Just bought this week's Autocar and they only gave the car 3 and a half stars. They stated just about everything on the car was average and that it was a "car as a white good" for people "who don't enjoy driving." Given that the car is pretty expensive this is hardly the best of endorsements and I guess I would probably go for a Focus, nearly new Golf or the SEAT Leon which got a great review with the same engine last week for being a good drivers car. I guess the set up is too soft and maybe the car will be better with the 105 or the 122. I know when I went for a test drive with a mate in the roomster with the 85 bhp engine, it felt strangled.

Here is is: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/skoda/rapid

Not sparkling but not a bad review by any means. I happen to think the car still looks nice (and quite close to the MissionL ) in the right colour and on the big wheels.

Interestingly the one thing they don't criticise is the price, which is strange given all the whinging here. Perhaps they have a more balanced perspective on the whole car market than some people here.

Interestingly the one thing they don't criticise is the price, which is strange given all the whinging here. Perhaps they have a more balanced perspective on the whole car market than some people here.

Everybody wants something for nothing - I wouldn't be at all surprised to see people complaining about Kia's pricing on any Kia devoted websites, same for Hyundai etc. People are just ****s in general.

Well given that there is an economic crisis going on Thecko people are generally careful with their money unless they are very fortunate I would not buy a new car again anyway but the days when Skoda offer you a lot for your money are over. The mark 1 Fabia Vrs was an absolute steal as well as giving great value and that is why it sold so well.The same is true for the Mark 1 Octavia VRS and even the Mark 2 VRS Octy on VAT free. It pains me to say this but I would buy a Ford Focus instead as you can normally knock down a Ford dealer quite hard and it has excellent handling and a lovely new engine. I think Skoda will be quite bullish with the pricing of this and at nearly £16k for a 105 bhp midrange and to me that is expensive and I doubt it will be on VAT free anytime soon unless sales figures are disappointing and personally I think they will be.The new Octavia looks good but I have no doubt it will be considerably more expensive than the current model. I was hoping for more with the Rapid tbh.

If I was in the market for a sensible small family car for a sensible price, then I would look seriously at the rapid.

Not everybody wants a car that is exciting to drive, or that handles like a sports car with feel to match.

I reckon the drivers that Skoda have aimed this towards don't really have a great interest in cars and just need a decent sized, reliable car to get to and from work, do the shopping and that has enough room for luggage when they go away.

I reckon they have got it just about right.

I guess but Autocar are car enthusiasts as are I guess most people here so we expect a little bit more. Autocar say that as a "white good" the Rapid does well but is just transport and pretty boring to drive :/

My issue with the "car as white goods" design/engineering philosophy is that making something "good to drive" needn't cost much, if any, more and offers more to the people who'll notice it without having to detract from the experience of those who won't.

Ken and that is where Ford have got it so right with the Focus and Fiesta. They sell to the people who want just a hack but offer a rewarding experience to those who are enthusiasts. The Golf is a similar type of car as is the current Octavia and Leon built on the same platform. Peugeot always used to be champions of this too with the 306, 205, 405 era cars being well known for their excellent handling and ride combo but they have totally lost their way. What makes me smile is that white goods stule cars like Kia and Hyundai are starting to get above themselves and price their cars at premium car money. A good example is the new Hyundai Santa Fe with the top model being £10 grand more expensive than the last model at a rather eye watering £34K.

talking of prices, I was in the dealer this morning.

Their demo Rapid is a mid range SE model and with most of the packs fitted would be just over £20k

They also have a Superb S spec with a 2.0 Tdi 140 DSG

That is marked up at £20,940

The sales manager told me that no one has bought a Rapid from them yet, but they have sold 3 of the Superbs off the back of test drives and quotes on the Rapid.

Cunning ploy by Skoda to sell more Superbs?

what is the rapid based on? is it a roomster with a different bodyshape or a stretched fabia? or old octavia?

Well given that there is an economic crisis going on Thecko people are generally careful with their money unless they are very fortunate

Yep that's a very fair point, but I do get the impression that most people on here want the pricing of new models to match the pricing of the original Fabia/Octavia list prices from 10+ years ago and, when you take worldwide inflation in to account, that's simply not a realistic expectation.

I can understand that people are disappointed with the Rapid but I think that's more to do with them wanting Skoda to launch a pocket rocket, instead of the 'sensible' family car that they have done.

I'd say the biggest mistake Skoda have made is with the choice of old name to resurrect for this car - maybe it ought to have been called the Estelle or Favorit with the 'Rapid' being rumoured sportback and/or VRS spec of this one.

Edited 9 December, 201213 yr by Thecko

what is the rapid based on? is it a roomster with a different bodyshape or a stretched fabia? or old octavia?

All three are almost correct

Same idea as the Roomster with Fabia front end,Octavia1 rear end, except the front end is the wider version from the new Polo platform I believe.

talking of prices, I was in the dealer this morning.

Their demo Rapid is a mid range SE model and with most of the packs fitted would be just over £20k

They also have a Superb S spec with a 2.0 Tdi 140 DSG

That is marked up at £20,940

The sales manager told me that no one has bought a Rapid from them yet, but they have sold 3 of the Superbs off the back of test drives and quotes on the Rapid.

Cunning ploy by Skoda to sell more Superbs?

Indeed, Superb is arguably the best value in the range as the Octy moves to its mk3 (with presumably mk3 pricing)

Indeed, Superb is arguably the best value in the range as the Octy moves to its mk3 (with presumably mk3 pricing)

Guess they will "adjust" the Superb pricing when the facelift comes out though.

Like the the Rapid, however as stated in other posts we went for a vat free Fabia Monte Carlo TSI 86 instead and even with esp+, cruise, headlight washers and a 5 year warranty we saved over 2.6k compared to the RRP of a standard Rapid SE with the same motor. All we've lost is the extra boot space, as the cabin does not feel that much more roomier in the Rapid than the Fabia II, oh and the Monte's sports seats feel more comfy and supportive than those in the Rapid.

Not driven a Rapid yet but again the little MC is very good at making swift and safe progress along the country lanes round here; pleased we did not to wait for the Rapid to be launched in the end.

TP

Edited 19 December, 201213 yr by The Plumber

It wouldnt feel right driving a car with "Rapid" on the back if it wasn't rapid.

I think it should have been named the Skoda Vapid.

did not seem to worry those who owned the original "rapide" which was a rear engined air cooled sewing machine that started the original skoda jokes

still not sure about the position of the new model, will have to see what happens onces the models range changes are finished

did not seem to worry those who owned the original "rapide" which was a rear engined air cooled sewing machine that started the original skoda jokes

still not sure about the position of the new model, will have to see what happens onces the models range changes are finished

Air cooled :wonder:

Mine had a radiator

Oh and good fun to drive for it's time.

TP

i seem to remember air cooled for some reason, but happy to be corrected

pension book and flat cap must be nearer than i thought :(

I suspect we will find some secondhand Rapide's at quiet a reduced price in the not to distant future.

problem is if the put a discount on the rapid to try and attaact customers, they will move people from a fabia to a rapid and the down side of that is they will just juggle the numbers rather than generate new / additional sales

Edited 22 December, 201213 yr by bluecar1