a value of around £5k after 3 years.

I know they may be allowing for a bit of deposit for the next car in there, but it doesnt fill me with confidence.

Looks like it'll shed value fairly quickly.

You'd probably pay closer to £15k though given the discounts available out there which makes it a much better proposition.

Waiting with interest to see what the other body variants will be in reality. Still rumours floating around of a Golf-style hatchback, but also of a small estate (Sportback).

I remember around Mk1 Superb release, there were plenty of comments that VAG only allowed it as there were no sensibly priced family cars on the market with enough legroom for tall drivers, certainly not in VAG range (Passat B5.5 had limited legroom). Plus of course having a premium car in the Skoda range was one of conditions for Skoda Auto takeover by VW.

Even in current lineup, one clear advantage of Rapid over Fabia is the vastly increased passenger legroom when front seat is all the way back. But then there's the Roomster which is same wheelbase/ legroom, same engines, more space for carrying stuff, more versatile, and very noticeably lower priced. And if you ask your kids at school age, they'll take the funky Roomster any day over the "conventional" shape car (I think elevated seating and massive panoramic sunroof have something to do with this).

So if you are going to carry family around, Roomster is the clear choice at present.

If you mostly travel on your own, then Fabia is enough and will be more nippy, lower priced and cheaper to run than the bigger Rapid, while Octavia is more comfortable and faster.

In my view, Rapid could only sell well if it was either much more similarly priced to Fabia (call it Fabia LWB ) or if it had bigger engines (e.g. 2.0CR, call it Fabia LWB SuperSport ). Octavia could still then compete on comfort and space, but the distinction to Fabia and Roomster would be much clearer.

Edited 25 January, 201313 yr by dieselV6

imo its hard to see the point of the Rapid when you compare it to other brands. It seems skoda are trying to create new class sizes or something.

Compare it to the VW range:

up/citiGo

fabia/Polo

Jetta/Rapid

Octavia/Golf

Superb/Passat

Jetta is just a saloon golf, thats the point of it. A small saloon but the rapid, although using the same chassis etc is a hatch so isnt like the jetta, a small saloon. imo it seems a pointless car for the masses and will only appeal to a very small number of people who are looking at the skoda brand

The cost does not justify the low quality interior.

Can not understand why Skoda are putting the car in the showrooms with so called "Sporty seats". I found my Fabia with 160'000. miles more comfortabe then the Rapid.

If they are trying to give the impression of a "value car" then do not big up the spec to an over inflated price.

Think there will be a fairly swift rethink on the interior for 2013. Like a lot of new cars it didn't make me want to buy it- the rear looked quite nice IMO, but I wasn't overly impressed with the front, plus as others have already commented the interior seems a step backwards quality wise. I hope the Octy III is better.

If you mostly travel on your own, then Fabia is enough and will be more nippy, lower priced and cheaper to run than the bigger Rapid, while Octavia is more comfortable and faster.

The opposite for me. I find my Mk1 Fabia's boot to be inconveniently just that little bit too small frequently enough for it to really annoy me. If I had the money to buy a new car, I would very seriously look at a mid-specced Rapid along with the other contenders, but as it is it's looking increasingly likely that I may well end up going for a 5 year old Golf based car (Octy/Leon) but with a bigger boot than an actual Golf.

I like the Jettas too, I actually like cars that look like a conventional car personally - most MPVs etc look ridiculous to me, and the ever popular Sportage I think is ugly as sin - maybe I'm just an old fogey well before my time

I drove past a Toledo this morning on the M56. Looked quite smart to me, even if the prices do seem high on paper it also looks a good sized car when you see it on the road.

If we are playing "Rapid Spotting"....just seen my 1st one on the road.

It was that bright light blue colour ?? and at a glance looked really nice.

Hmm... VAG group seem to be playing it very lazy these days, the Rapid appears to be exactly the same car as the new Seat Toledo, they've not even bothered to re-panel anything at all to suit the different marques, just different bumpers, bonnets & lights!.

That said, I quite like the styling. I did have a look at one in the local dealers today, it appears to have a significantly "cheaper" feel to it than all the other previous models, shame the pricing doesn't match the quality.... :(

Edited 3 February, 201313 yr by favguy

......."has anyone actually ordered one or taken delivery yet?"

The Briskoda site suggests to me there is not a lot of interest in the Rapid.

......."has anyone actually ordered one or taken delivery yet?"

The Briskoda site suggests to me there is not a lot of interest in the Rapid.

do you see many posts saying "yippeee its here in this section"??

when at the dealers i do see people looking round them but not as many as the other models, to be fair the citigo and yeti seem the most popular, followed by monte / vrs fabia

and don't here many people mentioning rapid to salesman

I looked at the rapid in the dealers showroom in Nov. and thought it very plain and unexciting. Like a 70's Kadett only a little bigger. After that viewingI had no difficulty ordering a fully specked out Fabia TSI DSG 105 with all the extras for an estimated £6K - £7K saving over a similalr equipped Rapid. And that was knowing the Fabial will be replaced next year. I have not had second thoughts for a moment.

