I fail to see the difference between a FWD car or a 4WD drive car as the damage is in front of the rear wheels :confused: and is caused by stones etc coming off the front wheels.

I removed almost all the paint from this area (and the rear wheels) on a tarmac stage rally that had a long sweeping bend (300 - 400m long) that was covered in gravel, yes this was in a FWD car (granted the car had an LSD and i was running on slicks - this coupled to the fact the car was over-steering all the way through the bend led to the extreme paint loss)

Why do you think Skoda would spend money putting something on a car that was not needed (therefore costing more to manufacturer)? They obviously discovered the need in early testing or soon after the car was available to buy.

They were also on the Mk I Superb. Queried it when I inspected mine on collection, thought there was a scratch, but it was the edge of the sticker.

I fail to see the difference between a FWD car or a 4WD drive car as the damage is in front of the rear wheels :confused: and is caused by stones etc coming off the front wheels.

I removed almost all the paint from this area (and the rear wheels) on a tarmac stage rally that had a long sweeping bend (300 - 400m long) that was covered in gravel, yes this was in a FWD car (granted the car had an LSD and i was running on slicks - this coupled to the fact the car was over-steering all the way through the bend led to the extreme paint loss)

Why do you think Skoda would spend money putting something on a car that was not needed (therefore costing more to manufacturer)? They obviously discovered the need in early testing or soon after the car was available to buy.

Hmm, i was thinking myself why would 4wd matter - and agree it probably doesnt. I was just looking at why this would be needed when none of my cars (after hundreds of thousands of cumulative miles) have suffered from this.

I dont accept any damage caused by 'rallying' as there is a whole lot of damage that might happen in those circumstances which is not typical to your average road use.

Perhaps a better way of saying it would be:

"There is absolutely no need for these stickers for your average UK road user"

I have driven in plenty of countries where it is common to see gravel on the roads, so perhaps it is necessary there. I have driven on plenty of gravel driveways, loose surface/rubble tracks, etc and TBH, if people are driving fast enough on that stuff to get chips in the areas covered by these stickers, then they are going to get plenty of stonechips elsewhere too.

As for why Skoda put them on - perhaps they are needed in other countries but they just slap them on every one? I'd be more likely to ask, if they are so necessary, why they arent more widely used on other makes with a similar body shape.

Oddly the new facelift octy does not have these, but ,maybe they have improved the corrosion protection in that area.

My FL vRS has them fitted.....

If Skoda has taken the time to design, manufacture, pay for and actually fit this protective covering it is there for a good reason.

They're on my FL Octavia too and were also on my previous 1998 VW Passat. I wish they would also put it on the front panels as well, I was contemplating having it done but was put off by the £300 cost.

Oddly the new facelift octy does not have these, but ,maybe they have improved the corrosion protection in that area.

Mine has it, and so did my death trap Mondeo before it. It's a general thing now I think with most new cars. Seems paint is getting thinner by the year on new cars, so they need wrapping in plastic protection!

Buy a scout! Doesn't need them as they get great big plastic bumpers. Although the car does look like it's wearing nappies, from some angles!!! )

well blow me! Had the FL Octy for a week, hand washed the other day too and just went to have a look - yep it's got them, just didn't notice them. What a forum!!