njd

I think by "younger audience" they mean "under fifty". My wife had a Mk1 Fabia 1.9TDI and loved it. The Elegance spec was amazing. She'd now like a similar car, but she won't choose the current Fabia because it looks like something her mum would drive.

Backlit LCD displays, even when the lights are off. And a heated windscreen. (My last Fiesta had both these features, so it's disappointing not to have them on the Octavia)

In a Mk1 Fabia 1.9, I could regularly get 70mpg on 55-mile runs to work; 60-65mpg if I wasn't really trying. Not many hills though. The current 2.0 Octavia II tends to average 55mpg; 57-63mpg if I concentrate and deliberately try to waft along at 40-50mph. That's not far off the 60mpg I got out of a 1.4 Fiesta I had previously, and that was a fair bit smaller with only half the power. Very gentle on the pedal, that's the key. I can generally match what the cruise-control would achieve, and sometimes outdo it (because I can plan ahead). Oh, and in the wife's 86hp Clio, I can average 75mpg. Incredible engine in that thing, and Band B too.

Went in last Saturday to look at a used Octavia. They don't have their own web-site, but they post their stock list on allapprovedcars.com, and Paul Baker followed up on an email I sent them enquiring about the car. I had a test drive, liked it, and put down a deposit. Paul's only been there a few weeks (he says), but he's been selling VW for 20 years, and has been a friend of Martyn's for a long time. Of course this may all be salesman's patter, but he seems genuine and is amiable and chatty - not brisk and pushy like some salesmen can be. I went mob-handed with the wife and kids, but they had a pleasant seating area with plenty of reading material (not just Skoda brochures) and a TV to watch while I was out on the test drive. Martyn Beever himself wasn't hidden away in a back room - he was front of house, chatting with customers, making sure everyone was supplied with tea and coffee. As Pulleyn's this dealership was run as a friendly family business, and as Martyn Beever they've tried to continue that approach. Of course I've only experienced the sales side so far, and dealers are always friendly when they want you to buy something - time will tell what the Service department is like - but on the evidence so far, I would recommend them.

Just joined the forum, in anticipation of my first Skoda (I was at the dealer test-driving it on Saturday and put down a deposit). It's an Octavia Elegance 2.0 TDI in Satin Grey, 57-plate, and I'll be picking it up next Saturday, all being well. I've been wanting an Octavia since 2001, and finally got around to choosing one. Was looking at 1.9 Ambiente spec for a while, but then I saw this for reasonable money. Amusing test-drive anecdote: The only problem I noted on the test-drive was a warning light in the middle of the rev-counter, looking like a lit bulb. All the doors were shut, lights were off; so I commented "what does that mean then?" The salesman, who has only been at the dealership for a few weeks after 20 years selling VWs, wasn't entirely sure at first, but promised to get a technician to take a look. Then after a couple of minutes, he suddenly realised: "Oh it's because of the courtesy light in the boot." he said. "We leave the cars on the forecourt all day with the boot open, so we take out the bulbs. It's just warning you because the bulb isn't there." Doh. Just me panicking over nothing. Here's a pic from the dealer of the car I'm getting: