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-   -   Review: Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo 1.0L TSI – A Little Beast! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/227143-review-skoda-rapid-monte-carlo-1-0l-tsi-little-beast-2.html)

Congratulations on your purchase! I drove the Rapid Elegance 1.5 MT and liked the driving experience and safety. Make your service advisor at the Skoda workshop a friend. Will help a lot. I know you said you have VW's in the family but Skoda is another beast!

Also, I know someone looking to buy a sedan in this price range - how did you get the factory fitted RCD340 done? Do Skoda offer it as an option, or does the dealership change it at their end?

If it's the MPI vs TSI, the difference is beyond imagination but everybody knows how under powered the 1/1.2 MPI is. But with 1.2 TSI, I really can't comment as it's AT vs MT. However, TDI is a torque monster and league apart, you might not feel that torque surge with 1.0 TSI but it's fun.

Just as you referred the Polo, I was lucky to see mine yesterday - the perk of sending your car with someone you know personally. So, here's the Rapid with her sibling :)



I paid 6500 for the 5 sensor pack including the installation charges. In addition to this, another 720 for the road force balancing.

The dealerships get the cars fitted with RCD340 from the factory. The swap to 8" Android HU, the internal wiring changes and USB port installation inside the glove box are taken care by the dealers. I was told the dealerships have to ship the RCD340 HU back to Skoda, sounds weird. In my case, I confirmed my booking only after getting assurance from the dealership that they'll deliver the car with factory fitted RCD340.

Understated elegance, no unnecessary creases, slashes, edges and what not. I love the design of the VAG cars in India. Arguments about decade old design notwithstanding.

Congratulations. Indeed the Rapid TSI + MT combo is addictive. I fell in love with it when I test drove it. In fact I also thought about exchanging my wife's 2009 i10AT with the Rapid TSI MT, but then dropped the idea. Happy and safe motoring.

Are you using these and if yes on which car and can you share some actual pictures for reference to see the fit and finish.
The next question will be reliability.

Cheers!

So Skoda fits a high quality HU in the car only for them to ask the dealers to replace it with a third grade unit. And then bear logistics cost and risk of damage in shipping the units back. Then they probably reuse an already handled unit in a new car. Simply Clever, indeed.

Maybe that’s how all the 340s end up on AliExpress. From Monte Carlos all around the world!

Leaving aside the comparisons, coming from a Ford Aspire 1.5 TDCI Sports, I felt grown up in the Rapid TSI.

Like you had rightly pointed out the Torquey feeling from a Diesel unit maybe missed slightly but the handling and ride quality makes it up for me and I absolutely adore the Rapid for its strength.

I managed to get the hands on the first Rider in Coimbatore and did a few mods to suit my tastes.

The rev past 2K RPM just pulls the strings of your heart if you enjoy the rush! Glad you managed to get her delivered with the RCD 340

Lets hope the A.S.S don't screw up the ownership experience and we never end up having an opportunity to claim a warranty lol:

Here is a link where my car was lucky to be featured in one of the mods section...

https://www.91wheels.com/news/skoda-...rider-modified

And a thread where I got to mention about it on our forum..

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...-trims-10.html

Beautifully written and lovely location and pics...Enjoy the drives!!!

Nice set of mods to start with, Sabrish! Now, aesthetically your Rider is almost the Montecarlo. A flat bottom steering and RCD340 if you'd like to add later transform your ride to the top trim, except for those projector headlights!

On those Hella horns you installed, are they twin trumpets? Was it a direct swap? Did you have to use a relay? I've plan to get the Skoda OE trumpet horns from previous gen Rapid/Vento or Octavia. In fact I wanted to get it swapped right the showroom before taking delivery, somehow could not get it done.

Glad to see your review as it comes at a time when I too am in the market for a new ride. Wanted to get a 6/7 seater on a budget but doesn't look very promising. Drove the Rapid MT and AT and completely loved it. The AT is amazing as well though I find the premium for a TC too high and conveyed the same to the SE as well.

