That doesn't match the prices of the online brokers but still a better point from which to start negotiation.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/GBR/finance/offers/rapid-finance/Pages/default.aspx

probably a sign they can't sell them

Has anyone on Briskoda bought one of these? Have one on order?

there is one member ordered and now waiting for build / delivery

not aware of any more

I asked our local dealer back on 18th dec , when my car went in for a squeak check how many they had sold, the unfortunate answer was zero, but the citigo was selling really well.

Can't say I'm surprised.

The Fabia estate has almost the same boot and passenger space, yet with the VAT deal costs much less.

Yes the fabia estate is a very good car for the money especially with vat-free deal, the extra warranty is cheaper too and for the same money the fabia is much much better equipped. The only minor inconvenience thing the Rapid has over the fabia is a bit more rear leg room in the rapid. The fabia Estate is actually much more practical for boot space due to the more practical the estate shape.

It seems obvious to me that Skoda UK have misinterpreted the "good" publicity they received over this last year. Favourable reviews and various awards placing them "above many prestige marques" for customer satisfaction etc. have been taken, quite literally, as evidence that they are up there with the Audis and Bmws of this world. As a result the marketing boys also crawled up their own arses, and lost sight of what Skodas role in the VAG group is meant to be.

Panic may now ensue when they see poor sales, as evidenced by spec changes and price incentives on the Rapid, but dont hold your breath about the new Octavia - expect this to be grossly overpriced and underspecced to start with.

I've also noticed a slide in my local dealer service - big price increases in hourly rates and servicing prices bringing them more in line with next doors VW franchise, which they are attached to. I've also noticed more of a VW dealer approach to warranty issues - i.e. hardnosed and charge the customer if you can.

On the other hand I was surprised to see that the Mk7 Golf is being offered with substantial discounts already....

Edited 28 December, 201213 yr by xman

I don't quite get why Skoda needs three saloons? Too much choice can be bad for the customer...

I don't quite get why Skoda needs three saloons? Too much choice can be bad for the customer...

Covering just about every single market niche has worked well for Audi.

It's cheap to do when you use an existing platform and just style a new body too. All the running gear already exists as far as I know.

Covering just about every single market niche has worked well for Audi.

It's cheap to do when you use an existing platform and just style a new body too. All the running gear already exists as far as I know.

Are Audi using the Rapd/Toledo platform for an A3 saloon, I think I saw it in a car magazine. I thought A3 is same platform size as Golf/Leon/Octavia.

Are Audi using the Rapd/Toledo platform for an A3 saloon, I think I saw it in a car magazine. I thought A3 is same platform size as Golf/Leon/Octavia.

Not that I've heard. The VW Santana is a rebadged Rapid though.

Not that I've heard. The VW Santana is a rebadged Rapid though.

I think it was ?Autocar

would be interesting to see how much the vw is priced.

The VW is for China only. I would have thought it unlikely we will see an Audi version unless that too is just for China/India.

No-one buying Rapids and the new Octy will be over priced too.

Oh dear Skoda.

The Rapid is a very nice looking car until you look inside!

The interior is bargain basement dull, dull, dull. A Bolero would work wonders for starters! Octavia owners like me may downsize a little but the Rapid is a HUGE downgrade as well.

Then you look at the model line-up!

Want a diesel DSG? - NO!

Want a DSG Elegance - NO! This above all defies common sense!

Want a 1.4 Elegance - NO!

Want a 1.4 manual - NO!

Now lets look at extras

No pick and mix any more - everything is in "packs"

I want tyre pressure monitor - ah I have to buy that with hill hold control and (FFS!!) an effing 3rd head rest

I want heated sets - only if you also buy headlamp washers - well they go well together don't they!!

If that isn't enough - look at the prices!

How many bullets is it possible to fire into your own feet before you realise something is wrong?

Sorry Skoda! The Rapid is a marketing disaster!! And a thousand quid off won't sway me in October when my Octy come up for replacement.

I don't quite get why Skoda needs three saloons? Too much choice can be bad for the customer...

Skoda don't have a single saloon on sale today, let alone three?

