Well folks

 

Traveled through the 'weather bomb' on Wednesday to Manchester to collect new car.  Did the southbound journey in one stint and not once did i have the wipers on anything less than constant wipe with the wind blowing at 70-80 mph all the way. Hail, lightening, storm winds etc, i saw it all.  The journey back up was even more interesting with the M74 being completely snow bound - thick heavy snow with no road markings, cats eyes or road signs visable and massively reduced speed!

 

Now on to the car!  I am so happy i decided to chose the Rapid Sport over the Citigo Monte Carlo.  Geninely love the car.  Was so stable and surefooted coming up the road and on the better sections, sat on cruise at 123kmph and never faltered.  Compared to the Superb, the Rapid feels incredibly light and nimble.  The engine is a total peach; a bit harsh right at the top of the rev range but brilliantly smooth below this and cannot even be felt when in traffic.  Perfectly reasonable amount of go, decent sound and feels quite usefully torquey when you need it.

 

Seats are brilliantly comfy (although could do with more lumber) and look good too, and i've easily found my way with the operation of the bluetooth through the stalk and the swing unit.  I've got to say, at 6'3'', i can sit behind myself and the boot is huge.  If it wasn't for the fact that it is 200kg approx too light to tow the caravan, it would be 100% ideal - thankfully, the Yeti performs that role.

 

The car has now done 900 miles since wednesday afternoon and has averaged 37mpg (worked out properly) which is mostly indicated 78 mph stuff with a wee bit of town and a few spirited overtakes on A roads.  Reckon i'll see 40mpg regularly when there are some more miles on it.

 

Moreover, i may be alone with this one but i think, in white (even though extremely filthy at the minute) and with mudflaps, it looks brilliant!  Compact, sporty looks - reminds me of a 90's fast mid sized family saloon - e.g. i had a 94 model year Escort (Orion shape) Ghia Si and it reminds me very much of this.

 

Bad points? -

 

1. Boot looks very sparse and poverty spec (no hooks, cubby holes, partitions etc
2. The Swing head unit and / or speakers are fairly poor
3. No rear centre armrest
4. Rear seat head restraints cannot be removed
5. Diamond cut wheels are gonna be a nightmare to keep from going cloudy especially in this weather we have
6. Clutch doesn't have the 'strong' feeling that diesels tend to have
7. Door handles / door closing doesn't give you that send of solidity that you get from the Superb
8. Could really do with a centre arm rest in the front (left elbow is a bit lost!)

As you can see, not really deal breakers are they?!  What a genuinely fantastic car.  No sign or the 'booming', ride quality is great, no foggy rear window, no water in doors, scratchy dash but great quality and heaps of space for miles less money pcm and a lovely wedge of cash back.

 

• Eibach springs are ordered from Skoda - £200 negotiated all in for supply and fit.
• Contacted the vinyl wrap people for their jobs - much cheapness but come highly recommended
• contacting map company on Monday to sort the formalities
• Some pressed plates ordered with surrounds
• Oh, and the briskoda sticker - 10bhp on its own!

Overall though, thorougly impressed with my mini vRS.

 

Fingers crossed for no issues and care free motoring :-)

 

Cheers all, Dave.

Glad you're enjoying it [emoji106]

I agree about the stereo sound quality. It's terrible. My Citigo Sport 6 speaker setup is awesome compared to the Rapid. All tinny and speaker rattles :(

You can order boot nets for the boot. I did and makes a great improvement for the empty sides. I like the Sport in White. Just does look sporty with the Rays alloys. Shame about the chrome grille surround.

I've done 1700 miles since September and showing an overall average of 47mpg which isn't too bad.

It's a great little motor the 1.2tsi [emoji106]

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Don't have it mapped you will lose all your warranty.

If its a new engine don;t go above 3/4 of the engine revs in any gear for the first 1500km

Pic's needed.

Cool, a happy customer.

 

Totally agree with all the plus comments - when you need to go it doesn't feel like any 1.2 I've driven before.

 

Factory front centre armrest on superskoda for 159 Euro I think.

 

Concur about the classy looks too. On bigger alloys, the side view looks like a little A4. Here's mine

 

Edited 14 December, 201411 yr by camelspyyder

Don't have it mapped you will lose all your warranty.

If its a new engine don;t go above 3/4 of the engine revs in any gear for the first 1500km

 

Not fussed about the warranty - it'll only void the engine and drive train warranty but even then i have a VERY good relationship with my local dealer who have overlooked things for me before.

