Ive got a rapid sport, I find the ride very crashy over bumps etc, but ive never driven an Octavia so wouldn't be able to say what the ride is like in one of those.

Just picked mine up after having Eibachs fitted. 30mm drop and I don't find it crashy anymore [emoji106]

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"Crashy" or "jiggly" are very subjective terms,

 

Car drives great smooth on motorways, its just feels as though you are personally physically bouncing about. if thats what the carshy feeling was it may be worth the fitting of eibachs

.

It would be great to actually pin down exactly what the changes Skoda did on post 13 reg Rapids and is it available as an "upgrade"???

 

I want to love this car

Yes it would be a well worth investigation into that. The later ones are so different in feel and ride.

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Done the bump stops and rechecked last week, but still there,,,not as excriuatingly bad but still annoying. ;<(

 

Whats  "saw bar" and i would love any inputs from suspension related "fixes" upgrades (not into lowered suspension, unless it improves ride quality??)

Sorry I ment sway bar...I think it tightens up the body roll... there is a thing about it on here but I can't remember when or by who. I'll be looking to lower the car by 30mm when its out of warranty, although my local dealer says they'd do it and it wouldn't affect it, they didn't give me  a price though.

"sway bar" is spam (American) for "anti-roll bar".  I think I have read on here that heavier duty a-r b's are available, or perhaps that one from another VAG model fits the rapid.

 

However, like shorter springs, I dont think firming up the suspension in this way is going to benefit the ride.

 

 

 

Trawling the UK magazines websites, it's clear that they all thought the ride was pretty poor when road-testing Rapids.

 

Equally clear is that none of them have done a full re-test since the launch, and the car has improved a lot in the mean time. 

Edited 25 April, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

Different ARB,s will just stiffen it up which will make it worse but will handle better.

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Anachronisms ARB ?? pls :<) explain

Edited 26 April, 201511 yr by Bidey

Anti Roll Bar [emoji6]

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Interesting to read the difference in early and late model Rapids..I test drove one of the first Rapids and thought it awful, especially the numb steering and ride. Glad to hear that Skoda have made the required changes to later models. Thanks for the info guys I`ll certainly have another look when I come to swap..Do I take it correctly that the Space Wagon came uprated from the start?

Yes the Spaceback had the improvements to steering and suspension from day 1.

Hi Camelspyder,

But do you know what the actual changes were and are they retro-fittable by Skoda or after market kit /DIY?

Edited 27 April, 201511 yr by Bidey

Honest John .co.uk" says this of the Spaceback:

 

"The steering and suspension have been improved over the much-criticised original Rapid Notchback (that now shares the improvements). It’s more compliant but better damped at the back, and switching to pure electric steering rather than electro-hydraulic gives the impression of much better front end ‘bite’ and ‘feel’."

 

 

 

It would seem the basic changes are different spring rates and better dampers - to tell the difference you should probably test drive a new one to compare it with yours.

 

Then figure out the cost.

Edited 27 April, 201511 yr by camelspyyder

Honest John .co.uk" says this of the Spaceback:

 

"The steering and suspension have been improved over the much-criticised original Rapid Notchback (that now shares the improvements). It’s more compliant but better damped at the back, and switching to pure electric steering rather than electro-hydraulic gives the impression of much better front end ‘bite’ and ‘feel’."

 

 

 

It would seem the basic changes are different spring rates and better dampers - to tell the difference you should probably test drive a new one to compare it with yours.

 

Then figure out the cost.

Thanks

Would agree the steering on the Spaceback is far superior to the electro-hydraulic system on our Fabia II and on par with the Octy III we had previously.

 

So hoping the 'update' to steering and accelerator on Friday doesn't spoil things.

 

 

TP

Sold my Octavia Mk2, after 74K miles, and now very happy with a 14-reg Spaceback.

Track down a low mileage minter and it's difficult to imagine a better car for the cash.