Citygo - hatch

Fabia - hatch/estate

Rapid - hatch

Yeti - hatch

Octavia - hatch/estate

Superb - twindoor/estate

OK, so the Superb's boot can be opened as a saloon, but it can also be opened as a hatch.

I want heated sets - only if you also buy headlamp washers - well they go well together don't they!!

A lot of manufacturers group headlight washers in with the heated seats, and bundle them together as a 'winter pack'.

Skoda don't have a single saloon on sale today, let alone three?

Citygo - hatch

Fabia - hatch/estate

Rapid - hatch

Yeti - hatch

Octavia - hatch/estate

Superb - twindoor/estate

OK, so the Superb's boot can be opened as a saloon, but it can also be opened as a hatch.

Don't care what they 'technically' are - they still look like saloons!

You forget to mention its Fuggly! (Sorry to anyone who has or in process of buying one) just my opinion you understand.

I think the new Octavia VRS will take some of the better looking improved features/ques but enough of its original character to redeem the skoda brand though perhaps the disaster that is the Rapid might make skoda price the octavia more competitively and they wont have to use transparent marketing ploys such as £1000 contribution. I have always hated these types of insentives. Throw in loads of extras rather than a grand off simples!

Don't care what they 'technically' are - they still look like saloons!

Which is fine, but they aren't saloons.

Now, if you'd questioned why Skoda need 6 hatchbacks in their current line-up my answer would have been that UK buyers tend to favour five door hatchbacks over four door saloons.

Saying that BMW, Audi and Mercedes do quite well with their non-hatchback 3/5 Series, A4/6 and C/E Class over here.

I suppose I still don't fully understand the difference.

Which is fine, but they aren't saloons.

Now, if you'd questioned why Skoda need 6 hatchbacks in their current line-up my answer would have been that UK buyers tend to favour five door hatchbacks over four door saloons.

Saying that BMW, Audi and Mercedes do quite well with their non-hatchback 3/5 Series, A4/6 and C/E Class over here.

I suppose I still don't fully understand the difference - and therefore presume that most car buyers who don't care, don't either!

I was just looking at the thread on the Indian Rapid that is a saloon. Apart from being 3cm longer and having a slightly different tail I couldn't work out the difference. Is it simply that a hatchback the entire read windshield opens with the boot as opposed to just the boot segment?

Yeah, thats it.

The boot on a saloon can be huge, it's actually the access that is limited, therefore the 'usability' of the boot is limited by what you can fit through the smaller opening.

It seems obvious to me that Skoda UK have misinterpreted the "good" publicity they received over this last year. Favourable reviews and various awards placing them "above many prestige marques" for customer satisfaction etc. have been taken, quite literally, as evidence that they are up there with the Audis and Bmws of this world. As a result the marketing boys also crawled up their own arses, and lost sight of what Skodas role in the VAG group is meant to be.

Panic may now ensue when they see poor sales, as evidenced by spec changes and price incentives on the Rapid, but dont hold your breath about the new Octavia - expect this to be grossly overpriced and underspecced to start with.

I've also noticed a slide in my local dealer service - big price increases in hourly rates and servicing prices bringing them more in line with next doors VW franchise, which they are attached to. I've also noticed more of a VW dealer approach to warranty issues - i.e. hardnosed and charge the customer if you can.

On the other hand I was surprised to see that the Mk7 Golf is being offered with substantial discounts already....

"

VW hard nosed for warranty, don`t think so ,Skoda still charge full price for the ABS pump and they" ahem " give goodwill to franchised serviced vehicles only. All the rest of vag group pay in full no matter how old or even had any service, FACT. And their customer services are snotty, that is why I sold mine and got a VW, I loved mine but they are undermined by customer services and unrealistic prices. . My dealer clammed up when I asked how many had been sold .The new Octavia looks ok but will certainly not be value

Have to agree regard Skoda dealers; the three most local to me either offer poor quality service or poor attitude to customers (or both). Now doing a 140 mile round trip to the nearest dealer that I'm happy with in terms of the above. Mind my limited experience of VW was not much better, three dealerships failed to resolve why a previous Golf V TDI 4motion kept distorting prop shafts :wonder:

TP