2014 Rapid in Australia

[Harpoon]

Hi Gang,

I searched and couldn't find any threads about the upcoming Rapid Spaceback next year. Seems the sedan version has been canned for the time being for Aus anyway.

The Motor Report: Auto News And Reviews

Is this a replacement for the Fabia or will it sit along side? How does it compare size wise to the Fabia and Octavia?

I can't remember where but I'm sure I saw it would be priced from around $15000?! If so it would be seriously competitive in the small hatch market here in Aus.

What do people think?

[MountainBikeMike]

Id find it hard to believe it to be THAT cheap.. nether the less, an RS version would be some wicked fun!

[woofy]

The Rapid is in some ways in the spot the Octavia is in but in hatchback form from the looks now, so probably around the Golf/A3 mark albeit slightly bigger. The new Octavia will be bigger again now.

[Harpoon]

Oh I agree it would be a shock to see it starting at $15k but who knows. The UK one starts at £12k but nor always a great indicator of price.

If it is price competitive with the corolla and focus etc that's still a good thing. Euro style and comfort for corolla pricing..... yes please.

The sporty looking Spaceback is easy on the eye and appealing to me. The sedan version looked like a dull Jetta so not surprised Skoda didn't release it here.

[bobski]

I saw the (previous model) Rapid at the Sydney motor show. I was very underwhelmed by its interior which looked and felt cheaper than the Octavia or Superb, though it does have a very large rear cargo area that is appealing. That said, the Spaceback looks terrific and it'd be on my shopping list as a runabout. I can't see how they'll land it for less than 20, maybe you might be able to wrangle below that line. But as a casual observer, Skoda is not being positioned as a cheap car brand and I'd expect sticker prices of mid 20s and the Octavia to move up a level. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

[Antiplastix]

Knowing Skoda Oz, they will price it about $100 cheaper than an equivalent Jetta. I don't know who Is in charge there, but weird things are going on. If you go to their website, there is some great "drive away" deals happening on Octavia, Yeti and Superb. The prices are now what they should have been marketed at from the start .
How do they expect to sell vehicles that are a budget brand of an existing marque at much the same price but without the sweetners of fixed priced servicing and proper dealer backup.
At the moment all they have done is alienate their existing customers by slashing thousands of dollars off second hand values, yet they are not advertising the deals available to new customers.
It seems they have blown their advertising budget on a AFL team no one knows or cares about and road bike racing which has minimal following in Australia.

[dArK5HaD0w]

I don't know who Is in charge there, but weird things are going on.

VW Australia - that's who is in charge of everything Skoda in oz.

speaking of Rapid, an RS version would certainly turn my head.....

[Jake02]

Knowing Skoda Oz, they will price it about $100 cheaper than an equivalent Jetta

Why is the Jetta relevant to the Rapid? The Jetta is the Octavia equivalent, not the Rapid equivalent, and the Jetta is slightly larger/much more powerful than the Rapid.

My guess at the Rapid is around the $20k mark, like competitors Pulsar, Mazda3, Corolla and so on. Like most small hatches, it will sell on value and while it's not got that much engine, it will still sell well I think. Price the top-spec Elegance 1.4TSI DSG around $24k and give it a lot of equipment (I'm thinking sat-nav, Bluetooth, leather wheel, audio controls, 16-inch alloys, front fogs and climate control) and I think it will be class competitive. It looks alright with 17s, the black roof/bootlid extension and xenons.

[woofy]

I think the point is that the Jetta is currently well under the Octavia in price here. The 118 Jetta is about 3k cheaper than the 90TSI Octy as it stands at the moment. So the Rapid is more likely to come up against the Jetta with the usual Skoda tax.

[Antiplastix]

Yes maybe I worded that wrong. Most people don't know what a Skoda is, I commonly get; is that a Volvo, or is that made in Korea?
Why would some one pay X dollars for a Skoda ??? When they can buy a perceived better and bigger car from VW.