Hi,

I currently have a Rapid on loan from a main dealer while they repair my Octavia (cambelt failure - see the Octavia II forum). Only driven it about 20 miles so far, but I thought I'd give my first impressions anyway.

It is a silver 1.6 TDi SE, with a string of options as per the norm for a sales demonstrator. Has the 17" wheels, red sports seats, sat nav, parking sensors, climate control, heated seats, and extra tinting on the rear windows. No doubt quite expensive all in.

Inside I've got a mixed opinion. Driving position seems ok, and I like the instruments - clear, feel classy, etc. Shame the rest of the plastics inside can't match this. Most of the surfaces are hard plastic, and the windscreen air vent constantly reflects on the windscreen, which gets quite annoying. Seats might be the sports ones (headrest part of the seatback), but they don't feel the most supportive. I assume they're better than the standard ones, but I much prefer the leather seats in my Octavia. Rear seat is barely more than a bench. Rear windscreen is very narrow, so parking sensors are essential.

The engine is very quiet, just a slight diesel rattle at idle, possibly too quiet when accelerating to by any fun! I think this is the most powerful one you can get at the moment, but it doesn't feel very rapid (if you'll excuse the pun). Definitely feels slow compared to my 138bhp Octavia. Road noise is also well-contained, and the ride is still comfortable even on the 17" wheels. Steering feels ok at lower speeds, but feels too light for my liking at higher speeds (maybe need to check tyre pressures).

Overall so far I'm thinking it's not bad, except like a lot of people on this forum I'm thinking this car is attempting to get close to Golf money, but it's definitely not a Golf. Put a 2.0 138bhp engine in for this money, and it might be a better buy. It certainly would be more fun to drive!

Interesting reading. The Rapid i sat in at my local dealer had sports seats also. I though they were not as comfortable as my Fabia which is approaching 160'000. miles.

I think the next Fabia will be an interesting car.

When I was at a dealer ordering a superb I sat in one and looked around it, liked the boot space and the legroom but the width of the rear seats were disappointing it was a 1.6 TDI elegance witha few extras sport seats ETC and nearly had a heart attack when I seen the £20,000 price tag bit pricey for the size of car

Had a chance to drive it a bit quicker since my last post, and maybe the 1.6 engine isn't that slow after all! Once it gets going it is pretty quick, just doesn't have the same surge as the 2.0. 30bhp or so is noticeable, unsurprisingly!

Disappointingly, today the dealer called asking me to bring it back as it's the only demonstrator they've got, and they've got some test drives booked. Therefore I now have a Fabia II Greenline Estate. Certainly doesn't have the same styling appeal! No Octavias or Superbs available apparently...

Oops - managed to post that last reply twice!

Edited 9 January, 201313 yr by Peter.C

should think the GLII is a bit slower, but i find more comfortable inside from the 5 minutes or so i sat in a rapid when i had a look at one

shape wise i think the front of the rapid is better than the fabia but backend, nah to much like a ford

Hi,

I currently have a Rapid on loan from a main dealer while they repair my Octavia (cambelt failure - see the Octavia II forum). Only driven it about 20 miles so far, but I thought I'd give my first impressions anyway.

It is a silver 1.6 TDi SE, with a string of options as per the norm for a sales demonstrator. Has the 17" wheels, red sports seats, sat nav, parking sensors, climate control, heated seats, and extra tinting on the rear windows. No doubt quite expensive all in.

Inside I've got a mixed opinion. Driving position seems ok, and I like the instruments - clear, feel classy, etc. Shame the rest of the plastics inside can't match this. Most of the surfaces are hard plastic, and the windscreen air vent constantly reflects on the windscreen, which gets quite annoying. Seats might be the sports ones (headrest part of the seatback), but they don't feel the most supportive. I assume they're better than the standard ones, but I much prefer the leather seats in my Octavia. Rear seat is barely more than a bench. Rear windscreen is very narrow, so parking sensors are essential.

The engine is very quiet, just a slight diesel rattle at idle, possibly too quiet when accelerating to by any fun! I think this is the most powerful one you can get at the moment, but it doesn't feel very rapid (if you'll excuse the pun). Definitely feels slow compared to my 138bhp Octavia. Road noise is also well-contained, and the ride is still comfortable even on the 17" wheels. Steering feels ok at lower speeds, but feels too light for my liking at higher speeds (maybe need to check tyre pressures).

Overall so far I'm thinking it's not bad, except like a lot of people on this forum I'm thinking this car is attempting to get close to Golf money, but it's definitely not a Golf. Put a 2.0 138bhp engine in for this money, and it might be a better buy. It certainly would be more fun to drive!

The Rapid is nothing like Golf money! It's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper because it's old tech. But the average Joe wouldn't notice one little bit of difference between the way the Golf 7 and the Rapid drive. But people seem to be missing the point with the Rapid. It's not a cutting-edge performance hatchback, it's a solid family car with an epic boot for its overall dimensions, reliable kit under the skin and no real frills by today's standards. It's meant to be affordable, and for circa £14k for the turbocharged 1.2 petrol it's a STEAL. If I was a family man looking for a safe, good value new car I'd have one in an instant.

No.733 - I think Skoda are missing the point. They are displaying a Budget car (cheap plastics) with all extra's like Sports seats etc... Thus bumping the price up!

If they are trying to get people to part "budget" money, then then need to be showing the standard model. Not a car that will cost as much as a Standard Octavia.

Why display a budget car with Sports seats, which are very uncomfortable anyway!!!

yep i think as you say, if they had been a bit more relistic with the demonstrators then it may well have had a better reception

I do not think the equipment on demonstrators is a problem, it's the 40% price differential to Czech Republic that is a problem.

Rapid is more or less "Fabia LWB" equivalent in most of Europe, and its pricing reflects that there. It's just SUK that is trying to brainwash customers that Rapid is a like for like replacement for Mk1 Octavia and charge accordingly.

yep i think as you say, if they had been a bit more relistic with the demonstrators then it may well have had a better reception

I agree, you go into the dealer and see it sitting there with a board saying it's £20k.

The board does break it down in smaller print, but by then you've already had the shock.

I also find the options extras rather expensive. The same things that are available on a Fabia cost less.

Haven't driven one yet but had a look round one and sat inside it, all I can say is ..it is the next car up in size to the Fabia....but WAY too expensive ...I think you could get a 2wd yeti for the same price or less, and that is a far better car

My local dealers' showroom model with extras is priced up at £19k, next to it is an Octy vRS estate, silver grey, silver roof rails, parking sensors etc etc for £900 more.

Yes it is in a different sector and soon to be "obsolete" but the difference between the 2 cars in terms of quality is rather noticeable.

I think you would be mad not to buy by an vRS Octy Estate for £900. more!!!

I know how it works and the dealers usually spec the display cars with every possible option so that they can show everything off to customers to try to up-sell. And these ones you guys are talking about that are £19k, £20k must be top-spec diesels to begin with or else it'd be impossible to get to that price. But anyway, there's no way in hell that any normal person would order a Rapid at that price. You can pay £15k and have everything you want.