I have not seen a Skoda Rapid on the roads in NE ENgland, (nor last weekend while visiting Ireland). If one did cross my path I failed to recognise it, so bland is the appearance.

I do think the new Skoda front grille, while trying to create a distinctive corporate logo, looks awful and amateurish in design. The green leaves are gone form the badge, again a retrograde step.

Current issue of What Car has a feature on the new Octavia and again its front is unbvelievably bland - just like the rapid, so again I've no desire to own one. Its rear end is early A4 and already looks a bit dated. The tone of review is also very flat but generally favourable. It left me with the uneasy feeling that it was written from pictures and manufactures adverts eventhough it was a report on a test drive or similar episode of use.

Think one or two might have sold recently, as Lookers had a couple of pre reg S models for just under 10k on Autotrader which have disappeared from the site. Mind there's another 62 to choose from, most look like early stock that have been registered in the vain hope of shifting them.

Sad really, as it could be a good car for some if better equipped and lower priced but SUK obviously got greedy on the back of good sales figures elsewhere.

TP

Edited 18 February, 201313 yr by The Plumber

Think one or two might have sold recently, as Lookers had a couple of pre reg S models for just under 10k on Autotrader which have disappeared from the site. Mind there's another 62 to choose from, most look like early stock that have been registered in the vain hope of shifting them.

Sad really, as it could be a good car for some if better equipped and lower priced but SUK obviously got greedy on the back of good sales figures elsewhere.

TP

could also mean withdrawn due to no interest and did not want to look desperate by leaving up for too long??

As an Octavia mk1 owner for whom the Octavia mk3 is too long, I am probably the demographic Skoda are targeting with the Rapid (except I'm not an OAP). However:

- Internal packaging doesn't look clever (I don't need a huge space for rear passengers; prefer estate style to notchback as I have a dog...)

- road tests seemed to indicate the ride/handling was at best average

- not cheap!

Yeti / Golf / Leon looks more interesting to me, or maybe the Ibiza ST. I think VAG missed a trick not basing this on MQB - yes what I want is a shrunk Octavia, not a stretched Fabia!

I would consider one at this price - pre reg for >10K - thats sounds pretty decent to me.

http://www.autotrade...g?logcode=ucbnp

Edited 25 February, 201313 yr by Cowimars

I would consider one at this price - pre reg for >10K - thats sounds pretty decent to me.

http://www.autotrade...g?logcode=ucbnp

That's pretty good, especially as it has the TSI engine. I'd want a better specced one personally though.

DTD the are offering new Elegance TSIs for £13,230. The problem is Skoda UK's list pricing, not the price you actually have to pay as for £13,200 it's quite a lot of car for the money.

I've got one! ... All spec'd up ex demo "SE" 1.6 TDi model with Sat Nav, climate, DAB etc... It's a good car... Despite the "hard plastics". .. I paid £13500 with 4k on the clock... Returning 55mpg as well 17" alloys help the visual impact .... Now the Octy 3 has landed .... At a premium... The Rapid makes sense

Anybody know where I can get an armrest from?

That's a good price for the TDI. 6JA061100 is the part number for the Toledo armrest which I presume is the same.

That's a good price for the TDI. 6JA061100 is the part number for the Toledo armrest which I presume is the same.

Thanks for the info.....

I'm looking to get a Rapid, was looking at Fabia Estates as I have been offered a brand new SE for just over £10k but I went to my dealers this morning and I like the Rapid more. Looking to buy a second car for the wife to do short trips with two young kids. The boot is huge and inside it is spacious.

I've seen a few S spec pre-reg and brand new for around the £10k mark which is great. Agree the RRP pricing is way off given the rest of the range. I would really like an SE but cheapest I can find one of those brand new/pre-reg is £12k.

Then on the way to work saw my first Rapid out in the wild which I think was a sign

Edited 27 March, 201313 yr by whoop_whoop

I'm looking to get a Rapid, was looking at Fabia Estates as I have been offered a brand new SE for just over £10k but I went to my dealers this morning and I like the Rapid more. Looking to buy a second car for the wife to do short trips with two young kids. The boot is huge and inside it is spacious.

I've seen a few S spec pre-reg and brand new for around the £10k mark which is great. Agree the RRP pricing is way off given the rest of the range. I would really like an SE but cheapest I can find one of those brand new/pre-reg is £12k.

Then on the way to work saw my first Rapid out in the wild which I think was a sign

Can't argue with the "Signs" .... Try and find one like me a Octavia T81 have..se spec + goodies... Well worth it ... Good luck