The myth that the Skoda brand is largely a German Volkswagen company is just a lie and a rumor. After all, they are original even with some dependence on the Germans. Skoda Rapid is proof of this. Usually it is compared with the Polo model from the Germans, however, when it comes to this, the price of the Czech brand catches the eye. Why is she so big? Is it a status? This and other shortcomings of the Skoda Rapid will be discussed in the article.
Kudos
The Czechs risk visually showing how they depend on their German colleagues in the workshop, but they still begin to surpass them in almost every model. This risk, in their opinion, is justified. It is fraught to show your prestige so defiantly: people can completely remove models from the world market, and people will forget about the Skoda. However, this is definitely not worth doing, because the Czechs really tried and created a good car, it really competes with many cars of the German automobile industry.
One only needs to recall the Skoda Yeti interior, which was 2 times better than the Tiguan, the scope and dimensions of the Skoda Superb model, which Volkswagen does not have. In general, in many models the Czech auto industry is superior to German. The dream of the owner of the Volkswagen Golf is to have such a big trunk, like the famous Skoda Octavia. However, this is not about all of this. "Skoda Rapid" - she is the hero of this article.
It is worth noting that buying Czech cars is much cheaper in their homeland, where they are sold really cheap. However, the disadvantage of the Skoda Rapid is that it does not follow this principle, and its price is really the same in all markets of the world.
What to choose?
Similar to the flagship model of the Skoda Octavia, similar dimensions, and even the price is much less: about 500 thousand Russian rubles. So why does Skoda Rapid have more flaws than her? You should carefully consider, reflect on this topic. The picture is actually not so rosy, because Czech engineers and designers save on the most necessary parts of the car: there are no electric seats for the basic versions, heated mirrors, air conditioning and even a radio. Yes, this can be included in more prestigious modifications, but it is quite expensive.
Security is also lame. There are no two airbags, and this is a defect of the Skoda Rapid. “Octavia” has two of them, which go immediately to the base. Everything else is fine.
Optimal choice
The most normal version of Rapid is a modification of Ambition. She has a 1.6 liter engine, which is very reliable and fast, and she is also much cheaper than her competitors Volkswagen Polo and others. Therefore, it is better to choose just such a version of Skoda Rapid to stay in the "ladies". It costs only 50-60 thousand Russian rubles more than the minimum version. However, who does not want to have such a powerful motor, can equip his car with additional options.
Heated mirrors, air conditioning and radio, which is not in the basic version, will cost you exactly fifty thousand Russian rubles. And if you add another 22 thousand, you will get the Ambition version, which will have even more interesting functions: eyeglass case, glove compartment lights, pockets on the backs of seats, an on-board computer, and much more. If you try to do it manually, choosing options, it will be much more expensive. Do not be fooled by yourself and do not try to save, because you mean to pay twice.
Exterior
A talented seller will begin to sell the car, relying not on its design, which is bad enough, according to the reviews of the owners, but on the trunk. After all, it is impressive, its size is impressive. Therefore, a potential buyer will immediately think that this car was really made with soul. Volume - about 550 liters. If you also fold the back sofa, then the place here is like a double bed. In general, if you travel a lot, move, transport, then Skoda Rapid is a champion among its competitors.
Interior
When the owner sits in the salon, he notices one thing: his front panel, instruments and steering wheel look very strict, stylish and prestigious. Like sitting in a German car. However, this is understandable, because Skoda partially takes ideas from the German automobile industry. However, the basic version is slightly different, there is too much gray, which corresponds to cheaper cars. Plastic is of poor enough quality, it is scratched. But aluminum here is very expensive and good, it looks appropriate.
There are only hooks for clothes and cup holders in the cabin. How to not have a second in a car for people is not clear, however it is a fact that they are not in Skoda Rapid. In the optimal and basic version, you will not even get a backlight for the driver, this is a huge minus. Yes, for an additional fee you can buy yourself an additional armrest in the back of the car, where there will be cup holders and so on.
Exploitation
The doorways at the back are wide, as if they were inviting guests to sit in the car. However, everything is bad with the front ones, as if they did not want the machine to be controlled. However, squeezing into a car and starting to drive it turns out for 100% of people, although it is quite difficult. All the inconvenience is due to the fact that the front panel is quite wide, it prevents you from sitting comfortably in the interior of the Skoda Rapid. This is a small flaw. Many people, leaving reviews about the Czech car, note that they constantly get bruises when hitting a torpedo.
Specifications
Skoda-Rapid has one engine, the disadvantages and disadvantages of which cannot be counted. This is a 1.2 liter gasoline engine, which has always been placed on the Phabia model and was again put on the Rapid model. It was inappropriate: the car is heavy, and the engine is weak. It is not recommended by any owner of such a modification of the Czech brand. Too bad for her. Overtaking on a car with this engine - make yourself worse. This is one of the shortcomings of the Skoda Rapid automatic.
But the 105th 1.6-liter engine is noticeably more powerful, and not only. It is much more convenient to accelerate on it, control your speed, make overtaking. Still, it is much faster than a fellow of 1.2 liters. Therefore, the shortcomings of the Skoda Rapid 1.6 are few. Also in the modification with this engine is a manual gearbox, which works no less well than the motor itself. However, there is one small minus: the sixth gear is missing on the highway, as well as more horsepower in order to confidently accelerate more than 150 kilometers per hour. However, this car was clearly not designed for riders. It is worth noting that for fans of fast driving, Skoda-Rapid turbocharged engines are easily amenable to chip tuning. It will add an extra 20-30 horsepower, and you can enjoy the power that was so lacking.
Profitability
This is a big disadvantage of the Skoda Rapid, as it does not use low fuel consumption. About 12 liters per 100 kilometers are consumed in the city, given its rather small engine capacity of 1.6 liters. On the highway, of course, everything is better: about 8 liters per 100 kilometers. It was about a naturally aspirated engine. If you take the modification with a turbo engine, then the economy will be better and the consumption will be less.
As mentioned above in the article, the 1.4 liter TSI is very good, its resource is high, and its economy is good. However, there is a small minus: in urban driving mode or in traffic, the gas pedal must be pressed with the little finger. After all, one small press - the car will explode from its place. And this is not the most important thing, reviews about the shortcomings of the Skoda Rapid say that its transmission is very slow and constantly malfunctions. Therefore, once again it is better not to gass, so as not to make her nervous, and constantly change gears. However, when you start from a place, Skoda Rapid gives pleasure. Owner reviews about the shortcomings of the Skoda Rapid on the topic of overclocking were not found: the car does it quickly and without shocks from the gearbox.
Conclusion
In any case, Skoda Rapid finds its buyer and will do this for a long time to come. And all because it is very similar to a German-made sedan - Volkswagen Polo. However, he has a number of advantages that his colleague does not have. Also, "Rapid" is good for those who want a Octavia. After all, it is even a little worse, but the price is a little less. Nevertheless, the optimal version will cost about 600 thousand rubles, and the most minimal one will cost about 500. You can’t call it low-cost, but everything can be understood by comparison: the minimum version of Octavia will be released to the customer at least a million rubles. In this article, we examined the advantages and disadvantages of the Skoda Rapid.