 

Regardng the revs, this may be the case but i've always driven them hard from the start.  The old saying that the fastest example of a car was the demo.

 

Sad really, but ive just been out to admire it in all its filth this morning in my dressing gown.

Pic's needed.

 

As soon as i can! :-)  Hope the Toldeo is still going well!

As soon as i can! :-)  Hope the Toldeo is still going well!

 

Yep all good.

Not put many miles on it yet, nowhere near as many as you. About 370ish in nearly 3 weeks, and a chunk of that was driving back from the dealers.

From what I've heard, modern engines don't need a running in period any more.

When I bought my last Honda the salesman told me that as well but I still like to keep it on the safe side just in case. I don't plan on hammering this car anyway.

 

As a musician and someone who enjoys going camping (obviously not at this time of year) I have found the lack of cubby holes means that I can fit more in the boot. There's a big space in the spare wheel well next to the wheel for stuff

Always a running in period for a new engine. Ok it's not as restricting as it used to be. Just do not over rev the engine, especially changing up through the gears. You don't have to drive them like Miss Daisy for the first 900 miles just don't thrash em, it's in the manual anyway, under "running in"

Edited 14 December, 201411 yr by MickA

I have improved the swing sound by turning the bass right up, middle 3/4 down and treble to minus 2. Plus set loud on.

I fully agree - wouldn't swap "Roger Rapid" for the world - although my son's "Kermit" Octavia VRS might be tempting!    

Really don't mind about the "poverty spec" boot - I organise that how I want it anyway.   A few plastic boxes with lids to square things like First Aid Kit, De-Icer and the other junk that never leaves the car away, a couple of old "Amtico" tiles left over from when the bathroom floor was laid so I can keep my composite "safety toecap" shoes for working around aeroplanes away tidily (I can't stand driving in them - they are too heavy and would surely wear clutch and brakes excessively) - a folded up blanket, an old towel and baby wipes to clean doggie off if we go for an outing on a damp day and job done!

 

Skoda should have added the centre armrest though - not only a very useful addition to prevent driver fatigue but it also makes the interior so much more attractive.   The interior of my son's "Kermit" is very similar with a few more bells and whistles and an uprated stereo, but it is the armrest that is the strikingly noticeable feature, although the heated front seats and heated front window are major positives too.   Then again, "Kermit" is over £150 a month more than "Roger Rapid" - which is the better deal?

Edited 14 December, 201411 yr by bealine

Looking good!

Glad you're enjoying it [emoji106]

I agree about the stereo sound quality. It's terrible. My Citigo Sport 6 speaker setup is awesome compared to the Rapid. All tinny and speaker rattles :(

You can order boot nets for the boot. I did and makes a great improvement for the empty sides. I like the Sport in White. Just does look sporty with the Rays alloys. Shame about the chrome grille surround.

I've done 1700 miles since September and showing an overall average of 47mpg which isn't too bad.

It's a great little motor the 1.2tsi [emoji106]

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I've got 2 boot net sets from the Yeti and Superb and will look to use them.  Silly question perhaps, but how do they work and where attached to?  I've tried but been mildly foiled!!

Luggage nets Rapid page 80.......http://ws.skoda-auto.com/OwnersManualService/Data/en/Rapid_NH/11-2014/Manual/Rapid/A05_Rapid_OwnersManual.pdf

 

On mine they look the same as the Rapid, fixing points in the rear seat backs and in the corners of the boot floor. Believe there are more fixing points on the rear panel of the boot.

Bag hooks fitted on the side panels, as well cubby/storage panels fitted. Got a set of nets still in the plastic bag, never used yet, all standard in the Toledo.

Yep exactly as Mick says [emoji106]

I got the Black ones as I don't like the Red look.

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In case you wondered, here are "Kermit" and "Roger Rapid" together at a lovely country pub on the Surrey/Sussex border!

Edited 15 December, 201411 yr by bealine

Looking great and nice plate on the vRS too!

From what I've heard, modern engines don't need a running in period any 

Maybe not as such, because they are precision engineered, but avoid labouring it at all costs.   the gentler and easier you treat it, the quieter it will be.

I've got the same car, had it two months now and love it, had the roof wrapped already, makes it so much nicer,

The Eibach springs you ordered from Skoda, are they going to affect your warranty at all. I know you said you had a good relationship with your dealer, just im wanting to lower mine as it really does sit far to high.

Eibachs are warranty approved [emoji106]

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Eibachs are warranty approved [emoji106]

 

 

thanks got a quote sorted fore mine. should have it done in the new year