Why the love for Skoda? The reason I ask, is that I’ve had many cars in the past, and like it or not, most of us form some bond with our lump of metal on four rubber tyres. Why the Skoda, this is what’s baffling me? I’ve now got a rusted, battered, bashed, poorly looked after Felicia 1.3Lxi Plus, the first time I worked on it I liked it, in fact the first time I drove it was from the ferry terminal back to it’s home with no brakes. There was a little handbrake help, the second time was when it’s owner tried to kill it on a stone wall, and now I own it, and I love it. Still, it’s going to be my wife’s car, but I love the thing, and why?

I’ve had several Citroen 2CV’s they were fun, I’ve had a Ford P100 pickup, a Discovery, a Jeep, an Escort Mexico, a Talbot Horizon, a Nissan Micra, a Polo, a Citroen C15 Van, and they’re just the ones I can remember, oh and the Xantia estate I've got. Liked them, but not loved them.

So........why a Skoda? They're cheap, well this little Felicia cost all of well nothing can't really get cheaper than that! It's rusty, it needs a new clutch, a good service, and a good clean, still love it though. So do I love it because it's free and cheap to maintain? Or because it was the most fun job I've ever done on a car?

There are still the ton or more Skoda jokes - but as with any car, we can always call a Ford Fix or repair daily, or Found on Road Dead, or backwards Drivers return on foot, VW, virtually worthless - the best one I ever came across was whilst working for a taxi firm - Montego - makes one nice taxi everything goes ok - not strictly true, but was fun!

So is it because they are the most under rated, mistreated, laughed at, poked at cars that we have a tendancy to feel for them?

It's not a fad, like the Micra users for instance, young drivers small pocket rockets, nismo kits blah blah soon grow up into to bigger cars, settle and have families. Skoda's are already cheap to insure, run, maintain, and are ideal for a small family already.

I still can't work it out, I want another one, I want to make this one clean, and rust free, (that would require a complete front end welding on it) or a new shell, and that would be just plain silly. Still, the end outcome is to have a running car that's cheaper to tax fuel and maintain than the silly PUG 306 that's currently being driven by my wife. If anyone wishes to have a free holiday up in the Orkney's and wishes to drop of their unwanted Skoda - then please feel free

So can someone please tell me - why do we love Skoda's why do I love this little heap of a car - why do you love Skoda's? And why this one?

This was taken just after I bashed the front end to resemble some sort of Skoda front end, not too bad to say it was 50mph plus into a 3 foot thick stone wall! Poor thing!

Why?????????

My grandad got his first Skoda, a 1982 120L in 1984 when I was 12, and I've been hooked ever since. Maybe the reason I'm still obsessed with the old heaps is because mentally I'm still 12!

I've been around Skodas for 34 years, there have been loads in the family since I was 2 and i just love them.

I get a real proud feeling when driving a Skoda, something I dont get in any other car.A Skoda gives a Feel Good Factor to you.Lets be honest, I think Skoda jokes stopped well over 15 years ago, and they weren't warranted in the first place.

I like them for their under-dog status, I like them because they appeal to me, I'm not a motoring snob and I know they are a bloomin great car, wherever the engine may be situated.

Having driven many makes over the 19 years since i got my first Skoda at 17, nothing 'floats my boat' like a Skoda does.

There is some sort of magical charm about them that captivates you.

Unfortunately, there are still some sad individuals out there that wouldn't drive a Skoda because of the badge, but thats their loss - they are the ones with the image problem that are missing out.

Basically, I think you've fallen for your Skoda because its a 'Superb Kind Of Dream Automobile'!