Apparently there is a discount of around 90k on the MT and around 50k on the AT as of now. I will probably be settling in for the Onyx if I go ahead with a new Rapid but am currently exploring a used Jetta/Octavia as well. Not sure if its the right option to go with yet

EDIT - The only irritant I found in the rapid is the chime which comes at 80 and after 120. Wish there was a way to disable it

Congratulations TurboGuy on your purchase. The Rapid in MonteCarlo trim is a looker. Incidentally, this is also my first post on TeamBHP and got my membership approved recently.

I have booked my Rapid Ambition and I am eagerly waiting for it. I should have had the delivery of the car by now as per the promises made by dealership but, still waiting on it. Well, mild frustrations apart I am eagerly looking forward to the day I can bring home the Rapid.

I did a test drive of this car and felt really good about it even though it was short. After listening to all the members describe it's performance on the highway I just can't wait to go on a long trip with the Rapid.

I wanted my first post to be about my new car with pictures but, I could not wait. Hopefully, soon enough I can share my joy with others. Happy revving.

The Mats do fit nicely in the Rapid 1.0 MT. Its a 3-piece mat.
It came in a zipper cover, neatly packed. I'm currently using the cover to keep the car cover that Skoda gave with the 'Essential Accessories Kit'


I do not have the pictures of the unpacking/before installation.
The driver's side


The Rear -




These were taken on the day I installed it.

A month and a half later

The Noodle part can be removed for dusting


There are these plastic tabs on the rear and drvier side mats which can be inserted into the car's plastic mouldings to hold them in place.





The Driver side footwell- Extends quite a long way forward


The dead pedal is adequately covered as well-


The plastic tabs are missing from the passenger side. But there are Velcro material stitched under the mats at various places to hold it onto the car floor carpet. Unfortunately, i could not take the pictures of the same.



Presently I'm using them under the Rubber mats that came with the Skoda Kit as Bangalore has monsoons and I live in an area where there is abundant presence of unpaved roads, construction material and corporation supplied ‘non’ developmental digging in ample supply to take the risk of not using them with the rubber mats (easier to clean).

No complaints, the product seemed to be of great quality. I cannot attest to its longevity though.

Side note-
There was a Sale going on when I'd purchased it. As soon as I'd placed an order, I received a call from the Pegasus dealer, asking for the model and variant. He implied that the mat that I'd ordered would not fit the new Rapid and asked me to cancel it. Since the order was placed through amazon and the price was discounted, i risked getting it. If it didn't fit would return it. I told him the same. But the risk paid off, or if it spooked the seller into shipping the correct item I'll never know for sure.



The car-cover presently inside the previously Mat-bag


Its got a handle for carrying and Zippers for enclosure.


I remember the Mats being very heavy and doubting the durability of the supplied bag for usage on a longer basis. But, then again once you take it out you're done with it.

Looks excellent to contain mud & spills etc but I find them too overpowering in design terms. Great price though.

Congrats TurboGuy on your new acquisition. Probably the first Monte Carlo TSI on the forum! clap:

There are couple of Rapid MC editions in my neighborhood and boy they look awesome. If only Skoda had offered a bigger engine or better performance on this over the Polo GT TDI, I really would have bought this last year.

Wish you a fun-filled and high-revving ownership of this Czech.

Happy motoring :thumbs up

Thank you! There are rumours Skoda to bring RS variant with the next gen Rapid loaded with 1.5TSI, but just the rumours.

And, glad to see you called her the Czech, unlike the usual German tag she's forced to wear lol:

@turboguy

Hi,
Congratulations on this lovely buy.

I am in considering buying the new Rapid TSI too.
May I know how do I get in touch with you?

Would really love to get some pointers from you, as I am based out of Bangalore too.


Thanks in advance
Cheers.