My Fabia vRS was in for a pipe change thanks to a boost leak so i was given a Rapid diesel for my commute. Got to keep it for a week since I work so far away and work silly hours.

 

My mother picked it up for me and immediately said how numb and light the steering was and how sharp the brakes were. Said there was no feel and felt very on and off. I put it down to the car being new so drove it to work the next day. First impressions were the same as hers. Steering too light and just touching the brake pedal made it brake quite hard. I eventually got used to it but braking feel was lacking.

Rapid named ironically as it's not quick. But is great on fuel, even when pushing on I saved about £40 in fuel this week. You can tell it's Fabia based as it uses lots of similar bits but smartened up. A new surround for the Swing stereo is a prime example. Does feel good in parts but you can tell they've cut costs in other areas. It's a £17k car so isn't cheap. Looks A3-like from certain angles.

 

Being on fatter tyres but still only Dunlop Sport Maxx's means ride is good. Fine on bumpy roads but when pushed the suspension sometimes feels as if it can't keep up. Chassis wise it has potential but needs tweaking. Weightier steering with more feel would be good. Sometimes if I had to brake harder then normal it was easy to unsettle the car. Eventually I got used to it and it's quite adjustable. It does understeer a little less the my vRS but easy to overwhelm the Dunlops. As we all know this isn't surprising. Once I got used to it I could cover ground quite well in it. More power and a 6th gear to spread ratios out better would be great. On the roads I use overtaking poke is essential and the gearing is a bit long. MPG was always above 45mpg and often saw it do 55mpg at points.

I got it brand new with 15 miles on and gave it back with near 400 miles done. I wouldn't buy one new but in a few years time would be an option as a car for someone for commuting. But when a used Mk2 Octavia vRS TDI is faster, good on fuel and bigger, is a viable alternative.

Steering is easy. it can just get set for less assistance.

 

The one you had might by chance of been reset to 'disability setting' More Assistance and the Dealership staff are not aware,

Brake assist can have been adjusted as well if a customer had required the car set the same as theirs,

not unheard of when another Customer might have needed it as a loaner.

 

& unless you checked the tyre pressures yourself,

you can not be sure they never got inflated to 40 psi and left at that. 

 

EDIT,  Doh Sorry.

just noticed you say you got it with only 15 miles on it.

So Green Tyres, & green Discs and Pads needing running in.

& quite possibly the Tyre Pressures too high right from the PDI.

PDI wise my dealer is normally spot on. They were when I got my vRS two years ago. Oil level and pressures were bang on what book said they should be. I've seen settings you can change for steering and brake assist.

Not driven a 1.6 TDI. I know it is no road burner but the economy sounds decent. TBH though i can't remember ever seeing a Rapid on the road yet :/

Not driven a 1.6 TDI. I know it is no road burner but the economy sounds decent. TBH though i can't remember ever seeing a Rapid on the road yet :/

 

I've seen one or two but mostly at the dealers. Mine was rio red which looks more brown in certain lights. It's almost a natural successor to the Mk1 Octavia that had the 1.9 tdi 90bhp engine but had shorter gearing, which meant acceleration was better but my dad had the 110 and at 70mph it really needed a 6th. With the rapid and the 1.6 they've made the gearing longer. Goes relatively well in 1st and 2nd but takes a while to get to motorway speeds. But in fairness to it, it's not that bad. Will make a good taxi.