Collected 1.6 ambiente last friday

[walter]

On friday morning I took delivery of a new Skoda Octavia Ambiente. I bought it from Tarrants in Banteer, a small village in North cork. The drive from Cork city is along a winding country road that rolls over hills and through wooded valleys. Quite a pleasant drive regardless of the car you're driving.

When I arrived at the showroom Eamon (the owner) was talking to prospective customers so I had a few minutes to look over my new car. The new Octavia in Flamenco Red is a handsome brute of a car, much better looking than I had imagined. There is nothing quite like the feeling of walking into a showroom, seeing a beautiful shiny new car and knowing that within the hour, you will be driving it home. I'm not a car nut and never have been but those few moments prowling around my new car in the showroom ... bliss. People say a car loses a grand once you drive it out of the showroom, but at that moment in time I thought the feeling was worth every penny (so much so that I've been toying with the previously unthinkable idea of trading in for the new model VRS when it comes out - though I'm sure in the meantime common-sense and SWMBO will prevail). I should say that my previous car was an Opel Corsa that I bought secondhand and have held onto for 9 years (unheard of nowadays) so buying a brand new Octavia was, for me at least, a very big deal.

I'll no doubt p1ss off a lot of octavia mk I owners by saying this but, looks-wise, the old model can't hold a candle to the new model Octavia. (I'll post some pictures when the weather improves). I was thinking of getting an Octavia, 2 or 3 years ago. I'm glad I held out until now. While Tarrants were putting on the reg plates and other last minute things I got talking to a taxi driver who had left his octavia (a 1.9 diesel) in for repair. He had 211K on the clock and was planning on holding onto it until it failed the NCT sometime in the distant future; "Noone will buy a car that's had taxi plates on it" he said. A quick run through of the radio and wiper functions and after hooking up my iPod I was on the road in my new car. I can't tell you how long I had been waiting for this but needless to say I was a very happy bunny as I drove the scenic route back to Cork through the boggera mountains.

I took the family out for a spin to Ardmore in Waterford on saturday. SWMBO and little kate were both very happy and found it very comfortable (I'm 6ft2 and my wife still had plenty of legroom in the back). There are some very nice touches inside. The central armrest stores 6 cds and has coin trays. The front and rear windows are adjustable from the driver's door. I read somewhere that driving the Octavia is like driving on rails. It feels very solid and unlike in the Corsa: I don't get queasy taking corners. There isn't a lot of travel in the gear stick: I'm guesing theres just a few millimeters between 1st, 3rd and 5th so that takes some getting used to. I also have to shift up and down gears a lot more than I did in the Corsa (the corsa was more forgiving in that respect). It revs up a little too quickly in 1st but can feel sluggish in 2nd and 3rd. I guess the car and me will have to adjust. I certainly don't want to push it too hard during its run-in period.

I don't think I can overstate how good this car looks. On saturday night I was parked next to a 3 series BMW and to be honest (OK I'll admit I might be a little biased) the octavia looks better.

Needless to say I am now a very happy (and inordinately proud) Octavia owner.

[JaneC]

Nothing like a new car is there ? Problem is that once you've bought one then you'll want another one and no amount of "being sensible" will talk you out of it

I like the look of the new Octavia but the only thing I had a problem with on the brief test drive I had was the position and angle of the accelerator - how do you find this ?

Would certainly be tempted (if I had any spare money :( ) to change, maybe by the time the new vrs comes out I will be better off !

[walter]

The only problem I have with the floor-mounted accelerator is that it appears to be made of plastic. I can't imagine it being very durable. I may be wrong: I haven't had a chance to take a proper look yet.

[Octy-KUT]

Congratulations Walter. Happy Motoring!

[fredw]

I like the look of the new Octavia but the only thing I had a problem with on the brief test drive I had was the position and angle of the accelerator - how do you find this ?!

I have moved from a Mk 1 Ocky to a Mk 2. After nearly 6 months of drving the new beastie I have not found any problems with the accelerator position or angle.

When I test drove the Mk 2 the driving position felt almost identical to the Mk 1. The differences (imporvements) were in the whole feel of the car, the precise and light steering and the incredible road holding.

[PumpeDuse]

The only problem I have with the floor-mounted accelerator is that it appears to be made of plastic. I can't imagine it being very durable. I may be wrong: I haven't had a chance to take a proper look yet.

how do you accelerate then? do you physically stamp on the accelerator?

[dstev2000]

This is a thread from the dead and then some

The accelerator pedal in my car has taken some stick and is fine.