Had an interesting chat with a market researcher today, apparently organised a test panel of drivers and de-badged 5 cars, one of which was the new Octavia.

Apparently in it's de-badged state 86% of the drivers would consider it for their next purchase, when they discovered it was a Skoda and asked the same question it went down to 35%. I can't believe that the badge prejudice (which is all it is) can make that much of an impact.

Had an interesting chat with a market researcher today' date=' apparently organised a test panel of drivers and de-badged 5 cars, one of which was the new Octavia.

Apparently in it's de-badged state 86% of the drivers would consider it for their next purchase, when they discovered it was a Skoda and asked the same question it went down to 35%. I can't believe that the badge prejudice (which is all it is) can make that much of an impact.[/quote']

l can believe it,, many people have driven my car, an Octy vRS, loved it,, but point blank said they would not buy 1 as was a Skoda :confused: :confused: :confused:

pulled up outside a shop tonight in my vrs,young lads outside said"beast of a car,shame about the badge".

had to excuse him ,he was drinking carling

Their loss. We get decent cars for not much cash and they end up working overtime to keep up the repayments on their BMW "M"316i

Somehow what I drive came up in an online staff meeting this week. My display picture in MSN is a random Fabia vRS and one person, on hearing I drive a Skoda, said "so not what you've got on MSN then"

Oh dear! She might get a shock when we all have a meeting in a few weeks.

Now I wonder where I can find a good road to demonstrate the car...

Well let them bring on their feeble chav specials!!!! That's all I say.

My older son has been a very consistent Skoda owner, two early Estelles, one later model Estelle, one Favorit and currently a Felica.

My younger son who was very much into street cred when aged 16 needed to go somewhere in a hurry, the only way he could get there was if big brother drove him. He travelled on the floor of the Estelle behind the front seats as he did not want to be seen in a Skoda.

When I got my Ocky 1 he was more than happy to be seen in it and will also go out in big brother

I'm always having the Skoda conversation with poeple:

Me: I drive a Skoda

Them: Oh yes, they're very good cars these days

Me: It has the engine from an AUDI TT you know

Them: Wow, bet it really shifts. Looks nice too. Course I'd never buy one, it's a Skoda.

Their loss!

Lots of the kids I've taught (in school as opposed to on-line) think the Skodas I've had are cool - they were too young to remember the jokes though!

I wonder if the art lesson had anything to do with it...

I'm getting mine debadged for the Fabia vRS part - the Skoda badge is staying put. The only reason I'm getting that debadging done though is because I kept having boyracers (Ford Escort type) right up my @rse when I was stuck behind some other traffic. Even tried to undertake me (no chance, that doesn't even work in my Rover 100 )

As soon as the slowish-moving traffic was out of the way, I planted it a little bit more (nowhere near flat out) in 6th, going up a little hill - it was hilarious, you could see him floor it, then change down a gear, floor it some more, but he kept disappearing

This was a standard vRS, with about 300 miles on the clock, demo vehicle

Badge stigma sucks, its just a name! or status, like people saying, 'Oh i drive a Mercedes' wow, so what! As long as you like your car and its all you want and need then other peoples thoughts and comments are just not worth worrying about!

Its usually the mis informed, or poorly educated that laugh and sneer!

I just smile as I overtake BM's, Audi's, VW's etc and think;

"There disappears someone with more money/debt than sense"

I think the so called stigma is disappearing and should continue to do so. Going back about 12 years my nephews would not travel in a Skoda. Now one aged 23 has a Fabia of his own and so does his mother. It was commented to my son (17) by some friends at school a few weeks ago after the Top Gear race between the Fabia Vrs and mini that why don

I just smile as I overtake BM's' date=' Audi's, VW's etc and think;

:[/quote']I used to have great fun with my first Ocky, a 110 BHP TDI. Lots of drivers could not believe it when I out accelerated them on motoway slip roads or from the lights. Many of them had to pass me as it was infra dig to be overtaken by a Skoda.

The 2.0 TDI Ocky 2 loan car that I have driven has been a real delight as it outperforms many a statusmobile. My own 1.9 TDI also outperforms many a car.