ror9696

Hi all, For reasons I have posted before (I require an auto 4x4) I have reluctantly had to part with my 14 month old octavia excellence tdi 2.0 dsg. 7,900 miles. It was bought by the dealer who originally sold it to me, Simpson's of Colne, although Anthony Morsby is now at their new Preston branch. As an ex-car salesman, and later sales manager in the beer trade, I cannot praise highly enough the most pleasant way all my dealings with this company have been handled. It is a pleasure to deal with people of this calliber. I have no connection with the company, just a very happy customer & when circumstances change I would certainly put my business their way. Great car, which never missed a beat. Best wishes. Ric O'Reilly

I have sorted out my problem, I've bought a Subaru Forester 2.5 XTEn auto and my Octavia Elegance 2.0 TDI DSG has been bought cash by a Skoda dealer for a reasonable price. What I did want to point out is that I was looking at a couple of cars at 'Fords of Winsford' car supermarket. On their site there is a button marked 'Value my car', I supplied accurate information & received a valuation of £13,133.....you can imagine my surprise when I got there and they valued the car at £11,000...A Big difference. So beware of their 'On-Line' valuations, it may just be a 'come-on-down'price. Best wishes, Ric O'Reilly Ric O'Reilly • Photographic Artist • Photography • Art • Connemara • Ireland P.S. I have bought the Forester from a Subaru dealer & received over £1000 more for my Octavia from the Skoda dealer.

Yes I would, although I have just decided to part with my 2005 Excelence 2.0 turbo D, DSG because it is not the best car for the truelly awful roads in the west of Ireland. (a 4x4 is more suited) I have not had any faults in the 14 months I have owned this car, apart from having to get the rear sreen washer adjusted, which Simpsons of Preston did fine. I studied motor engineering (many years ago) and am staggered by the reliablity, the power & the MPG from these cars. My car has been a revalation. Power, Comfort, Reliability & Parsimonious use of fuel along with a HUGE boot. Maybe I've been lucky with my car & my dealer, but I suspect I am the norm. Ric Ric O'Reilly Photographic Artist Photography Art Connemara Ireland

Hi Stu. Yes I was discussing it with Simpson's in Preston. A) it's not due for a couple of months. It doesn't come with an Auto option ( Yet) C) the ride-height, although better than the hatchback, is not as good as the Forester. & C) Having worked in the motor trade, many years ago, I am 'wobbly' about buying the first of a new breed of car. i.e. let someone else find the bugs. I may well go down that route in a couple of years, especially as dealers may be doing deals by that time which they won't on a new model. It's nearly there, but hey-Ho as I said my head is spinning. Thanks, Ric

I am in desparate need of yout thoughts. I am a photographer/artist mostly photographing and selling through galleries on the west of Ireland ( although I live in Blackpool-N.W.England). I used to have a Subaru Forester 2.0 AWP which I loved & was perfect for the 'interesting' roads in Connemara & Donnegal, although a bit heavy on fuel. At the end of 2005 I found I had Diabetes and took the instant decision to retire, so no more need of a 4x4 and bought an Octavia 2.0 tdi-dsg with leather, Zennon lights Mp3 6 cd changer in Silver (Fabulous, comfotable cruiser & 45 MPG ). The trouble was I got horribly bored, and lying on a beach for the 3rd time last year decided to retire from being retired. Now everything is taking off, big time again, in Ireland. So my problem is ground clearance 1) Do I keep the Octavia and be very very careful on the bumpy roads. 2) Do I fit a sump guard to it. (If it will fit with the DSG box. or 3) having got used to the torque of the Octavia, buy a 2nd hand Subaru Forester but with the 2.5 turbo engine and live with the 20 MPG as I only do about 7,000 miles per year, not toooo big a problem & the huge drop in value a dealer would offer me for the Octavia in part-Ex. My brain has been spinning for days. Yours thoughts would be much appreciated. Ric O'Reilly http://www.ricoreilly.com

Hello, I am due to receive a (new/second-hand/pre-regestered) Octavia elegance 2.0 tdi DSG next week. I tried to buy one from Woodheads of Blackpool, my local dealer, but their incompetance and total lack of interest was increadable. i.e. on a test drive "...I don't feel in the mood for this today, as i've been on the booze all weekend with my mates." Allied to an incredible lack of product knowledge. I must own up to having sold cars in the very early 1970's, and was staggered by the lack of professionalism of their staff. So I looked up "drive the deal.com" amazing discounts and having looked on Skoda's site for used cars suspected that one or more of them resembled ex-demonstrators from Simpson's of Colne. They had one in blue (not my first choice in colour) which I ordered, then low-and-behold that same evening 'drive the deal' had one in silver with leather and zenon lights, next morning checked the Simpson's used car site... yes a similar spec car, which is now mine, all mine, for delivery next week in time for Christmas. I have found Simpsons to be as good as Woodheads were bad, and they seem to have a lot of cars with the DSG boxes. One thing that has been troublesome is cd players, I want one that will play mp3's this up-grade is made very confusing for customers and dealers alike by Skoda, anyway I've got one coming but at over

Hello, I'm new to Skodas having run a Subaru Forrester for some years. As a Landscape photographer the 4 wheel drive was very handy, but the fuel consumption down in the low 20's was becoming a pain. It was on a return trip from Lancashire to London with a client in his diesel Audi that I relalised the advantages of the modern diesel engines. I was gagging for a cigarette, convinced he would stop for fuel soon.........Oh dear No. Having studied motor engineering in the 1960's, worked in garages and been a formula 3 mechanic for some years in the 70's I am staggered by the advances in engines. You now can have speed AND economy. I will miss my Scubby but now look forward to the arrival next week of my new/second-hand/pre-regestered Octavia Elegance 2.0 tdi DSG. from Simpson's of Colne who seem as good as Woodheads of Blackpool were appauling.