... or do I mean scary?

You see, I have driven a company car for the last 30 years. My previous car had been a company VW Passat, which I loved. But the company was doing away with the car scheme so once the lease ran out (next May), that was it. No problem, thought I, I'll just buy the car. Then the b@stards made me redundant. Instead of several months to decide what I was doing it became just a few weeks (I wanted to wait for a job offer so I could work out what I could afford). Initially I was looking at things like the Hyundai i30 (very economical and well-spec'd and cheap) and I popped into the Skoda garage to have a look at the Fabia. But there remained this nagging doubt. Could we get used to a much smaller car?

Then I had a quick look at the Octavia. I was impressed. It wasn't much smaller than the Passat; being VW based all the controls were pretty much identical to the Passat; it was almost as economical as the superminis; it had 0% finance. I got one! Because of my circumstances I just got whatever was available. A blue 1.9TDi Ambiente was located in Grimsby and the garage in Aylesbury said it would be available for pick-up the following week. Just as well as I was due to start my new job. I added cruise control (how did I ever drive without one?) and rear parking sensors - turned out cheaper to have them fitted by the garage than if they had been factory fitted; I just don't have the visual aid on the parking sensors.

So here I am, less than 2 weeks on and so far very satisfied. I have to remind myself that I shouldn't expect it to match up to the Passat, a more expensive car. On the plus side it has returned some astonishing mpg readings. Yes I knock it out of gear when going down hills but on my 30 mile commute to Uxbridge along the M40, driving at 60 mph (the toughest part), I get over 60 mpg; with the best being 71 mpg. Now all I have to do is sort out exactly how I'm going make the AUX input available for my mp3 player and I'm sorted. Sorry, a long post just to say hello!

Keith

welcome to briskoda

Welcome to the forum

welcome

Dont worry about the long post , that is where we like to have a read and say "yes we know what you mean"

Have fun on this great forum too (just like the cars)

Sarah

Hiya.

In case you didn't know, the diesel Octys all have an over-run fuel cutoff that activates above 1200rpm, so if you coast downhill you'll have less control over the car, and be using more fuel as well.

Hi keith - sounds familiar.

After 30 odd years of driving company Vauxhall puddings, fancied something practical but sporty, so a percentage of the redundancy money went on the vRS.

Have fun - I have ever since.

Welcome

Hello and welcome.

Try a search for "Connects2" for an AUX input solution

Welcome to briskoda, enjoy your new car.

hello welcome and enjoy

Hello & welcome, enjoy the forum.

... or do I mean scary?

I have to remind myself that I shouldn't expect it to match up to the Passat, a more expensive car.

Keith

There is no reason it won't match up.....

I think that Skodas are built just as well as VW, that's why I bought a Fabia vRs and not a Polo GT130, it was £3000 more expensive and there was not difference in the build quality at all, so I would be basically paying for the badge of a VW....:confused:

I used the £3k to buy beer....

Good bunch of people on here.

Ben

:iagree: Yes my workmate's Audi has a nicer steering wheel, but £5000 for a dumb steering wheel is silly money (an intelligent one like an F1 car's is another argument).

There is no reason it won't match up.....

I think that Skodas are built just as well as VW ...

It's the little things I was thinking of like the glove box being just a little smaller; the storage area on the drivers side not being big enough for my spare glasses in their case; no internal boot opener; the boot lid not actually springing open; stuff like that.

On the other hand the Octavia was more than £4k cheaper and is much more economical and came with 0% interest. A bit of a no-brainer really

Good bunch of people on here.

Ben

So I am discovering.

Hint ref the glove box; there's a couple of clips on the top interior surface that will hold the service log folder, and leave the box itself more or less clear.