Very new to site and enjoying the info. a lot. Close to ordering vRS, probably CR 170 DSG but have some slight concerns about quality, particularly of the interiors. I keep my cars for five years or so, so I need to know how well the insides last. I know that some Police forces use Octavias, which must be a good sign but it seems to me that the materials used for seats, trim etc, are of lower quality than equivalent VWs. Can any one give me some re-assurance please.

Welcome to the site

I've never had any problems with trim on either my 1999 T reg mk1 or (touch wood) with it's 55 plate mk2 replacement. Both cars bought 2nd hand.

cheers ... darren

Mine is over 3 years old now with 61k miles on the clock and still looks brand new inside. I've used it for moving house, going to the tip, carrying muddy mountain bikes.

I think the quality of materials, fit and finish between an Octavia and VW is indistinguishable. The only thing that sometimes gets mentioned is that the Skoda grab handles aren't damped!

In fact i recently looked at a Golf Plus, and thought some of the trim surprisingly cheap and flimsy to look and feel. If I recall correctly one piece of trim didn't fit properly.

Skodas regularly come higher than VWs in customer satisfaction surveys if that's any indication.

Having looked at the equivalent Golf & Golf Plus 7 months ago and then buying my Octy 2, I think the general interior quality is as good if not better than these two cars. I was very surprised with the Gold Plus that the mouldings at the top of the door panel (next to base of window) were hard plastic rather than the soft touch slush moulded ones on the normal Golf and Octy! I also like things such as the air vent adjuster wheels which are soft touch on the Octy but horrible hard things on both Golfs! Don't know why but I'm a stickler for this sort of stuff. The Golfs have more supposedly classy stuff like sunvisor lamps and footwell lighting but don't miss this sort of stuff. Can't fault my Octy although I get a few creaks but that's another story.

I've been in our 130,000mile Octavia vRS all day, it's a police ERV and as such has been run since 2006 all hours and days. It's interior has stood up amazingly well, some of the white material on the seats has darkened, but then so would you if you had cops sitting on you 24 hours a day...

I've a 54 plate 1.9TDI Classic with 118k, and the interior has aged quite well...looks almost new apart from the dreaded bubble that seems to appear on the drivers door. But thats down to ppl resting elbows on it.

Having looked at the equivalent Golf & Golf Plus 7 months ago and then buying my Octy 2, I think the general interior quality is as good if not better than these two cars. I was very surprised with the Gold Plus that the mouldings at the top of the door panel (next to base of window) were hard plastic rather than the soft touch slush moulded ones on the normal Golf and Octy! I also like things such as the air vent adjuster wheels which are soft touch on the Octy but horrible hard things on both Golfs! Don't know why but I'm a stickler for this sort of stuff. The Golfs have more supposedly classy stuff like sunvisor lamps and footwell lighting but don't miss this sort of stuff. Can't fault my Octy although I get a few creaks but that's another story.

I'll second that. I've had several VWs and thought long and hard before ordering my current Octy 5 months ago. I think it's brilliant and every bit as good as anything I've owned in the past.

Just look at the taxi ranks around you and that may answer the your question.

We have some MK1s here pushing 500,000

kriswithak quote

It's interior has stood up amazingly well, some of the white material on the seats has darkened,

stop spilling your tea and coffee then LOL

i have a mk5 golf and octavia 2...

i must say... the octavia is much better build and has more feel of quality then the golf...

Obviously the interior falls out, that's why 90% of taxis in Belfast are Octavias. Why would they use anything else? :p