Skoda at the Australian International Motorshow

[Mysticality]

@candy_wagon- Yeah, the mate of mine with the SP25 got them done for $200, but thats because his had the top coat already off (repairs)
As mine have the seal and top coat, etc on, its $400.
This is for powdercoating. Nice finish.

@zei20t- Very glossy.

@BS- I'll take a look!

@dArK5HaD0w- I want mine in what I'll call "brake dust black" (more of a graphite)
The best quotes I got for that were $300 a corner for something called "dark chrome" ... thats the closest I could get. After I googled it I politely said "Thats entirely the wrong sort of look" and left. XD
You could possibly borrow 4 forum members spares for a couple of days? You can borrow mine if you like.
I was thinking that exact same thing... No car, oh dear.

@Tigger- Perhaps you can try the Tiggy wheels on your vRS? Let us know how you go?
Pics included, of course!!

[zei20t]

hmm gloss black, not my cup of tea. still looks good for a factory option!

[ausspace87]

Went to the motor show yesterday. After reading what Jake had to say about the Rapid, I had VERY low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it in the flesh. Clean and fresh external design and the build quality is flawless - the best Skoda yet in my opinion. Interior design is also fresh and simple with excellent build quality. The plastics aren't soft touch, but they still have a "rubbery" feel and I didn't find them nearly as bad as Jake found them. After sitting in the new Corolla (which has soft touch plastics, but was just awful in every way), the Rapid has a far better interior and much higher quality plastics in my opinion. This is a $20K quality European car, there is nothing else available with the same perceived quality at this price point.
Here are some pics of the Rapid:

[ausspace87]

Here are some other pics of the Skoda stand:

[zei20t]

that white fabia RS looks great!

[donweather]

OK, why does the white Rapid Manual have a MFSW and the blue Rapid Manual not?

Also, why didn't they have a wicked dark tint on that white Octavia RS Wagon with the black neptunes!!! It would make it look sooo sooo much better and I notice their other cars on display have window tinting.

[K1W1]

OK, why does the white Rapid Manual have a MFSW and the blue Rapid Manual not?

I wouldn't get hung up about that neither are Australian spec so what they have or don't have will bear little resemblance to what actually arrives here.

[zei20t]

they look to be different trim levels. the MF wheel is leather, whereas the non MF wheel is plastic. the colour, seat trim etc, all different.

[Jake02]

OK, why does the white Rapid Manual have a MFSW and the blue Rapid Manual not?

The blue one represented a base or lower-end model (the Ambition possibly) whereas the white one was the top-spec one (the Elegance I'd assume). The white car had headlamp washers, the MFSW wheel, front foglamps, Swing radio, climate control, bigger wheels and a USB input over the other model on display.

[phaeton]

The RapidBoy have they gone cheap on it! Skoda, no-one is going to buy a car that feels worse than a bin on the inside! The plastics are horrible, there is no soft-touch stuff anywhere in the cabin, it's really scratchy everywhere and the Fabia has a much higher quality interior. Then there's the switches. I hopped in, looked at the two window controls on the driver's door thinking that Skoda Aus had just pulled in a low-spec pre-production model to show it off but then I checked the rear and it did have power windows, so it's only got controls on the drivers door for TWO windows, and they're not even auto. WTF? The engines? A 1.2 turbo with 77kW and a 1.4 turbo with 90kW, let alone the 66kW or even 77kW 1.6 diesel are NOT powerful enough for the small car market. A $21,990 Mazda3 (the price point rumoured the Rapid will start at) has 115kW, not 77, and anyone comparing the two wouldn't even bother test driving the Rapid. Practicality aside, why would anyone buy the Skoda?

Being put up against the Mazda3, Focus, new Corolla even is wrong to me; I think it should be basically a Fabia saloon in pricing. To be a small car competitor it needs a MUCH higher quality interior - current Octavia or even Fabia plastics would be great; it needs the new 103kW 1.4TSI as standard and bigger diesel like 103kW 2.0TDI - I'm so tired of Skoda using small engines in base models and larger ones in more upmarket models, just make the range have one damn engine! It needs more upmarket features like dual-zone climate control (even as an option), the Swing radio is horrible and just in general (particularly with the interior) it really needs more flair.

What did I like about the Rapid? It's very practical being roomier than the current Octavia and with a huge boot (530 litres with a full-size spare wheel). Skoda have finally gotten rid of the MDI - it has a proper USB port under the climate controls. The styling is fresh and crisp, finally some rear cupholders and the glovebox is large.

[Rant over, sorry everyone, it really annoyed me! I'll post up pictures on Tuesday evening as I'm going again but just a few observations.]

As other have said this is Skoda priced conscience car - I actually think our Aust. spec Rapids will have electric windows all round.
On the engine side I would think perhaps maybe Skoda will put a bigger engine in the Rapid.
The interior fit and finish I thought was high class considering the price they will be asking (did anyone sit in the new Corolla & Proton Preve). Space was amazing in the Rapid and this is sure to convert a lot of customers to the Czech brand, would be a great 2nd car.

[pologti18t]

ASpace was amazing in the Rapid and this is sure to convert a lot of customers to the Czech brand, would be a great 2nd car.

Ford aren't importing anymore Fiesta Sedans, I think mazda dropped the Mazda2 sedan. Ford even said that the small sedan market is too niche... Australian want small hatchbacks. So I can see the Rapid doing much business until they release the hatch model.

Its the India/China/US/South American markets that like small sedans.

[dArK5HaD0w]

Ford aren't importing anymore Fiesta Sedans, I think mazda dropped the Mazda2 sedan. Ford and even said that the small sedan market is too niche... Australian want small hatchbacks. So I can see the Rapid doing much business until they release the hatch model.

Its the India/China/US/South American markets that like small sedans.

Sure the rapid looks like a sedan, but it's not - its a hatch.
A "liftback" to b exact. Just like the current Octavia liftback.

[Tigger]

I went to the show on friday too...

The skoda stand was well done.

The models on display were very nice!
(so were all the cars) haha

[phaeton]

Ford aren't importing anymore Fiesta Sedans, I think mazda dropped the Mazda2 sedan. Ford even said that the small sedan market is too niche... Australian want small hatchbacks. So I can see the Rapid doing much business until they release the hatch model.

Its the India/China/US/South American markets that like small sedans.

I think it well do well in terms of volume Skoda want, not in Corolla volumes obviously.
VW did the Polo sedan to, it was a failure, due to three factors high price, manual only at launch and Chinese build stigma.

The Rapid is a smart sized well built liftback that will surely steal Lancer/Preve and base models from other Asian competitors sales.

[bobski]

I went on Friday night. I quite like the Rapid, a VRS version with a bit more aggression and 19s would look smick. The interior does feel a little cheap, but yeah around that price bracket its about right, the big seller for the Rapid I think will be its practical side. The boot has no equal and the cabin is so spacious compared to almost all others. I also did a pretty good job selling an Octavia VRS to a bloke weighing it up against the new Mazda 6 (which will sell like hot pankcakes). Skoda, you are welcome