I have always been a Petrohead and take each car on its merits, irespective of badge or maker! I see Skoda as an old brand that had a duff phase much like Alfa Romeo or indeed any other manufacturer in the 1970's and early 1980's but what are other peoples experience when they tell family etc they have a Skoda! This is just for fun and curiosity! I have had 2cv's, Alfas, many Smarts and indeed a Lotus so I am use to conflicting opinions which generally amuses me!

Edited 10 August, 201114 yr by HeffS

My Yeti (when it arrives!) will be Skoda number 5.

Reaction is divided.

I am a Teacher, focussing purely on staff room comments it is divided. One colleague likes my Octy vRS models so much he bought one himself. Another refused even to go into the Skoda dealership despite the fact that the Octavia would have met all his requirements ... he bought a Renault instead!

I am also a caravanner. The Skoda seems universally liked in caravanning circles, particularly the Caravan Club sites we favour.

I think the Yeti will be a different story again as it is now basking in a Top Gear induced glow!

I cannot imagine driving anything other than a Skoda now .... I will miss the vRS factor when I get the Yeti, though the engine will be the same, as all my previous Skodas have worn their vRS badge with pride!

Edited 10 August, 201114 yr by IainM1970

I have always been a Petrohead and take each car on its merits, irespective of badge or maker! I see Skoda as an old brand that had a duff phase much like Alfa Romeo or indeed any other manufacturer in the 1970's and early 1980's but what are other peoples experience when they tell family etc they have a Skoda! This is just for fun and curiosity! I have had 2cv's, Alfas, many Smarts and indeed a Lotus so I am use to conflicting opinions which generally amuses me!

My sister-in-law wouldn't be seen dead in a Skoda.

When my wife bought her Fabia, her sister had a Polo. For slightly less money, we got a car with two extra doors, better stereo, six more speakers, four more airbags, climate control, etc. She got windy-up windows, four speed ventilation fans, and of course the VW badge.

I see Skoda as the result of a marriage between a typically underfunded engineering company - where staff have developed a unique pragmatism and become highly innovative in making something out of nothing, and a large group like VAG with the resources and parts bin to match.

Kitten and I have a Yeti and we both LOVE it

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to pull a Land Rover out of a sticky 'patch' after his started motor went wrong, but I was unable to find the towing 'eye' to screw into the niches built into the bumper assembley.

I would have LOVED that

My father, and both my brothers have driven Ivor, and I secretly think that they feel they have made a poor choice when bought their cars.

My father has a BMW series 1

My older brother has just bought a VW Polo when he could have opted for the Fabia

And my younger brother chose a Honda CR-V over the Yeti, bad its big sluggish and lacks responsiveness. (I've driven his CR-V and I would never have one

Other than a few who are stuck in the past the general opinion I come across is that people understand now that Skoda make good cars at sensible prices.

We got our first Skoda two years ago. The first in our family.

We now have three, my Mum has one on order and half of the office staff are considering one to replace their existing cars in the next year or two.

I think when people actually see how good they are in the metal they sometimes get a bit of a surprise.

A clear divide. Those 'in the know' who realise that these days Skoda make really well engineered cars at reasonable (but no longer 'bargain basement') prices, and those whose prejudices against the badge name are foolishly ingrained. A work colleague of mine asked if Betty was mine before engaging in some discussion, then smugly saying "Oh but it's only a Skoda - I bought a Ford C-Max" (expecting I think that this would close the discussion). "More fool you" said I and walked away. Overall, I've found more positive than negative responses, but actually I no longer care. If muppets can't see the facts, their loss, their problem - I'm very happy with my choice.

Took mine to the car wash. Spoke to a guy who used to be a Saab sales man. He was really impressed with the standard of finish, shape, equipment. H ethought eteh paint was of Audi quality - probably helped by my Carlack and Collinite

His girlfriend has a Range Rover Sport that is being fixed again = he said. He was trying to get her to buy a Yeti but the waiting time put him off.

Took mine to the car wash. Spoke to a guy who used to be a Saab sales man. He was really impressed with the standard of finish, shape, equipment. H ethought eteh paint was of Audi quality - probably helped by my Carlack and Collinite

His girlfriend has a Range Rover Sport that is being fixed again = he said. He was trying to get her to buy a Yeti but the waiting time put him off.

We just kept the Range Rover until after the Yeti arrived. Problem sorted.

Spoke to a guy who used to be a Saab sales man.

Very soon all the SAAB salesmen will either be former SAAB salesmen or used SAAB salesmen.

I have only had positive and curious comments. On closer inspections, the reaction is usually: " Hmmm....I should have bought one of those."

How some people view different motoring brands does amuse me. Some people honestly think that for example a BMW 318 is a nicer car than a Superb Elegance because it costs more money and has a BMW badge on it.

Or when people tell you they decided to buy a new Astra rather than a new Octavia, because it was £500 less and they had a Vauxhall in the 70s and it was a good car. As Skoda have proved, time changes everything.

As Skoda have proved, time changes everything.

or is it the Germans (VW) change everything

You will always find folk who are more brand aware than feature aware but maybe a look under the boot carpet in a Skoda at the Audi branded tyre inflation kit would make them think again or discovering the fact that a DSG gearbox made in a Czech factory can be placed in any VAG vehicle.

As other people have said, I get mixed comments.

