Hi all,

 

I was doing a bit of research and came across the forum and it seemed like a great place, so I've taken the plunge and registered.

 

I'm not currently a Skoda owner. I've been a fan of the brand though, I passed by driving test in a Felicia, I've been on roadtrips in a good friend's Fabia VRS, my dad's Octavia estate helped my wife and I move into our first owned home (where an Accord coupe was impractical!).

 

Currently I'm a Saab driver, but the car is getting a bit worn out, and with a family on the way I was hoping to upgrade to something newer.

 

I quite like '3 box' bodystyles (saloon or fastback), a friend who has a family himself convinced me that a fastback hatch is hugely practical for prams etc.

A bodystyle that Skoda seem to specialise in!

 

Looking through the nearly-new used car classifieds, the Rapid and sister car the Toledo seem like a bit of a bargain. Yes they are a technical mish mash, and not as nice a drive as an Octavia.

However for a car that is a couple of years old, with a huge boot, and they look bigger than they are, I'm keen on them. (Octavias do seem to hold their value brilliantly, taxi drivers seem to snap them up)

 

Though one of my requirements is an automatic gearbox - makes city driving so much easier! The Rapids only seem to be available as a Spaceback with the DSG box, so I'll likely look towards Toledo (which should also hopefully satisfy complaints that I always buy "old fellas cars"! :) ). They're built by the great manufacturing talents at Skoda, just a different badge.

 

We also have a mk2 Leon in the household, so we are happy enough with VW group products (other than it being a 1.4 that eats pencil coils).

 

Anyway, I'll probably lurk about the Rapid forums, if there are any tips to look out for on this particular model? (The 'booming' noise that means the bootlid isn't adjusted correctly for example, or water that gets into headlights, 2013 suspension upgrades etc.)

 

Thank you!

Thanks everyone.

Welcome Walmeerkat, festive greetings to you from over the water.