Skoda Rapid Elegance Plus AT Ownership Review

[Tornado]

Hi Tornado, sorry for missing this thread but congratulations

I think this is done to warm up the engine quicker. As you said that the gearbox starts shifiting at normal RPMs once the optimum engine temprerature is reached. This happens my cousin's one month old Vento TDI DSG too. So no need to worry

Thanks a lot.
Daily, I start the engine at 7am, it is too cold outside. Yesterday I observed, the engine temperature reading is 25°c at the crank, once it reaches to 45 to 50 °c car upshifts normally without whining.

As a Rapid owner,

Good to know it,is it AT or MT. Have you started ownership-reviews.
. we can share info & experience with each other.

1) You will really enjoy the car, the engine is awesome and the way it revs for a diesel is pretty impressive.

Yes, I am enjoying it.

2) The handling is really good too but Im not sure if it will be a similar case for your car as you have added suspension cusions to it.

After adding cushions, ride quality has infact improved, I mean earlier it was good now it is better. Earlier there was little bit up & down bobbing movement on 'not so good roads' , now it has reduced a lot.
On highways, it is equal to what it was before fitting cushions.

Suggestions are welcome on ICE upgrade.

 

[Tornado]

Today, after a drive of 5 to 10 km, engine temperature light started blinking.
I opened the owner's manual and followed the instructions.
Coolant level had dropped down to 'min' level hence replenished it till max level with a coolant purchased from fuel bunk. The blinking light disappeared immediately.

One question : the coolant colour inside the coolant tank of the car was reddish (petrol like)(I had to confirm that it's a coolant tank only from the owner's manual) , and the coolant which I added was green colour. Is that fine?

 

[Tornado]

Today I went for a long journey, hence checked coolant & engine oil level.
Coolant was OK but engine oil level was down to minimum level however there was not warning sign on the MID.
Nearest city was Satara on NH4, where there is no Skoda showroom or ASS.
From the owner's manual, it was not possible to know exactly which engine oil is to be used to replenish the level,hence decided to visit VW ASS . To my surprise, VW ASS was open despite being a Sunday & ppl there were extremely cooperative, prepared jobcard immediately. As oil level was too low, they refused to start the engine & replenished oil first 2 Litre engine oil was required. Then they started the engine & took the car on the ramp, checked underbody & sump for leakage & damage t, there wasn't any. Total charges including labour, Rs 2161.
As per owner's manual, oil consumption can be 500 ml per thousand km during initial ownership, same was confirmed by the VW SA. Hence, I felt relieved. Is it ok? Also one of the technician said, if I happen to need any help at odd time or on closed day, just talk with the watchman & he can arrange for help AFA VW related work of Skoda car is concerned.

Guys, posting some pics of underbody & sump, is my car fitted with 'rough road package'?

 

[Auto_Pilot]

Yes, it is fitted with rough road package. VW and Skoda engines are oil burners and consume more initially as compared to others. Bro, it seems that previous owner did not maintain the car well or he has skipped the service (If any service was due in that period).

First coolant and now engine oil needed to be top up. Please confirm if any service is due. Do not skip any service during the warranty period.

 

[Tornado]

. Bro, it seems that previous owner did not maintain the car well or he has skipped the service (If any service was due in that period).

First coolant and now engine oil needed to be top up. Please confirm if any service is due. Do not skip any service during the warranty period.

Previous owner had got the first free inspection done @5kkm,I had confirmed that with concerned SAAS. There was no problem & no work was left over as per the concerned mechanic.

While handling over the car to me, the owner told me to take the car to SAAS for inspection @10kkm.
Car is now 10kkm run, I will take her to SAAS within 2 days.


Before purchasing the car as told by SASS , first servicing is due at 15 kkm. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Auto_Pilot]

Yes, at 15 k or one year whichever comes first. You have already got the engine oil changed and coolant done. No need to take her to SASS if yearly service is not due as of now.

 

[Tornado]

Recently in total done 1600km highway trips including Pune - Mumbai e way , on highway car is rock solid at 150 kmph. In ghats, maneuverability is excellent. Front seat experience is comfortable as compared to Manza (my earlier sedan ride).

Ground clearance is still an issue on bumpy roads if the car is fully loaded despite the cushions installed. The rear mud flap gets scrapped on the bump whenever the rear wheels are coming down from from the bump. I got one of my rear mud flap cracked due to same reason.

Now a days, the engine temperature at first crank in the morning is 20 °c, I need to wait till it raises to 50°c so that gears can up shift at appropriate RPMs.

 

[amith]

Congrats auto pilot.
The after sales service is not good enough at every place. So it's better to choose from the best service provider. May be you have got a good dealer.

 

[Tornado]

Posting some pics
@our farmhouse

@koyna Dam.






Chicken Bhujing @Vasai.


@Vasai (kalambh) beach

 

[Tornado]

Posting few more pics.

 

[Auto_Pilot]

Nice pics Sir ji.

Great location. Pics are confirming that you had a great time.

 

[Tornado]

Beaches near Vasai are dirty as compared to rest of MH sea shore . The local civic authorities at Vasai are trying their level best to keep them clean but the sea water is polluted like gutters due to drainage & industrial waste contamination since long.
Dirtiest beach I have ever came across is Arnala beach near Arnala fort. In the morning, I saw hundreds, yes believe me, hundreds of people squatting sea facing & defecating on the beach sand!!. It took me whole day to come out of the stigma of the view.
Anyways, my aim to visit Vasai & around was to visit historical places than the sea shore.

Since high-school days, I was curious to see Vasai Fort. It was the first fort won by foreigners(Portuguese) in 1530s against Mughals.

Portuguese had to relinquish it to Chimaji Appa Peshwa(Brother of First Bajirao Peshwa, First Bajirao was husband of Mastani & prime minister of Maratha empire )in 1739.
In 1802, the last Peshwa(second Bajirao) surrendered to the British at Vasai & signed a treaty and relinquished Vasai Fort & its territory to the British in lieu of military protection from other Indian satraps. And that was the end of Maratha empire.

Flora & fauna inside the Vasai Fort.









Vasai Fort as seen from the sea shore.


It is mentioned in the history that Peshwas roasted the Vasai Fort with help of their artillery in a bid to conquer it.



The gate through which Chimaji Appa Peshwa & his army entered the fort. It was a surprise for Portuguese as it is. the only gate facing & touching the sea.




Tadi ( traditional alcoholic drink) extraction from the stems of trees, there are numerous such trees in side the fort. Whole fort was smelling sweet as winter is best season for extraction.

 

[Tornado]

During last long highway drive, I found that the stock projectors are inadequate at high speed (I am used to the HID fitted in my Avventura). On Thane -New Mumbai road, it was difficult to note the speed bumps unless you reach close to them. My wife also advised me to upgrade the lights.

So finally, today, I opted for Xenon HID bulbs with stock projectors.




Post installation,
Low beam at lowest position


Low beam at highest position



High beam.

Overall, light amount & quality has improved a lot and now I am satisfied with them. They seem better than the HID installed in my Avventura,but Avventura HID s are better when used at low beam & The projector xenon HID in Skoda Rapid are better when used at high beam. Me feels I need to raise the low beam level so as that light illuminate more distance as compared to Avventura HID at low beam.
HID in Avventura with low beam at lowest position.


Low beam at highest position


High beam.

 

[Auto_Pilot]

How much these HID cost?

 

[Tornado]

Rs 8.5 thousand.