Had the mickey taken at work for a while when I got the furby vRS, until I took one of the guys for a spirited drive down some of our local country lanes!! He now owns one.

Driving the vRS is kind of the same. People only see a Skoda that they assume is being driven by an old granny or grandad, because that's who drive them isn't it?

They try to take advantage of that but can quickly realise that it's a bit of a wolf in sheepskin clothing

The yeti is a different kettle of fish.

I think it is a victim of badge snobbery from those that have no clue as to how capable, well equipped and well built they are.

If they want to pay thousands more for a badge that says VW or AUDI then they are the fools. I am quite happy to let them too.

TG and Clarkeson have a fair bit of clout so to get additional approval raises the marques bar!!Not that any is really needed!! When you think back to the 1970's and 80's pretty much most cars were crap and no one badge stands out vas all had their shortcomings!

I've only had positive comments thankfully.

Škoda: For the informed few! And I like that.

I am on my 2nd Skoda and it won't be my last.

The most common reaction I get is "Great car, but I really couldn't drive a Skoda"!

But think on this - Audis are everywhere! They are the new Ford! If every Audi owner decided to switch to Skoda how long would we have to wait for our new Skodas?!

Skoda Perception?

I'm disappointed now. Thought this was a heads-up about a new Skoda model!

Interesting comment from our local dealer on Sat when we went in to order SWMBO's Fabia.

The customers he deals with who come in to buy a car, almost all are 'brand educated ' they know exactly what they are getting for their money, and when they actually see the model they want in the showroom are not disappointed, in a lot of cases it exceeds their expectations & that wins sales.

There is no high badge expectation, in the way there is with the 'premium' brands.

Skoda does , 'manufacture happy drivers' because people are very happy with what they get for their money.

Me included

I haven't had any negative comments in 8 years of Skoda ownership but if I had it wouldn't bother me as I know how good the make is and don't care what others may think. I don't think there's much to really criticise these days - perhaps subjective view as to whether the designs are a little quirky and now the long waiting times. Maybe it's good that there are still people with outdated prejudices as otherwise the waiting times might be even longer and the cars more expensive.

I hadn't considered a Skoda as a car I might want until my father-in-law got a Fabia in 2001. It wasn't that I had anything against Skoda, just that I didn't know anything about them as to whether any good or not. Because he was happy with the Fabia I felt confident enough to buy an Octavia two years later. In turn because I was happy with my car, my father later replaced his unreliable Renault Laguana with an Octavia as well. I didn't really consider another brand when it came time to change my Octavia. My father in-law later replaced a Nissan X-trail(my wife mistakenly called it an Ntrail) for an Octavia 4x4 so one sale in 2001 has so far directly led to four others. So I think word of mouth and actual ownership experience plus glowing reviews and high reliability table finishes must be having a huge effect on peoples' perceptions in general.

Good points. My dad ran an Octavia for 4/5 years before getting his current Fabia, and I guess that was some influence on me looking at the brand.

Škoda: For the informed few! And I like that.

That sums it up nicely.

Just as long as the "informed few" don't become the "sheep like majority"!!

I rather like our Skodas rariety around these parts - can't walk more than a few paces without tripping over an Audi, BMW or Merc, etc.

That sums it up nicely.

Just as long as the "informed few" don't become the "sheep like majority"!!

I rather like our Skodas rariety around these parts - can't walk more than a few paces without tripping over an Audi, BMW or Merc, etc.

I see more Lambo's, Ferrari's, Bentley's, Aston's than I do Yeti's. I just love the exclusivity, and at a fraction of those expensive toys to buy and run.....

Very pleased about my Yeti 4x4 ordered to replace my MINI, was disappointed by the salesman at MINI who made the Skoda "skip" and "double the value by adding petrol" jokes as a method of trying to convince me to stay with MINI. Both my MINI driving colleagues selling theirs due to reliability issues and are interested in my purchase.

People still make skip jokes and fail to get that the Skoda has always been a rugged car with a great competition history made by people who care about their work. Now it is a VAG parts bin operation there are real advantages.

I spent some time earlier in the year as a passenger in a brother in law's Tiguan and was entirely underwhelmed by the build quality and finish it was no better than and maybe worse than my Yeti. A price comparison would not flatter the VW badging.

For those who don't "get" Skoda and pay more for less I have some sympathy.

I have never bought a better car.

My Yeti is Skoda number 7. I started driving in 1980, with a new Super Estelle 105S - I wanted a new car, rather than second-hand, and that was all I could afford. I moved up a couple of years later to a 120L, then (after a few years with a Lada Estate - bad move) came back to Skoda with a Favorit. Since then, I've had a Felicia 1.3, a Fabia 1.9SDi, a Fabia 1.4TDi, and now my wonderful Yeti. When I got it in November, there were only 2 others in our valley; now there are about 5 or 6, I think.

The Lada: I bought it in 1988, because I needed a bigger car to carry the kids and all our stuff. It was big, boxy, and as aerodynamic as a brick. I told folk it was a good example of Soviet standardisation - it was built in the same factory as the MiG 29 interceptor, so it went like the clappers, but it was built on the same assembly line as the T72 battle tank, which is how it handled.

I had a courtesy car during a repair a few months ago - Fiats. Nothing like as nice to drive as my Skodas, especially the Yeti. I've also noticed how surprised and happy my passengers have been. And, yes, we had all the jokes, but I reckon the joke is on those who pay more (a lot more) for comparable performance.